Ht – 6’3” Wt – 205lb Class – JR Age – 22
Career Statistics
2021 Stats – 46 Rec, 514 Yds, 3 TD (10 Games Played)
Career Stats – 158 Rec, 2379 Yds, 20 TD (38 Games Played)
Attribute Breakdown
Hands & Ball Skills – Great, and among the top of this class. Justyn Ross will come down with almost any pass thrown his way, and his ability to contort his body, leap, and locate passes are top-notch. He hardly drops balls and has very reliable hands.
Size & Speed – Justyn Ross is another long and lanky receiver with elite ball skills. He isn’t very bulky, but he has good height and plays with above-average speed. He isn’t a burner, but he can hold his own.
Release – Quick and disciplined feet. Ross has an outstanding release, and he is adept at avoiding the press. He uses a great jab-step and good hands to skirt right past aggressive Corners.
Routes & Separation – Breaks off routes with great suddenness and sharpness, but he lacks the elite twitch we saw pre-injury. Using precise footwork, he creates plenty of separation at the top of his routes, and he has the speed to maintain it as well.
YAC – Possesses the moves to be above average after the catch, but he is mostly just average. Although he has good contact balance, he didn’t do much in the way of tackle-breaking or displaying extreme elusiveness.
Football IQ – Has a natural feel for the game and is smooth and comfortable finding soft spots in the zone or manipulating Corners to his will.
Versatility – Despite his height, Ross was used all over the formation. As a slot receiver or lined out wide, or even splitting out of the backfield, he was Clemson’s offensive weapon. He even caught a bunch of screen passes.
Combine – Justyn Ross didn’t participate in any drills other than the Bench Press, where he put up a measly 11 reps. Still, that drill isn’t very indicative of Wide Receiver success. He did come in at a very healthy 205lb, which is more than expected for his playstyle. If he can maintain his play with that weight that would do wonders for his prospects.
Overall
Justyn Ross is one of the few “has-beens” in this draft. In 2019 as a true freshman, he burst onto the scene with a dominant season, consistently beating and embarrassing veteran Corners. Unfortunately, before the 2020 season, he discovered a congenital fusion in his spine. This threatened his career, and he briefly considered quitting football in favor of his health. He ultimately decided to stick with it, and he returned for the 2021 season, in one of the more heartwarming stories of College Football. His journey was truly exciting, and the anticipation of him retaking the field was great. As one of the top Wide Receiver prospects pre-injury, many scouts had their eyes peeled watching previously projected 1st round lock.
Unfortunately, it was clear his explosiveness and athletic capabilities took a hit, and he wasn’t nearly as explosive or dominant as he was pre-injury. To make matters worse, he then injured himself differently in 2021. He missed the last 3 games of the season due to a reaggravation of a foot injury he had been suffering since before the season.
As an injury-prone player whose stock arrow is pointed down, it’s hard to be too excited about Justyn Ross.
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