WR Justyn Ross, Clemson (out for season)
HEIGHT: 6-4| WEIGHT: 205
HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL): Phenix City, AL (Central)
247 RATING: .9765 | STARS:
YEAR: Junior
POSTION RANK: 6
CAREER
Receiving: 112 catches, 1,865 yards (16.7 ypc), 17 touchdowns
2019
Receiving: 66 catches, 865 yards (13.1 ypc), 8 touchdowns
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Justyn Ross Breakdown
Note: This was written before Ross had season ending surgery
Coming into last year, Justyn Ross received a ton of hype after he exploded in the College Football Playoff. With teams knowing who he was, he took a back seat to Tee Higgins in terms of production, but Higgins’ departure to the NFL means he’s now the go-to guy for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
A one-handed, highlight reel catch was all the talk for Ross coming into the 2019 season, and it showed fans his ability to make acrobatic catches. Lawrence is an accurate passer with good ball placement, but Ross gives him room for error with his ability to make catches in awkward positions. That adds to a catch radius that is already impressive, but also gives him a chance to catch a football in tight coverage. Ross also has worked on his route running in his first two seasons, and it’s a big reason he’s averaging almost 17 yards per catch. He’s able to get open downfield, and the result typically is a big play.
Ross won’t be a guy that creates room for himself after catching short passes. He’s a deep threat. His quickness isn’t elite, but he makes up for it with his route running and awareness. Lucky for him, Clemson doesn’t require him to become a short to intermediate guy with talent like Amari Rodgers on the roster. Scanning the field for openings in coverage gives him chances to sit in windows for Lawrence to hit him, and he’s gotten better at identifying where those windows will be before the play begins.
Justyn Ross’ production took a dip in 2019, but he was still an effective receiver capable of making big plays. He doesn’t drop passes often, and his athleticism makes him a threat to catch any ball thrown his way. With Higgins gone, the go-to receiver title figures to head Ross’ way. He’s more than capable of becoming a leader, and he could be in store for a career year even with the amount of talent on the Tigers roster.
