Freedom Area Athlete: Cody Ross

School: Freedom Area Senior High School Sport: Football Position: Linebacker and Fullback Class: Senior Claim To Fame: Cody had 80 solo tackles, 7 tackles for losses and 1 forced fumble in 2017 as a linebacker. Cody rushed for 330 yards and scored 7 touchdowns as a fullback last season. Cody is a 2x MAC TOP 22 ALL CONFERENCE LB and an ALL CONFERENCE RB.

What are the expectations for Freedom Area this upcoming football season?

"Expectations are really high. We’ve got a great group of seniors that have been playing together on the varsity level a long time. We have a great QB in Rosa, he’s an exciting player and has all the tools to be a great one and other skill players like Yeck, Pail, and Henderson coming back that are very talented as well as Boyer, returning on the line. Coach Barley came in and put in a new offense and added some tweaks to the defense that is going to really highlight our skill set. We all know what is expected of us and now it’s time for us to prove to everyone we can get the job done."

In the regular season, last year, your team started 3-1 in the section and after that your team lost three section games in a row making your record section 3-4 to the end season and not having as a high of a playoff seed that you guys would have liked to had. That is all in the past now; but, what did you and your teammates learn from that experience where everything was looking good and then taking a downfall?

"We need to stay healthy to go to the next level. Injuries really hurt us down the stretch last year, we had a lot of younger guys that didn’t have the varsity experience try to step in but our inexperience showed. A lot of us really pushed it in the off season to make sure we are physically ready for the grind that our conference puts on you. We feel top to bottom our conference is one of the hardest and most competitive so you got to be ready physically and mentally for the grind you are going to go through. But, last season showed a glimpse of what we are capable of and can do when things are clicking."

What made you choose to wear the number 43?

"Actually it's a funny story; when I was playing youth football I was one of the newer guys to the team and after all the returning players chose their numbers my coach gave me #43 which was the last of the back numbers, the rest is history. I’ve had people that I’m close to when they see the number they always affiliate it with me, I enjoy it it’s different."

Is there a certain song that you listen to that gets you hyped before a football game?

"It’s a whole range of music, I got a couple playlists that get me in the game mood that I keep ready for the season."

What's it like to play for Coach Russ Barley?

"Coach Barley is an old school coach, he’s the exact type of coach everyone should play for at least once in their career. He’s a disciplinarian, he has his rules, but treats us players fairly and like men. He is a family man, his door is always open, you want to play for a coach like him, he gives you everything he has and we need to do the same for him. He’s waited along time for this opportunity, I’m hoping our senior group and this team can give him and the community a great season. He’s come in and put his stamp on the program, the way he wants things run from training and especially with the offense and defense. He’s someone that most of us have known as a defensive coordinator the past few years but I think he has shocked a lot of people with his offensive knowledge. He will do great things for the program."

When you exercise for football, what is your favorite thing to do?

"I just love to train. People say I’m a football junkie, I love the game and everything that goes with it especially the training. If you want to go far in this game you need to put in the time to get better. I’ve been fortunate to grow up around the game, having a grandfather and father that coached. So I’ve been exposed to a lot. I’ve seen the importance of taking care of yourself and the great results that come from it. I’ve had some great trainers as well - Terry Grossetti (Grossetti Performance) is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. His knowledge and the staff he has is incredible. I feel being around them and the athletes that he has training there has really helped me physically and mentally."

You committed to Slippery Rock University back in June. What did you like about Slippery Rock University when you visited there?

"It was a process, Coach Lutz and his staff are incredible. I visited a lot of schools and met a lot of great coaches. The programs were all great and saw some great campuses. There was just that comfort feeling every time I was on campus or in conversations with everyone. From top to bottom they are first class, the program has a long line of success, that is something that was important to me. They expect to win and want players that want the same success, they want blue collar, tough football players. They don’t get stuck on the height, weight, and other measures led that some schools do, you can’t measure desire and heart. To me identified with their mentality, plus I got to know the staff on and off the field and was just impressed with them not only as coaches but just as people in general. It was a program that I pictured myself at."

When you go to "The Rock" do you think you would want to play fullback or linebacker?

"They see me as a Mike Linebacker. But at some camps where they were at over the summer I showed them I can also put my hand in the dirt and come off the edge with success - so where ever they put me is fine. But, I do take a lot of pride as a fullback as well. I like being that old school type of back that can get you the tough yards inside and catch passes. I’ll play where ever they put me, I’m just blessed to have the opportunity to play at the next level."

Who is your favorite NFL player is?

"Got to go Linebacker always been a Jack Lambert (old school) and Ray Lewis - just because of what the brought to the position and to the game."

Fill in the Blank: "At the end of the 2018 WPIAL & PIAA football season Cody Ross will ________?

"Remembered as someone who gave everything to the game, played the game the way it was supposed to be played and was a good teammate. I want to be remembered as one of the best, a winner, as someone that represented Freedom well on and off the field."