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Senior Spotlight: Wisconsin Football’s Jack Russell

By Jim Oxley

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As Badger of Honor continues to profile the seniors on the current Wisconsin Badgers football roster, up next is senior kicker Jack Russell.

READ ALSO: Senior Spotlight: Wisconsin Football’s Drew Meyer

Russell is one of three seniors at Wisconsin who didn’t take a redshirt season, joining Joe Schobert and T.J. Reynard in that company.

Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers /

Wisconsin Badgers

The 6-0, 175 pound kicker committed to the Badgers out of nearby Waunakee, Wisconsin, and as a freshman quickly found his way onto the field.

He played in eight games alongside fellow kicker Kyle French.

Russell attempted two field goals — missing both — and connected on 14 of 15 extra point attempts (93.3 percent). He also kicked off 28 times with an average kickoff yardage of 57.8 yards. He had one touchback.

In 2013, Russell again shared time with French in the kicking game, although Russell was used more often. Russell played in 10 games, hitting 9 of 13 field goal attempts (69.2 percent) and was a perfect 34 of 34 on extra point attempts. His 34 makes in 34 tries is the third highest number of makes in a perfect PAT season in the Wisconsin record book.

He only kicked off twice in 2013 as freshman Andrew Endicott assumed kickoff duties.

The emergence of Rafael Gaglianone in the 2014 preseason meant Russell’s kicking abilities were relegated to a backup role. With Gaglianone on placekicking duty and Endicott handling kickoffs, Wisconsin’s 2014 kicking game was the strongest it’s been in a number of years.

While Russell appears to be expendable because of Gaglianone and Endicott, he remains on the roster heading into the 2015-16 season. Depth is always a good thing, and Russell has the experience to step into action if needed.

Next: Senior Spotlight: Joe Schobert

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