Interview: Another Sport, Another Arizona State Championship for 2022 TE/DE Cooper Ross
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
However Heritage Academy honors their alumni, Cooper Ross will be remembered in the Heroes’ ranks for as long as the school is open to students. On the gridiron, the 6-5, 245-pound, tight end and defensive end aided his squad to an Arizona state championship during the 2020 season earning All-State at both positions. Once the season was over, he picked up the basketball helping his team to a 16-1 record bringing home yet another state championship to the Mesa program. As a receiving threat, Ross secured 34 passes for 637 yards with 15 touchdowns in stats posted through six games. On the hardwood, Ross was the team’s second leading scorer (11.2 per game) and led the team in rebounds (7.0) and blocks (1.4).
With the basketball season over, the full attention turns back to football for the Class of 2022 recruit with offseason weightlifting sessions ongoing and a planned college camp circuit this summer. For an update on his workouts and recruiting, Ross stopped by for another RNG interview.
*Click the link for the Feb. 2021 RNG interview with Cooper Ross
Interview
Cooper, when we last left off the Heroes were deep in the playoffs on the hardwood. How did the season end up for you guys?
With a bang. In the semifinal game, we play against the team, Eduprize, where we took our only loss during the regular season (69-55). We won 50-48. In our next game in the state championship, we beat Heritage Academy 79-70 for the win. It was great. It felt amazing.
Do you know what you averaged for the season in basketball?
For the season I averaged 11.2 points per game, 7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks.
Nice. With basketball now over, what have you been doing to push your athleticism forward focused on speed and agility?
I have been working out five times a week. On the weekends I focus on agility, speed, and my quick twitch muscles.
Going into the weight room; what are some of the lifts and exercises you’ve been doing to add more power?
A lot of bench, squat, general chest lifts, and deadlifts. I am doing all the basics. I am doing all-around workouts to build more power.
What have you been working on with the technical parts to your game as a tight end?
I have been going out throwing and working with my quarterback. I am working on my hand-eye coordination, doing footwork drills, and working on my route running.
And what have you been doing as a defensive end?
I am not on that as much, but I am working on the quick twitch muscles, my moves, and getting my swim move right.
Camps are picking up. Are there any camps coming up you may go compete at this spring or summer?
I just signed up for a camp at Lake Forest on May 15.
Let’s get a quick update on recruiting. Which programs are now showing interest?
I have been talking to Columbia, Dartmouth, Sac State, New Mexico, Montana, Montana State, Rice, and NAU. No offers yet, but I am hungry and getting there.
Are there any visits you may take once the dead period lifts in June?
I have no official dates set, but in early mid-June I will start taking visits. I am going to Dixie State on June 12 for a camp and I will go to some Utah schools then.
What other college camps might you go compete at this summer?
There is a BYU camp I may go to. Not all the college camps have opened up yet. I will go to as many as I can this summer.
Cooper, thanks for your time today. Wishing you continued success with the visits and camps this summer.
Thank you, sir.
Cooper Ross Hudl highlight reel
Photo credit: Ross family; Cooper Ross in action