Jotham Russell (born 8 June 2003) is an Australian professional American football defensive end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Previously a rugby league player, he joined the NFL through the International Player Pathway Program (IPPP) in 2024.
| No. 66 – New England Patriots | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive end |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | 8 June 2003 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 239 lb (108 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Palm Beach Currumbin (Currumbin, Queensland, Australia) |
| Undrafted: | 2024 |
| Career history | |
| |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Roster status: | Practice squad/international |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Early life and rugby career
editRussell was born on 8 June 2003 in Canberra, Australia.[1][2] He is of Nigerian descent.[3] He grew up playing multiple sports, including gymnastics, soccer and Little Athletics.[2] At age 10, he moved to the Gold Coast, Queensland and began playing rugby league, after a coach noticed his size and suggested he try out the sport.[2][4] Playing as a front-rower, he joined the academy for the National Rugby League's Brisbane Broncos as a teenager and later switched to playing wing.[2]
Following two years in the Broncos academy, Russell played for the Currumbin Eagles and later with the Tweed Heads Seagulls U21 squad.[3] He was noted by ZeroTackle.com as having "impressed plenty" with the Seagulls and being able to play both prop and in the backline out wide, where he "regularly found the tryline doing so."[5] He was prepared to sign a contract with the Canberra Raiders in 2023 before receiving an opportunity to play American football.[2]
Football career
editRussell had sent National Football League (NFL) scouts film of his rugby highlights while the league was scouting Australia for potential players.[2] Noted for his size, 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and 240 pounds (110 kg), he was considered as having the potential to be a talented pass rusher and received comparisons to players such as Von Miller and Fred Warner.[4][6] He was invited to tryout for the NFL Australia camp, and after success there, was chosen in January 2024 as one of 16 players for the 2024 International Player Pathway Program (IPPP) class, designed to give foreign players opportunities in the NFL.[7][8][9] He was one of two Australians chosen, along with Patrick Murtagh.[9] Russell spent 10 weeks training with other IPPP prospects at IMG Academy in Florida, describing learning American football as being "like learning a new language."[7] To help learn the sport, he brought a PlayStation and downloaded Madden NFL.[7]
Russell was eligible for the 2024 NFL draft along with two other IPPP prospects, but was not selected.[10][11] Afterwards, he was signed by the New England Patriots on 13 May 2024 as an undrafted free agent, following a successful tryout at the team's rookie minicamp, to play defensive end.[12][13][14] He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.[15][16]
References
edit- ^ "Jotham Russell". Fox Sports.
- ^ a b c d e f Dinjaski, Melanie (10 June 2024). "Meet the league rising star that left the Raiders for the NFL". The Canberra Times – via archive.ph.
- ^ a b Malchow, Alex (25 January 2024). "2024 NFL International Player Pathway spotlight: Jotham Russell, DL, Australia". American Football International.
- ^ a b Pinnow, Faith (15 May 2024). "Why the Patriots signed a rugby player from Australia". The Boston Globe – via archive.ph.
- ^ Pryde, Scott (19 January 2024). "Broncos academy player lands in NFL pathway". ZeroTackle.com.
- ^ Horesh, Lauren (24 April 2024). "Why 2024 NFL Draft marks new era for Aussie pathway". ESPN.
- ^ a b c Gill, Shannon (12 March 2024). "Inside Ex-Bronco's Audacious American Switch". Gold Coast Bulletin – via PressReader.com.
- ^ "Former Brisbane Broncos academy player chosen for NFL's International Pathway Program". Fox Sports Australia. 20 January 2024.
- ^ a b "NFL: Jotham Russell and Patrick Murtagh selected for the NFL's International Player Pathway Program". Code Sports. 19 January 2024.
- ^ Smith, Michael David (28 March 2024). "Three players in NFL international program can be drafted, Louis Rees-Zammit is a free agent". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports.
- ^ Mirzabegian, Sacha (25 April 2024). "Former Brisbane Bronco Jotham Russell among several Aussie hopefuls at 2024 NFL draft". Nine.com.au.
- ^ "Australians in the NFL: Former Brisbane Bronocs rookie Jotham Russell lands NFL deal". The Advertiser. 14 May 2024.
- ^ Gill, Shannon (22 May 2024). "NFL: Patriots reveal why they believe in Jotham Russell". Code Sports.
- ^ "Patriots Sign Four Rookie Free Agents; Release RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn". New England Patriots. 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Patriots Make Roster Moves to Reach the 53-Man Roster Limit". Patriots.com. 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Patriots Sign Seven Players to the Practice Squad". Patriots.com. 28 August 2024.