TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Despite a rocky start for Troy University’s football team, the performance of one Trojan is giving fans some hope for the rest of the season.
Devonte Ross left Kinnick Stadium with three touchdowns, and earned special teams player of the week.
Troy’s new leading wide receiver earned two passing touchdowns, with 142 receiving yards on five receptions. Ross also returned a punt for a touchdown. Ross is the first to return one against the Hawkeyes in Kinnick Stadium since 49er’s star running back Christian McCaffery in 2016.
“That’s one of the first punts I’ve ever caught,” Ross said, “I was a little nervous, but once [Iowa punter Tory Taylor] kicked it low I knew I was going to have a return, and my teammates did a great job blocking to set up a touchdown.”
Devonte Ross
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Height: 5-11
- Weight: 161
A junior native of Cartersville Ga, Ross had quite the journey before joining the men of Troy. Ross was committed to Kentucky out of high school. Things didn’t work out the way he had planned, so he followed former Wildcats defensive coordinator Jon Sumrall to the Wiregrass.
Since his arrival in Troy, Ross has learned from former greats like Jabri Barber and Deshon Stoudemeyer. “They were leaders who had experience,” Ross praised the duo, “just seeing the way the work as a freshman showed me how to be successful on Saturdays.”
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Now, with arrival of new head coach Gerad Parker, Ross wants to offer the same leadership through the transition that his previous teammates gave him. Ross wants to lead “not just by talking, but by leading by example.”
Ross has led by example since then, with another three touchdown game against Florida A&M the following week. He and the Trojans look to conference play now with ULM coming to Veterans Memorial Stadium Saturday at 6 p.m.
