His 'Come to Q' Moment

Dec. 23—Football players at West Laurens have had them. So have those from Macon, Griffin and Washington County.

It's a 'Come to Q' moment. Baldwin High School junior defensive tackle JonQuavious Russell enters somebody else's backfield, spreads those arms open wide, and invites quarterbacks and running backs to 'Come to Q.'

The 2023 U-R All-County Defensive Player of the Year, Russell was often an unwelcome presence on the other side of the line of scrimmage once the football was snapped. In 11 games, he recorded 21 tackles for a loss and sacked those quarterbacks 7.5 times.

It's all the result of work, work on the field, work on the weights.

"I just continue working," said Russell during a telephone interview with The Union-Recorder as Baldwin County schools began the Christmas holiday break. "We work real hard during the offseason. We hit the weights every day. We just had the mindset to get out there, that's all we wanted. Even though the season ended kind of bad, we continue to still work. That's what (former head coach Jesse Hicks) pushed us to do."

Russell began playing football at the age of 6. He was originally a linebacker and stayed that way through middle school. Moving up to Baldwin High, Russell became a defensive lineman right there in the middle of the trenches. He also lined up at tight end on offense and did long snapping on special teams.

"When you are a kid, you float around a lot," said Russell. "You really didn't have a set position at recreation. I kind of had a choice. I'm an aggressive type of guy."

So for him, the "dark side" of the field seemed to naturally fit, that being defense. He did start at tight end as a freshman for the Braves.

"We get the rhythm of the game going," said Russell about playing offense. "We try to put up scores."

Settling in at defensive tackle, it's his job to disrupt momentum, get turnovers for the offense to work with, and maybe even score yourself as some Braves have done picking up loose footballs.

"My mindset coming into the trenches is to dominate the line," said Russell. "I know what my expectations are with my coaches. I've got to be the meanest guy on the field. It's 'Q' Russell. I know what I have to do. Coming into the week, we are going to watch film, see where their O-linemen are, and I know what I have to do to beat them. When I go in (the game), I already have my mind on winning. 'I'm going to beat you. No matter what.'"

It's kind of like an alter ego, 'Q,' between the lines. Whoever is unfortunate enough to carry the football, 'Come to Q.'

"I always keep my eyes on my opponent," said Russell. "After I beat him, my eyes go straight to the quarterback or the running back. The main thing is beating the guy in front of me first, then work it to the next level."

Textbook defensive football says it's the lineman's job to 'eat up blockers' and make things easier for the linebackers to make plays. So if you double-team 'Q,' that means another Russell, cousin DeVarious, can clean things up. DeVarious, also a junior, was also first-team All-Region 2-AAAA with 6.5 tackles for a loss (64 total).

"It's a 'want-to' in football," said 'Q' Russell. "I just wanted it every game. Always tell myself, 'Q"s going to do this.' Always have my mind set on something I'm going to complete. I tell my coaches before the game, 'I'm going to get this.' I try to work towards getting that because I told my coaches I'm going to get it. I just want it."

Russell stands 6-feet-tall and weighs 230 pounds. His bench-press maximum now stands at 375 pounds and his squat is 425 pounds. Under the watch of a veteran, Baldwin's strength and conditioning coach C.B. Cornett, Russell was able to tone up that frame during the offseason.

"He always tells us don't ever say you can't do anything," said Russell. "Always push yourself. Going into the weight room every day with coach Cornett, I know I can't look small. It's always a big mindset. I did 225 Tuesday, Thursday I know I have to get 235. Don't ever say no. You must get bigger."

So far, the calls and letters from the college scouts and coaches haven't come to Russell, 'Q' that is, but he is filling out questionnaires through his counselor at school. His next big step will be spring practice when he will see what kind of interest he can draw.

"I'm just waiting my turn," he said. "Can't rush it. You just have to wait. (I want to go) anywhere I'm loved and am able to get a full ride. I'll take it."

Now, what about 'Q?' Lots of players have a nickname, and all come with an interesting origin story.

For Russell, it was family and coaches who started calling him 'Jon Q,' but it was his father specifically who started calling him 'Q.' Here's a reminder that it's actually JonQuavious, and there's actually a divide from the Jon and the Quavious. It's the same for DeVarious.

"He's a dog," said JonQuavious about his cousin/teammate. "We just want it. Ever since we were little, we always wanted it. Do this for the family, trying to put a great legacy behind our name."

It will be a new region for Baldwin High, so several teams from the Augusta area will get their chance at a 'Come to Q' moment in the fall of 2024.

"The upcoming 'Q,' I must get bigger, faster, stronger and execute."