Week 1: Cam Ross, Virginia

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courtesy university of virginia athletics

University of Virginia wide receiver Cam Ross, who starred at St. John’s College High School in Northwest Washington, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week after leading the Cavaliers to a season-opening 48-7 win over visiting Coastal Carolina this past Saturday.

Ross, a transfer from James Madison who was named third-team All-Sun Belt Conference last season, returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and caught seven passes for 124 yards and another touchdown as Virginia earned a lopsided victory.

“A couple days into practice, you saw that, one, he’s a football player,” Virginia Coach Tony Elliott said. “He’s got really good football instincts and he’s got a great skillset as a receiver.”

Ross played his first four seasons of college football at Connecticut, where his first coach was Randy Edsall. Edsall had coached Ross’s older brothers, Brandon and Jarrett, at the University of Maryland. Ross played in 28 games for the Huskies, making 16 starts and catching 114 passes for 1,356 yards and six touchdowns. He spent last season as a graduate transfer at James Madison, catching 37 passes for 443 yards and three touchdowns and averaging 28.2 yards per kickoff return.

But Ross always desired to play in one of the power conferences, and that led him to nearby Charlottesville. The Cavaliers have dozens of transfers on their roster, including several higher-profile receivers, but it was Ross who stole the show in the season opener.

“That’s why I came here,” Ross told reporters after the game. “I always wanted to do it at the highest level. I feel like every chance I’ve had has been kind of moving up a step. [This level] is definitely where I feel I should have been at. But I’m here now. I’m just trying to capitalize on it.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

  • Wake Forest DB Nick Andersen (Centreville) made nine tackles and broke up two passes as the Demon Deacons beat Kennesaw State, 10-9.

  • Howard K Matt Conord made a 43-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bison to a 10-9 win over Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic.

  • Frostburg State QB Myles Fulton (Old Mill) completed 16 of 22 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns as the Bobcats beat Shepherd, 41-27.

  • Georgetown WR Savion Hart caught eight passes for 123 yards as the Hoyas beat Davidson, 51-14.

  • Navy WR Eli Heidenreich caught six passes for 65 yards and one touchdown and rushed nine times for 70 yards and another score as the Midshipmen beat VMI, 52-7.

  • Tennessee DB Jalen McMurray (Gonzaga High) made seven tackles, had one sack and broke up a pass as the Volunteers beat Syracuse, 45-26.

  • Florida State C Luke Petitbon (Gonzaga) helped the Seminoles rack up 285 yards rushing in a 31-17 win over Alabama.

  • Maryland QB Malik Washington (Spalding) completed 27 of 43 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns in his collegiate debut, leading the Terrapins to a 39-7 win over Florida Atlantic.