Kyle Russell is committed to play college baseball at Oregon. But, he also has Curtis football contending in the 4A SPSL

Curtis High School junior Kyle Russell already has his athletic future set. He is verbally committed to play college baseball at Oregon, and is one of the South Sound’s top shortstops.

In the spring, Russell led the Vikings in hits (27), RBI (15) and batting average (.380), never struck out in 81 plate appearances, and posted a .932 fielding percentage.

He started attracting college interest before his freshman season, and said the offer to play college baseball in Eugene was too good to pass up.

“I had my heart set on it right when I started talking to them,” Russell said. “They showed me love, I showed them love, it was just the connection. I’ve always wanted to be an Oregon Duck, so I’m glad it worked out.”

And, with his post-high school path is in place, Russell is spending his baseball offseason enjoying playing football, the other sport he loved growing up.

“I can come out here, play loose and play fun,” he said.

Russell has played since he was a fifth-grader, always at quarterback, and has continued on despite deciding to pursue baseball in college. With no pressure to try to secure a future in football, Russell said he’s just enjoying the varsity experience.

“There are a lot of 6-foot-1, 180-pound kids that can throw the way he does who are looking for football scholarships and putting a lot of pressure on themselves to be perfect,” Curtis coach Chris Paulson said.

“It’s actually more fun to coach somebody who’s not putting that pressure on themselves. He just runs around, has fun and can play carefree — and I think it makes him better.”

Russell, who is in his second season starting behind center for the Vikings (4-1) after taking over three weeks into his sophomore campaign, has developed into one of the 4A SPSL’s best passers.

Behind a veteran offensive line, Russell has completed 61 of 115 passes for 1,100 yards, rushed for another 301 yards on 34 carries and scored 15 total touchdowns.

“I think he goes out and plays football because he loves to play football,” Paulson said. “If one game he throws for 300 (yards), that’s awesome. If the next game we’re handing the ball off and rushing for 300 yards, and he completes eight balls, that’s fine, too.”

Last week against Emerald Ridge, with standout running back Caleb Kwalalon (52 carries, 682 yards, 10 TDs) out with an ankle injury, Russell had his biggest game of the season, throwing for 304 yards and two touchdowns on 8 of 10 passing. He rushed for another 99 yards and three touchdowns on four carries.

Paulson said he’s never had a quarterback who can make the throws Russell does, and Curtis has adjusted its offense to fit Russell’s skill set.

Senior receivers Zack Paulsen (20 catches, 381 yards, four TDs) and Marlon Jones (17 catches, 341 yards, five TDs) have been Russell’s top two targets.

“He’s a baseball player, but his arm is pretty magical,” Paulsen said. “He can make any throw you want him to make. What he’s brought out this year that he didn’t really have last year is his legs. He can run, he’s getting yards after (contact). He’s doing big things this year, and he’s going to keep rolling.”

Luke Purcella, a three-year starter who has logged time at every position on the offensive line as a senior, said Russell’s confidence has grown as a quarterback during the past two seasons.

“I’ve been the center the last two years, and he’s grown a lot,” Purcella said. “He’s able to sit back in the pocket and move around when need be. He’s doing a really good job and is one of the big parts of our success.”

Russell got his first start in Week 3 last season. It was against a Sumner team that boasted one of the state’s best defenses, including linebacker Ben Wilson, who now plays at TCU.

“That was big-time,” Russell said. “I ran into him for the first time, and it was varsity football for sure.”

The Vikings lost the game, but Russell showed his capability as a quarterback, throwing for his first two touchdowns, including a 10-yard dart to Paulsen.

“He fit it in between three Sumner defenders, and it looked like he was throwing a 90-mile-per-hour fastball,” Paulson said. “The sideline erupts, but coaches are looking at each other like, ‘Did you see that?’ That was not a normal throw. That was a special throw.”

Paulson said Russell has consistently improved since, and believes with their veteran quarterback the Vikings — who are tied for second in the 4A SPSL with No. 5 Graham-Kapowsin and Rogers with four regular-season games to play — are in the mix to return to the playoffs after a two-season drought.

“We set our goals high, because you can never shoot too high,” Russell said. “We have the confidence, we have the swagger it takes to be one of those top teams. Our confidence and our leadership is amazing right now.”