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.
2 Comments
This really hurts the team. They’re dynamic playmaker is gone. He’s the one player who’s a threat to score every game. Can’t wait for him to come back for 2016 as that I’m confident he’ll be an all-conference player.
On another note, with the playmaker gone and an unsettled QB position I wonder if Coach Pete has thought of talking to former Notre Dame QB Everett Golson about being a Husky? He’s graduated and looking for a school to play one more season a la Russell Wilson. In 2 seasons he threw for 5850 yards and 41 TDs plus had an undefeated season, losing to Alabama in the title game. On the downside he was suspended one season for “poor academic judgement” and 22 turnovers last season. Still, he could be the playmaker the team will need with Ross out.
Losing Ross is going to hurt, he was the X factor for the offense and return game for next season. Here’s hoping he has a full recovery for 2016. Hopefully the freshmen will learn quickly, and maybe the tight end position will again have positive impact for scoring.
As far as Golson is concerned, the stats look good but, the turnovers, I think Coach Peterson and staff hate turnovers (which indicates inaccuracy or an inability to read defenses?) more than they love touchdowns… no spring ball, a lot to learn if the young man isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed…. with academic issues his intelligence could be an issue.