Prospect Bio

Justyn Ross was a two-sport athlete at Central High School in Alabama where he played basketball and, of course, football. On the gridiron, he received first-team all-state honors and was a finalist for “Mr. Football” after recording 37 receptions for 730 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior. Ross was a four-star recruit and chose to go to Clemson over the home-town team Alabama. Ross made an immediate impact, hauling in 46 receptions for a team-high 1,000 yards and 9 touchdowns in his freshman season. That included a career-high 153 receiving yards in Clemson’s 44-16 victory over the Crimson Tide. Even while playing alongside Tee Higgins, Ross managed to lead the Tigers in receptions in 2019. He caught 66 balls for 865 yards and 8 touchdowns. It was enough to earn an honorable mention All-ACC selection.

With Higgins departing for the NFL in 2020, Ross was in line to be the top dog on the depth chart. However, a collision during an offseason practice sent him to the x-ray room where tests revealed a congenital fusion condition of his neck and spine which required surgery. The injury not only knocked him out for the 2020 season but also put his playing career in great jeopardy. Luckily, it didn’t turn out to be career-ending and Ross was back on the field in 2021. He caught 46 passes for for 514 yds and three touchdowns in 10 games. A late-season foot injury cost him the final three contests. Still, Ross was awarded the ACC Brian Piccolo Award which is given to the conference’s most courageous player. 

College Stats

Justyn Ross College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference.com

Positives

+18.7 breakout age

+1,000-yard freshman season while playing alongside Tee Higgins 

+21.7 YPR in freshman season 

+Size

+Attacks the football; One of the best high-point WRs in college football

+Excellent red-zone target

+Plays well both in the slot and on the outside 

+Huge catch radius

+Route-running

+Body control 

Negatives

-23.6% College Dominator (31st-percentile; PlayerProfiler)

-Significant medical concerns

-Struggles to create space vertically

-Lacks downfield speed

-Limited production in 2021

-4.6 receptions per game in 2021 (4.7 in 2019)

-11.2 YPR in 2021

-1.25 yards per team pass attempt (1.7 in 2019)

-7.9% touchdown share in 2021 (9.4%) in 2019

Highlight Reel

Comparable Player: Marvin Jones

NFL Draft Projection: Day 2

Bottom Line:

There was a time when Justyn Ross was considered one of the top wide receivers in his class and a lock to be a first-round pick. An unfortunate injury derailed that while nearly costing him his career. Luckily, he was able to work his way back but questions still linger about his long-term health and post-surgery performance. Pre-draft medical checks and the NFL Combine will go a long way to thwarting some of those concerns. Assuming he checks out okay, Ross projects as a big-slot at the next level. His size and ball skills will allow him to make occasional plays out wide but his lack of deep speed and separation will likely keep him inside more often than not. According to early projections, Ross will find draft capital on Day Two which should lock him in as a top-25 pick in dynasty rookie drafts. 

Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN

Yards Per-Formance Prospect Grade