Henderson State University Athletics

A three-time All-AIC honoree on the defensive line, Johnny Gross earned Honorable Mention honors in 1973 and 1974 before being named an All-AIC First Team selection and Honorable Mention All-American in 1975. Gross was a key member of the Henderson teams that won three consecutive AIC titles in 1973, 1974 and 1975. The 1974 Reddies, who were inducted into the Hall of Honor as a team in 2010, finished as NAIA national runners-up. The 1975 squad won the Bicentennial Bowl in War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, where Gross was named the game’s Defensive Most Valuable Player. Gross helped lead some of the best defenses in school history during his time in Arkadelphia. The Reddies led the AIC in total defense in both 1973 and 1975, and held opponents to under 200 yards per game in each of Gross’s final three seasons.