2005 (Senior)
I-back Cory Ross proved to be a perfect fit in Nebraska’s offense during his final two seasons in the Husker program. Ross was named Nebraska’s Offensive MVP after both his junior and senior seasons and finished his career as one of the most versatile running backs in Hukser history.
Ross closed his career ranked ninth on Nebraska’s all-time rushing list with 2,743 yards. In addition, Ross was a key factor as a receiver out of the backfield, finishing his career with 71 receptions to rank sixth on the Husker career charts. Ross is the only player in Nebraska school history to rank in the top 10 in both rushing yards and receptions.
A co-captain in his final season, Ross earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior, after picking up honorable-mention accolades in 2004. Ross also earned Nebraska’s prestigious Tom Novak Award in 2005.
As a senior, Ross led Nebraska with 882 rushing yards, including a season-high 161 yards in his Husker finale against Michigan in the Alamo Bowl. The 5-6, 195-pound Ross also hauled in a Nebraska running back record 43 receptions in 2005, and grabbed three touchdown receptions. In addition to his season receptions record, Ross also set Nebraska running back records for receiving yards in a game (131 vs. Iowa State) and receptions in a game (9 at Colorado).
Ross opened his senior season with 80 rushing yards against Maine, then topped the century mark in consecutive games against Wake Forest (123) and Pittsburgh (153). Ross did not top 100 yards again in the 2005 regular season, but did rush for more than 65 yards three additional times, including 69 yards and a touchdown in a late-season victory over Kansas State. Ross was also a consistent receiving threat, catching three or more passes in eight of 12 games during the 2005 season, led by his eight-catch, 131-yard effort vs. Iowa State and his nine receptions for 129 yards against Colorado.
Ross had a breakout 2004 season in his first year in the Huskers' West Coast attack. Ross was Nebraska's most dependable offensive weapon as a junior, finishing with 1,102 yards rushing and six rushing touchdowns, along with a pair of touchdown receptions. He became the first Husker I-back to top 1,000 yards since 2001, en route to second-team All-Big 12 honors, as well as team Offensive MVP honors.
His 1,102-yard season was the 27th 1,000-yard effort in school history and the 18th-most productive single-season rushing total in school history. Ross averaged 100.2 rushing yards per game, a total that ranked fifth in the Big 12 and 23rd nationally.
Ross proved to be an all-around back in 2004, catching 21 passes, including a pair of touchdowns, out of the Husker backfield. His 21 receptions were third on the team and the most by an NU running back since 1994. The 262 yards receiving by Ross were the most by a back since 1969. Ross had his first career touchdown reception against Kansas, then had a 74-yard touchdown reception against Baylor, the longest reception by a Nebraska back since 1978.
Ross played sparingly early in the 2003 season, before taking over the starting role for the season's final three games and recording three 100-yard outings and finishing with 575 yards rushing. He finished the season with 138 yards on a school-record 37 carries in Nebraska’s Alamo Bowl win over Michigan State. Ross also topped 100 yards rushing against Kansas (108) and Colorado (103). Ross rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2002, including a 34-yard touchdown run in his Nebraska debut against Arizona State. He redshirted in his first season in the Nebraska program in 2001.
2004 (Junior)
Ross started all 11 games at I-back for the Huskers as a junior, and finished the year with 1,102 yards on 207 carries, an average of 5.3 yards per tote and just more than 100 yards per game. Ross put together six 100-yard rushing games on the season, with a career-best 194 yards against Missouri. He was also one of Nebraska's top receiving threats, catching 21 passes for 262 yards. Ross' efforts earned his second-team All-Big 12 honors and Nebraska Offensive MVP honors.
Ross opened the season with 125 yards on just 13 carries against Western Illinois, part of a 363-yard rushing output by the Huskers. Ross posted a then career-best 169 yards against Southern Miss, including a 52-yard run. Ross became the 52nd Husker to top 1,000 career rushing yards against the Golden Eagles and also caught a career-high five passes in the game.
Ross rushed for 73 yards in a 24-17 Nebraska victory at Pittsburgh and scored his first TD of the year on a two-yard run in the first quarter. He posted his third 100-yard game of the young season with 19 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown against Kansas. Ross also caught three passes for 37 yards, and had his first career receiving touchdown, a 14-yarder in the third quarter that accounted for the final margin in a 14-8 Husker victory.
Ross posted his second receiving touchdown on the season against Baylor, when he turned a routine screen pass into a 74-yard touchdown. He also ran for a seven-yard touchdown against the Bears. Ross carried 16 times for 43 yards at Kansas State, and also caught a 63-yard pass out of the backfield to set up Nebraska’s first score of the day.
The junior produced his finest outing of the season in a 24-3 victory over Missouri when he racked up a career-high 194 yards on 19 carries, including two touchdowns. Ross’ 86-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter was the eighth-longest run in school history and the longest by an NU I-back in 12 seasons. His 194 yards rushing were the most by a Husker I-back in four years.
Ross made it three straight 100-yard games over the next two weeks by topping the century mark in road games at Iowa State and Oklahoma. He rushed for 126 yards on 19 carries against the Cyclones and scored his sixth touchdown of the season. Against the second-ranked Sooners, Ross ran 30 times for 130 yards, making him the only back to top 100 yards against the Sooners all season. He also surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season at Oklahoma. He capped his junior year with 35 yards rushing against Colorado.
2003 (Sophomore)
Ross played in all 13 games in 2003, and shined while starting the final three games. He finished the season as Nebraska's third-leading rusher with 575 yards, including 436 yards in the season's final four games, when he carried the ball 94 times. Ross tallied three 100-yard outings in the final four games of the season, including a season-high 138 yards on a Nebraska single-game record 37 carries in the Alamo Bowl victory over Michigan State. Ross finished the year with four touchdowns, including a pair of scores in the Huskers' 17-3 Alamo Bowl win over Michigan State.
The Huskers used three I-backs extensively throughout the year, and Ross had just 36 carries in the first nine games, while playing behind Josh Davis and David Horne. His best outing in the first nine games was against Iowa State when he carried nine times for 54 yards, and Ross scored his first touchdown of the year on a three-yard third quarter run against Troy State.
His role then changed dramatically in the Kansas game. With Nebraska leading the Jayhawks 10-3 at halftime, Ross started the second half and gave the Huskers a spark. He carried 19 times for a then-career-high 108 yards in the 24-3 victory. The performance earned Ross a promotion to the starting spot for NU's matchup with Kansas State. Ross handled his first start well, with 16 rushes for 87 yards and a season-long 26-yard reception against the Wildcats.
In the regular-season finale at Colorado, Ross carried 22 times for 103 yards and scored from two yards out to give Nebraska a 21-10 second-quarter lead. Ross had a season-long 23-yard run in the victory. Ross was a workhorse in the Alamo Bowl against Michigan State. He carried seven times on Nebraska's first series en route to his school-record carries total. He scored touchdowns from two and six yards in the second quarter to give Nebraska its 17-3 lead.
Ross also finished the season with two receptions for 36 yards and had six punt returns for 62 yards, including a 30-yarder against Troy State.
2002 (Redshirt Freshman)
Ross began the 2002 season as NU's No. 6 I-back, but quickly moved up the depth chart. He played in 12 games, including a start against Missouri when NU opened in a spread formation. Ross saw his most extensive action of the season in the first five games, and finished the season as NU’s fifth-leading rusher with 184 yards on 35 carries (5.3 ypa) and two touchdowns.
Ross had three carries for a season-high 44 yards, including a 34-yard TD run, in the season opener vs. Arizona State. He added 27 yards against Troy State and 42 yards vs. Utah State, including a 13-yard TD run. Ross had 27 yards rushing at Penn State, and four carries at Iowa State, while catching two passes for 14 yards. He caught five passes for 39 yards on the year, and had a 25-yard punt return against Kansas.
2001 (Redshirt)
Ross redshirted in his first season at Nebraska.
Before Nebraska (Thomas Jefferson HS)
Ross was a prep All-America cornerback and also starred at running back at Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver. He rushed for 1,543 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior, led the state in total offense with 3,700 yards, and had 12 return touchdowns (six on kickoffs and six on punt returns). Ross had five interceptions (two for touchdowns) as a senior and was third with 84 tackles.
A Denver Post 2000 Blue Chip and a two-time all-state player, Ross was named to the Colorado all-star team and played in the National High School All-Star Game in Texas. Ross rushed for 986 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior, while being utilized mainly as a receiver. He was awarded the school’s Spartan Award for dedication, teamwork and sacrifice, as he played nearly every position on the field. Ross also played two years of basketball and earned four letters in track. Ross only visited Nebraska after attending the Big Red Football School.
Personal
The son of Roger Ross and Gale Frazier, Cory was born on Sept. 22, 1982, in Denver. His older brother, Roger, played wide receiver at Kansas and lettered in 2000 and 2001. Cory majored in sociology at Nebraska.
Ross' Career Statistics
Year
G/S
Att.
Gain
Loss
Net
Y/A
Y/G
Long
TDs
2001
Redshirted
2002
12/1
35
188
4
184
5.3
15.3
34 vs. ASU
2
2003
13/3
130
596
21
575
4.4
44.2
23 vs. Colorado
4
2004
11/11
207
1,141
39
1,102
5.3
100.2
86 vs. Missouri
6
2005
12/12
225
952
70
882
3.9
73.5
57Â vs. Wake
5
Totals
48/27
597
2,877
134
2,743
4.6
57.1
86 vs. Missouri
17
Receiving: 71-729-5 total; 5-39-0 in 2002; 2-36-0 in 2003; 21-262-2 in 2004; 43-392-3 in 2005
Punt Returns: 7-87-0 total; 1-25 in 2002; 6-62 in 2003
2003 Alamo Bowl vs. Michigan State: Rushing, 37*-138-2 TD; *School Record
2005 Alamo Bowl vs. Michigan: Rushing, 28-161-1 TD; Receiving 3-8
Single-Game Bests
Most Rushing Attempts - 37 vs. Michigan State, 2003 Alamo Bowl (School Record)
Most Rushing Yards -Â 194 vs. Missouri, 2004Â (19 carries)
Long Rush - 86 vs. Missouri, 2004 (TD)
Rushing Touchdowns - 2 vs. Michigan State, 2003 Alamo Bowl; vs. Missouri, 2004
Pass Receptions - 9 vs. Colorado, 2005 (NU Running Back Record)
Receiving Yards -Â 131 vs. Iowa State, 2005 (NU Running Back Record)
Long Pass Reception- 74 yards vs. Baylor, 2004 (TD)
Â