Justyn Ross To Miss 2020 Season

According to Anna Hickey of Clemson247, wide receiver Justyn Ross will miss the 2020 season. Ross, the receiver from Phenix City, Alabama, was diagnosed with a "congenital fusion" in his spine and will undergo surgery on his back Friday. Ross was born with this issue, which was revealed in an X-ray this spring after he suffered a stinger in spring practice.

Ross, a 6-foot-4 four-star recruit out of Central High School was rated the top prospect in the state of Alabama and the seventh best wide receiver in the nation in the class of 2018. He chose Clemson over Alabama, Auburn and others.

In two seasons for the Tigers, Ross has recorded 112 receptions, 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns. Including going off in the 2019 National Championship Game for six receptions, 153 yards and one touchdown. Ross was considered one of the top wide receivers in the nation for the 2020 season.

Clemson Coach, Dabo Swinney, described the stinger he suffered in spring practice as a routine slant-route play in which he was slow to get up. Swinney said Clemson protocol is to do an X-ray anytime a player has a stinger in the neck and that's when it was discovered he was born with a congenital fusion along with suffering a slight bulging disc.

Dr. David O. Okonkwo will perform surgery on Ross in Pittsburgh, Pa. Dabo says it is questionable if Ross will be able to continue playing football but said Dr. Okonkwo believes he will be able to continue after he is recovered.

Ross will need to decide next January if he will attempt to return to Clemson for another year of college or prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft if he is cleared to return to play football.