UTEP Safety Lantz Russell: Size, Tenacity, and a Weekly Honors Breakout
Lantz Russell, a 6'3", 210-lb senior safety for the UTEP Miners, differentiates himself with rare size for the position and a high-intensity, committed playing style that earned him Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Player of the Week after leading UTEP to its first win under coach Scotty Walden with nine tackles and one key stop in that game [6][8]. Though his 2025 season shows zero interceptions and three pass breakups, his 54 total tackles (31 solo) across 2023–2024 demonstrate consistent tackling reliability and defensive presence [1]. A 2-star recruit with a 70 247Sports rating, Russell brings physicality, leadership, and a ‘100% committed’ mindset [5][7]. He’s an ideal fit for teams needing a big, fearless coverage defender who elevates in critical moments, even if he’s still refining playmaking consistency.
