Bowling Green State University Athletics
Jordon Roussos in his USA Football jersey
Q & A With Jordon Roussos
June 18, 2009 | Football
The freshman-to-be has been with Team USA for almost a week.
USA FOOTBALL (bgsufalcons.com) Jordon Roussos, a freshman-to-be for the Bowling Green State University football team, has been practicing with the USA Football Junior National Team for nearly a week and bgsufalcons.com caught up Carnegie, Pa., native to see how his practices are going.
The 6-4, 240-pound defensive end is one of 45 graduating high school seniors soon to enter one of 27 college football programs who will play on America's first national team in the sport comprised of players aged 19 and under.
USA Football, an independent non-profit and the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, has built America's first Junior National Team in the sport to compete in the eight-nation, four-continent 2009 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio, from June 27-July 5. National football teams from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Sweden have qualified to join the United States to pursue the sport's first world championship on the international junior level (19 and under).
Roussos was named to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fabulous-22" list as a senior and was first-team all-conference for the past three seasons at Carlynton Junior/Senior High School. A four-year scholar athlete, he was a team captain in football and wrestling and also lettered in track and baseball. Roussos, who plans to major in education at BGSU, also ranked as a top-five wrestler in the state of Pennsylvania.
Players selected for USA Football's Junior National Team were nominated by high school and college coaches from around the country. Roster selections are ultimately determined by USA Football's coaching staff, which collectively possesses 33 state titles and 155 high school head coaching seasons of experience.
Q: How are practices going so far?
Roussos: At first it was hard learning all the new stuff, new plays, but now it's Day four and the team's meshing together well.
Q: How was it adjusting to all of the new players?
Roussos: It's surreal for me because I'm used to playing on a single-A school where we have a graduating class of 116 and all these kids come from humungous schools talking about filling the stadium so it's a great experience getting to talk to kids who have played in all these big games and I get to play with kids that I would normally not get to play with, so it's a great experience for me. I'm making new friends.
Q: Do you find the competition difficult to adjust to?
Roussos: It's not something I'm used to but it's definitely something that elevates your game and makes you better as a player having to go against the best from their schools and states everyday during practice.
Q: What can Bowling Green fans expect to see from you?
Roussos: I'm going to try to come in as a freshman and help as much as I can -- whatever it takes for the team. They may need me to play, and if not, I'll redshirt -- whatever they need, I'll be ready.
Q: How does it make you feel to represent America?
Roussos: It's amazing. I haven't even really realized how big this is yet. I know in a few years I'll look back and say, "Wow, we were the first junior national team in football in the whole country."
Q: How are you adjusting to the new coaches and their different styles?
Roussos: The coaches are great -- these are the best in high school football across the country, so it doesn't take much adjusting ... it's easy to be coached by them because they know exactly what to say to you and I think we're all responding well to them.
The 6-4, 240-pound defensive end is one of 45 graduating high school seniors soon to enter one of 27 college football programs who will play on America's first national team in the sport comprised of players aged 19 and under.
USA Football, an independent non-profit and the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, has built America's first Junior National Team in the sport to compete in the eight-nation, four-continent 2009 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio, from June 27-July 5. National football teams from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Sweden have qualified to join the United States to pursue the sport's first world championship on the international junior level (19 and under).
Roussos was named to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fabulous-22" list as a senior and was first-team all-conference for the past three seasons at Carlynton Junior/Senior High School. A four-year scholar athlete, he was a team captain in football and wrestling and also lettered in track and baseball. Roussos, who plans to major in education at BGSU, also ranked as a top-five wrestler in the state of Pennsylvania.
Players selected for USA Football's Junior National Team were nominated by high school and college coaches from around the country. Roster selections are ultimately determined by USA Football's coaching staff, which collectively possesses 33 state titles and 155 high school head coaching seasons of experience.
Q: How are practices going so far?
Roussos: At first it was hard learning all the new stuff, new plays, but now it's Day four and the team's meshing together well.
Q: How was it adjusting to all of the new players?
Roussos: It's surreal for me because I'm used to playing on a single-A school where we have a graduating class of 116 and all these kids come from humungous schools talking about filling the stadium so it's a great experience getting to talk to kids who have played in all these big games and I get to play with kids that I would normally not get to play with, so it's a great experience for me. I'm making new friends.
Q: Do you find the competition difficult to adjust to?
Roussos: It's not something I'm used to but it's definitely something that elevates your game and makes you better as a player having to go against the best from their schools and states everyday during practice.
Q: What can Bowling Green fans expect to see from you?
Roussos: I'm going to try to come in as a freshman and help as much as I can -- whatever it takes for the team. They may need me to play, and if not, I'll redshirt -- whatever they need, I'll be ready.
Q: How does it make you feel to represent America?
Roussos: It's amazing. I haven't even really realized how big this is yet. I know in a few years I'll look back and say, "Wow, we were the first junior national team in football in the whole country."
Q: How are you adjusting to the new coaches and their different styles?
Roussos: The coaches are great -- these are the best in high school football across the country, so it doesn't take much adjusting ... it's easy to be coached by them because they know exactly what to say to you and I think we're all responding well to them.
Spring Football: Closed with a statement. #Shorts
Sunday, April 12
BG FB : Spring Game Interviews
Saturday, April 11
2026 BGSU Football Pro Day Player Interviews
Wednesday, March 25
BG Football Pro Day 2026 : Coach George
Tuesday, March 24