Avon Football Standout Withdraws from Penn State
Ross Douglas was expected to play cornerback.
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Following sanctions against Penn State University’s football team July 23, Avon High School football standout Ross Douglas has withdrawn from the program.
ESPN.com reported today that Douglas has opted out of the university, marking the first casualty since the sanctions were announced, also this morning.
Sanctions include a $60 million fine over 5 years, the loss of wins from 1998-2011 and the loss of post-season opportunities.
Douglas recently visited Nebraska and according to ESPN, will go to Wisconsin on Friday. Douglas was wavering and made the decommitment official shortly after the sanctions were released.
AOL.Sportingnews.com quoted Ross’ father.
“The school that we’re talking about, this is not good,” Douglas’ father, Robert Douglas, told 247Sports.com. “This is a bad day. For Ross, he’s not going to comment on Penn State anymore. There is nothing we can say that’s going to bring any comfort.”
It’s a 180 from March of this year, when Douglas committed to play at the University after Paterno had resigned.
Something clicked, he said at the time, and he made a verbal commitment to play for the Nittany Lions where he expected to play cornerback at Penn State.
"I felt at home there," he told Patch in March, adding that the atmosphere at Penn State under new coach Bill O'Brien was positive.
"I like the people there," he said at the time. "It's a family environment."
At Avon High School, Douglas was third team All-Ohio in Division II. He was deemed a key part of the Eagles' run to the state finals.
Douglas, a junior running back and defensive back for the Eagles, was rated a four-star (out of possible five) prospect by recruiting site Rivals.com. He scored 15 touchdowns while rushing for more than 1,000 yards this past season as the Eagles went 13-2.
Ann Faulhaber
5:14 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
What a mistake. Penn State is an AWESOME school, and a great place to get a wonderful education. He's missing out.
Matt Pawlikowski
5:34 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
Ann academics at PSU may be great, but what message does it send to the students and athletes when such a prestigious institution stood by and did nothing. I'm originally from pa, the school is lucky it did not get the death penalty. What happened is a tragedy and while alums will stand by Joe pa, to know this was occurring and do nothing? Think more about those poor victims. The NCAA only went by a report sanctioned by the school and did what was right. Happy valley will never be the same due to one man and a cover up by educators who are supposed to teach values and morals to kids.
Sarah
6:23 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
Agreed Matt! There are plenty of AWESOME schools out there including Wisconsin and Nebraska that this young man will be able to play football and get a good education without a black cloud hanging over his college years.
Carol Murphy
6:45 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
Ross has a good head on his shoulders and is an awesome athlete. Wherever he plays football he will be an asset to the team!!
Ann Faulhaber
10:19 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
Read the report. Draw your own conclusions. The "summary " took some HUGE leaps and guesses, and declared them as facts. And I agree that Ross will be an asse anywhere but I firmly believe PSU is STILL a great choice.
Ann Faulhaber
10:20 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
Of course I meant "asset "
Ann Faulhaber
10:24 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
And Matt, to imply that by supporting Penn state means that I don't support the victims is both insulting and ignorant. I have lost more sleep and have been sick about this for months. But the acts of a few weak men will not define me or my years at Penn state.
Tamara E
10:41 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I don't blame him. Too much distraction.
Bucknut
1:38 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I'm curious as to why he isn't looking at Ohio State and/or they aren't looking at him? Considering he is an Ohio boy.
Carol Murphy
8:25 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Best wishes to Ross Douglas! Only comment.....GO BUCKEYES!