Clemson top wide receiver Justyn Ross makes his future plans official
Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross has declared for the NFL Draft, posting the announcement on Instagram Thursday afternoon.
Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney had indicated that Ross would head to the draft, but this is the first time Ross himself has addressed his future plans.
In the post, he thanked his coaches “for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be apart of the best football program in the nation.” He also acknowledged his teammates and their “inseparable bond.”
“With that said, I will be forgoing my final year of eligibility and pursuing my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL,” the post read. “This was one of the hardest decisions but I know it’s best for my career and for my family. It will forever and always be … GO TIGERS!!”
Pro Football Focus has Ross as the No. 88 selection on its draft big board. The Phenix City, Alabama native was Clemson’s leading receiver this year with 514 yards and three touchdowns on 46 receptions in 10 games played. He missed the final games of the season with a foot injury, which he underwent surgery for in November.
Ross also sat out the 2020 season after having surgery due to a congenital fusion in his spine, a condition he’s had since birth but didn’t know it. The condition put the redshirt junior’s football career in question with Swinney calling the day he, Ross and Ross’s mother met with the doctor to find out the news one of the worst days in his coaching career. The Tigers’ mentor then said one of the best days of his coaching career was seeing Ross run out for the 2021 season opener against Georgia.
“He made a couple mistakes in the Georgia game and I told him, I said, ‘Hey, I’m just thankful you’re here to make those mistakes,’” Swinney said on Nov. 16. “What a blessing. One of the greatest blessings of my life has been able to watch Justyn Ross play football for the last 10 games and to watch him practice and watch him prepare and watch him compete. I’m just thankful.”
This story was originally published January 6, 2022 at 4:08 PM.
