Why Clemson football's Justyn Ross might be the 2022 NFL Draft's most tantalizing prospect

CLEMSON — There's no more fusion confusion but still some draft disconcertion.

Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross seemed a sure-thing first-round NFL draft choice three years ago as a freshman. He missed the 2020 season because of a neck injury and played through a foot injury last season until the bowl game.

Ross was not yet up to speed last month at Clemson's Pro Day showcase for NFL scouts. He was timed at 4.63 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

"I was dealing with the foot thing," Ross said. "I was a little bit shaky, but I feel really good."

The draft's opening round is Thursday (8 p.m., ESPN and NFL Network). Ross is expected to go on the second night (7 p.m. Friday) during the next two rounds. The rest of the draft is Saturday, beginning at noon.

Tigers eyeing NFL careers:

• As a long snapper he's a long shot, but Clemson's Jack Maddox is pursuing his NFL dream

• Andrew Booth Jr., Mario Goodrich expected to join crowd of Clemson cornerbacks in NFL

• Can Clemson's Bruise Brothers continue to deliver big hits at the next level?

As a freshman in 2018, Ross had nine touchdowns and 1,000 yards receiving, reaching that number exactly with a 17-yarder from quarterback Trevor Lawrence during a 44-16 victory against Alabama for the 2018 national championship. In the two playoff games combined, the other against Notre Dame, Ross had 301 yards and three touchdowns on 12 receptions.

His spine condition was likely there from birth, doctors later said, but was discovered only when he suffered a stinger during spring practice in 2020. He said he felt burning in his neck area and tingling down an arm. He wasn't cleared for contact until the Tigers had already begun fall practice for the 2021 season.

Ross said he never gave up hope, although the initial shock of the diagnosis reverberated in his mind.

"It came off like, 'You probably won't ever play again,'" Ross said upon his return in August. "And it was something I had been working on my whole life. To have it taken away from you just like that was hard. ... I shed a tear."

Ross suffered a hairline fracture in a foot last preseason and played through the regular season, finally having surgery during the month-long break leading to a Cheez-It Bowl victory against Iowa State. He finished with a team-leading 46 catches for 514 yards with three touchdowns.

"It's amazing what he's been able to do," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "His toughness is second to none. What he's put on tape (for NFL scouts) kind of put their fears to rest."

"He's ready to go," wide receiver coach Tyler Grisham said recently. "He can do so much. He's a 6-foot-4 guy who can run around like he's a 6-footer. That's what makes him so dynamic."

Ross was an outside receiver in his first two seasons as Clemson took advantage of his height, speed and leaping ability. Last season, though, his patterns were mostly close and inside. Part of reason was to help quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who was comforted by those quick dump-offs. Ross had a two-touchdown game against N.C. State, but never had more than 85 yards in a game.

Playing in the slot, Ross believes, should push up his draft slot.

"It just shows that I can play all over the field," he said. "Most team see me as an outside receiver, but they know now I can play slot, too. I'm a big guy. I can move around and play every position."

Grisham said Ross set the standard for Clemson's wide receivers, even while sidelined, after Amari Rodgers and Cornell Powell went in last year's NFL draft. Rodgers was picked in the third round by the Green Bay Packers and Powell in the fifth round by the Kansas City Chiefs.

"Justyn was seen as the leader and that was coming off a year not playing and not even being in the wide receiver room when he was in rehab or working to recover," Grisham said. "He's kind of always been a quiet guy. He's always been a freak athlete. With guys like Amari and Cornell gone, he stepped into that role. He worked his tail off."

Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter at @ToddShanesySHJ.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Why Justyn Ross might be the 2022 NFL Draft's most tantalizing prospect