Carrollton’s Russell on rise at Auburn

Dontavius Russell doesn’t need to look at a stat sheet to be pleased with his sophomore season at Auburn.

“I feel like I played good, I did what I was asked to do,” Russell said. “I helped my teammates and different things like that.”

Then again, the defensive tackle has never been one to focus on numbers. His mindset remains the same heading into 2017, but as one of the few veterans along the Tigers defensive line, he’s embracing a new role.

Though Rodney Garner isn’t easy to impress, the defensive line coach identifies the Carrollton native as one of the players in his room who’s improved the most. That could lead to a strikingly different season on paper for the rising junior.

“Dontavius has always been solid,” Garner said. “But where he’s improved at is his productivity. Now he’s being a more productive player, making plays. Before, you could always count on him to do his job, hold the point, this and that. But now, he’s taking doing his job to another level.”

In a league where games are won in the trenches, Auburn’s coaches have no doubts about his importance.

“Dontavius Russell is a leader,” Tigers coach Gus Malzahn said. “He’s so consistent. He’s just that consistent guy. He does all the technical things right. When he doesn’t make plays, he usually helps other people make plays.”