The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Baseball Inks Madison's Jason Russell
5/1/2001 | Baseball
May 1, 2001
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss announced the signing of Jason "Root" Russell, of Madison, Miss., to a national letter of intent to play baseball, head coach Mike Bianco announced Tuesday. He will be eligible for the 2001-2002 academic year.
Russell, a 6-feet-2, 220-pound, catcher/first baseman, is hitting .385 this season with six home runs and six doubles for Madison-Ridgeland Academy. He was an all-conference performer his sophomore and junior years, and was also an all-conference selection in football.
"We're very excited that Root has decided to join our program," Bianco said. "He's a very talented hitter and a versatile athlete that can play both catcher and first base."
Russell's uncle Ronnie Russell played baseball at Ole Miss from 1976-79. His father, Richard "Stump" Russell, played linebacker on the Rebel football team from 1972-1974 and was a tri-captain on the 1974 squad. Another uncle, Michael "Coot" Russell was a center on the Ole Miss football team from 1978-80.
The Rebels are 34-14-1 on the season and ranked No. 9 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Top 30. Ole Miss is 16-8 in the Southeastern Conference and in second-place in the overall SEC standings, one game behind LSU.
