Within the South Sound’s fraternity of blue-chip high school linemen, White River High senior Scott Rose has embraced the role of the underdog.
The 6-foot-4, 285-pound Rose is happy to be mentioned with the likes of Puyallup’s Joshua Garnett, Lakes’ Zach Banner and Tacoma Baptist’s Walker Williams.
Rose has worked out with highly regarded Garnett for the past three years at a gym in Puyallup, and Banner and Williams joined them this summer.
“To me, it was just a blessing,” Rose said. “How many times can you work out with three of the top (linemen) in the nation? I don’t put a whole lot of pressure on myself.”
The senior used the opportunity to talk football with the trio and routinely test his skills against them.
“I think it’s a good measuring stick for him,” White River second-year coach Joe Sprouse said. “He gets to see those kids a lot and work out with them and see where he stacks up. But I think mentally he knows he belongs in that conversation.”
Rose played last season with a torn meniscus in his knee that nagged him throughout the season. The Hornets’ 1-9 record bothered him even more.
“We have a chip on our shoulder,” Rose said. “We’re using (last season) as motivation this whole summer.”
The senior had surgery in January and took a month off to recover. Rose said his knee feels great now.
“I feel like I’m getting off the ball way quicker,” he said.
Sprouse sees the progression and is excited to see what a healthier and stronger Rose can do.
“Last year he had flashes of great plays and then he’d get called for holding because he lacked just that little bit of mobility,” Sprouse said. “But if he locked onto a kid, he’d put them down, and it was fun to watch. This year I expect him, and he expects himself, to be much more consistent.”
Rose isn’t the only Hornet who is stronger entering this season.
White River returns nine starters on each side of the ball, and each has worked hard in the weight room, Sprouse said.
At the beginning of last season, two Hornets could bench-press more than 225 pounds. Now, every starter on offense and defense can hit that benchmark.
“They put that kind of commitment into the weight room,” said Sprouse, a 2000 White River graduate who was an all-state linebacker during his high school career. “We finished our season (last year) on a Thursday night. Friday after school those kids were in working out. They are dedicated to this.”
Rose and the linemen will likely be key to the team achieving success. Seven of the eight players on the line are seniors, and there will be fewer players this year playing both sides of the ball. Paired with senior Blake Maresh, a 6-2, 240-pound senior, Rose will anchor a left side that the Hornets will depend on for big holes for senior running back Josh Miller.
“I think we’re going to be a really good running team,” Maresh said.
Rose has drawn interest from schools in the Pacific-12 and Big Sky conferences, and has an offer from Holy Cross. Rose said he won’t make a decision until the season is over.
Helping rebuild the White River program is on the top of the list of priorities now.
“We’re here to bring back White River football to the way it used to be,” he said.
blog.thenewstribune.com/preps
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.