The Husky Haul
Fansided

Washington football heroes: John Ross

By Roman Tomashoff

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 02: John Ross #1 of the Washington Huskies runs in for a touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes during the Pac-12 Championship game at Levi's Stadium on December 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 02: John Ross #1 of the Washington Huskies runs in for a touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes during the Pac-12 Championship game at Levi's Stadium on December 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Like a boss, Ross ran away from his former Washington football teammates in our Twitter vote!

John Ross is one of the most dynamic receivers in Washington football history. The current holder of the NFL’s 40 yard dash record, running it in a blazing 4.22 seconds, starred with the Huskies from 2013-2016, after sitting out the 2015 season with a torn ACL.

After his 2016 season, where he was named a First Team All-American by ESPN and Scout, and a Second Team All-American by the Associated Press, CBS, and Fox Sports, he was selected ninth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. While Jake Browning was honored as the Pac-12 Player of the Year, Ross was given the same honor by the Associated Press.

Ross’ final season with the Huskies was one of the greatest any receiver has ever had in purple and gold, catching 81 passes for 1,150 yards and scoring 19 total touchdowns (17 receiving, 1 rushing, and 1 kick return). That season included some memorable moments, including a one-handed touchdown catch against Colorado in the Pac-12 Championship Game, and two insane touchdown catches against Cal, including one where he outran the entire Golden Bear defense.

Coming to Washington as a four-star recruit out of Long Beach, California, he showed promise as a true freshman, and hung in with the Husky program even after a brief move to cornerback at the end of the 2014 season. Following the knee injury, Ross exploded back onto the scene in the first game of the 2016 season, scoring three touchdowns in the first half against Rutgers.

He wasn’t just Washington’s last true #1 receiver, he was arguably the best kick returner in school history. His 938 return yards and two touchdowns were both best in the NCAA in 2014, and earned him an All Pac-12 honorable mention.

Ross gave the Huskies a lot of great moments over the year, and the most mind-blowing stat from his time at Washington comes from that 2014 year, where he averaged 75 yards per scoring play.

He personified what it means to be a Husky, and definitely deserves the title of the program’s best receiver of the 2010’s!

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