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NFL prospect John Ross claims he ran blazing 40-yard dash

By Brad Berreman

Sep 17, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross (1) rushes the ball against the Portland State Vikings during the second half at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross (1) rushes the ball against the Portland State Vikings during the second half at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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There will be plenty of NFL draft hyperbole over the next two months, but a self-proclaimed 40-yard dash time at this point in the process takes the cake.

After missing the entire 2015 season with a torn ACL, Washington wide receiver John Ross had a big 2016 campaign with 81 receptions for 1,150 yards and a Pac-12 high 17 touchdowns. That has put him in the upper echelon of wide receiver prospects heading into the 2017 NFL Draft, and Ross is a potential first-round pick.

Speed is the name of Ross’ game, so when he lines up for the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine next week it will be must-see tv. As a potential preview of that, Ross told Emily Kaplan of The MMQB he ran a laser-timed 4.30-40 last week. That would put him rare air among Combine participants, with just 13 players running faster than a 4.3 at any position since 1999, and last year’s top 40-yard dash time among wide receivers was a 4.31 by Will Fuller.

One knock on Ross would be his lack of size (5-foot-11, 190 pounds), so speed will be his differentiator compared to fellow top wide receiver prospects Mike Williams and Corey Davis.

NFL draft misinformation and hyperbole is nothing new, and it will only ramp up over the next two months. Social media adds to it, with players able and willing to tweet, Instagram, etc. with workouts they’re doing and teams they’d like to play for. But self-proclaiming a fast 40-yard dash time, admittedly with a different measurement method than the electronic timing that is used at the Combine, practically sets Ross up to fall short next week.

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Ross will have his chance to run a 4.3-40, or better, next week in Indianapolis. But if he fails to match the time he says he ran on his own, or at least come close, scrutiny will and should come quickly.

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