RICHMOND, Va. — Averett University football fifth-year defensive end Jahlin Russell was selected as the Defensive Lineman of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Richmond, the organization announced Thursday.

Russell, a native of Richmond, was recently named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference's Lou Wacker Defensive Player of the Year while earning All-ODAC First Team honors.

Russell, a native of Richmond, Virginia, became the first Averett football player to earn a major conference award from the ODAC since Averett joined the league before the 2022 season. Overall, he is the second Cougar to earn the top defensive honor from the conference, joining Averett Athletics Hall of Famer Jermaine Moore, who was the 2006 USA South Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Russell put together a record-breaking year in which he set the program's single-season mark with 12 sacks. Russell, who twice earned ODAC Defensive Player of the Week and once was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week, finished with 85 total tackles (36 solo) with three forced fumbles and 11 quarterback hurries. In 10 starts, his sack total led the ODAC in addition to tackles for loss yards, and he was second in fumbles forced. He finished his career with 17 sacks, one shy of the program record.

Russell's selection by the Touchdown Club of Richmond is the third major individual honor for an Averett player from the organization. Former Cougar Cole Westberry was named the Touchdown Club of Richmond's Specialist of the Year in consecutive years in 2017 and 2018.

Russell was among the list of seven players to receive individual recognition from the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III/NAIA/USCAA/NCCAA level. The honored players will be recognized during the broadcast of the Dudley and Lanier Awards presentation, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 9. This awards broadcast, hosted by Lane Casadonte, will air on WTVR-TV6, the local CBS affiliate in Richmond. The awards show will air, following the national broadcast of the Army vs. Navy football game on CBS, which starts at 3 p.m. Additional award winners will be announced early next week and will be featured in this broadcast as well. The state coaches of the year will be announced on Monday, Dec. 4, while the NCAA Division I winners will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

The Touchdown Club of Richmond is a 501(c)(3), sports-social organization, based in Richmond. The club promotes the best interests of the American game of football and sports in general, under the guidance of elected officers, with the predominate purpose being to recognize worthy athletes for their accomplishments. The club's membership compiles a ballot from all the football playing colleges and universities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The ballot is then distributed to the club's membership for voting to determine the award winners, seven at each level, NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II/NCAA Division III/NAIA/USCAA/NCCAA, along with a Coach of the Year at each level.


Touchdown Club of Richmond Award Recipients:
• Offensive Back of the Year – Drew Campanale, QB, Randolph-Macon College
• Offensive End of the Year – David Wallis, WR, Randolph-Macon College
• Offensive Lineman of the Year – Justin Meade, Virginia Union University
• Defensive Lineman of the Year – Jahlin Russell, Averett University
• Linebacker of the Year – Kindrick Braxton, Christopher Newport University
• Defensive Back of the Year – Will Pickren, S, Hampden-Sydney College
• Specialist of the Year – Kyle Ihle, Placekicker, Randolph-Macon College