Photo by: Mike Mattina/MSU Athletics
Reuniting The Russell Brothers
September 07, 2022 | Football
STARKVILLE – There's a different dynamic in Mississippi State's defensive line room this season.
Sure, there are stalwarts like Jaden Crumedy, Nathan Pickering, Cameron Young and other veterans in there. But what is new this year is adding the Russell brothers to the equation.
De'Monte Russell is a redshirt junior starting his fourth season with the Bulldogs, while his younger brother, Donterry Russell, joined the team over the summer as a true freshman.
"It's really awesome and a dream come true," De'Monte said. "It's just like it was in high school when I was a senior and he was a freshman. It's also a dream come true for my mom for sure. Being able to have my little brother under my wing and show him the ropes of how things go helps me be a leader for him and my other teammates."
Since De'Monte and Donterry share the same position, defensive end, they are able to trade tips on technique and study film together. Sometimes during these film sessions, Donterry will make his own critiques to De'Monte and an effort to try to teach his older brother a thing or two.
"It's funny because he thinks he's mentoring me," De'Monte said.
Playful sibling rivalry aside, Donterry is glad to have his big brother to look up to and help him learn all the nuances of the Bulldogs' defense.
"He told me everything I'd go through, every drill," Donterry said. "He told me to be prepared. We're brothers and can learn from each other. I can definitely learn from him because he's been here for four years and I'm the newcomer. It's a blessing to have a brother on this team and that helps out a lot."
And although De'Monte and Donterry share the same last name, their position coach Jeff Phelps is mindful not to lump them both together despite some of their similarities.
"Over the years, I've had a couple of sets of brothers that have been on the team at the same time and obviously it's a very unique situation," Phelps said. "I'm always careful not the combine them together because they're their own individual person and have different traits and personalities.
"But it's good to have that familiarity with the family structure and what makes them go and what their motivations are. You can tell that they're close and have a close family. They care and love for one another."
One thing Phelps hopes the brothers do have in common is the ability to add weight to their 6-foot-4 frames. De'Monte arrived at MSU in 2019 weighing 218 pounds and now tips the scales at 265. Donterry is currently at 215 pounds during his freshman campaign.
"It's good to have a player that you've had on the team and seen how he's progressed during his time on campus," Phelps said. "That gives you a really good idea that younger brother has a good chance of doing that as well."
De'Monte has appeared in 15 games during his Bulldog career logging 15 tackles, 2.5 stops for loss, two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble. De'Monte saw action in three games during his true freshman season and missed all of 2020 due to injury.
His first significant playing time came last season after he was able to add enough size and strength to compete with the challenges playing in the Southeastern Conference presents.
"I wish I could've come in at the weight that I'm at now because I could've probably played a little earlier," DeMonte said. "I really needed that weight and gaining it over those two years really helped me in the trenches. There are some big guys down there."
Donterry has also shown flashes at practice as a freshman. He was recognized as the Bulldogs' defensive lineman of the day during Tuesday's practice, picking up a pair of sacks as a member of the scout team.
"He's explosive off the ball," Phelps said. "He will naturally gain (weight), but he can move right now and that's really exciting to see."
FAMILY TIES
De'Monte was a four-star prospect and an Under Armour All-American who received double digit scholarship offers during the recruiting process before ultimately signing with Mississippi State.
Going through that experience helped the entire family maneuver through Donterry's recruitment a little more smoothly in the last couple of years. But at no point did anyone, including De'Monte, put any pressure on Donterry to join his brother in Starkville.
"My wife and I told him that it was all about him and wherever he felt that fit him the best," said stepfather Kasson Harris. "He sat back and thought about where he wanted to go and came to me and his mother one night and told us that his decision was to be a Bulldog."
Donterry had his share of offers to sort through as a member of the Clarion Ledger's Dandy Dozen. But the level of comfort he felt with MSU coupled with the coaching staff's communication during the process made it an easy choice.
"Mississippi State called and texted me every day and I could tell they were really hard after me," Donterry said. "At first, (recruiting) was new to me but when I settled down and really thought about it and where home was, it was here. I wanted to be part of this team, this brotherhood and this family."
Donterry's decision to be a Bulldog certainly helped the Harris' travel plans this fall. Instead of dividing time to watch their sons play at separate colleges, they can both now make the two-hour trek from Jackson to Starkville on Saturdays.
"I like being able to go to the same place and see both of my kids play," said mother LeToyia Harris. "It's not too far of a drive. (Mississippi State) is a lot of fun and just like family."
PROVINE PRESSURE
The Russell brothers were last teammates together at Provine High School in 2018 when De'Monte was a senior and Donterry was a freshman.
De'Monte played strong side defensive end for the Rams that season, while Donterry, who was already just as tall as De'Monte and weighed 200 pounds by that time, lined up on the opposite side of the D-line.
"They made a big deal about us being on the field together," De'Monte said. "I was the strong side D-end and he was weak side and we'd just meet at the quarterback."
Mississippi State hopes the Russell brothers will be able to recreate that same magic in the two years that their careers overlap in Starkville.
"The future definitely looks bright with having both of those guys lining up together and putting some pressure on the quarterback," Phelps said.
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Sure, there are stalwarts like Jaden Crumedy, Nathan Pickering, Cameron Young and other veterans in there. But what is new this year is adding the Russell brothers to the equation.
De'Monte Russell is a redshirt junior starting his fourth season with the Bulldogs, while his younger brother, Donterry Russell, joined the team over the summer as a true freshman.
"It's really awesome and a dream come true," De'Monte said. "It's just like it was in high school when I was a senior and he was a freshman. It's also a dream come true for my mom for sure. Being able to have my little brother under my wing and show him the ropes of how things go helps me be a leader for him and my other teammates."
Since De'Monte and Donterry share the same position, defensive end, they are able to trade tips on technique and study film together. Sometimes during these film sessions, Donterry will make his own critiques to De'Monte and an effort to try to teach his older brother a thing or two.
"It's funny because he thinks he's mentoring me," De'Monte said.
Playful sibling rivalry aside, Donterry is glad to have his big brother to look up to and help him learn all the nuances of the Bulldogs' defense.
"He told me everything I'd go through, every drill," Donterry said. "He told me to be prepared. We're brothers and can learn from each other. I can definitely learn from him because he's been here for four years and I'm the newcomer. It's a blessing to have a brother on this team and that helps out a lot."
And although De'Monte and Donterry share the same last name, their position coach Jeff Phelps is mindful not to lump them both together despite some of their similarities.
"Over the years, I've had a couple of sets of brothers that have been on the team at the same time and obviously it's a very unique situation," Phelps said. "I'm always careful not the combine them together because they're their own individual person and have different traits and personalities.
"But it's good to have that familiarity with the family structure and what makes them go and what their motivations are. You can tell that they're close and have a close family. They care and love for one another."
One thing Phelps hopes the brothers do have in common is the ability to add weight to their 6-foot-4 frames. De'Monte arrived at MSU in 2019 weighing 218 pounds and now tips the scales at 265. Donterry is currently at 215 pounds during his freshman campaign.
"It's good to have a player that you've had on the team and seen how he's progressed during his time on campus," Phelps said. "That gives you a really good idea that younger brother has a good chance of doing that as well."
De'Monte has appeared in 15 games during his Bulldog career logging 15 tackles, 2.5 stops for loss, two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble. De'Monte saw action in three games during his true freshman season and missed all of 2020 due to injury.
His first significant playing time came last season after he was able to add enough size and strength to compete with the challenges playing in the Southeastern Conference presents.
"I wish I could've come in at the weight that I'm at now because I could've probably played a little earlier," DeMonte said. "I really needed that weight and gaining it over those two years really helped me in the trenches. There are some big guys down there."
Donterry has also shown flashes at practice as a freshman. He was recognized as the Bulldogs' defensive lineman of the day during Tuesday's practice, picking up a pair of sacks as a member of the scout team.
"He's explosive off the ball," Phelps said. "He will naturally gain (weight), but he can move right now and that's really exciting to see."
FAMILY TIES
De'Monte was a four-star prospect and an Under Armour All-American who received double digit scholarship offers during the recruiting process before ultimately signing with Mississippi State.
Going through that experience helped the entire family maneuver through Donterry's recruitment a little more smoothly in the last couple of years. But at no point did anyone, including De'Monte, put any pressure on Donterry to join his brother in Starkville.
"My wife and I told him that it was all about him and wherever he felt that fit him the best," said stepfather Kasson Harris. "He sat back and thought about where he wanted to go and came to me and his mother one night and told us that his decision was to be a Bulldog."
Donterry had his share of offers to sort through as a member of the Clarion Ledger's Dandy Dozen. But the level of comfort he felt with MSU coupled with the coaching staff's communication during the process made it an easy choice.
"Mississippi State called and texted me every day and I could tell they were really hard after me," Donterry said. "At first, (recruiting) was new to me but when I settled down and really thought about it and where home was, it was here. I wanted to be part of this team, this brotherhood and this family."
Donterry's decision to be a Bulldog certainly helped the Harris' travel plans this fall. Instead of dividing time to watch their sons play at separate colleges, they can both now make the two-hour trek from Jackson to Starkville on Saturdays.
"I like being able to go to the same place and see both of my kids play," said mother LeToyia Harris. "It's not too far of a drive. (Mississippi State) is a lot of fun and just like family."
PROVINE PRESSURE
The Russell brothers were last teammates together at Provine High School in 2018 when De'Monte was a senior and Donterry was a freshman.
De'Monte played strong side defensive end for the Rams that season, while Donterry, who was already just as tall as De'Monte and weighed 200 pounds by that time, lined up on the opposite side of the D-line.
"They made a big deal about us being on the field together," De'Monte said. "I was the strong side D-end and he was weak side and we'd just meet at the quarterback."
Mississippi State hopes the Russell brothers will be able to recreate that same magic in the two years that their careers overlap in Starkville.
"The future definitely looks bright with having both of those guys lining up together and putting some pressure on the quarterback," Phelps said.
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