Sports

Ross Douglas Commits to Penn State Football

Avon junior was a popular Division I level recruit

Ross Douglas was enjoying being courted.

The Avon High School football player, who was third team All-Ohio in Division II, has been getting a lot of attention after a junior season that saw him be a key part of the .

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.

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He had already received scholarship offers from more than a dozen Division I football programs. Among them were Boston College, Tennessee, Minnesota, Connecticut, Syracuse, Rutgers, Toledo, Indiana and Purdue.

"It's been fun," Douglas said. "I got to see a lot."

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Then he made a visit to Penn State University a few weeks ago.

Something clicked, he said. That clicking led him to make a verbal committment on Thursday to play for the Nittany Lions. Douglas expects to play cornerback at Penn State.

"I felt at home there," he said of the place often called "Happy Valley."

Still, Douglas didn't jump to a decision. Over the last few weeks following the visit, he talked with his family and Avon coach Mike Elder. 

Douglas will be joining a program that is rebuilding after a devastating last six months. Horrifying child sexual abuse charges against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky led to the firing of legendary head coach Joe Paterno, who died in January.

Douglas said the atmosphere at Penn State under new coach Bill O'Brien is a good one.

"I like the people there," he said. "It's a family environment."

He also respects the Penn State tradition.

"I want to be a part of it," he said.

Douglas said that, while the recruiting process was fun, he's also glad it's over.

"Now I can focus on next season," he said. "We want to win a state title."

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