Gross suffered a neck injury in last season’s opener against UT Martin and missed the rest of the season. The injury required surgery, but he is participating — albeit on a limited basis — in spring practice.
“Being out of this game, having something that you love and are so passionate about taken away from you, it’s a blessing to be back out there,” he told reporters last week.
Gross isn’t allowed any contact this spring, but his return is important nonetheless. Gross is one of the smallest defensive linemen in the SEC in recent memory — he is listed at 6 feet 1 and 240 pounds, but says he is up to around 260 — but is quick off the ball and has good instincts and a high football IQ.