The Details: Ross Is Back, Better Than Ever
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
When the ball is in John Ross’ hands, big plays happen. Over the first two years of his Washington career, the receiver has scored nine touchdowns.
With a 4.29 (40-yard dash) speed, he used quickness and a natural feel for the game to score seven times as a sophomore, averaging 75 yards per touchdown.
He was electric as a kick returner and deep threat. Despite all of the big plays, there was room to grow. But it wasn’t until the game was temporarily taken away he realized what he needed to do in order to become a complete football player.
“Just by getting hurt, I changed a lot,” Ross said. “It was hard, but it was also humbling. I learned a lot. I feel like it was a blessing in disguise.”
After missing the entire 2015 season with a knee injury, Ross had plenty of time to watch tape from his first two years with the Huskies.
“There was so much to clean up,” he said. “I got frustrated, because I wasn’t paying attention. I really got a chance to sit down, watch myself and critique myself. It wasn’t good.”
For Ross, beating people down the field was easy. Making a defender miss in the open field, no problem. The game came so effortlessly at times he didn’t work on running precise routes. The technical aspects of his game, well, those weren’t as important.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to get better, but sometimes improvement requites a little adversity. Now he spends each day working on the details.
“That’s how you’re going to separate yourself from everyone else,” he said.
Before he could work on becoming a more technical football player, Ross needed to get healthy. Throughout each step in his recovery, he followed the instructions provided by Washington’s training staff.
“Our trainers are great,” he said. “They kept telling me, ‘You work hard in here and it will translate better in the weight room, better in the field.’ It did. I was in there every day. When I had questions, they always responded. I just listened to everything they said.”
He also made sure he kept a close connection with the program.
“I just made sure I was in the meeting rooms,” he said. “I didn’t miss a beat with anything. Other than traveling with the team, I did everything.”
As he watched Jake Browning navigate his first season, he couldn’t wait for the opportunity to work with the quarterback.
“I could see Jake was a leader, how he improved from the day he got here,” he said. “I kind of wanted to develop a chemistry, but I felt like I kind of rushed it in spring ball last year.”
After getting hurt, Ross tried to be patient. He made sure his body was ready to return.
Now that he is back, he has listened to the whispers of just how good he can be. He hears the words Heisman and Biletnikoff, but he isn’t driven by prospect of winning awards.
“I want to help the team get to the Rose Bowl, somewhere we haven’t been in a long time, help us pursue national-championship dreams,” he said.
When asked about his goals for his junior season, Ross focused on team success. The only thing he wants for himself has nothing to do with football. He wants to get his degree.
“That’s the only thing I really want that’s individual,” he said.
As quiet as he is talented, the soft-spoken standout is primed for a big season. He has developed a connection with Browning. And is actually both bigger and faster than he was before the injury.
He has also worked tirelessly on technique.
“I focused on other things besides running by people and catching 60-yard bombs,” he said. “Now I can read coverages. I run better routes.”
Washington has scored five 100-yard touchdowns in school history. Ross has two. And that was before he became a more well-rounded, stronger receiver who dropped his 40 time to 4.25.
So what’s next? Well, if Ross is better, and if the past is any indication of what is to come, expect the standout to frequently find his way into the end zone. However, that isn’t the way Ross is approaching the season.
His plan is simple: Keep working. Keep improving.
