STARKVILLE — Fred Ross remembers being in shock when he arrived on the Mississippi State campus in 2013.
As a freshman wide receiver for the MSU football team, he remembers not knowing where to go for workouts and not knowing where any of his classes were.
Ross has adjusted to the rigors of Southeastern Conference football and being a student-athlete in college in the last four years. He is on track to graduate in December with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. He will play his final game at Davis Wade Stadium at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU) when MSU (4-6, 2-4 SEC) plays host to Arkansas (6-4, 2-4) on Senior Night.
“Mississippi State taught me how to be a man,” Ross said. “I had to grow up fast since my freshman year. I was taught how to be a man. This whole program, going through camp and going through all the stuff I went through here, it didn’t do anything but make me stronger.”
Ross originally committed to Oklahoma State, but he changed his mind and committed to MSU a day before the 2013 National Signing Day.
After setting the single-season school record with 88 catches for 1,007 yards and five touchdowns as junior, the Tyler, Texas, native had a big decision to make. He could enter the NFL draft or he could return and help MSU get to a school-record seventh-straight bowl game. After taking a lot of deliberation, Ross decided he was more committed to MSU than starting a professional football career.
“That was one of the things I said to myself when I made the decision to come back, ‘If you’re thinking about leaving, then leave. If you’ve got all your coins in a bucket and you want to stay, then stay.’ I had all my coins in a bucket, so I think I made the right decision,” Ross said.
Ross’ decision has helped him break several school records. With 57 catches for 664 yards and nine touchdowns, Ross owns the record for 100-yard receiving games (nine), the record for career receptions (184), the record for career yards (2,275), and the record for consecutive games with a catch (32). Ross has 19 touchdowns, five shy of Chad Bumphis’ record of 24.
Ross’ decision to return also has helped first-year starting quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. The sophomore was named the starter a week before the season started. Fitzgerald is 152 of 285 for 1,850 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also has a team-high 854 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.
Fitzgerald said he talks to Ross nearly every day about how they can help the offense get better. He said Ross has played an integral part in his development.
“He’s so smart. He’s so far beyond a lot of people. He knows what he’s going to do against everything, so he makes sure I know what he’s going to do,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re going to continue to work for the rest of the season.”
Senior safety Kivon Coman called Ross the best receiver in the SEC and said they don’t face his talent on Saturdays. Coman was a part of Ross’ recruiting class in 2013 and has seen his classmate develop into a leader.
“He’s grown a lot,” Coman said. “When he first got here, he was real quiet. He was just going about his business, but working hard. Now, he’s very vocal, and he’s got the receiver group being strong.”
Ross pointed to MSU’s 35-28 victory against Texas A&M as a memory that will stick out for him. He recalls starting the 2014 season 9-0, a 48-31 home victory against Texas A&M and a 38-23 home victory against Auburn, and rising to No. 1 in the nation for five-straight weeks.
Ross said he is more proud of graduating in three-and-a-half years than anything he has accomplished on the football field.
However, walking out of the tunnel onto Scott Field on Saturday will be one of the most emotional moments Ross expects he will experience.
“I’m going to be crying like a baby. I’m not going to lie,” Ross said. “I know when I see my mom out there, she’s probably going to be crying and it’s going to make me cry. It’s going to be emotional.”
The last four years have taught Ross a good deal about football, but they also have prepared him how to become a responsible adult.
“I learned how to work hard,” Ross said. “I know there are a lot of places in the country that say they work hard, but I believe Mississippi State works the hardest. It’s been a long, quick journey. It’s made me a better man.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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