Two Palm Bay Stars Commit To College Football Teams
By Ed Pierce // August 11, 2012
Pirates Ready For Next Level
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Two highly regarded Palm Bay High School football stars have committed to play for colleges next fall.
Caleb Alves and B.J. Ross announced this past week that they have made their college decisions and are ready to concentrate on their senior season of competition for the Pirates.
Alves said he made up his mind Thursday to commit to play for the University of South Alabama.
“I really liked their recruiter John Turner,” Alves said. “The school is in Mobile and it’s a really nice area that I like a lot.”
After playing in a variety of roles on both offense and defense for Palm Bay under Coach Dan Burke for the past three years, Alves said he’s been told he will be a wide receiver for South Alabama, which competes in the Sun Belt Conference.
He said he plans on studying sports medicine in college and although he will miss his friends in Brevard, he’s comfortable with his college choice.
The son of Nikki and Leon Alves of Palm Bay, he said his family is happy he has made a commitment to South Alabama.
“They are really excited for me,” Alves said. “My brother’s happy and my girlfriend’s happy. I just wanted to commit now so I can focus on our upcoming season and get that out of the way.”
Ross said he has decided to play for the University of Memphis under Coach Justin Fuente.
“I went up there and really fell in love with the school and the entire area,” Ross said. “I think they’re in the process of rebuilding the team and they compete in the Big East Conference.”
“I went up there and really fell in love with the school and the entire area,” Ross said. “I think they’re in the process of rebuilding the team and they compete in the Big East Conference.”
Another versatile player for the Palm Bay Pirates during his career, Ross said he will play cornerback for Memphis.
“The coach said they were only going to take one cornerback in my class, so I figured now was the right time to commit to them,” he said.
He plans on studying criminal justice or possibly sports medicine at Memphis and said his parent, Shirlen and Johnny Burrows of Palm Bay, agreed with his college choice.
“They are happy for me,” he said. “I also had an offer to play for Bethune-Cookman College, but I really love the Memphis area and so I decided to commit to that school.”
