JaMarcus Russell (born August 9, 1985 in Mobile, Alabama) is an American football quarterback who plays for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Raiders with the first overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft and played college football for LSU.

Early years

Russell played at Lillie B. Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama where he was coached by Bobby Parrish. Russell became the all-time passing leader in Alabama high school history as he threw for 10,744 yards in his career, eclipsing the mark set by former University of Alabama and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle . He also is ranked as the fifth all-time career rusher in Alabama high school history with 7,362 yards . As a senior in 2002, Russell connected on 219-of-372 passes for 3,332 yards and 22 touchdowns. He was named Alabama's Mr. Football and SuperPrep Dixie Offensive Player of the Year. He was named also to the PARADE All-America Team. Further he was nominated to the SuperPrep All-America Team, FSN South's Countdown to Signing Day All-South First Team, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100 and the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team.

As a consensus top five national pro-style quarterback in every major recruiting publication , in the 2003 recruiting class., Russell had numerous scholarship offers. He chose Louisiana State University over Florida State on National Signing Day.

Sophomore season

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.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Russell housed around a dozen evacuees who had fled the flooding in New Orleans, including New Orleans singer Fats Domino, in his off-campus apartment.

Junior season

Russell was the starting quarterback again at LSU in 2006, beating out backup Matt Flynn and highly-touted redshirt freshman Ryan Perrilloux, he also changed his jersey number from 4 to 2. He had a 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.