Jordan Russell, the All-Narrows League running back for Lincoln High School the past two seasons,   has decided to give up football in his senior season and focus his athletic talents on basketball. Russell was also the starting point guard  on the Abes team that went to the state tournament last year, defeating No.1-ranked Federal Way along the way in the district tournament, largely on his fourth-quarter.

Russell has also been an all-area pick in both football and basketball in the News Tribune.

“I decided for sure last month that I didn’t want to play football anymore. I kinda realized I was not interested in playing college football, so I thought I would start putting all my time toward improving my basketball skills and getting ready for that,” Russell said.

Russell, a two-time all-league first-teamer, was the foundation of the Lincoln offense the past two seasons, leading the team in rushing yards and total yard. While his skills will be missed on the football squad, he said he is leaving a team that he thinks is going to be a strong contender with almost all the starters from last year returning.

But he realized he won’t miss the game.

“I almost quit before my sophomore year. But some of my friends on the team who were seniors talked me into playing. So I kind of did it for them. I’ve gone back and forth with it every year for a while,” he said.

Russell said he talked with his father about it again this season.

“But this time my mind is made up,” he said.

Russell’s father Derrick runs the Greater Puget Sound Youth Football League, which has its big jamboree this weekend at Harry Lang Stadium. Russell said his dad has mixed emotions about his decision.

“He’d like to see me play; but I think he knows I want to focus on basketball and this is going to help get me better for my senior year. Basically, I have been playing (football) since the fourth grade and I just don’t have the love for football - the desire that I once did.”