Looking Ahead 2026: Calvin Russell

[Ttk.gman2]

Playing safety

 

[ImperialOrange]

Gill will be WR1. He will improve even more over the summer. A very hard worker. Trains with a NFL WR trainer in the off weeks. Cook is a bit of an unknown, and could be a transfer. Gill is already stepping into the team leader role according to the recent article where he is working on helping Fran improve on getting the team game ready faster. I have to check if he is going to run track or not this spring. Makes a bit of a difference. I think if he is the true leader, he has to give up track.

Do you know if he has any NIL merch available?

 

[ImperialOrange]

I’m very 50/50 on Cook. On one hand I’d like him back, on the other I wonder if Russell can do that job and some other money can be used (Oline).

Russell COULD do that job but that's not the job that will be asked of him, nor should it. He and Merriweather give us outside catch radius, as does Gill.

I don't know that Cook is even a lock to start if the entire WR room is healthy.

 

[Sdot]

Russell COULD do that job but that's not the job that will be asked of him, nor should it. He and Merriweather give us outside catch radius, as does Gill.

I don't know that Cook is even a lock to start if the entire WR room is healthy.

That is a crazy take and just not true. Cook is a slot receiver. He is the STARTING slot receiver if he comes back.

 

[cusefan88]

Do you know if he has any NIL merch available?

NIL Store | Darrell Gill's Locker Room

nil.store

 

[Ttk.gman2]

Russell COULD do that job but that's not the job that will be asked of him, nor should it. He and Merriweather give us outside catch radius, as does Gill.

I don't know that Cook is even a lock to start if the entire WR room is healthy.

Gough could be able to do Cooks job but I want cook back next year.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Gough could be able to do Cooks job but I want cook back next year.

Darius Johnson is healthy again. It's not just incoming players in contention.

 

[ImperialOrange]

That is a crazy take and just not true. Cook is a slot receiver. He is the STARTING slot receiver if he comes back.

Sorry Mrs Cook, I didn't mean to offend your baby.

Cook IS a slot receiver. There's no guarantee he's THE starting slot receiver in 3 wide sets.

Too many are high on his high school 5 star status... I remember his drops and some half assed route running at times last year. Granted QB play was putrid so I get it.

Cook CAN be good to great, hopefully he works hard to get there. There is plenty of talent in the WR room if not. He's not guaranteed anything just by showing up, otherwise he would still be at Texas.

 

[sufandu]

Sorry Mrs Cook, I didn't mean to offend your baby.

Cook IS a slot receiver. There's no guarantee he's THE starting slot receiver in 3 wide sets.

Too many are high on his high school 5 star status... I remember his drops and some half assed route running at times last year. Granted QB play was putrid so I get it.

Cook CAN be good to great, hopefully he works hard to get there. There is plenty of talent in the WR room if not. He's not guaranteed anything just by showing up, otherwise he would still be at Texas.

Did he have drops before Angeli got hurt? I remember some big drops after, not all of which were on him, but I thought he was pretty reliable those first few games.

 

[CuseFan]

Be great to get a solid QB or two to transfer in early January to they have time to learn the offense, and practice with Calvin as soon as that is possible. As much as I am counting on Steve to be the guy, an achilles tear takes time, and we need a viable QB to throw to Calvin, Cook, Gill, and everyone.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Did he have drops before Angeli got hurt? I remember some big drops after, not all of which were on him, but I thought he was pretty reliable those first few games.

Seems like a lifetime ago but yeah think he checked out mentally after QB dumpster fire became apparent.

That said, he only had 1 TD prior to Angeli going out and finished the year there. Not as if we are going to be stuck replacing a ton of production should he not return or start.

Do you recall him shaking or breaking tackles, running away from, or making catches over defenders prior to the injury? That was my expectation but didn't see it transpire on the feild. Turns out our secondary he was torching in preseason was buns.

He's a nice player but he's a bit of a hype monster thus far. I hope he puts it together but it's not a guarantee as many seem to think.

 

[sufandu]

Seems like a lifetime ago but yeah think he checked out mentally after QB dumpster fire became apparent.

That said, he only had 1 TD prior to Angeli going out and finished the year there. Not as if we are going to be stuck replacing a ton of production should he not return or start.

Do you recall him shaking or breaking tackles, running away from, or making catches over defenders prior to the injury? That was my expectation but didn't see it transpire on the feild. Turns out our secondary he was torching in preseason was buns.

He's a nice player but he's a bit of a hype monster thus far. I hope he puts it together but it's not a guarantee as many seem to think.

I remember some good stuff from him. I think it's hard to say what he may have done the rest of the year. It felt like the offense had really just started to click for about a game and a half when Angeli got hurt.

 

[ImperialOrange]

I remember some good stuff from him. I think it's hard to say what he may have done the rest of the year. It felt like the offense had really just started to click for about a game and a half when Angeli got hurt.

Yeah Gill and Villari were balling out. Cook not as much

 

[Ttk.gman2]

Yeah Gill and Villari were balling out. Cook not as much

Cook had an amazing game vs Clemson, he was just getting started.

 

[Ttk.gman2]

Also this is about Calvin Russell and how he will impact us in 2026. I believe he will be plug and play

 

[ImperialOrange]

Cook had an amazing game vs Clemson, he was just getting started.

Apparently he was also just getting finished...

I honestly appreciate your enthusiasm and having you as a poster... you just sip a tad too much kool-aid on certain issues at times and double down in the face of sound logic.

If you and I sat together at games we'd have an absolute blast though, I promise you that and I'd be cheering just as loudly for Cooks and everyone else.

 

[swish7]

If a 5 star WR recruit like Russell can't come in and start from day one here I would be very surprised. He will have almost 8-9 months of S&C, spring ball and summer camp to get ready. I fully expect him to be a day 1 starter here. If not, well that would be a bit of a disappointment for a recruit of his caliber. In addition, he may only be here 1 year, so why wait? Now, it seems that he will be here longer than that because of his relationship with FB but you get my point with the portal etc

He may end up starting at QB, depending on how things play out.

 

[Sdot]

Sorry Mrs Cook, I didn't mean to offend your baby.

Cook IS a slot receiver. There's no guarantee he's THE starting slot receiver in 3 wide sets.

Too many are high on his high school 5 star status... I remember his drops and some half assed route running at times last year. Granted QB play was putrid so I get it.

Cook CAN be good to great, hopefully he works hard to get there. There is plenty of talent in the WR room if not. He's not guaranteed anything just by showing up, otherwise he would still be at Texas.

Sorry moron but I don’t remember ever bringing up his 5 star status in high school. He’s a slot that had a bad second half of season as did every single one of our receivers. The fact you think if everyone was back he wouldn’t start is a joke itself. If he leaves, he leaves but, don’t be stupid and say he wouldn’t start when he had the most receiving yards on the season.

 

[sufandu]

Yeah Gill and Villari were balling out. Cook not as much

I'm not so sure. Cook led the team in catches and yards against Tennessee. With 6 catches for 58 yards, he didn't have great numbers, but no recievers did that day. Gill had 2 for 33. Villari had 5 for 55. Villari and Cook were Angeli's safety valve that day.

Against UConn JRR, Gill, and Villari all had really good games. Cook dropped off.

Against Colgate Gill had a big game with 6 and 152 and everyone else was pretty meh.

Against Clemson Cook again led the team in catches and yards with 6 catches for 113. Gill had 2 for 41, and Villari 4 for 41.

To me it looks like they were taking turns in the Angeli games, but Cook's best games were against our toughest teams and Gill bullied the weakest team, and for the season Cook led the team in catches and yards. I really don't understand the hate he's recieved while people are enamored with Gill for doing less.

I feel like Cook takes a lot if heat because he had that drop where Collins nearly got him killed and never seemed to bounce back. But did anyone really have a chance to bounce back with the passing game we had the rest of the year?

 

[Cuse4Life]

Does anyone know how fast he runs? Like is he closer to 4.5 or 4.4. Only reason I ask is if he’s a true 4.4 then he can play with his current weight but if he’s 4.5 he’s going to need to add weight to his frame to protect himself. He's such a big talent that I think he’ll see tons of time in our goal line and red zone offense.

 

[Ttk.gman2]

Does anyone know how fast he runs? Like is he closer to 4.5 or 4.4. Only reason I ask is if he’s a true 4.4 then he can play with his current weight but if he’s 4.5 he’s going to need to add weight to his frame to protect himself. He's such a big talent that I think he’ll see tons of time in our goal line and red zone offense.

He’s going to need to add weight regardless, but his large catch radius and excellent leaping ability make him an ideal red-zone target. He has the tools to be a reliable scoring option.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Sorry moron but I don’t remember ever bringing up his 5 star status in high school. He’s a slot that had a bad second half of season as did every single one of our receivers. The fact you think if everyone was back he wouldn’t start is a joke itself. If he leaves, he leaves but, don’t be stupid and say he wouldn’t start when he had the most receiving yards on the season.

Awww, those are some big internet feelings and some mean words! The Mrs Cook comment was in jest (I thought obviously) but apparently didn't land as intended.

You're obviously extremely invested in your take so I will take the L here rather than potentially pour more fuel on the fire.

As an FYI, statements like moron, joke, stupid, crazy, simply not true! don't really aid in justifying your takes. sufandu just did what you were trying to do above however and hats off to them for that.

I hope Cook proves you right, my point was that he may well not. If potential alternative views bother you this badly I've got some terrible news about the internet for you.

 

[bnoro]

Glad we're not going overboard with hyping up the incoming freshman at all.

Yes, Russell is super talented and will have a significant role on the 2026 team. But let's not be putting him at WR1 just yet. He still needs to adjust to the playbook and the college game.

It's also disrespectful to the other players on the roster.

 

[OrangeCrush22]

Sorry Mrs Cook, I didn't mean to offend your baby.

Cook IS a slot receiver. There's no guarantee he's THE starting slot receiver in 3 wide sets.

Too many are high on his high school 5 star status... I remember his drops and some half assed route running at times last year. Granted QB play was putrid so I get it.

Cook CAN be good to great, hopefully he works hard to get there. There is plenty of talent in the WR room if not. He's not guaranteed anything just by showing up, otherwise he would still be at Texas.

Cook has all the physical tools. It’s his mentality he needs to work on.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Cook has all the physical tools. It’s his mentality he needs to work on.

Yep. Is the case with plenty of players though. I just want more touchdowns and YAC out of him.