Finding out just how tough Tyler Russ actually is can be discovered by simply looking at his performance Saturday at Illinois.
In the second quarter of the Bobcats' 20-17 upset over the Fighting Illini, the senior linebacker went down with what looked to be a game-ending high-ankle sprain, an injury that can sideline players for weeks on end.
For Russ, it was only a couple of plays.
Undaunted by the injury, he returned to action and finished the game with nine tackles, good for second-best on the team that night. More importantly, it was Russ who fell on the ball that cornerback T.J. Wright ripped out of the hands of Illinois wide receiver Kyle Hudson late in the fourth quarter, setting up Matt Lasher's game-winning field goal.
He's really a tough kid
Ohio coach Frank Solich said. He obviously can play with some pain as he demonstrated with his ability to go back in.
Saturday wasn't the first time the co-captain out of Stetsonville, Wisc., has had to play through pain, as he has dealt with a slew of injuries ' one of which was nearly career-ending ' since joining the Bobcats four years ago.
After redshirting his first year with Ohio, Russ started the first seven games of his career, collecting 51 tackles, good for third-best on the team at the time, before going down with a brutal knee injury, tearing a number of vital ligaments.
Told his injury could be a premature end to his career, Russ made a promise to himself.
My goal was to come back the very next year he said.
He stuck to his word and was ready to go for Ohio's first game of the 2004 season, but a broken collarbone cut that season short, this time after the fifth game.
Once again, Russ was faced with rehabilitating an injury while trying not to feel sorry for himself, and how he did that is what his teammate and fellow linebacker Matt Muncy admires most about him.
He was just totally dedicated to getting himself back Muncy said. He's had some tough injuries
but he's persevered
and he never got down on himself.
In the last two seasons, Russ has done his best to avoid the injury bug, missing only one game since the start of the 2005 season.
It's always nice when you're playing not injured because it can let you do that extra thing you might not have been able to do before
he said.
Whatever that extra thing is, Russ has been doing it. He currently leads the team with 60 tackles, fourth best in the Mid-American Conference, and is tied for the team lead in interceptions with two. His best game of the season came Oct. 7 when he collected 12 tackles and a pick in Ohio's 27-20 triumph over Western Michigan, a performance that helped him earn his first career MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week award.
He's a leader out there for us
linebackers coach Ross Els said. He's just playing at a different speed than he was last fall
which has helped him make a lot more plays.
The Bobcats' added depth at the linebacker position this season has helped Russ avoid nagging injuries caused by fatigue. Starters Russ, Muncy, and Michael Graham now have the opportunity to rest more during games.
We've been cutting reps by about 20 plays a game compared to last year
when you're playing 60
70
80 plays a game
