Clemson’s Justyn Ross cleared to play in 2021 after missing previous season

Clemson will have one of its top returning pass-catchers return to play in 2021 after he missed the entirety of the 2020 season.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney on Friday announced that Justyn Ross has been cleared to play in 2021. The fourth-year receiver missed the 2020 season recovering from a June 2020 surgery to repair a spinal issue known as congenital fusion; initially, he was monitored for “stinger symptoms” after going down in a March 2020 practice. An X-ray revealed the underlying issue.

At the time Clemson announced Ross’ surgery, Swinney said that it was uncertain whether he would be able to play football again.

Ross’ return will mark a significant improvement in the receiving corps, especially with the Tigers losing their top three receiving leaders from 2020 in Amari Rodgers, Cornell Powell and Travis Etienne. The three combined for 178 receptions, 2,410 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2020.

Ross, the No. 7 receiver in the class of 2018 (per 247Sports Composite), led Clemson with 66 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in his last year of action. The season prior, Ross nabbed 46 receptions for a team-leading 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns. That includes a breakout performance in the 2018 College Football Playoff, where the then-freshman combined to catch 12 passes for 303 yards and three scores against Notre Dame and Alabama.

Swinney added that Ross, Sporting News’ 28th-ranked player ahead of the 2021 season, will remain in COVID-19 protocol until Friday, Aug. 13.

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