Last year, Clemson’s receivers weren’t overwhelmingly awesome. They weren’t terrible, but Clemson fans and analysts have a right to expect nothing less than the very best.
Justyn Ross’s injury had a lot to do with that reality. Ross’s injury removed an experienced playmaker from the equation, robbing Trevor Lawrence of a top-tier threat in his final collegiate season. Imagine Ross being on the field against Notre Dame in South Bend. Imagine him being on the field in the Sugar Bowl against Ohio State. Clemson was never in danger of missing the College Football Playoff last season, and the Tigers did win the ACC championship, but Clemson expects to play for the national title, and last season that did not happen.
Ross’s absence was keenly felt.
Fast-forward one year. There’s no Lawrence, and there’s no Travis Etienne in the backfield. Clemson was able to get by with less-than-stellar wide receiver production because of the Lawrence-Etienne combination. With that all-time backfield now relocated to Jacksonville under Urban Meyer, Clemson can’t skate by with second-rate receivers. It sorely needed Justyn Ross to become a dependable target for D.J. Uiagalelei, giving ballast and stability to the Tigers’ passing game.
That’s what Ross’s return means to Clemson in 2021. With other pieces missing, Ross can be a Howard’s Rock for Dabo Swinney.
