KeiVarae Russell Confident As Ever Entering NFL Draft

If KeiVarae Russell doesn't make it in professional football, he certainly has a career in sales as a backup plan.

The former Irish corner broke his tibia against Boston College on Nov. 21, and while still in recovery mode, only completed the bench press at this year's NFL Combine (17 reps).

At Notre Dame's Pro Day, though, Russell showed out. His 11-2 broad jump would have ranked second among all corners at the NFL Combine, and third among any prospect overall. The Everett, Wa., native also notched a 38.5-inch vertical jump and a 4.0 second 20-yard shuttle time, which both would have ranked in the top five among corners at the Combine.

Like a great salesperson making their pitch, Russell made sure everyone who would listen knew about his performance.

“Everything you’ve seen today was just three, four weeks training really hard," he said. "And my tibia is still at sore at times.

"It’s a tough process but I’m about 90 percent, and by the time draft time and camp comes around I should be 100 percent.

"You have to sell yourself. Everything is an evaluation. They want to see how you can move, and how you can do in different situations.”

Situations like fighting through adversity. Russell didn't run a second 40-yard dash after posting a 4.43 in his first attempt, and scouts wanted him to run the 60-yard shuttle, in spite of his hamstring issue.

Russell sat that out, and instead pivots to his reputation he built as a player at Notre Dame.

In sales, they call that overcoming objections.

"You guys know how competitive I am," Russell said. “Competitiveness is not an issue.

"I’ve got to be smart. I can’t afford to pull a hamstring right now. They tried to make me go, but at the end of the day, I had to think about the future."

Current draft projections vary on Russell. Walterfootball.com lists him as a third to fourth rounder, while CBSSports slots him in the sixth to seventh round.

“I believe I can be a first round guy,” he said. “But [he's heard] maybe a second or third round guy because of my shin.

"But after today, private workouts, the process…it’s kind of fickle.”

Russell finished with two interceptions, four pass breakups and 60 tackles in his final season in South Bend.

The NFL Draft will be held April 28-30 in Chicago.