TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Whichever team gets five-star receiver Justyn Ross on Wednesday’s National Signing Day won’t be signing a track star or a combine hero. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound wideout is a football player, and a damn good one at that.
Ross, who will choose between Alabama, Auburn and Clemson, will be one of Wednesday’s most anticipated signings. The top-rated player in Alabama is ranked as the No. 2 receiver and No. 15 overall recruit in the 2018 class.
Unlike other five-star playmakers, he received his status as one of the nation’s elite without a flashy 40 time or combine numbers. Ross posted a 4.87 time in the 40 during the Nike Combine for The Opening last summer. The slow time raised some eyebrows initially, but those uncertainties were soon expunged by anyone who watched him on the football field.
Central-Phenix City head coach Jamey Dubose doesn’t know what Ross’ time in the 40 would be if he ran it today. Central doesn’t typically have its players run the 40-yard dash, and Ross as only ran it twice. What the head coach does know is that he never had a problem with anyone catching his star receiver during games.
Ross finished his senior season with 37 receptions for 730 yards and 13 touchdowns while also returning 14 punts for 383 yards and two more scores. Those stats came with several eye-popping highlights, including a one-handed grab in the corner of the end zone against Lee (Montgomery) in the Class 7A quarterfinals which landed him an appearance on SportsCenter’s top 10.
