FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
<H1 class=red>Rose took a quick path to opponent's backfield
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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 Bob Fortuna
Plain Dealer Reporter
Robert Rose is quiet and unassuming for a person who stands 6-6 and weighs 250 pounds, that is until he walks onto the football field.
"I have one thing on my mind before the ball is snapped: get off the ball quickly and get into the opposing team's backfield," said Rose, The Plain Dealer's Defensive Football Player of the Year. "Because as long as I can get into their backfield, anything can happen."
Rose, a Glenville senior who split time between defensive end and tackle, created havoc in many backfields while helping lead the Tarblooders to an unbeaten regular season, a ninth straight Senate Athletic League championship and the team's sixth postseason playoff appearance in seven seasons.
He finished the year with 15 sacks. Of his 67 tackles, 19 were for losses.
Rose did all of this while often being double- and triple-teamed.
"I still need to improve because you're never perfect," said Rose, who also played tight end. "I need to get off the ball quicker because the guys at the next level will be quicker and bigger.
"For the first time since I started playing football, I'll be going up against guys bigger and stronger than me."
Ranked as the 11th-best player by Ohio High Magazine, Rose has every major college program wanting his services. He has narrowed his choices to Southern California, Ohio State, LSU, Florida and North Carolina. "I visited USC and I liked it," said Rose, who will likely play defensive tackle in college. "Who wouldn't like to play for the defending national champions? But I'm going to take all my visits, keep an open mind and keep my options open."
School: Glenville
Year: Senior
Position: Lineman
Superstar stats: The All-Ohio first-teamer registered 67 tackles, had 15 sacks and deflected 13 passes despite often facing double- and triple-team coverage.
What you didn't know: "I'm a neat freak and I hate anything sloppy. If I walk into a room and notice something is out of place, I have to put it back where it belongs."
