The Hawks senior running back has committed to play for the Rams
Watch Myles Ross lead his team to victory over Fairfax earlier this season. (Video by James McGrath for Synthesis/Koubaroulis LLC / The Washington Post)
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November 19, 2015, 11:40 p.m. — It’s a good time to be Myles Ross.
The Hayfield senior running back broke the Hawks’ all-time rushing record earlier this season, and has just committed to play for Rhode Island on Thursday night.
“I was just lying in bed one day and I thought about it, and it just came to me, it just felt right,” Ross said. “A lot of things went into my decision, such as my major, how comfortable I felt there, and what I wanted my college experience to be like.”
The 6-foot, 187-pound prospect had a monster senior season on the ground. Ross rushed for 1,855 yards, highlighted by a 335-yard outburst on 39 attempts against Yorktown on Oct. 23. He also spent time at wide receiver and safety for the Hawks.
His record-setting performance occurred against McLean on Oct. 1. Needing just 19 yards to eclipse the school mark set by Steven Lynch in 2011, Ross busted for 151 yards to shatter the record.
Ross finished his legendary career with 3,581 yards.
In the car on the way back home from a recruiting trip to Liberty on Thursday evening, Myles broke the news of his commitment to the Rams on Twitter.
That being said. I have decided to commit to The University of Rhode Island. #RhodeToGreatness #URI’20 pic.twitter.com/PMmAEcD30K
— Sauceshawn Lynch (@SauceBoss_Ross) November 20, 2015
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to play early, be able to showcase my talents as soon as possible,” Ross said, “and creating a bond with a lot of those players that I’ve met already.”
His career in Alexandria, Va. is now complete, and his sights are set on his future in Kingston, R.I., where he expects to play safety rather than running back.
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“A lot of schools that I’ve spoken to have always said I was a natural defensive player,” Ross said, “they always felt that playing running back was just a high school thing, and I agree because I’ve always loved defense.”
Not only were the Rams a good fit for Ross on the gridiron, but they also met his needs academically. He plans to major in marine biology.
“Ever since I was young, that’s always been something I’ve been really interested in,” Ross said. “That’s something I’ve talked about doing all my life.”
Ross had received two official offers, one from the Rams and the second from Norfolk State. The other primary suitors included Liberty and JMU, but their delay to make the offer was unattractive for the future defensive back.
Contemplating the offers and waiting for more to come was tying up his mind, pushing him to make a decision perhaps sooner than expected.
“It’s a release,” Ross said, “what a lot of people don’t know is that it is really stressful, having to make a decision, it does weigh a lot on your mind, and it’s something to think about everyday.”
His chance to extend his epic prep numbers was halted by a first-round playoff exit this past Friday against Battlefield, in which the Bobcats prevailed 36-21. The Hawks dropped each of their last three games to finish the season at 6-5.
Ross was limited to just 43 yards in his final high school game because of a quad injury. He suffered the ailment back on Oct. 23 during his huge performance against Yorktown, but said the injury gradually got worse throughout the season.
“It was hard at first because there were goals I set out to reach,” Ross said, “but in the end, I told myself that I had a great career at my school, playing with some of my friends that I’ve been going to school with since seventh grade, and I talked to my parents and they told me looking back I did a lot of great things.”
Following a record-breaking career at Hayfield will be no easy task, but Ross understands the hard work that needs to be done between now and when he arrives on campus. He says he needs to study more film, become a smarter football player, get bigger in the weight room and to continue training both mentally and physically.
Ross has only set foot on the URI campus once thus far, but expects to return for his official visit in early December.
“I’ve just been once but it felt like it was home,” Ross said.
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