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| Avon (OH) Avon cornerback Ross Douglas |
Douglas is a 5'10", 180 lb. corner. As a junior in 2011, he had 175 carries for 1,019 yards (5.8 yards per carry) and 15 touchdowns, 10 receptions for 150 yards, 40 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and 1 interception. Yes, he's also Avon's starting tailback. He had originally committed to Penn State at the end of February, but he didn't like the idea of playing for a bunch of creepers and not playing in bowl games now that the NCAA has cracked down on the Nittany Lions. I can't say that I blame him.
Ratings:
ESPN: 4-star CB, #30 CB
Rivals: 4-star CB, #22 CB, #222 overall
Scout: 3-star CB, #42 CB
247 Sports: 4-star CB, #25 CB
Douglas isn't very tall, but he's solidly built. He's a willing tackler, although sometimes he doesn't have as much mass behind him as he would like. While Douglas claims a 4.41 forty, he appears to have just average speed for a cornerback. He changes direction with some fluidity, but again, he's not great in that area.
When I watch Douglas's film, the word that comes to mind most often is "almost." As in, "Hey, that was almost a really good play." I'm not sure how well that translates to the Big Ten. He's not an elite athlete in any particular way, so his ceiling is a little bit limited. The coaches likely want him to play slot cornerback, the position currently manned by Courtney Avery, and he might be able to help out on special teams, too. I don't think Douglas's skills translate well to boundary corner or field corner.
Douglas gives Michigan 23 commitments in a class that is expected to reach 24 or 25. He joins cornerbacks Gareon Conley, Jourdan Lewis, and Channing Stribling. Each of those guys seems headed for field or boundary. Avery will be a senior in 2013, but I think he could also play some field corner. That means the slot corner position could be a Delonte Hollowell vs. Ross Douglas battle next season, when Hollowell will be a junior.
TTB Rating: 63 (rating system explanation)
