Every Friday evening in the fall you will see a player wearing No. 32. This number holds a special place in Pampa High School football history because it was worn by Pro Football Hall of Famer Zach Thomas. As a tribute to Thomas, the Pampa High School football program has retired No. 32 from regular jersey circulation. From this day forward, jersey No. 32 will be worn every Friday night by a different individual. That individual embodies that competitive spirit which Zach Thomas displayed every Friday night in the fall. The individual will be voted on by the coaching staff.
The seventh player selected by the coaching staff to wear No. 32 during the 2026 season is sophomore running back Colton Rose. He normally wears No. 23, but for the seventh game against Hereford on Friday, he will be wearing the Zach Thomas No. 32.
Rose said being selected by the coaching staff to wear the prestigious No. 32 jersey is an honor and recognition of the work he has put into the program.
“It makes me feel very honored and proud that they see my commitment and dedication to this team,” Rose said.
Rose added that wearing the number made famous by Pro Football Hall of Famer Zach Thomas carries special meaning because of the legacy attached to it.
“It means a lot. I am so excited to represent Zach Thomas and his legacy on the Pampa field,” Rose said.
In addition to football, Rose stays active in athletics throughout the school year by competing in wrestling and track.
“I run track and am part of the wrestling team,” Rose said.
Looking ahead to life after high school, Rose hopes to continue his football career at the collegiate level, saying the sport has become an important part of his life.
“Yes, I want to play football. I can’t imagine life without football,” Rose said.
While he has not made a final decision on where he wants to attend college, Rose already has a couple of schools in mind.
“I have a couple in mind but West Texas A&M or Texas A&M is what I’m thinking about right now,” Rose said.
Away from the football field and classroom, Rose enjoys spending his free time outdoors and with the people closest to him.
“I like to go fishing and hang out with my friends and family,” Rose said.
In the classroom, Rose said physics stands out as his favorite subject because of his interest in understanding how things work.
“Physics is my favorite because I like and understand the concepts. I think it’s super interesting,” Rose said.
Rose also has a clear vision for his future career, hoping to combine his love for football with a passion for education.
“Yes, I want to coach football for sure and teach some type of history or science,” Rose said.
Above all, Rose said his pride in representing Pampa and wearing the Green and Gold is something he carries with him.
“I’m proud to be a Harvester and love Pampa!” Rose said.
Pampa Head Coach Floyd White praised Rose for his tremendous work ethic, positive attitude and continued improvement throughout the season, noting how he has worked his way up from the junior varsity team.
“Colton is a tremendous young man who has a great work ethic. He comes to practice every day with a smile on his face and works to get better. He started the year off on the JV and has progressively gotten better and better. He takes what the offensive staff gives him and works so hard to help execute it. I can’t wait to see how hard he plays this week,” White said.
