Warrior Beat: Good loss for D-tackle

Doug Russell?

“No, he’s now Russ,” UH head coach Nick Rolovich said. “He lost the ‘ell.'”

Russell looks — and feels — an ‘ell’ of a lot better after dropping 45 pounds from last spring to this spring. Russell, who is 6 feet 5, now weighs 285.

“I’m moving a lot better,” said Russell, a defensive tackle/nose tackle.

Russell said he has been on a conditioning program for quite a while. “I hit a road block,” he admitted. “I was able to break through the road bock and drop the weight down.”

He said the plan is basic: Fewer “sugary stuff,” more cardio work.

He also received motivation from Rolovich, who suggested a move to offensive line.

“It was kind of a booster to get my weight back down,” Russell said. “They don’t want the D-linemen too big.”

On sticking to defense, Russell said: “It’s been my dream to play Division I football at D-tackle.”