HOUSTON – Finding a middle linebacker who runs a 4.34 is basically unheard of. What about the guy who ran a 10.36 100 meter sprint? He’s North Shore’s Charles Ross, one of the fastest athletes in the state of Texas, who happens to play an important hitting role for the Mustangs.

Ross is not only a speedster at the linebacker position, he is coach Willie Gaston’s defensive captain, known for helping his teammates line up and be in the right place at the right time.

Much of the attention on North Shore’s defense is focused on 5-star cornerback Devin Sanchez, an Ohio State commit who is ranked as the 5th best overall prospect in the country. Ross is a top national prospect in his own right, ranked 65th overall nationally by the 247 Sports Composite and rated a 4-star linebacker. The LSU commit may garner less national love than Sanchez, but for his coaches, he plays an important role in leading the Mustang’s defensive effort.

“He’s so smart, on and off the field, he changes fronts, he checks, he’s truly the quarterback of the defense,” Gaston said.

“He called my route once,” said senior wide receiver Quanell Farrakhan, Jr. “I was like, ‘How do you know my route?’ He watches movies, he’s a student of them, he really pays attention to everything.

Ross reads quickly while playing quickly.

“Watching him run line to line, he’s one of the fastest linebackers in the state, guaranteed,” Gaston said.

Ross has been able to enjoy his studies off the field as much as his work in the weight room and in the game. He says he spends two hours watching film and learning football, in addition to his two hours daily of physical training in addition to practices and matches.

“It helps you a lot, and when you see how far away the receiver is, you can tell if it’s a pass or a run, so I know what to do,” Ross said.

Ross and the Mustangs are state title contenders again, ranked No. 2 in Texas. North Shore is 8-0 and is coming off an impressive win against one of the best teams in the state in Atascocita. The Mustangs will face CE King this week and finish the year with powerhouse Summer Creek.