COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Fred Ross has become Dak Prescott’s favorite target this season.
Last season, the quarterback leaned on De’Runnya Wilson and the Birmingham, Alabama, native had 47 catches for 680 yards and nine touchdowns.
The connection between Prescott and Ross was prevalent in the No. 21 Bulldogs’ 30-17 loss to No. 14 Texas A&M Saturday night, as the junior wideout hauled in a career-high 11 catches for 103 yards.
“We were just taking what the defense was giving us,” Ross said. “They were playing man-to-man coverage and I was just getting open. Dak was just finding me.”
Ross’ 11 catches are the most by a Bulldog since Eric Moulds had a school-record 15 catches versus Tennessee on Sept. 23, 1995. Moulds and Ross are the only Bulldogs with 11-plus catches in a game the last 40 years.
Ross now has 33 catches for 322 yards and no touchdowns this season. Last year as a sophomore, the Tyler, Texas, native, had 30 catches (third on the team) and 489 yards and five touchdowns.
After being a reserve last season, Ross is in a starting role.
“This year I have a different role and guys are looking at me to be more of a leader,” Ross said.
Wilson showed the Southeastern Conference what he was capable of last season. Many thought he was going to be “the guy” this season that Prescott leaned on, but opposing defenses have not allowed that to happen.
Wilson has only 19 catches for 266 yards and two touchdowns.
“They’re going to make a different receiver beat them or a different receiver get plays on them,” Prescott said. “They’re trying to double team Bear (Wilson), do whatever they can to stop him, and put the ball in other guys’ hands. I think that’s just where it opens up Fred.”
Mullen has also seen more double coverages being thrown Wilson’s way, but he likes the type of receiver that Ross is.
The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Ross played in 11 games as a freshman in 2013. He had nine catches for 115 yards.
“He’s a great route runner, has great hands, finds ways to get open, and makes plays with the ball in his hands,” Mullen said.
After the Aggies (5-0, 2-0) scored on their first possession in the first quarter, the first play the Bulldogs (3-2, 1-2) ran was a 6-yard pass from Prescott to Ross. Prescott hit Ross two times for 17 yards on the first drive.
“That’s just kind of how the dice roll,” Ross said. “I don’t think that’s part of the gameplan, but that’s jut what happens.”
Prescott doesn’t try to rely on just one receiver. For the season, there have been 13 different receivers make a catch and seven to catch a touchdown. Along with Ross and Wilson, three other receivers have double digit catches.
“It’s all in the gameplan and the reads,” Prescott said. “I wouldn’t say I’m just going out there looking just for Fred to get open, it’s just the reads, he’s in at the right time, they’re giving us the right coverages, and he’s making plays.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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