Troy University Athletics
2025 Football Roster
Roster

Jersey Number 66
Eli Russ
- Position:
- OL
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-4 / 300
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Ardmore, Okla.
- High School:
- Plainview HS
- Prev School:
- Oklahoma State
2024 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention
2024 (Junior):Β Played and started nine games (missed three due to injury) β¦ Named to the All-Su Belt Team as an honorable mention selection β¦ Played 133 snaps at center and 421 at left guard (started final six games at guard) β¦ Allowed just one sack over 265 passing situations β¦ Posted a 100 percent efficiency rating in five games β¦ Troyβs top-rated pass blocker per Pro Football Focus β¦ Key blocker for a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver, just the third duo in program history to reach those thresholds in the same season β¦ Troy allowed just four sacks in November, the fewest in the Sun Belt β¦ Member of the Troy Football Leadership CouncilΒ β¦ Represented Troy at Sun Belt Football Media Day
2023 (Sophomore):Β Started at center in 13-of-14 games for the Trojans (missed one due to injury) β¦ Played 863 offensive snaps β¦ Allowed just three sacks in 466 pass blocking situations; three hits and six hurries allowed β¦ Blocked for Kimani Vidal, who was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year and AP All-American after setting school records for single-game, single-season and career rushing yards β¦ Blocked for just the third 3,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rushing combo in program history β¦ Did not allow a hit on the quarterback in 11-of-13 games β¦ Six games with a perfect 100 efficiency rating from PFF
Oklahoma State
2022 (RS-Freshman):Β Saw action in nine games for the Cowboys β¦ Played 110 total snaps, 82 at center and 28 at right guard
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2021 (Freshman):Β Did not see any game action; redshirted
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2020 (Freshman):Β Played in seven games in his first college football season, mainly on special teams as a blocker on placekicks ... Did not appear in the first two games or the last two games of 2020 β¦ Played 35 total snaps
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High School:Β Played for Joe Price at Plainview β¦ Received all-state honors as an offensive lineman β¦ Participated on both sides of the ball, playing defensive tackle on defense β¦ Finished his high school career with a 29-8 record β¦ A two-time state runner-up β¦ Also competed in basketball, powerlifting and track and field β¦ Finished third in the state in the shot put β¦ Part of the National Honor Society, the FCA and the Principalβs Honor Roll β¦ Named the rotary student of the month, as well asΒ The ArdmoreiteΒ Student Athlete of the Month β¦ Part of a mentoring program for kindergarten through 5th grade students and also volunteered at the Veterans Center ... Rated as a three-star prospect byΒ 247Sports,Β RivalsΒ andΒ ESPNΒ β¦ Ranked byΒ 247SportsΒ as the No. 5 player out of Oklahoma and the No. 28 player at his position ... Chose Oklahoma State over North Texas, Tulsa, Texas Tech, Arkansas and others
Β
Personal:Β William Eli Russ was born Sept. 11, 2001, in Decatur, Texas β¦ Son of Ken and Amber Russ β¦ Lived in Hobart, Okla., before Ardmore β¦ Major post-baccalaureateΒ Β
2024 (Junior):Β Played and started nine games (missed three due to injury) β¦ Named to the All-Su Belt Team as an honorable mention selection β¦ Played 133 snaps at center and 421 at left guard (started final six games at guard) β¦ Allowed just one sack over 265 passing situations β¦ Posted a 100 percent efficiency rating in five games β¦ Troyβs top-rated pass blocker per Pro Football Focus β¦ Key blocker for a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver, just the third duo in program history to reach those thresholds in the same season β¦ Troy allowed just four sacks in November, the fewest in the Sun Belt β¦ Member of the Troy Football Leadership CouncilΒ β¦ Represented Troy at Sun Belt Football Media Day
2023 (Sophomore):Β Started at center in 13-of-14 games for the Trojans (missed one due to injury) β¦ Played 863 offensive snaps β¦ Allowed just three sacks in 466 pass blocking situations; three hits and six hurries allowed β¦ Blocked for Kimani Vidal, who was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year and AP All-American after setting school records for single-game, single-season and career rushing yards β¦ Blocked for just the third 3,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rushing combo in program history β¦ Did not allow a hit on the quarterback in 11-of-13 games β¦ Six games with a perfect 100 efficiency rating from PFF
Oklahoma State
2022 (RS-Freshman):Β Saw action in nine games for the Cowboys β¦ Played 110 total snaps, 82 at center and 28 at right guard
Β
2021 (Freshman):Β Did not see any game action; redshirted
Β
2020 (Freshman):Β Played in seven games in his first college football season, mainly on special teams as a blocker on placekicks ... Did not appear in the first two games or the last two games of 2020 β¦ Played 35 total snaps
Β
High School:Β Played for Joe Price at Plainview β¦ Received all-state honors as an offensive lineman β¦ Participated on both sides of the ball, playing defensive tackle on defense β¦ Finished his high school career with a 29-8 record β¦ A two-time state runner-up β¦ Also competed in basketball, powerlifting and track and field β¦ Finished third in the state in the shot put β¦ Part of the National Honor Society, the FCA and the Principalβs Honor Roll β¦ Named the rotary student of the month, as well asΒ The ArdmoreiteΒ Student Athlete of the Month β¦ Part of a mentoring program for kindergarten through 5th grade students and also volunteered at the Veterans Center ... Rated as a three-star prospect byΒ 247Sports,Β RivalsΒ andΒ ESPNΒ β¦ Ranked byΒ 247SportsΒ as the No. 5 player out of Oklahoma and the No. 28 player at his position ... Chose Oklahoma State over North Texas, Tulsa, Texas Tech, Arkansas and others
Β
Personal:Β William Eli Russ was born Sept. 11, 2001, in Decatur, Texas β¦ Son of Ken and Amber Russ β¦ Lived in Hobart, Okla., before Ardmore β¦ Major post-baccalaureateΒ Β
Troy at ULM (Full Highlights)
Saturday, October 18
Gerad Parker Postgame - ULM
Saturday, October 18
Eric Newell Postgame Press Conference - Faulkner
Saturday, October 18
πππππ‘π π§ππ πͺπππ - π¦ππ¬, ππ²
Wednesday, October 15