Junior Vandeross leads the Rockets with 73 receptions this season.
Rocket Spotlight on...Junior Vandeross
12/13/2024 4:37:00 PM | Football
On childhood sleepovers, why they call him “Bug” and Coach Candle’s knowledge of the streets of Tampa
Junior Vandeross is a junior wide receiver from Tampa, Fla. A media communications major, Vandeross earned first-team All-MAC honors this season after catching a team-high 73 passes for 763 yards.
On the importance of sports growing up
"I've played football all my life. I played every sport growing up – soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, football, of course. I had a lot of friends and family playing football growing up, all types of sports. Being outside, being outdoors. Playing sports is what I did all my life.
"I had a lot of great coaches and father figures around me growing up that always made sure I stayed out of trouble, playing in sports and doing the right thing. When football season ended, it was basketball season. When basketball season was over, it was soccer or baseball. All year round we were playing sports."
On having an athletic family
"I have a very athletic family. Both my parents played college basketball at a small school in South Carolina. My dad was a big man. He's 6-5. My mom was a point guard. She's 4-11."
On AAU tournaments and sleepovers
"My childhood was fun but very different. Every weekend we had 10 to 15 kids at our house sleeping over because we had AAU tournaments, 7-on-7 tournaments, whatever. There was always a sporting event on the weekend. We played in the Police Athletic League. Our teams were called the P.A.L. Patriots. It was one organization with plenty of sports. My stepfather (Denis Lopez) wasn't the coach but he kind of ran the organization."
"Everyone wanted to stay at our house. We had things to do there – nerf guns, those types of things. Both my stepbrothers (Xavier and Xander) played on the same team as me, and all our friends would stay over and hang out. We doubled up on bunk beds, we had pallets, some guys would sleep on the couch. Mom (Nina Vandeross) would wake up early and make food for everyone. It was fun."
On his speed
"I was pretty much always the fastest on my team. Every team I played on, we were always good and fast. But I was one of the fastest ones, for sure."
On originally playing defensive back in high school
"I was originally recruited as a DB. I didn't play receiver until my senior year. I had a really good season, and I ended up falling in love with playing receiver."
On his recruitment to Toledo
"Coach (Rob) Weiner always had a big name in Tampa. We used to go to his football camps at Plant High School when we were little. Knowing Coach Weiner and hearing he was at Toledo, I kind of figured Toledo would recruit me. I thought they came around pretty late to be honest (laughs), in the fall of my senior year. But as soon as he called me, we clicked instantly. Later that day, I talked to Coach KB (then wide receiver coach Kevin Beard) and Coach Candle. You could just tell they were genuine. After I came up here, I canceled my other visits. I knew I wanted to play here.
"Coach Candle surprised me. When we got on the phone he was naming streets in Tampa that I never would have guessed he would know, places not everybody would know. He was definitely familiar with Tampa."
On the Florida connection on the team
"There are a lot of players from Tampa and St. Petersburg that kind of grew up together and knew each other for a long time. We kind of stay tight with each other. We always talk about Florida football with the other guys on the team. That's the biggest argument of the year, every time."
On adjusting to a colder climate
"People say it's cold but it hasn't been that bad. I say, if you really love football you'll play wherever. I'm fine with the cold. The cold doesn't bother me."
Why he choose to be a media communication major
"Growing up, I always had a knack for media. I always felt comfortable talking and interacting with people. Some people don't like when the teacher calls you up front to talk in front of everybody. I always liked that. It's just me."
On his team nickname
"They call me Bug. My nickname is Junior (real name is Jessie) and from there they got Junebug and then Bug. Everyone on the team calls me Bug. But it fits. Think of a bug, just running around, annoying. But I'm a good teammate, actually (laughs)."
On the importance of sports growing up
"I've played football all my life. I played every sport growing up – soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, football, of course. I had a lot of friends and family playing football growing up, all types of sports. Being outside, being outdoors. Playing sports is what I did all my life.
"I had a lot of great coaches and father figures around me growing up that always made sure I stayed out of trouble, playing in sports and doing the right thing. When football season ended, it was basketball season. When basketball season was over, it was soccer or baseball. All year round we were playing sports."
On having an athletic family
"I have a very athletic family. Both my parents played college basketball at a small school in South Carolina. My dad was a big man. He's 6-5. My mom was a point guard. She's 4-11."
On AAU tournaments and sleepovers
"My childhood was fun but very different. Every weekend we had 10 to 15 kids at our house sleeping over because we had AAU tournaments, 7-on-7 tournaments, whatever. There was always a sporting event on the weekend. We played in the Police Athletic League. Our teams were called the P.A.L. Patriots. It was one organization with plenty of sports. My stepfather (Denis Lopez) wasn't the coach but he kind of ran the organization."
"Everyone wanted to stay at our house. We had things to do there – nerf guns, those types of things. Both my stepbrothers (Xavier and Xander) played on the same team as me, and all our friends would stay over and hang out. We doubled up on bunk beds, we had pallets, some guys would sleep on the couch. Mom (Nina Vandeross) would wake up early and make food for everyone. It was fun."
On his speed
"I was pretty much always the fastest on my team. Every team I played on, we were always good and fast. But I was one of the fastest ones, for sure."
On originally playing defensive back in high school
"I was originally recruited as a DB. I didn't play receiver until my senior year. I had a really good season, and I ended up falling in love with playing receiver."
On his recruitment to Toledo
"Coach (Rob) Weiner always had a big name in Tampa. We used to go to his football camps at Plant High School when we were little. Knowing Coach Weiner and hearing he was at Toledo, I kind of figured Toledo would recruit me. I thought they came around pretty late to be honest (laughs), in the fall of my senior year. But as soon as he called me, we clicked instantly. Later that day, I talked to Coach KB (then wide receiver coach Kevin Beard) and Coach Candle. You could just tell they were genuine. After I came up here, I canceled my other visits. I knew I wanted to play here.
"Coach Candle surprised me. When we got on the phone he was naming streets in Tampa that I never would have guessed he would know, places not everybody would know. He was definitely familiar with Tampa."
On the Florida connection on the team
"There are a lot of players from Tampa and St. Petersburg that kind of grew up together and knew each other for a long time. We kind of stay tight with each other. We always talk about Florida football with the other guys on the team. That's the biggest argument of the year, every time."
On adjusting to a colder climate
"People say it's cold but it hasn't been that bad. I say, if you really love football you'll play wherever. I'm fine with the cold. The cold doesn't bother me."
Why he choose to be a media communication major
"Growing up, I always had a knack for media. I always felt comfortable talking and interacting with people. Some people don't like when the teacher calls you up front to talk in front of everybody. I always liked that. It's just me."
On his team nickname
"They call me Bug. My nickname is Junior (real name is Jessie) and from there they got Junebug and then Bug. Everyone on the team calls me Bug. But it fits. Think of a bug, just running around, annoying. But I'm a good teammate, actually (laughs)."
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