| Aaron Ross |
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Cornerback
6-1 · 196
Tyler, Texas (John Tyler)
#31
Athletic, speedy and aggressive fourth-year defensive back ... named the Jim Thorpe Award winner (nation's top defensive back) ... a first-team All-American in 2006 ... earned 2006 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and San Antonio Express-News ... a unanimous first-team All-Big 12 performer ... played in 51 career games with 205 tackles, 33 PBU, 10 INTs, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries ... also has been Texas' top punt returner for the past three seasons ... returned 76 career punts (No. 5 on UT's all-time list) for 893 yards (No. 5 on UT's all-time list) and three TDs (T-No. 1 on UT's all-time list) ... his 11.8 yards per return average ranks fourth on UT's all-time list ... started all 12 games in 2006 ... named the George "Hook" McCullough Co-MVP along with Colt McCoy ... tabbed the Mike Campbell Most Valuable Defensive Player ... finished third on the team in tackles with 80 to go along with six INTs, 19 PBU, three TFL, a sack, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries ... also returend 23 punts for 240 yards and a TD ... played in all 13 games, starting two, at cornerback in 2005 ... earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors as a punt returner ... recorded 62 tackles, two TFL, a team-high three INTs and nine PBU ... posted 500 punt return yards (No. 3 on UT's single-season list) on 34 returns (No. 8 on UT's single season list) and scored two TDs (T-No. 1 on UT's single season list) ... his 14.7 yards per return average ranked 10th in the nation ... he is only the second player in UT history to return two punts for TDs in a season ... also finished third on the team with nine special teams tackles ... shared time with Tarell Brown in all 12 games in 2004 ... had 36 tackles, three PBU and an INT in 2004 ... led the team in punt returns and yardage that season with 18 for 136 yards ... made an immediate impact at cornerback and on special teams as a true freshman in 2003 ... versatile former prep running back and receiver who once posted 362 all-purpose yards in a high school game ... played in all 13 games as Nathan Vasher's backup at left corner and on special teams in 2003 ... recorded 25 tackles, including 11 on special teams (T-third on team), that year ... a versatile three-sport star as a prepster, lettering in football, basketball and track & field ... drafted with the 20th pick in the first round by the New York Giants in the 2007 NFL Draft.
SENIOR (2006)
Started all 13 games ... named the Jim Thorpe Award winner (nation's top defensive back) ... a first-team All-American ... earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and San Antonio Express-News ... a unanimous first-team All-Big 12 performer ... named the George "Hook" McCullough Co-MVP along with Colt McCoy ... tabbed the Mike Campbell Most Valuable Defensive Player ... named one of the Frank Denius Most Valuable Special Teams Players ... voted captain by his teammates ... helped UT give up only 61.2 yards rushing per game (third NCAA), 297.4 yards per game (22nd NCAA) and 18.3 points per game (25th NCAA) ... the 61.2 yards rushing per game ranks second on UT's all-time list ... ranked third on the team in tackles with 80 to go along with six INTs, 19 PBU, three TFL, a sack, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries ... also returned 23 punts for 240 yards and a TD ... opened with nine tackles, including a TFL, and a PBU versus North Texas ... also returned four punts for 53 yards ... notched five tackles and a PBU against No. 1 Ohio State ... recorded six tackles and a forced fumble at Rice ... returned three punts for 58 yards, including a 46-yard TD, against the Owls ... the TD return was the third of his career, tying him for first on UT's all-time list ... notched a season-high 11 tackles, an INT and a career-high six PBUs versus Iowa State ... recorded three tackles , a forced fumble and an INT against Sam Houston State ... posted eight tackes, a PBU and two INTs in win against No. 14 Oklahoma ... also returned a fumble for a TD against the Sooners ... all three of his takeaways came in the fourth quarter helping seal the victory, while making him the first Longhorn to accomplish the feat ... had four tackles, including two TFL and a sack, and a pressure versus Baylor ... notched six tackles, two PBU and a forced fumble at No. 17 Nebraska ... the forced fumble came with 2:17 left in the game with UT trailing 20-19, setting up the game-winning drive ... added five tackles, three PBU, a fumble recovery and a pressure at Texas Tech ... posted four tackles a PBU and an INT against Oklahoma State ... recorded nine tackles and a PBU at Kansas State ... added six tackles against Texas A&M ... notched three tackles, an INT and a PBU versus Iowa in the Alamo Bowl.
JUNIOR (2005)
Played in all 13 games, starting two, at cornerback in 2005 ... earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors as a punt returner ... part of a defense that ranked 10th nationally in total defense (302.9 ypg), eighth in scoring defense (16.4 ppg), fourth in pass efficiency defense (96.7) and eighth in passing defense (172.0 ypg) ... recorded 62 tackles, two TFL, a team-high three INTs, nine PBU and forced a fumble ... posted 500 punt return yards (No. 3 on UT's single-season list) on 34 returns (No. 8 on UT's single season list) and scored two TDs (T-No. 1 on UT's single season list) ... his 14.7 yards per return average ranked 10th in the nation ... he is only the second player in UT history to return two punts for TDs in a season ... also finished third on the team with nine special teams tackles ... opened the season with two tackles, a PBU and an INT, while returning five punts for 106 yards, including a 52-yarder, against La.-Lafayette ... added six tackles, including a TFL, at No. 4 Ohio State ... added three tackles against Rice ... posted two tackles and returned four punts for 129 yards, including an 88-yard TD, at Missouri ... the 88-yard TD return is the third longest in UT history ... was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts ... notched six tackles and two PBU versus Oklahoma ... posted three tackles and an INT against No. 24 Colorado ... added six tackles versus No. 10 Texas Tech ... posted a career highs with 15 tackles and three PBU, while returning two punts for 23 yards, at Oklahoma State ... added five tackles and returned four punts for 67 yards at Baylor ... notched a PBU, an INT that set up a TD and returned a punt 71 yards for a TD against Kansas ... posted four tackles and a PBU at Texas A&M ... notched two tackles, a PBU and returned three punts for 21 yards in the Big 12 Championship ... recorded eight tackles, including a tackle for loss, a caused fumble and returned two punts for 19 yards in Texas' 41-38 victory over USC for the National Championship.
SOPHOMORE (2004)
Shared time with starter Tarell Brown at cornerback in all 12 games ... posted 36 tackles, three PBUs and an INT ... a key part of a defense that allowed just 320.1 yards per game (23rd NCAA) and 17.9 points per game (18th NCAA) ... led the team in punt returns and yardage with 18 for 136 yards ... averaging 7.6 yards per return with a long of 20 yards at Colorado ... had one kickoff return for 26 yards at Arkansas ... opened the season with one tackle against North Texas ... posted three tackles at Arkansas ... made four tackles versus Rice ... tallied four tackles and a PBU against Baylor ... recorded five tackles and a PBU versus No. 2 Oklahoma ... had a career-high eight tackles and his first career INT against Missouri ... returned the interception 64 yards to the Missouri 12, leading to a UT touchdown and a 21-14 lead ... had three tackles and a PBU at Texas Tech ... posted two tackles at Colorado, versus No. 19 Oklahoma State, at Kansas and versus No. 13 Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
FRESHMAN (2003)
Played in all 13 games as the primary backup at left cornerback and on special teams ... shared UT's Outstanding Defensive Newcomer honor ... registered 27 tackles (23 solo), including 11 on special teams, and two PBUs ... made one tackle in his first career game (versus New Mexico State) ... recorded three tackles each at Rice and Iowa State ... also recorded his first career PBU against the Cyclones ... had a season-high five tackles, all solo, at Baylor ... notched two tackles versus No. 15 Washington State in the Holiday Bowl.
HIGH SCHOOL
Coached by Allen Wilson at John Tyler High ... a three-sport letterwinner who played cornerback, wide receiver and running back during his career ... tabbed second-team 5A all-state after posting six interceptions, three fumble recoveries, three blocked kicks and allowing just one touchdown catch as a senior ... also returned a fumble and a blocked punt for a score in 2000 ... added 350 rushing yards (on 46 carries) and five TDs and caught five passes for 200 yards and two TDs that year ... posted a career-high 362 all-purpose yards against Katy as a senior and registered three INTs and scored a rushing TD against Lufkin that year ... recorded four INTs, two fumble recoveries and seven blocked kicks as a junior ... scored seven total TDs (rush & receiving) that year ... had 272 all-purpose yards, rushed for a pair of TDs and had an INT against Marshall in 1999 ... played at San Antonio Fox Tech as a sophomore ... rushed for 486 yards and nine TDs, caught 11 passes for 382 yards and three scores, posted five INTs and blocked 10 kicks that year ... also lettered four times as a sprinter in track & field and twice in basketball.
PERSONAL
Born 9/15/82 in San Antonio ... full name is Aaron Jermaine Ross ... also has lived in Chandler, Texas ... majoring in education ... active in UT's community service program ... served as a summer camp counselor during high school (Camp Tyler Summer Camp) ... enjoys playing video games in his spare time.
CAREER STATISTICS
Defense
Year G/GS TT (Solo) Sacks TFL INT (Yds-TD) PBU FC FR High
2006 13/13 80 (59) 1.0 (-10) 3 (-14) 6 (7-0) 19 3 2 11/ISU
2005 13/2 62 (35) 0 (0) 2 (-4) 3 (40-0) 9 1 0 15/OSU
2004 12/0 36 (28) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (64-0) 3 0 0 8/MU
2003 13/0 27 (23) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0-0) 2 0 0 5/BU
Career 51/15 205 (145) 1.0 (-10) 5 (-18) 10 (111-0) 33 4 2 15/OSU
Special Teams
Year G TT (Solo) FC FR PBLK KBLK
2006 13 0 (0) 0 0 0 0
2005 13 9 (4) 0 0 0 0
2004 12 0 (0) 0 0 0 0
2003 13 11 (9) 0 0 0 0
Career 50 20 (13) 0 0 0 0
Special Teams
Year G PR-Yds YPR TD Long KR-Yds YPR TD Long
2006 13 23-240 10.4 1 46t/Rice 1-27 27.0 0 27/SHS
2005 13 34-500 14.7 2 88t/MU 0-0 0.0 0 --
2004 12 18-136 7.6 0 20/CU 1-26 26.0 0 26/UA
2003 13 1-17 17.0 0 17/BU 0-0 -- 0 --
Career 51 76-893 11.8 3 88t/MU 2-53 26.5 0 27/SHS
High Games
Tackles: 15 at Oklahoma State (Jr.)
Interceptions: 2 vs. Oklahoma (Sr.)
PBU: 6 vs. Iowa State (Sr.)
