One of Washington football’s best returning players, junior WR John Ross, will sit out next season after a knee injury in spring practice, the school said in a release Thursday. Also, CB Jermaine Kelly has left the program and will transfer.

Ross hurt his knee Sept. 13 against Illinois and the missed the next game. He came back to return two kickoffs for touchdown tied a school single-season record. He had surgery in January to fix two meniscus tears, and was a minimal part of spring ball, when he further aggravated the knee.

At 5-11 and 194 pounds, Ross was Washington’s fastest player. He averaged 21.8 yards on 17 catches the past season and had six carries for 54 yards. He also started at cornerback in the final five games, including the Cactus Bowl.

His seven touchdowns were for an average of 75 yards — 91, 20, 55, 75, 86, 100 and 96 yards,

Ross, from Long Beach, CA. will use his redshirt year and have three seasons of eligibility left.

Kelly, a sophomore, started the first two games last season but was hurt prior to the Illinois game and did not return.