“Rhode” to Division 1

Josh Gross signed his letter of intent to play football at the University of Rhode Island for the next two years on National Signing Day on Feb. 6.

“I was happy for him,” Head Coach of the Hudson Valley football team, Mike Muehling, said. “I think they put together a great package for him and showed that they really wanted him.”

“It was a big accomplishment and I’m honored, but at the same time I want to do more,” Gross said.

Rhode Island Head Coach Joe Trainer was happy about the acquisition. He said, “Josh Gross is a truly, truly special player and he’s a guy we are really excited about.”

Last season with the Vikings, Gross was the leader on offense with 21 receptions for 337 yards and three touchdowns.

Gross’s statistics back up his play on the field, but his work off the field completed his All Region campaign.

“Everything he has done here has been to the highest degree,” said Muehling.

“It’s a student athlete, not an athlete student, and football really helped motivate me to get good grades,” Gross said.

When coming to Hudson Valley, Gross had to make a few adjustments. Through High School and Prep School he played Wide Receiver but because of his size and physical stature he was transformed into a Tight End.

“It’s different going from a standup position into a three point stance. It was tough,” said Gross.

“He is a physical mismatch for a lot of people and we all knew what he is capable of,” Muehling said.

Gross is also from Maryland and wore shorts nearly every day when he lived down south, but living in Troy is a bit of a climate change.

“It was tough at first. I wasn’t used to dressing up for the cold every day,” said Gross.

The cold might not even be the most challenging thing for Gross to overcome. In his two seasons with Hudson Valley he played with six Quarterbacks.

“The good thing about Josh is that he knew he had a job to do and he didn’t let that affect him,” said Muehling.

“I did the best I could. We’d stay after practice and run routes and try and build our chemistry with whoever it was,” Gross said. “There was always a good game plan to try and get me the ball so I could showcase my talent.”

Possibly the highlight of all the talented plays Gross has made for the Vikings came when he made a one handed leaping catch on the sideline in a game against Hartwick.

“It was a great play and probably the best one I’ve seen in person,” Muehling said.

“I still think about it until this day and I’m surprised the most about how high I jumped,” said Gross.

Gross and Trainer both expect more talented plays for the Rams offense in the upcoming season.

“I want to make a splash when I get there and hopefully become the QB’s blanket,” Gross said.

“He has tremendous hands and is physical enough to play on the line of scrimmage. He’s also athletic enough to spread him out in your three and four receiver sets,” Trainer said.

His dreams go further than playing at the division one level. “If I put up the numbers I expect, hopefully the right people will look at me and I hope to go the NFL someday,” Gross said.