Russey seizing leadership
Three-time All-Conference USA selection quickly providing stability to offensive line
As the saying goes, “respect is earned, not given,” and University of Houston center Kody Russey did not waste any time winning over his new teammates this offseason.
“From the first day he got here, you could just tell he’s a born leader,” junior quarterback Clayton Tune said. “He’s not afraid to say anything to anybody. He’s not afraid of confrontation, either. He’ll say things that need to be said.”
In turn, the UH football team responded loud and clear: they voted Russey a team captain for the 2021 season.
As the Cougars prepare for the Sept. 4 opener against Texas Tech, Russey has proven to be arguably the biggest move of the offseason. The 6-2, 300-pound graduate transfer from Louisiana Tech brings a wealth of experience with 44 straight starts and 3,453 career snaps — more than the rest of the projected offensive line combined.
At Louisiana Tech, Russey was a three-time All-Conference USA selection and was also voted a team captain twice. “When he opens his mouth, everybody stops and listens,” coach Skip Holtz once said of Russey.
That vocal leadership is one of the reasons Russey has won over teammates so quickly.
“He comes in and earns the respect of his team.” coach Dana Holgorsen said. “I’ve never seen that as a grad transfer, to earn the respect of his team to where he got voted in.
“He just brings in so much experience. You can tell he’s a veteran the way he handles himself. You understand why he was a team captain at Louisiana Tech. Any time you can bring in an offensive lineman with that many reps and that much experience, you are going to want to do that.”
Stability is a welcome change for the Cougars, who have used 20 different starting combinations the past two seasons.
“It was a blessing for us,” running game coordinator/offensive line coach Brandon Jones said of signing Russey.
There had been speculation Russey could enter the NFL Draft after last season, but instead he decided to enter the transfer portal and take advantage of the bonus year of eligibility given to players due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It was a really tough decision,” said Russey, who is on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy, presented to the nation’s top center. “After kind of figuring out where I thought I would be in the NFL Draft, I decided, ‘I think I could do better,’ so I decided to play one more year and work on technique and some other things. A lot of people don’t get this opportunity, but with the COVID year I got, I figured I would take it.”
Russey said he looks at starting over with a new program as a challenge.
“Really, I get to learn a whole new offense, get to reprove myself to another program,” Russey said. “It’s been a huge challenge, but I believe it’s a really good challenge. Everything I got is what I asked for.”
Russey was limited to a few nonpadded practices during the spring with a tweaked knee. He has been cleared and joined the Cougars during the first week of preseason camp.
As a senior at Burleson High School, Russey was told by one FBS program if he increased his weight, a scholarship would be
available. He admits getting into bad eating habits and went from 265 to 290 pounds. The daily menu often consisted of baked chicken breast, a loaf of bread for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and cookies.
“I was eating everything I could get my hands on,” Russey said.
Russey said he’s now a steady 300 pounds and in “the best shape of my life.”
“I’ve been eating clean the last year and leaned out,” added Russey, an accomplished power lifter who set the Texas state deadlift record with 715 pounds in high school. “I just have to stay away from the peanut butter, cookies, the cheesecake, and all that good stuff.”
With the season quickly approaching, Russey said it’s important to establish a strong rapport with Tune, who is entering his third season as quarterback.
“I’ve got to make sure he trusts me,” Russey said. “Trust me that I’m going to make the right call, that I’m going to make the right block. I just want him to be comfortable back there. No one should touch him. I should do all the dirty work. I’ve been through new quarterbacks, so I think that goes with every new quarterback, the whole trust factor.”
The feeling is mutual from Tune.
“It’s my job to get everybody in the right play and get the receivers on board with the play and the running backs and everything,” Tune said. “I trust him knowing that he is going to be able to get us in the right play and communicate with the rest of the offensive line on their job and assignment. It’s awesome we have that connection.”
Russey said he plans to live up to his appointment as a team captain.
“It’s a huge honor. When I got here, I just tried to work as hard as I can, be vocal,” he said. “I have a ton of respect for all my teammates. Everyone accepted me when I came in.”