University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Get To Know Me: JJ Russell
Dec 21, 2018 | Football
Sophomore linebacker logged a career-high nine tackles in the conference title game.
NOTE: The JJ Russell "Get To Know Me" feature first appeared in the Tigers Football GameDay program Oct. 13 when Memphis hosted UCF.
Backtrack to the fall of 2014. Remember former Memphis defensive greats Genard Avery and Shareef White, both natives of Grenada, Miss.? That was the tandem's freshman campaign, and their first year away from Grenada High School, where another future Tiger was developing.
Jump ahead to 2017 when Avery and White played their final season, but a collegiate career was just beginning for JJ Russell, another member of the Grenada-to-Memphis pipeline. Russell had already looked up to Avery and White while in high school, and that continued in his first season at Memphis.
Russell said, "They started a trend in Grenada. If you want something, you have to work hard. Those were the two hardest working dudes I ever knew. I really looked up to them. It made me want to work harder."
Working harder has become Russell's mantra. Now that Avery, a linebacker with the Cleveland Browns, and White have departed the Bluff City, it's Russell's turn to make an impact. After recording nine tackles as a freshman in 2017, Russell has already logged 25 stops, including his first career sack against Mercer, this season.
As the tackles continue to pile up for the 6-1, 219-pound linebacker, Russell is a name Tigers fans are going to hear about a lot.
I started played football… When I was about 9-years-old at a park in Grenada, Miss.
If I had a choice to read a book or watch a movie, I'd… Watch a movie because I'm not really a reader.
My favorite form of social media is… Twitter, because that's where all of the funny videos are.
The song I can't help but to sing to is… "Umbrella" by Rihanna.
When I'm not at practice, I am… Playing Fortnite or 2K
Last summer, I… Stayed in Memphis and worked out.
If I won the lottery, I would… Probably buy my mom a new house.
If I was a super hero and could have any super power, it would be… Invincibility.
If I played another sport, it would be… Basketball because I played it in high school. I was a point guard.
The story behind my nickname is… Even though I'm not a junior, I got JJ in head start. There were two Javarises in my class, and they just gave me JJ and it stuck.
The No. 1 thing on my bucket list is… Jump out of an airplane.
My favorite meal my mom cooks for me is… Green bean casserole.
Another sport I played as a child was… Baseball. I played shortstop.
The TV show nobody can believe I watch is… iCarly.
The one word that best describes me is… Crazy, because I'm always doing off-the-wall stuff.
My favorite TV show as a child was… SpongeBob Squarepants.
My favorite website is… ESPN.com.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be… Beyoncé.
The most famous person I've met is… Marshawn Lynch.
My dream job is… To play in the NFL.
Backtrack to the fall of 2014. Remember former Memphis defensive greats Genard Avery and Shareef White, both natives of Grenada, Miss.? That was the tandem's freshman campaign, and their first year away from Grenada High School, where another future Tiger was developing.
Jump ahead to 2017 when Avery and White played their final season, but a collegiate career was just beginning for JJ Russell, another member of the Grenada-to-Memphis pipeline. Russell had already looked up to Avery and White while in high school, and that continued in his first season at Memphis.
Russell said, "They started a trend in Grenada. If you want something, you have to work hard. Those were the two hardest working dudes I ever knew. I really looked up to them. It made me want to work harder."
Working harder has become Russell's mantra. Now that Avery, a linebacker with the Cleveland Browns, and White have departed the Bluff City, it's Russell's turn to make an impact. After recording nine tackles as a freshman in 2017, Russell has already logged 25 stops, including his first career sack against Mercer, this season.
As the tackles continue to pile up for the 6-1, 219-pound linebacker, Russell is a name Tigers fans are going to hear about a lot.
I started played football… When I was about 9-years-old at a park in Grenada, Miss.
If I had a choice to read a book or watch a movie, I'd… Watch a movie because I'm not really a reader.
My favorite form of social media is… Twitter, because that's where all of the funny videos are.
The song I can't help but to sing to is… "Umbrella" by Rihanna.
When I'm not at practice, I am… Playing Fortnite or 2K
Last summer, I… Stayed in Memphis and worked out.
If I won the lottery, I would… Probably buy my mom a new house.
If I was a super hero and could have any super power, it would be… Invincibility.
If I played another sport, it would be… Basketball because I played it in high school. I was a point guard.
The story behind my nickname is… Even though I'm not a junior, I got JJ in head start. There were two Javarises in my class, and they just gave me JJ and it stuck.
The No. 1 thing on my bucket list is… Jump out of an airplane.
My favorite meal my mom cooks for me is… Green bean casserole.
Another sport I played as a child was… Baseball. I played shortstop.
The TV show nobody can believe I watch is… iCarly.
The one word that best describes me is… Crazy, because I'm always doing off-the-wall stuff.
My favorite TV show as a child was… SpongeBob Squarepants.
My favorite website is… ESPN.com.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be… Beyoncé.
The most famous person I've met is… Marshawn Lynch.
My dream job is… To play in the NFL.
Players Mentioned
Football: Sutton Smith Press Conference - November 15, 2025
Sunday, November 16
Football: Ryan Silverfield Press Conference - November 15, 2025
Sunday, November 16
Football: Jordon Hankins Press Conference-November 12, 2025
Wednesday, November 12
Football: Tim Cramsey Press Conference-November 11, 2025
Tuesday, November 11