JaMarcus Russell knows a thing or two about Lane Kiffin and LSU football, and the former number one overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft is pumped to see what the polarizing head coach has in store for his alma mater!

TMZ Sports chatted it up with Russell and Dwayne Bowe -- former star teammates at LSU -- about their school's hiring of Kiffin, and both are pumped to see how he makes his mark on one of the country's top programs. Getty

Russell, in particular has a unique view of the 50-year-old ... since Lane was his head coach in Oakland with the Raiders until Al Davis fired him four games into the 2008 season.

"I was learning to be a professional athlete. He was learning to be a professional coach," JaMarcus told us.

"I think if he had some time, it would've worked.

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