Russell was redshirted during the 2003 season, when quarterback Matt Mauck led LSU to the BCS National Championship. In 2004, he split time with senior quarterback Marcus Randall, playing in 11 games and starting 4. He completed just over 50 percent of his passes for 1,053 yards, throwing for 9 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
His most memorable game of the season was the 2004 Capital One Bowl against Iowa. Coming off the bench. Russell led LSU to two fourth-quarter scoring drives, allowing the Tigers to erase a 12 point deficit. However, on the final play of the game, Iowa quarterback Drew Tate completed a touchdown pass to Warren Holloway to beat the Tigers 30-25.
By the fall 2005 season, Russell was the undisputed starting quarterback for LSU. He led LSU to a 10-1 regular season record, the SEC Western Division title, and a top-5 ranking going into the SEC Championship Game. He also improved statistically, completing 60 percent of his passes for 2,443 yards and 15 touchdowns. Russell received an honorable mention on the AP's All-SEC Team.
Russell led the Tigers to two dramatic come-from-behind wins in the regular season. The first came on a 39 yard pass to Early Doucet on 4th down in the final minute of the game, as the Tigers defeated Arizona State 35-31. Later in the season, LSU defeated a then-undefeated Alabama team 16-13 when Russell completed a 14 yard touchdown to Dwayne Bowe in overtime for the win.
Russell injured his shoulder in a loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, and missed the team's bowl game. Backup quarterback Matt Flynn replaced Russell for the Peach Bowl against Miami, and the Tigers won the game 40-3.
Russell also received some acclaim for his assistance efforts after Hurricane Katrina. After the hurricane and flood, Russell is reported to have housed around 20 people in his apartment, including legendary New Orleans singer Fats Domino, who had been rescued by boat during the flood
Russell was the starting quarterback again at LSU in 2006, beating out backup Matt Flynn and highly-touted redshirt freshman Ryan Perriloux. He had a very productive 2006 regular season, leading the Tigers to a 10-2 record and a BCS Sugar Bowl berth. He threw for 2,797 yards, 26 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He was also second in the SEC with 2,923 yards from scrimmage. He also won the SEC Offensive Player of the Week award three times during the regular season.
His most memorable performance of the 2006 season came against Tennessee. In spite of throwing three interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), he led LSU on a come-from-behind, 15-play, 80-yard drive in the final minutes of the game. The drive ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to Early Doucet with less than 10 seconds left in the game, and the Tigers defeated Tennessee 28-24. Earlier in the drive, Russell and Doucet also connected for a first down on a 4th and 8 situation.
At the end of the 2006 season, Russell was named to the all-SEC first team, ahead of Kentucky's Andre Woodson and Florida's Chris Leak. In addition, he was named an honorable mention All-American by Sports Illustrated's website, SI.com.
In the final game of his junior year, the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Russell accounted for a total of 350 yards and 3TDs leading to the Tigers 41-14 win over Notre Dame. He was also named the Allstate Sugar Bowl's MVP.
--Wikipedia
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