New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - FA DT Jay Ross... Payton Type Player!

ECU's Ross honors mother with degree, stellar play | StarNewsOnline.com

Jay Ross Eastern Carolina University DT 325 pounds 6-foot-3

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“He’s one of the hardest working guys on this team, I can vouch for that,” said Wilson, who has started 30 career games and led the Pirates with 10.5 sacks last season. “When it comes to who is taking care of something, doing stuff without the coaches telling you to do it, that’s what kind of guy Jay Ross is. Seeing how he works pushes me and makes me a different player.”

For Ross, that means playing through an injury, if necessary. Ross thought he had a bad shin splint in his right leg last season. It started hurting in the opener, a victory over Virginia Tech. It kept hurting, but he kept the pain to himself. After the season, he went in for an X-ray. Broken.

Ross started 13 games, absorbed double teams, plugged rushing lanes, chased quarterbacks, made 9.5 tackles for loss, recovered two fumbles, excelled in the biggest games – all with a broken leg.

Stuff like that impresses even a veteran coach named Rock, who describes Ross as a quiet tough guy with a fantastic attitude, who is not a “rah-rah guy” yet possesses strong leadership qualities.

“He comes off the ball quicker than just about anybody I’ve ever coached in 23 years,” Roggeman said. “He’s got a great knack for that and it enables him to penetrate and make those plays.”

Ross has started 24 consecutive games, the longest streak on the team.

Occasionally, he thinks about playing in the NFL. Mock internet drafts project him as a fourth or fifth-round pick.