Aaron Ross
refer to caption
Ross with the Giants in 2010
No. 31, 20
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1982-09-15) September 15, 1982
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:John Tyler (Tyler, Texas)
College:Texas (2002–2006)
NFL Draft:2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 20
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:250
Sacks:2.5
Pass deflections:41
Interceptions:11
Defensive touchdowns:2
Player stats at NFL.com

Aaron Jermaine Ross (born September 15, 1982) is a former American football cornerback who won a college football national championship in 2005 with Texas, the 2006 Jim Thorpe Award for the nation's top defensive back, and Super Bowls XLII and XLVI, both with the Giants. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

Ross also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens.

Early years

Ross attended John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas, where he competed as quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back and running back in his three-year career under coach Allen Wilson. He was named second-team Class 5A All-State after posting six interceptions, three fumble recoveries, three blocked kicks and allowing just one touchdown reception as a senior in 2001. As a junior, he returned a fumble and a blocked punt for a score, adding 350 rushing yards (on 46 carries) and five touchdowns and caught five passes for 200 yards and two scores that year. His career-high of 362 all-purpose yards came against Katy High School in 2001. Ross also registered three interceptions while rushing for a touchdown against Fair Park High School that season. His best game was against Marshall High School, when he amassed 272 all-purpose yards, rushed for two touchdowns and had an interception. As a sophomore, Ross played at Fox Tech High School in San Antonio, Texas. There he rushed for 486 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 382 yards and three scores on offense. He also intercepted five passes and blocked ten kicks. During his time at both schools, he lettered four times as a sprinter in track & field and twice in basketball.

College career

Ross during his tenure with the Texas Longhorns.

Ross enrolled at Texas in 2002, but was academically ineligible to play. He played in thirteen games behind Nathan Vasher at left cornerback in 2003, coming up with 27 tackles (23 solos), a stop for a loss and two pass break-ups. He shared right cornerback duties with Tarell Brown in 2004, appearing in twelve contests. He recorded 36 tackles (28 solos) with an interception and three pass break-ups. He also averaged 7.6 yards on 18 punt returns. At the end of the season, he won the first of two Rose Bowl Championships

As a junior, Ross earned All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention. He started two games at cornerback and ranked tenth in the nation with a 14.7-yard average on 34 punt returns, returning two for touchdowns. He also had three interceptions with nine pass break-ups. He ranked seventh on the team with 62 tackles (35 solos), adding two stops behind the line of scrimmage. He helped the Longhorns to win the 2005 National Championship.

Finally a full-time starter in 2006, Ross made the most of this opportunity. He earned All-American and All-Big 12 Conference first-team honors, in addition to being named the Thorpe Award winner (nation's top defensive back). The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year ranked third on the squad with 80 tackles (59 solos). He added a sack, two stops for losses and 19 pass deflections. He caused three fumbles, recovered two and picked off six passes. He also scored once while averaging 10.4 yards on 23 punt returns.

In 51 games at Texas, Ross started 15 times. He registered 205 tackles (145 solos) with a one-yard sack, five stops for losses of 21 yards and a quarterback pressure. He caused three fumbles and recovered two others, returning one for a touchdown. Ross batted away 33 passes and intercepted ten others for 111 yards in returns (11.1 avg). He also returned 76 punts for 893 yards (11.8 avg) and three scores, adding 53 yards on a pair of kickoff returns (26.5 avg). He finished his career by winning the 2006 Alamo Bowl and being named the games defensive MVP.

Ross was part of a Texas recruiting class which contained future NFL players Rodrique Wright, Justin Blalock, Brian Robison, Kasey Studdard, Lyle Sendlein, David Thomas, Selvin Young, and Vince Young.[1] This class, cited as one of the strongest college recruiting classes ever,[2] won the 2005 National Championship.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 0+1⁄2 in
(1.84 m)		 193 lb
(88 kg)		 32+3⁄8 in
(0.82 m)		 9 in
(0.23 m)		4.54 s1.58 s2.63 s4.15 s6.67 s34.0 in
(0.86 m)		9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		17 reps
All values from NFL Combine[3][4]

New York Giants

Ross and Corey Webster at training camp in 2010.

Ross was drafted in the first round (20th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.[5] He was one of seven Longhorns selected by professional football teams in the 2007 NFL Draft. The others were Michael Griffin (number 19 overall), Justin Blalock (number 39 overall), Tim Crowder (number 56 overall), Brian Robison (number 102 overall), Tarell Brown (number 147 overall), Kasey Studdard (number 183 overall).[6] Lyle Sendlein and Selvin Young were not drafted but signed with NFL teams as free agents.[7]

He had first and second career interceptions in week five against the New York Jets, returning his second for his first career touchdown in the same game. As a rookie, Ross recorded 42 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 9 passes defended and 3 interceptions which he returned a total of 51 yards including a 43-yard touchdown. Later that year, Ross helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII by starting at corner, recording 12 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss and a pass defended in the Giants' four playoff games. The team beat the New England Patriots in that game.

In his second NFL season in 2008, Ross recorded 52 tackles (4 for loss), 8 passes defended and 3 interceptions (58 return yards including a 50-yard TD). The Giants went 12–4 that year, good for the best record in the NFC, but fell to the rivaled Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the 2008–09 NFL playoffs.

Ross missed the first 9 games of the 2009 season due to an injured hamstring. He returned in November to play 4 games before re-injuring the hamstring in mid-December. The Giants, despite being out of the playoff picture, ultimately placed Ross on the injured reserve list on December 31, 2009, just days before the final game of the season.

Just prior to the 2011 campaign, Ross's teammate Terrell Thomas was placed on injured reserve, which landed Ross the starting job for the season. The Giants would go on to win Super Bowl XLVI that season against the Patriots again.[8]

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed cornerback Ross to a three-year, $15 million contract during the March free agency period in 2012. The transition to Jacksonville was difficult for Ross, who won two Super Bowls in New York, as the Jaguars finished 2–14, tied for the league's worst record.

His brief tenure in Jacksonville saw Ross battling through injuries and struggling in coverage. Ross drew the ire of Jaguars fans by describing his time in Jacksonville as "a nice paid vacation to Florida". He later apologized.[9]

Ross was released after the start of free agency on March 8, 2013, by newly hired general manager Dave Caldwell.

New York Giants (second stint)

Ross signed with the New York Giants on March 12, 2013, just four days after being released by the Jaguars.[10]

Ross was placed on the IR (injured reserve) after week 4 of the 2013 NFL season with a back injury, and his season was over.[11]

Baltimore Ravens

On June 20, 2014, Ross signed with the Baltimore Ravens.[12] On July 24, 2014, Ross tore his Achilles tendon, ending his season.[13]

Cleveland Browns

Ross signed with the Cleveland Browns on August 16, 2015. He was released by the Browns on August 31, 2015.[14]

NFL statistics

YearTeamGamesCombined TacklesTacklesAssisted TacklesSacksInterceptionsInterception Return YardsYards per Interception ReturnLongest Interception ReturnPasses Defended
2007NYG15423571.535117439
2008NYG15524660.035819508
2009NYG410820.000000
2010NYG153625111.000004
2011NYG166046140.041951912
2012JAX14463790.000003
2013NYG44400.019995
Career83250201492.511137125041

[15]

Personal life

During his early days at Texas in 2003,[16] Ross began dating Longhorn track and field star, Sanya Richards, who is a 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist. The two were engaged in 2007 and married on February 26, 2010. Their wedding was featured on an episode of Platinum Weddings.[17] His life with Sanya was partially chronicled in the weekly reality series Sanya's Glam and Gold.[18][19] Sanya currently appears on The Real Housewives of Atlanta as a full-time cast member starting in season 14.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Texas 2002 Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ↑ Dienhart, Tom (2002). "Ruling class: master recruiter Mack Brown helps Texas consistently bring in top talent, but the Longhorns' 2002 group--led by highly lauded quarterback Vincent Young--might be one of the best recruiting classes ever". The Sporting News. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Aaron Ross Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Aaron Ross, Texas, CB, 2007 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  5. ↑ "2007 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  6. ↑ "NCAA Schools: TEXAS". ESPN. April 29, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2007.
  7. ↑ "2007 NFL Draft". MackBrownTexasFootball. Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2007.
  8. ↑ "Super Bowl XLVI - New York Giants vs. New England Patriots - February 5th, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Aaron Ross: Jacksonville Jaguars stint a 'vacation'". NFL.com.
  10. ↑ Aaron Ross heading back to Giants
  11. ↑ "New York Giants Place Aaron Ross on IR, Activate Will Hill & Make Two Other Moves". Archived from the original on October 10, 2013.
  12. ↑ Wilkening, Mike (June 20, 2014). "Ravens make Aaron Ross signing official, waive three". NBCSports.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  13. ↑ Wilkening, Mike (July 24, 2014). "John Harbaugh: Aaron Ross suffers torn Achilles". NBCSports.com. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  14. ↑ Gantt, Darin (August 31, 2015). "Browns begin the process of getting to 75 with some vet cuts". NBCSports.com. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Aaron Ross Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Perfect match: Track star girlfriend pushes Ross". April 2, 2007.
  17. ↑ "Sanya Richards and Aaron Ross (Published 2010)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Sanya's Glam & Gold – WE tv". Archived from the original on August 31, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  19. ↑ http://www.wetv.com/full-episodes/sanya-s-glam-gold/2623955564001/glam-or-gold%5B%5D
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