Justyn Ross WR Clemson | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Justyn Ross WR Clemson
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
ROLE: Multi-Role Receiver | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Updated: 03/22/2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft Year: 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 time: 4.64 seconds (10%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Age: 24.9 DOB: 12/15/1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NFL Combine & Pro-Day Results |
ROLE: Multi-Role Receiver | |
Last Updated: 03/22/2022 | |
Draft Year: 2022 | |
40 time: 4.64 seconds (10%*) | |
Age: 24.9 DOB: 12/15/1999 | |
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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NFL Combine & Pro-Day Results |
Overall Rating: | 83.9 / 100 | |
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Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
Defense Rating: |
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74% |
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
QB Rating When targeted: | 97.0 | |
Hands: |
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78% |
Short Receiving: |
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74% |
Intermediate Routes: |
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82% |
Deep Threat: |
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76% |
Blocking: |
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65% |
DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#83
Position rank:
#14
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College Games: 39 College Snaps: 1419 | ||
College Combine Results
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OVR Rank:
#39
Pos Rank:
#11
State Rank:
#1
College Combine Results
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Draft Profile: Bio
Justyn Ross had 37 receptions for 730 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior at Central High School in Alabama - he led his team to a 12-1 record and the state semifinals. He also had 14 punt returns for 383 yards and two touchdowns in his final season. As a result, he was a highly ranked recruit - the No. 15 player in the nation by Rivals, No. 45 player by 247Sports, and No. 74 player by ESPN. He surprisingly chose Clemson over Alabama..
As a freshman in 2018 Ross made 46 receptions for a team-high 1,000 yards and 9 touchdowns in 343 snaps over 15 games - his 21.7-yard average per catch was a single-season school record. He received a freshman All-America selection by 247Sports following the season's end.
In 2019 he logged 865 yards and 8 touchdowns on a team-high 66 receptions in 586 snaps in 14 starts. He received an honorable mention All-ACC selection as a result.
After missing all of 2020 with a congenital fusion and a bulging disk, Ross came back strong in 2021. In 11 games without having Trevor Lawrence throwing to him he had 46 receptions for 514 yds and 3 TDs and an impressive 94.3 QB rating when targeted. Ross was given the Piccolo Award that has been given annually since 1970 in memory of the late Brian Piccolo to the "most courageous" football player in the ACC as a result of his impressive recovery from injury.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Ross has an ideal lean frame for the WR position - 6'4 with 205lbs with great leaping ability and an excellent red-zone target
- Ross is an instinctive natural playmaker - has elite YAC ability and a supreme ability to keep a play alive
- A versatile weapon, proving to be effective inside in the slot and outside on the perimeter. Makes plays at all levels of the field.
- A nightmare in the open field - with every move to enable to avoid tacklers and has an awesome stiff-arm
- Does not possess top breakaway speed, though he's rarely caught from behind.
- Brilliant feel for the game with high football IQ - knows where everybody on the field is
- Elite soft strong hands who is capable of making difficult catches in traffic over the middle or one on one down the sideline. Had only one drop all last year
- Top level route running - makes razor edge cuts and has a complete route tree
- Often used on deep routes, getting separation down the sideline or over the middle on crossing routes by extending his arms rather than pure speed.
- Has the strong hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. Tracks the deep ball over either shoulder and brings in passes fluidly without breaking stride downfield.
- Strong runner with the ball with enough agility to make defenders miss in the open field.
- Has good body strength to squirm out of tackles with the coordination to maneuver his frame between defenders.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Has had a devastating injury - has been less dominant since returning. Will need to be cleared by medical staff
- Does not possess top-level speed. Was timed at positively sluggish 4.87 40 yd dash time coming out of high school. Ran a 4.63 40 at his pro-day which was average but not awful
- Comes off the snap high and upright, and doesn't get to top speed quickly. Not sudden off the line of scrimmage
- Struggles to separate from the quicker DBs although usually dominates physically
Scouting Report: Summary
If Ross hadn't had a devastating injury while at Clemson we would likely be looking at him as a day one pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Currently, Ross represents a bit of a risk - he no doubt is an elite talent as a slot receiver: posses elite hands, has an excellent catch radius, runs perfect routes, and is somehow amazing in the open field.He however even before the injury had poor timed speed - although on the field it's really difficult to tell as he plays much faster. The combine could make or break Ross - it could elevate him into first-round contention, equally, it could drop him into the late rounds.
*Pro day update* - Ross ran a 4.63 at his pro-day which confirmed that he isn't a burner but also that he has enough speed to at least compete at the next level.
All things considered, we consider Ross to be value as a third-round selection in April, who may have a high upside and could easily end up as a pro-bowl player in the NFL.
Justyn Ross percentiles vs other Wide Receivers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Justyn Ross (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
96.6
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
17.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.