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2017 NFL Draft: Mississippi State Fred Ross Scouting Report

By Jon Dove

Nov 26, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Fred Ross (8) carries the ball during the second half of the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State won 55-20 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Fred Ross (8) carries the ball during the second half of the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State won 55-20 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mississippi State’s Fred Ross is a solid wide receiver prospect who brings some big-time upside to the 2017 NFL Draft.

Fred Ross has excellent size and arm length for the position. He is capable of high pointing the football and fighting through contact. However, it’s his straight line speed that jumps off the screen and gives him a ton of potential.

Ross is capable of outpacing defensive angles and running past defensive backs. This makes him a deep threat and someone capable of taking the top off a defense. His speed is also an asset in the return game where he has had success as a punt returner.

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Mississippi State has used Ross both on the outside and in the slot. He’s someone they also like to get the ball to on reverses. Again, this is a guy who can make things happen when the ball is in his hands.

The concerns with Ross are that he’s a raw prospect who needs to smooth out the rough parts of his game. His hands are very inconsistent with too many drops and plenty of double catches. Ross just leaves too many plays on the field.

Another concern is his route running and ability to generate separation. He doesn’t have much deception to his routes which allows the defensive backs to get easy reads. This also negatively impacts his ability to stretch the field because the defensive back can recognize when he’s trying to just run past them.

Ross is an attractive prospect despite some glaring issues. This is because he features an excellent athletic profile and the fact his problems can be corrected with more practice. He’ll absolutely benefit from getting away from Mississippi State’s spread attack.

Current Draft Range: Late 4th Round

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