"Aaron had a tremendous senior year and was one of the leaders of our team," said Texas head coach Mack Brown. "…I can’t imagine there’s another defensive back in the country that did as much for their team as Aaron Ross."
Ross signed a letter of intent with the University of Texas in 2001, but was dealt an initial blow when the NCAA Clearinghouse side lined him as a result of a transcript error. Not only did it cost him one year, the issue continued to drag on and forced him out for a second year. Finally, in the summer of 2003, after once again earning an “A” in his sophomore English class, his transcript was straightened out and cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. "Those two years I was sitting out, my mom was my backbone, because I didn’t have a backbone to be able to stand on my own," Ross said.
With his confidence low and his skills rusty, Aaron continued to receive inspiration from his mother who is his biggest fan and greatest supporter, always reminding him "Don’t give up, keep God first, everything will fall into place," Ross said. "If I had a tough day or game, she was always there to encourage me."
As a sophomore, Ross had begun to settle in both on and off the field. He had developed a great relationship with his position coach, Duane Akina, UT’s defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. Akina and head coach Mack Brown’s enthusiasm and positive disposition had begun to rebuild his confidence. Off the field, his mother continued to be his biggest fan and support. He also met then Longhorns track star Sanya Richards, and the two have been dating for three years. With the positive influences in his life, the stage was set for him to follow Michael Huff as UT’s second consecutive Thorpe winner.
"It’s a wonderful story of how hard work pays off," said Akina. "He has overcome so many obstacles in the last six years to get to this point. It’s just wonderful to see that he’s really developed himself as a football player. Here he is, a senior, still taking coaching, still knowing that he can improve his game every day, and it’s wonderful. It’s just a great picture for the young players in that (DB) room to see how to become a great football player and person."
And by all measures, he had one of the finest individual seasons a Longhorn could ask for. He earned unanimous first-team All-Big 12 honors, was tabbed first-team All-American and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by several publications. After registering 77 tackles, five interceptions, 23 passes defended, 18 pass breakups, and 10 takeaways, he was tabbed UT's Defensive MVP and shared team MVP honors with QB Colt McCoy. On the biggest of stages, Ross was at his finest. In Texas' three games against Top 25 opponents, he posted 20 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and returned a fumble for a TD.
Athletic, speedy and aggressive, Ross is also one of the top punt returners in the nation, and UT’s top punt returner for the past three seasons, having returned 74 career punts for three touchdowns and 894 yards for a 12.1 ypr average. Through 12 games in 2006, Ross had returned 21 punts for 241 yards for a 11.5 ypr average. After returning a punt 71 yards for a touchdown against Kansas last season, Ross became the second player in UT history to return two punts for TDs in the same season, tying Jim Moore (1973).
Ross received two national honors for his performance against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. His three takeaways (two interceptions/one fumble recovery) in the fourth quarter of the 28-10 win were the most ever in a quarter by a UT player. He earned the Master Coaches Survey Game Ball for defense and the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week award. He was also named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.
Ross quietly hoped all the hard work and perseverance would be enough to achieve the Thorpe Award, named for one of the greatest athletes and sports heroes ever. Not for the personal glory of a season of excellence, but for the woman he dedicated the season to. It was a tangible reward of a college legacy that he could have never achieved without the maternal guidance of Cheryl Ross. "I set my mind on accomplishing something special when I dedicated the season to her, so any honors I received, and especially the Thorpe Award, I wanted to be a tribute to her." Ross said. "She means the world to me."
True to her nature, his mom's sage advice after the win, "Stay focused, stay humble, keep God first."
Born September 15, 1982 in San Antonio, Texas, Aaron Jermaine Ross is majoring in education and is active in UT's community service program.