He plays Gaelic football with his local club Laune Rangers and was a member at senior level of the Kerry county team from 1997 until 2009.
It was here that Russell's football skills were first developed and he became a key member of the school's senior team.
An All-Ireland colleges' final appearance beckoned for Russell's side with St Patrick's of Maghera providing the opposition.
Killorglin went on a goal scoring spree and proved more than a match for the point-scoring abilities of St Pat's.
The University of Ulster provided the opposition on that occasion in Austin Stack Park; however, ITT won the game by 0-10 to 0-8, giving Russell a Sigerson Cup winners' medal.