Former No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell sued over allegedly taking $74,000 check intended for alma mater

The story of former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick JaMarcus Russell has taken another twisted turn.

According to WKRG, the quarterback is being sued for depositing and cashing a $74,000 check intended for Williamson High School (Mobile, Ala.), his alma mater, in July of 2022.

Russell, the No. 1 selcetion in 2007 out of LSU, was removed from his position as a volunteer assistant at Williamson in the middle of the 2023 season.

“JaMarcus Russell was relieved of his volunteer coaching duties at Williamson High School during the fall of last year,” Mobile County Public School officials told WKRG Sports.

Chris Knowles, who wrote the check, told WKRG Russell approached him about a donation to the school.

After writing the $74,000 check out to Russell, Knowles said he later stopped payment on the check when Russell wouldn’t provide a receipt of the donation and quit returning his phone calls.

Navigator Credit Union is suing Russell for a portion of the check, nearly $55,000, paid to him by mistake on the same day of the deposit. The lawsuit, filed in March 2023, says the money was ‘lent’ to Russell by the credit union at his request.

The case is set to go to trial in October.

Russell, meanwhile, showed up at an off-campus event Williamson players were attending, WKRG reported, leading to staff members receiving a letter.

“Earlier this week, it was reiterated to Mr. Russell that he is not permitted to be around the football program or on school campus,” Mobile County Public School officials said in a statement to WKRG.