KENNESAW, Ga. — In 2021, as a senior at Olympic High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, Kai Russell had multiple Division I and FCS offers to play college football. 

Before he could commit, the NCAA gave active players an extra year of eligibility, which took away his roster spot at the schools that offered him. Russell had to begin his college career at Division II Wingate University instead. 

He appeared in 33 games across four seasons for Wingate, compiling 91 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks. 

After the 2025 season, with one year of eligibility left, Russell made a decision. It was time to pursue the opportunity that was taken from him as a senior in high school. He was going to play Division I football. 

“I knew I was supposed to be here,” he said. “I was supposed to have already been playing on this level. I just wanted an opportunity to better my chance to get a shot at the league. I wanted to come to this level and produce, and D-II wasn’t going to do it for me.” 

With two days left to commit to a new school, Russell still didn’t know where he was going to play in 2026. That all changed when he received a direct message on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

It was Kennesaw State Owls head coach Jerry Mack.

“I had two more days before I was supposed to commit and I didn’t know where I was going,” Russell said. “I was up at 6 a.m. working out before they called me. It was kind of a last-minute thing, he hit me and then we made it happen. I needed this opportunity and Coach Mack gave it to me.” 

Mack was looking specifically for “good football people” and players who “love to play the game.”

Kai Russell checked both boxes. 

“The thing that attracted me most about Kai was his intensity and the way he approached the game,” Mack said. “He was wired the right way, and he’s a mature guy that’s serious about football. You can ask anyone in our building, Kai Russell loves to play the game of football.”

In his first three games with the Owls, Russell has already put himself in the record books. 

On Sept. 19, 2026, at Tennessee, Russell finished with seven tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one tackle for loss, and two pass deflections. 

He became the first player ever in Stathead’s database, which dates back to 1995, to finish with that stat line in Neyland Stadium. 

“I got more work to do, 100 percent, but it feels good just to be here with the team getting better,” said Russell. “That is definitely something special, but I still have to prove that I can play at this level. It was a good experience, but I still have much more to do.” 

The passion, motivation and spark that Russell plays with can be traced back to a young age, inspired by his mother Erica. 

“Her journey and everything she accomplished sparked life in me,” he said. “Growing up, she was the head RN. She would go in to work a 12-hour shift, then come back home and take care of us without going to sleep. I really look up to her and she’s somebody very important to me.” 

After he makes his impact on the game, Russell says he wants to give back to his community in Charlotte. 

An exercise science major, personal training and coaching are two things he has in mind. 

“I don’t ever want to truly leave the game,” he said. “I would maybe get into coaching, but I would love to train people and pour life into these kids, just to show them they can do it.”

And it all starts, he said, with those who may not have as much as others. 

“I want to be able to find those dudes that don’t have all the resources growing up and start my own foundation, the Russell Foundation,” he said. “Because where I come from, everybody doesn’t make it.” 

Russell is determined to prove he can, and others can too.