Kody Russey Explained

Kody Russey
Position:Lineman
Birth Date:14 May 1998
Birth Place:Burleson, Texas, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:295
High School:Burleson
(Burleson, Texas)
College:Louisiana Tech (2016–2020)
Houston (2021)
Undraftedyear:2022
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Games played
Statlabel2:Games started
Pfr:RussKo00

Kody Ray Russey (born May 14, 1998) is an American football lineman who is a free agent. He played college football at Louisiana Tech from 2016 to 2020 and then transferred to Houston for 2021.[1] He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in .

College career

Russey was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and signed with Louisiana Tech on February 3, 2016.[2] He redshirted as a true freshman in 2016.[3] In 2017, he played in all 13 games with 10 starts, being selected to the Conference USA all-freshman team. He started all 13 games in 2018 and was an All-Conference USA honorable mention. For the 2019 season, he once again started all 13 games and was All-Conference USA honorable mention. Russey started all 10 games in the 2020 season, shortened by COVID-19, and was selected all-conference and to the C-USA Football All-Academic Team.[4] Following the season, he transferred to Houston.[5] He played his last year there, starting all 14 games at center while being team captain, and made the All-American Athletic Conference Second-Team.[6]

Professional career

Russey did not get invited to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, and went unselected in the 2022 NFL draft. Afterwards, he was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent.[7] He played in all of the Patriots' preseason games but did not start in any of them, and was released at the final roster cuts; Russey was subsequently re-signed to their practice squad.[8] He was elevated to the active roster for their games against the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts, on October 30 and November 6, respectively, but did not play in either. Russey was signed to the active roster on November 8, and remained there the rest of the season, but was inactive for each game.[9]

On August 29, 2023, Russey was waived by the Patriots and re-signed to the practice squad.[10] [11] He was not among the team's players signed to reserve/future contracts in 2024, and thus became a free agent at the expiration of his practice squad contract.[12] [13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Diaz . Cory . Louisiana Tech all-conference center Kody Russey enters transfer portal . 2023-02-26 . The News-Star . en-US.
  2. Web site: Kody Russey, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, Offensive Line . 2023-02-26 . 247Sports . en-US.
  3. News: Former Elk among college football's top centers. Cleburne Times-Review. June 27, 2020. Crisp, A. J..
  4. Web site: Kody Russey - Football . 2023-02-26 . LA Tech Athletics . en.
  5. Web site: Duarte . Joseph . 2021-08-13 . Kody Russey brings stability to UH offensive line . 2023-03-10 . Houston Chronicle . en-US.
  6. Web site: Kody Russey - Football . 2023-03-10 . University of Houston Athletics . en.
  7. Web site: Patriots 2022 roster breakdown: Kody Russey is a dark-horse candidate to make the team. PatsPulpit.com. August 1, 2022. Buchmasser, Bernd.
  8. News: Burleson's Kody Russey signs with New England Patriots' practice squad. Cleburne Times-Review. September 1, 2022. Crisp, A. J..
  9. Web site: Kody Russey (C): Bio, News, Stats & more . 2023-02-26 . www.patriots.com . en-US.
  10. Web site: Patriots Make Roster Moves to Reach the 53-Man Roster Limit. Patriots.com. August 29, 2023.
  11. Web site: Patriots sign 15 players to the practice squad. Patriots.com. August 30, 2023.
  12. Web site: Which Patriots are free agents? Every player who could leave in 2024 . MassLive.com. January 7, 2024. O'Malley, Nick.
  13. Web site: Patriots Sign Seven Players to Future Contracts . New England Patriots. January 8, 2024.