'22 GRIDIRON PREVIEW: Carver's defensive studs keep everybody guessing

The Carver contingent at the annual Prep Media Day included defensive stalwarts James Smith (far left) and Jaquavious Russaw (second from the right). The two are considered among the top recruits in the country. (Staff Photo)

By GRAHAM DUNN

James Smith sat on one end of the table and Jaquavious “Qua" Russaw sat on the other at the recent River Region Prep Media Day.

That was atypical since the two are inseparable most of the time.

“We have always been together. We go to games together,” Russaw said. “We plan on staying that way.”

If true, that will be good news for the college football program they choose due to the fact that the duo is one of the best in the country. 

That’s north, south, east or west. They seem to cover all of that territory.

“They are special,” Carver coach Marcus Gardner said. “They make everyone better on that side of the ball.”

Smith and Russaw have spent most of the recruiting process together on trips, visiting campuses on Game Days and taking in the hospitality while being two of the top recruits in the country.

“It’s been a grind at times, but we enjoy it,” Smith said. 

“I like it,” Russaw added. “It’s crazy sometimes but we manage.”

Most recruiting services have both in their Top 20 players nationally and in the top 10 among defensive players. Smith has been the epicenter of the experts since he was a freshman when he was terrorizing quarterbacks at an early age.

Russaw followed suit and has maintained a consistency that college recruiters covet.

But the combo was apart last season when Smith unexpectedly decided to leave Carver and play at IMG Academy in Florida. 

He has been mum on his reasons but the experiment didn’t last long and he was back in Montgomery before the 2021 season ended.

“I felt like I needed a change,” Smith explained in as few words as possible.

The reason for coming back? “I felt like I didn’t have a fit there.”

“He did what he had to do,” said teammate Josh Maye. “(We’re) not mad at him but I would have let him know if I was.”

The departure might have disrupted the team, although Gardner refused to say it.

“It wasn’t a distraction,” Gardner said. “We missed him but we moved on without him and glad he came back.”

Smith expects to find the same success he enjoyed before his trek south.

“I’ve tried to keep things normal,” he said. “I just want to go out and compete and let the rest take care of itself.”

While Smith was away, Russaw built his own resume, proving he didn’t need another bookend to be a star. He also found out that leadership was important to the success of any squad.

“The whole team will look at you and watch how you are… they know when I’m not giving my best,” he said.

Both insist they will pick the same school when the time comes, and that might be after the early signing period in December.

But when pressed on it, neither would give a definite answer on where that would be. Or, if it is indeed etched in stone they would pick the same school.

“We are still looking,” Russaw said. “We’ve got time and want to make the right choice.”

Both list the in-state schools Alabama and Auburn as well as Georgia, Arkansas and Boston College as their top choices. They have already made an official visit to Athens.

It would be complete conjecture to figure out where they might go. But their muted response to the questions creates the suspense they crave.

So, take a guess and sit tight. The answer is forthcoming, but not for a while.