Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 38-0vs Fordham | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#34
Deron Russell
Freshman cornerback on North Dakota State's 2026 roster.
6′1″ · 180 lb · Waseca, MN · Waseca HS
Returning to North Dakota State for 2026
Recruiting
3★
CB recruit
No. 2533 nationally · Signed with North Dakota State
No college snaps yet.
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 cornerback on North Dakota State's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to North Dakota State in 2026.
Deron Russell
One game to point at: 3 tackles against Fordham — Week 1, 2026.
3 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2026
- Signed with North Dakota State3-star out of Waseca
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
North Dakota State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026North Dakota State3-0HC: Tim Polasek · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 3.0 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Tim Polasek
Pass share
37.7%
72 pass / 119 run
Plays / game
63.7
3 games
Team sack rate
6.0%
84 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | North Dakota State | 3 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 3 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
North Dakota State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Cornerback · North Dakota State
Returning around him
- 2 North Dakota State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -4 net (3 in / 7 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
North Dakota State · Last season: 12-1 · Talent rank #131 · 2026 recruiting class #117
The secondary · North Dakota State
- #7Chance Tucker1 game · 2026
- #12DJ Voltz2 games · 2026
- #29Darius Givance3 games · 2026
- #22Hudson Artz1 game · 2026
- #34Deron Russell1 game · 2026
18 more on the roster · North Dakota State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology