MORGANTOWN - If you look at West Virginia defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV, it’s hard to picture him at any other position other than lineman - He’s 6-foot-3 and 312 pounds.
He actually started his football career as a quarterback in high school. Russell was 185 pounds in his freshman year. In Week 8 of his sophomore year, Russell weighed in at 195 and switched to defensive line.
From sophomore to junior year, Russell went up to 245, and senior year was at 275, looking more like a Power Four defensive lineman.
“I got better each year in high school,” Russell said. “Then, coming into college, everything was brand new. All I knew in high school was to run straight. Once I got to college, I learned how to strike.”
Against Robert Morris, the argument could be made that Russell had the