Ross Ventrone
Encyclopedia
Ross Ventrone is an American football
safety who plays for the New England Patriots
. He was signed by the New England Patriots
as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
at Villanova
.
He is the younger brother of current Cleveland Browns
and former Patriots safety Ray Ventrone.
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he did not play football until his senior year.
. He was redshirt
ed in 2005 before working on Pittsburgh's scout team
in 2006.
In 2007, Ventrone transferred to Villanova University
, his brother Ray's alma mater, where he earned a football scholarship
. He played in all 11 games in 2007, finishing third on the team with 64 tackles while also recording five pass break-ups and one interception. As a junior in 2008, Ventrone lead the team with four interceptions, along with 61 tackles and a fumble recovery in 13 games played.
Ventrone was part of the Wildcats' NCAA Division I FCS Championship in 2009
. He recorded 73 tackles including 53 solo stops, as well as 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
, Ventrone was signed by the New England Patriots
on April 29, 2010. He played in the team's preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints
before being waived on August 15. He was re-signed on August 23, and played in the team's final two preseason games before being waived during final cuts on September 4. He was signed to the Patriots' practice squad on October 19, 2010. He was re-signed to a future contract for the 2011 season on January 18, 2011.
, in Weeks 6 and 8 against the Dallas Cowboys
and Pittsburgh Steelers
, and in both games against the New York Jets
. He has primarily played special teams, but did play on defense in the Patriots' Week 10 game against the Jets.
Since August 1, 2011, the Patriots have made 15 roster moves involving Ventrone, including waiving him seven times; most recently, on November 22, 2011.
On November 24, Ventrone was resigned to the patriots practice squad.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety who plays for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He was signed by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Villanova
Villanova Wildcats football
The Villanova Wildcats football program represents Villanova University in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision . The Wildcats play at Villanova Stadium with capacity of 12,500.-History:...
.
He is the younger brother of current Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and former Patriots safety Ray Ventrone.
Early years
Ventrone attended Chartiers Valley High SchoolChartiers Valley High School
Chartiers Valley High School is a public school in the Bridgeville borough of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. The school's on-site stadium is home to the professional soccer team the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The school has an indoor swimming pool which is open to the public three evenings a...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he did not play football until his senior year.
College career
After graduating from high school, Ventrone began his college career as a walk-on at the University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. He was redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
ed in 2005 before working on Pittsburgh's scout team
Scout team
In sports, the scout team, also referred to as a practice team, taxi squad, practice squad or practice roster, is a group of players on a team whose task is to emulate future opponents for the featured players. Frequently used in American or Canadian Football, these teams consist of less...
in 2006.
In 2007, Ventrone transferred to Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, his brother Ray's alma mater, where he earned a football scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
. He played in all 11 games in 2007, finishing third on the team with 64 tackles while also recording five pass break-ups and one interception. As a junior in 2008, Ventrone lead the team with four interceptions, along with 61 tackles and a fumble recovery in 13 games played.
Ventrone was part of the Wildcats' NCAA Division I FCS Championship in 2009
2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of the college football season, began in August 2009 and concluded with the national championship game on December 18, 2009 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, won by Villanova 23–21 over Montana.-Rule changes for 2009:The NCAA football rules committee...
. He recorded 73 tackles including 53 solo stops, as well as 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
2010 season
After going undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
, Ventrone was signed by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
on April 29, 2010. He played in the team's preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
before being waived on August 15. He was re-signed on August 23, and played in the team's final two preseason games before being waived during final cuts on September 4. He was signed to the Patriots' practice squad on October 19, 2010. He was re-signed to a future contract for the 2011 season on January 18, 2011.
2011 season
Ventrone has played in five games for the Patriots, in Week 3 against the BuffaloBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, in Weeks 6 and 8 against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, and in both games against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He has primarily played special teams, but did play on defense in the Patriots' Week 10 game against the Jets.
Since August 1, 2011, the Patriots have made 15 roster moves involving Ventrone, including waiving him seven times; most recently, on November 22, 2011.
On November 24, Ventrone was resigned to the patriots practice squad.