Justus Ross-Simmons is a name that hasn’t been mentioned enough by Syracuse fans this offseason. It’s understandable, in a way. Kyle McCord is the most highly-touted transfer the Orange have acquired in recent memory, so he’s gotten more attention than any other offensive newcomer. In terms of other weapons, Oronde Gadsden should be healthy again and LeQuint Allen was great last season. Even Zeed Haynes, who is a less proven transfer receiver, is getting more attention, although his stock probably got boosted given that he’s coming over from Georgia. But among all those pieces, Ross-Simmons is set up to make himself known this fall
Justus Ross-Simmons is a rising junior, having transferred from Colorado State this offseason. The wide receiver played a decent amount for a freshman in 2022, tallying 426 yards and 3 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he improved overall, finishing with 724 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Those numbers aren’t eye-popping. They’re definitely solid, and Ross-Simmons’ stat line from last season were better than any of Syracuse’s wide receivers. However, that’s not saying much, since the Orange were playing with a tight end at quarterback half the time.
Still, there’s a lot to like about Justus Ross-Simmons. He’s 6’3″ and 205 pounds, which is big enough to be an outside target. Plus, the receiver will likely draw fairly easier matchups compared to his teammates. Oronde Gadsden will draw a lot of defensive attention, as will LeQuint Allen in the backfield. Add in Zeed Haynes and Trebor Pena, and defenses will have a lot of players to focus on. That should open the door for Ross-Simmons to continue his upward trajectory.
