According to Russell, he had to bring his confidence and toughness to the surface to make his stunning interception against a streaking Smith-Schuster.
“I’m on my own all day,” Russell said. “I’m going against a good player. I had to realize that he’s going against a good player, too. I am the best corner he’s going against all year. I was like, ‘Let me start playing.’
“The times they threw at me in the fourth quarter, they didn’t have a completed pass, because I started really challenging the receiver. I started playing the ball more. I mentally took on myself. I said to myself, ‘Be the athlete you are. Be the player everybody knows you can be, and the player you know you can be. Start making more plays.’ I had to turn it on. It’s the fourth quarter, and the game is close. We keep talking about making the big play on defense, but we haven’t made it. Just go out there and make it. I told my team, I always make plays against S.C. I said, ‘I’m going to make a play. I always make plays against USC.’ I told the staff, ‘I’m going to make a play against USC.’ That’s what I do. I find a way.”