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Justyn Ross NFL Draft 2022: Scouting Report for Clemson WR
HEIGHT: 6'3 5/8"
WEIGHT: 205
HAND: 9 5/8"
ARM: 32 1/8"
WINGSPAN: 6'5 7/8"
40-YARD DASH: DNP
3-CONE: DNP
SHUTTLE: DNP
VERTICAL: DNP
BROAD: DNP
POSITIVES:
— Very good height and length with an adequately filled-out build.
— Very good overall athleticism. Quick-twitch with good agility, acceleration and adequate long speed. Has the body control to make plays on back-shoulder throws.
— Good route-runner. Gets the proper depth and has the ability to consistently sink and get out of his breaks even with his long legs.
— Good hands with the length and catching range to consistently extend for throws away from his body. Has very good jumping ability to high-point throws and be a ball-winner in the red zone and on contested catches.
— Good playing strength that shows up with the ball in his hands and when blocking. Will surprise defenders with the pop he brings.
— Overall competitive and tough player. Takes it to defenders when asked to block.
NEGATIVES
— Has had significant injuries in college career.
— Can rise up and expose his chest when running into a break. Limited route tree at this point in time because of the Clemson offense.
— Limited production in 2021.
2021 STATISTICS
10 G, 47 REC, 524 YDS (11.1 AVG), 3 TD
NOTES
— 2021 ACC Brian Piccolo Award winner. Given to the conference’s most courageous player.
OVERALL
Ross is a long and twitchy receiver who projects as an outside-only receiver at the NFL level.
He has good foot quickness and core strength that allows him to win versus press coverage, which is more impressive given his height. He is also a good route-runner whose athleticism shows up when he has to sink and come out of breaks.
Ross has above-average long speed and understands how to sell going vertical before breaking. His good body control and long catching range are also assets in the red zone and on back-shoulder throws. He is consistently able to adjust for throws away from his body, which he had to do often with the quarterbacks he played with.
Ross plays with toughness and is a willing blocker who takes it to defenders, where his good play strength flashes. Even when his production wasn’t always there, he was willing to fight for his teammates.
Clemson’s offense does not ask its receivers to run a varied route tree, so Ross will have to continue to expand on what he’s shown so far. He also has battled injuries, including needing surgery to repair a congenital spine fusion, that teams will have to take a deep dive into and will cause some hesitation. His lack of production this past season can be easily attributed to an inconsistent offense and poor quarterback play.
Overall, Ross has the size, hands and athleticism that NFL teams look for in their X wide receivers. He is a competitive player whose effort and play speed never dipped despite his being in a frustrating situation. He has good hands and is a true ball-winner who can win in tight spaces because of the faith he has in extending for throws.
Ross will need to continue to expand on his route tree, and his medical history may scare some teams away. But he can be a Day 1 contributor whose toughness and athleticism translate to special teams, and he has the upside of being a legitimately good starting outside receiver for any NFL team.
GRADE: 7.9 (Potential Impact Player - 2nd Round)
OVERALL RANK: 36
POSITION RANK: WR8
PRO COMPARISON: Corey Davis