INDIANAPOLIS – For most players coaches and executives fulfilling media obligations at the NFL scouting combine, hearing a league employee say "last question" is something of a relief. For KeiVarea Russell, those words came too soon.
"Nah, I'll give 'em a couple more," Russell said with a grin. "You know I like this, man."
For Russell, a cornerback from Everett who went on to play at Notre Dame, there is too much to talk about and not enough time at this year's combine. The Mariner High School grad is recovering from a broken leg, so he won't run or jump at the combine, saving that for Notre Dame's pro day in late March, but he will talk, whether to teams or to the media, about what went well for him at Notre Dame, what didn't, and why he can be the best cornerback in this draft.
"Overall, I don't think there's anyone better than me athletically and understanding the game," Russell said. "That's where I'm selling myself now because I'm not performing until my pro day, so my big selling point is I think I'm the smartest one here. A lot of my interviews here, I think all the scouts have been impressed with the knowledge of the game I have. I give a lot of credit to my coaches at Notre Dame."
So no, Russell isn't shy, but he has been humbled. After winning a starting job as a true freshman and earning freshman All-American honors, and after being a starter the next season as well, Russell appeared to be on the fast track to stardom and eventual NFL riches, but an honor code violation caused him to be suspended for the entire 2014 season. Russell returned home to Everett, enrolled at Everett Community College and was determined to turn that serious setback into a positive.
"It was definitely a learning experience, but it was something I really cherished because I took advantage of the time away," Russell said. "I got a job in real estate. I'd never had a job in my life, but I'd also never had a lot of money in my life either. So if I would have left last year (for the NFL), I'd have been going into a six-figure, seven-figure job not knowing anything about money. So when I got suspended, I took advantage of that time to learn about money—let's learn about assets, what's depreciation, let's learn about how money operates. That really helped me with that suspension to take that internship in real estate. I also was still going to school full time and training six days a week, so for me, I turned it into a positive."
Russell could have transferred to a lower-division school and played immediately, or even taken his chances in the 2015 draft, but he felt like he had unfinished business at Notre Dame. That same desire to finish things out right with the Irish led to him playing through a stress fracture for most of last season before his tibia finally broke, ending his season.
"That was extremely important," he said. "That's also why I didn't sit out (with a stress fracture). Even though there were games I probably should have sat out as far as the pain I was in with my tibia, but I told the guy, 'I already missed a year, I can't sit out.' The only reason I sat out is because I eventually broke it… To me it was important to come back to make a statement that I'm someone who holds himself accountable for his actions, whether they're good or bad, and he's going to make it right no matter what it is."
And that statement didn't go unnoticed by his teammates.
"It shows his resilience just as a person, not just a football player, you know, because he could have just chose to sit out or go to the NFL or go somewhere else," Notre Dame Elijah Shumate said. "But him just sticking it out working real hard to get back there coming back to Notre Dame and finish his degree and finish what we started after almost getting the national championship his freshman year just talks about him as a person. I feel everything he has done for the team is just him just working hard and doing what he got to do to be the best player he can be for the team and for himself.''
It's hard to project where Russell will land in the draft given his unusual college career and recent injury, but while he won't work out for teams until he can "make sure I give them the 100 percent KeiVarae," Russell does plan on making the most of his time at the combine.
"For me it's been a lot of mental, trying to show these guys I'm the best one mentally as understanding the scheme, understanding defenses, understanding offenses and just mentally ready for the game. I think I am the best one here out of all the corners, (Notre Dame defensive coordinator) Brian VanGorder really helped me out with all the NFL schemes we threw at other teams. I learned a lot from him."
With the 2017 NFL Combine underway, take a look back at some current Seahawks at their own NFL Combines.
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, MAY 15-16 - FILE This Feb. 27, 2010, file photo shows Miami's Jimmy Graham running a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Graham believes that overcoming a difficult upbringing gave him confidence to do what he did at Miami: play four years of basketball, one year of football, earn a degree and become a third-round draft choice of the defending Super Bowl champions. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
West Virginia offensive lineman Mark Glowinski runs a drill during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, February 20, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Michigan defensive lineman Frank Clark runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Defensive lineman Ahtyba Rubin of Iowa State runs a drill at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Defensive lineman Cliff Avril of Purdue runs a drill at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Defensive lineman Cliff Avril of Purdue runs a drill at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Michael Bennett runs a football drill at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Michael Bennett runs a football drill at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Michael Bennett runs the 40-yard dash during football drills at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Boston Col linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Jimmy Graham of Miami poses for a headshot during the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Kam Chancellor of Virginia Tech poses for a headshot during the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Earl Thomas of Texas poses for a headshot during the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Miami's Jimmy Graham runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas' Earl Thomas runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson poses for a headshot during the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 24 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
University of Washington wide receiver Jermaine Kearse poses for a headshot during the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 24 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Mississippi State linebacker KJ Wright poses for a headshot during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 26 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Stanford defensive lineman Richard Sherman poses for a headshot during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 27 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Mississippi State linebacker KJ Wright runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Stanford defensive back Richard Sherman runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Stanford defensive back Richard Sherman runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, March 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Boston Col linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas State University defensive back Kelcie McCray poses for a portrait during the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson throws as he runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Washington receiver Jermaine Kearse runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Washington receiver Jermaine Kearse runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Arkansas State defensive back Kelcie McCray runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Arkansas State defensive back Kelcie McCray runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri offensive lineman Justin Britt runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of California-Los Angeles defensive end Cassius Marsh poses for a headshot during the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 22, 2014 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Central Michigan Thomas Rawls runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Michigan defensive lineman Frank Clark runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
UCLA defensive lineman Cassius Marsh drops the ball during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
West Virginia offensive lineman Mark Glowinski runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
West Virginia offensive lineman Mark Glowinski poses for a headshot during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Central Michigan Thomas Rawls runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Central Michigan running back Thomas Rawls poses for a headshot during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, February 19, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
UCLA defensive lineman Cassius Marsh runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
UCLA defensive lineman Cassius Marsh runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of Missouri offensive lineman Justin Britt poses for a headshot during the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 20, 2014 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Boston College linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis poses for a headshot during the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 22, 2014 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Central Michigan Thomas Rawls runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett poses for a headshot during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, February 19, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Michigan defensive lineman Frank Clark runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Missouri offensive lineman Justin Britt runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Michigan defensive lineman Frank Clark poses for a headshot during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, February 20, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Missouri offensive lineman Justin Britt runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson poses for a headshot during the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 21, 2014 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Central Michigan Thomas Rawls runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson makes a catch during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson prepares to throw during drills at the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Boise State defensive back Jeron Johnson poses for a headshot during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 27 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Boise State defensive back Jeron Johnson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett performs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive lineman Jarran Reed runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama defensive lineman Jarran Reed runs the 40-yard dash during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Alabama defensive lineman Jarran Reed poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Notre Dame running back C.J. Prosise poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Notre Dame running back C J Prosise runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame running back C J Prosise runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Boise State offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
California wide receiver Kenny Lawler poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
California wide receiver Kenny Lawler runs the 40-yard dash during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
California wide receiver Kenny Lawler catches a pass during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Maryland defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Maryland defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson runs a drill during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Maryland defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M offensive lineman Germain Ifedi poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Texas A&M offensive lineman Germain Ifedi makes a vertical jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Texas A&M offensive lineman Germain Ifedi runs the 40 yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Colorado State defensive back DeAndre Elliott poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Colorado State defensive back Deandre Elliott runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Colorado State defensive back Deandre Elliott runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Arkansas running back Alex Collins poses for a headshot during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Arkansas running back Alex Collins runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas running back Alex Collins runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
