OSU recruit Fred Ross following same path as his high school coach
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Sunday, January 27, 2013
1/28/13 at 1:37 PM
Fred Ross is hoping to take the same path as his high school football coach: from John Tyler (Texas) High School to Oklahoma State to a chance in the NFL.
"You can see his picture hanging up in the high school," Ross said of his coach, Ricklan Holmes. "That kind of gives us motivation to push really just to get to college. I've always liked OSU, so that just topped it off."
Holmes, who was promoted to John Tyler's head coach before last season, played cornerback for the Cowboys in 1999-2002 and then spent three years as a free agent with the New England Patriots.
"Anytime you coach guys who go to your alma mater and get to wear the same uniform you wore, it's always a big deal," Holmes said.
A 6-foot, 180-pound wide receiver, Ross is a Rivals.com four-star prospect and ranked 23rd in the country at his position.
As a junior and senior, Ross had 185 catches for nearly 3,000 yards and accounted for 45 touchdowns.
"He's a phenomenal receiver - big, fast, great hands, body control," Holmes said. "He'll be a big impact in the Big 12 at Oklahoma State."
Ross also has offers from Baylor, Missouri, Mississippi State and others but has been committed to OSU since last February.
"It was really stressful, all the phone calls and people just blowing up my phone and all the mail," Ross said of the recruiting process. "All of that was pretty annoying."
Although Ross has visited other schools since committing, he said he hasn't wavered on his decision to attend OSU.
"I'm solid," he said. "I feel like I can come in and get the job done."
Holmes said that three-star defensive end Tyus Bowser, Ross' teammate and friend since elementary school, committed to the Cowboys on Thursday. However, Bowser winding up in Stillwater is not necessarily a done deal.
Verbal commitments are non-binding. Recruits can begin signing letters of intent Feb. 6.
OSU COMMITMENTS (21)
| Pos. |
Player |
Ht. |
Wgt. |
Hometown/last school |
|
WR | Marcell Ateman | 6-4 | 190 | Wylie, Texas (East) |
|
RB | Rennie Childs | 5-10 | 185 | Houston (Cypress Ridge) |
|
OL | Zach Crabtree | 6-7 | 265 | Mansfield, Texas |
|
CB | Darius Curry | 6-1 | 190 | Flowery Branch, Ga. |
|
S | Tre Flowers | 6-2 | 175 | Converse, Texas (Judson) |
|
OL | Brandon Garrett | 6-8 | 285 | Trinity Valley; Athens, Texas |
|
K | Ben Grogan | 6-0 | 175 | Arlington, Texas (Martin) |
|
DT | Ben Hughes | 6-3 | 300 | Waco, Texas (University) |
|
OL | Jack Kurzu | 6-4 | 305 | St. Louis, Mo. (Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day) |
|
CB | Taylor Lewis | 6-0 | 183 | DeSoto, Texas |
|
WR | Jerel Morrow | 6-1 | 180 | Emporia, Kan. |
|
DE | Naim Mustafaa | 6-4 | 235 | Alpharetta, Ga. |
|
S | Deric Robertson | 6-2 | 185 | Killeen, Texas |
|
OL | Jesse Robinson | 6-6 | 280 | Hurst, Texas (Bell) |
|
WR | Fred Ross | 6-0 | 180 | Tyler, Texas (John Tyler) |
|
OL | Jaxon Salinas | 6-4 | 300 | Irving, Texas |
|
WR | Ra'Shaad Samples | 5-10 | 170 | Dallas (Skyline) |
|
S | Jordan Sterns | 6-1 | 195 | Cibolo, Texas (Steele) |
|
DT | Vincent Taylor | 6-3 | 250 | San Antonio, Texas (Madison) |
|
RB | Corion Webster | 5-11 | 190 | Atlanta, Texas |
|
DE | Sam Wren | 6-3 | 260 | Arizona Western; Palestine, Texas |
Original Print Headline: OSU recruit following a familiar path
Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Ross
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