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Western Illinois University Athletics

2023 Football Roster

Rachael Keating
Rachael Keating

1 JJ Ross

  • Position Defensive back
  • Height 6-3
  • Weight 195
  • Class Redshirt Senior
  • Hometown Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Highschool Lakota West HS

Biography

2023:  Named Second Team Preseason All-MVFC by Phil Steele … Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee … Played in 11 games, starting all 11 … Recorded 43 tackles (31 solo, 12 assists) … Had 3.5 tackles for loss for -9 yards … One interception, three pass breakups and one forced fumble … Had a personal-high 10 tackles (eight solo; two tackles for loss) vs. Illinois State.

2022: Ross finished the season with 35 tackles (24 solo, 11 assists), one tackle for loss, two interceptions (vs. UT Martin and Southern Utah) and six pass breakups. Played in eight games. Had a season-high seven tackles vs. Indiana State.

JUNIOR (2021): Became a primary cornerback in his first season with the Leathernecks, starting 10 of 11 showings... tied with Dallas Martin for sixth on the team in tackles (35.0)... recorded a team-best six pass breakups... made five tackles (four solo) and forced a fumble at Youngstown State (Sept. 25)... registered a season-high six tackles at Montana (Sept. 11)... finished with five performances of four or more tackles... recovered a fumble versus Illinois State (Oct. 30).

At EIU: 2019 - 3rd Team Freshman All-American (Defensive Back)... appeared in all six games during the 2020 season played in the spring of 2021... made starts at corner in the first five games of the season... finished year with 18 tackles, 16 solo stops... season high six tackles at UT Martin... had five tackles, all solo, in season opener against Southeast Missouri... had a fumble recovery, returned nine yards, against Southeast Missouri... finished year with five pass break-ups, most on the team... had two pass break-ups against Southeast Missouri and two in home win over Tennessee Tech... played in all 12 games during the 2019 season as a corner making six starts on the season including the season opener at Chattanooga... led team in interceptions with four including two in the final game of the season at Austin Peay... ranked second in the OVC in interceptions and 33rd in the FCS... added interceptions at Indiana State and Tennessee Tech... had two additional pass break-ups... finished season with 24 tackles including 19 solo stops... season high four tackles against Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay... had three tackle games against Indiana State and Eastern Kentucky... named a third team Freshman All-American by Phil Steele.com.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played for coach Larry Cox at Lakota West HS… led the Greater Miami Conference in interceptions with six during senior season including one returned for a touchdown… added 25 tackles with 18 solo stops and one forced fumble as a senior… finished junior season with 29 tackles including 19 solo stops while adding two interceptions… earned first team All-Conference honors as a senior after second team honors during junior campaign… named to the D-1 All-Ohio team as a senior.

Statistics

Season:
2023

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 24

    2021Junior

    Defensive Back
    6'2" 195 lbs
    24
  • 1

    2022Senior

    Defensive Back
    6'2" 195 lbs
    1
  • 1

    2023Redshirt Senior

    Defensive back
    6'3" 195 lbs
    1