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YSU’s Ross awaits chance on Packers’ practice squad
By Joe Scalzo
Photo
The Green Bay Packers’ Brandian Ross (39) breaks up a pass intended for Jordy Nelson during the team’s intrasquad scrimmage in Green Bay, Wis. Ross, who played at Youngstown State, is on Green Bay’s practice squad.
YOUNGSTOWN
With the Green Bay Packers off last weekend, former Penguin cornerback Brandian Ross came back to Youngstown State for the first time since the spring, watching practice and taking in Saturday’s 56-14 win over Western Illinois.
“It was refreshing,” he said. “It’s been fun seeing old faces, seeing new faces and being back in Youngstown.
“It’s a really good feeling right now.”
Does that mean he misses going back to class, too?
“No. No, no, no. No. No. Not at all,” he said, smiling. “I like just waking up, going to the stadium and getting straight to football.”
After going undrafted last April, Ross signed with the Packers as a free agent in late July, then made the team’s practice squad, where he’s stayed for the first eight weeks.
“It’s going well,” said Ross, a Richmond, Va., native who is one of two former Penguins in the NFL, along with Bills wide receiver Donald Jones. “I’m just working hard — working really hard — and waiting for my number to be called.
“That’s all I can do at this point, making sure the offense is prepared for when they play on Sunday.”
NFL teams are allowed to keep up to eight players on the practice squad (also known as the taxi squad or scout team). Practice squad players, who earn $5,700 per week, do everything the active players do during the week (meals, practices, film study) and can be called up to the active roster at any time.
Two Mahoning County natives, Broncos safety Kyle McCarthy (Mooney) and Lions lineman Dan Gerberry (Fitch), are also on their teams’ practice squads. McCarthy played eight games last season while Gerberry was active for two games in the 2009-10 season, although he did not see game action in either contest.
“At first, it was different waiting because I was used to playing,” said Ross, a four-year letterwinner who started 33 of his final 34 college games. “But now I’m getting used to it. I just make sure I’m prepared for when my name is called because I never know when that week is going to be.”
Ross said the biggest difference between the NFL and college is time management.
“You have to use your time wisely, especially resting-wise and taking care of your body,” he said. “Physically, you’re on your feet less but the game is so faster, even in practice, that you have to make sure you go back and take care of your body.
“I was doing that in college by my last year and a half but I wasn’t really focused on it how I am now.”
And while he’s focused on his current job, he said he has a lot of good memories of his time in Youngstown.
“Game day, the Ice Castle — I just have great memories of playing with all my teammates,” he said. “It was fun times.”