WVU Football
Veteran WVU Football DL Hammond Russell to Finish Eligibility Elsewhere
With one year of eligibility remaining, defensive lineman Hammond Russell will enter the transfer portal and leave the WVU football program. Russell announced his decision on social media on Wednesday.
“First, I want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to play the sport I love,” Russell said. “I also want to thank coach Neal Brown, coach Trickett, and coach Lesley for believing in me, recruiting me, and giving me the chance to grow both as a player and a person. I am grateful as well to coach Mitch, coach Mike, Aaron, and the entire strength staff for pushing me to become bigger, faster, and stronger throughout my time here,” said Russell.
“With all that being said, and with nothing but love and respect for Morgantown. I will be entering the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining. Thank you, West Virginia, for everything. This place will always feel like home to me.”
Russell made 13 tackles in nine games this past, including 2.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks.
The Dublin, Ohio, native recorded 17 tackles, including seven solo stops, along with three sacks and 3.5 tackles for a loss in 2024 and 10 tackles in 2023 season. Russell took redshirts in both 2021 and 2022.
jackson five
January 1, 2026 at 6:29 am
A MASS EXODUS IS HAPPENING JUST LIKE LAST YR FROM THE FOOTBALL TEAM
DON’T KNOW IF IT’S ANTI RROD , OR THEY SMELL A LOSER FOR THE NEXT NUMBER OF YRS,,, I’D SAY I DON’T KNOW,,, BUT LOOKS LIKE WE’RE STARTING OVER ONCE AGAIN,,THOUGH THE EARLY EVALUATION OF THE INCOMING PLAYERS SOUNDS POSITIVE, BUT NONE HAVE REALLY SIGNED ON THE LINE AND UNTIL THEN, WE ARE ONE STRUGGLING FOOTBALL TEAM AND STAFF..WVU DOESN’T HAVE MUCH MONEY TO BUY PLAYERS, SO I’D SAY, ALL THE ONES ENTERING THE PORTAL KNOW THAT, AND THAT’S WHY THEY’RE ENTERING THE PORTAL…MY GUESS NOW, IS THIS IS IT FOR THE STRUGGLING WVU FOOTBALL TEAM AND STAFF, AND IN NO WAY ARE WE EVER GOING TO WIN A BIG 12 TITLE..WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE KIND OF MONEY THOSE TEXAS SCHOOLS HAVE OR THE STAFF TO BEAT OTHER TEAMS LIKE IOWA STATE, CINN, UCF, KANSAS, ARIZONA OR ASU, OR UTAH OR BYU,, TELL ME I’M WRONG ,,, STUDENT POPULATION IS RAPIDLY DECREASING , WVU IS IN TROUBLE,, KIDS WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL WHERE THERE IS A WINNING FB AND BASKETBALL TEAM, AND WE HAVE NEITHER,,,,HARD YRS FOR WVU,,,SAD ISN’T IT,,