Russ Callaway - Football Coach - Murray State University Athletics

Russ Callaway

Title:
Wide Receivers
Email:
rcallaway1@murraystate.edu
Phone:
(270) 809-6864

Russ Callaway enters his second season on staff at Murray State. He will work primarily with the wide receivers, while also serving as the recruiting coordinator.

In his first season, Callaway mentored a group of receivers that saw seven receivers catch at least 15 passes and combine for 20 touchdowns.

The group was anchored by All-American Walter Powell, who caught 66 passes for 837 yards and 13 touchdowns in 10 games.

Powell was not alone as sophomores Jeremy Harness and Paul Rice had breakout seasons. Harness hauled in 40 passes last season, after catching just 13 the season before. Rice had 32 catches this past season after catching only one pass as a freshman.

Callaway also mentored freshman Jesse Blackburn into one of the top pass catchers in the OVC. Blackburn got stronger as the season went and ended the year with nine catches for 170 and a pair of touchdowns in the victory over Eastern Kentucky.

Callaway joined the Racers after winning back-to-back BCS National Championships as a defensive analyst on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama.

In his role at UA, Callaway assisted defensive coordinator Kirby Smart with the inside linebackers.

The Tide defense posted four shutouts, and held six opponents to 10 points or less. As a unit, they led the country in rush defense (76.36), total defense (250.00) and scoring defense (10.93)

In the BCS title game, the Crimson Tide defense held Notre Dame to just 32 yards rushing in the 42-14 victory.
UA limited Georgia to 113 yards rushing in capturing in the 2012 SEC Championship.

Callaway assisted in the development of All-America linebacker C.J. Mosley. Mosley was named a Butkus Award finalist after posting 107 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, four sacks and two interceptions in 2012.

The Crimson Tide defense was even more impressive in 2011 as they led the country in rush defense (72.15), pass defense (111.46), total defense (183.62) and scoring defense (8.15).

The unit was anchored by First-Team All-America linebackers Donte Hightower and Courtney Upshaw.

Like Hatcher and Stewart, Callaway played collegiately as a quarterback at Valdosta State. He was a two-time captain and had his most productive season in 2009 when he went 26-for-45 for 350 yards and three touchdowns.
He joined the Blazers in 2007, helping the team to the school’s second National Championship.

Callaway’s collegiate career was cut short due to injury. He took the time to transition into coaching as he spent his final year working with the quarterbacks as a student assistant.

Callaway joined the Blazers after a standout career at Oconee County High School.

As a junior, Callaway was selected an honorable mention all-state selection by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
He followed that up his senior season by earning honorable mention all-state accolades from the AJC and the Associated Press, as well as first-team all-state honors from Georgia Athletic Coaches Association North.
He graduated from VSU in 2010 with a degree in business management.

His father, Neil, is currently the offensive line coach at Western Kentucky.

Callaway and his wife, Taylor, were married on May 7, 2011, and are the proud parents of daughter Maris.