Calvin Russell, four-star WR from Florida, snubs Michigan soccer

[ad_1] Michigan soccer QB Bryce Underwood works out at a non-public throwing session

Michigan soccer QB Bryce Underwood works out at a non-public throwing session in Detroit

Michigan soccer's offense could look to take to the air extra typically below new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsay in 2025 and 2026. However it should have to take action with out a hoped-for piece, as four-star large receiver Calvin Russell handed on the Wolverines' supply.

As a substitute, Syracuse (and second-year coach Fran Brown) landed a dedication from Russell out of Northwestern Excessive Faculty in Miami on Saturday, July 5.

The 6-foot-5, 195-pound Russell had whittled his record all the way down to Michigan, Florida State, Oregon and Syracuse earlier than he pledged to the Orange.

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Russell is ranked No. 4 in Florida, the No. 5 large receiver nationally and No. 47 general within the class of 2026 per 247 Sports activities' composite rankings.

"Hulking large receiver with above-the-rim athleticism that makes him a uniquely harmful goal, particularly down within the crimson zone," 247 Sports activities director of scouting Andrew Irvins wrote. "Very good physique management tends to create much more of a drawback for defensive backs as he wins 50-50 battles with timing and positioning. Not going to outrun each deal with, however is fast to hit the gasoline and may make some dynamic cuts in site visitors."

Even amongst FBS prospects, Russell is within the prime tier by way of athleticism. He helped Northwestern — coached by former Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater — take dwelling the Florida Class 3A championship. Russell caught 39 passes for 704 yards (18.1 yards per catch) and 13 touchdowns, additionally dashing for a pair of touchdowns. Within the title recreation, he caught 4 passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns.

His mom, Chanivia Broussard, was an amazing athlete in her personal proper, staring for Miami from 2000-04. She was inducted into the college's sports activities corridor of fame and named an "ACC Basketball Legend" in 2011.

Russell is a star in basketball, too. he averaged 21 factors, seven rebounds, 3.4 assists and three.2 steals per recreation as a sophomore at Northwestern and led this system to a 20-3 mark throughout the newest common season. Russell had acquired a proposal from Dusty Might's U-M hoops program as properly and mentioned he hopes to be a dual-sport athlete in school, just like Keon Coleman with Michigan State most not too long ago.

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Russell took an official go to to Ann Arbor on June 20, the place not solely Might, however prime 2025 commit Bryce Underwood did his finest to assist seal the deal.

"I see it as extra of like the very best gamers need to play with the very best gamers," Underwood instructed the Free Press in June. "I am blessed to be a part of the folks they are saying are the 'finest gamers' so simply the arduous work I have been placing in."

The Wolverines have been racking up the commitments in one of many program's largest scorching stretches. They entered Saturday night time with 20 commits in a 2026 class which had leapt to No. 9 nationally (and third within the Huge Ten) earlier than Russell's selection of Syracuse.

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat author for the Detroit Free Press. E-mail him at apgarcia@freepress.com and observe him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.