With Justyn Ross out, who will be Trevor Lawrence’s top target?

Who steps up in Justyn Ross’ absence as Trevor Lawrence’s No. 1 target?

Justyn Ross had big shoes to fill, but know someone will have to fill his shoes.

It’s been several weeks since Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney told us his junior wide receiver will not be medically cleared to play college football this fall. A spinal issue knocked him out of the entire 2020 campaign. While it might jeopardize his promising football career in general, we should expect he’ll do his best to return to the field for the Clemson Tigers in 2021.

Prior to this medical condition, Ross was seen as a first-round talent. He was expected to be Clemson’s No. 1 receiver in 2020, as Tee Higgins now joins Joe Burrow with the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL. Even though Clemson is a serious national title contender, we have to begin to wonder who will Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Trevor Lawrence throw the ball to this season?

Who will be Trevor Lawrence’s No. 1 receiving option with Justyn Ross out?

The likeliest answer is nobody steps up. Sure, there are plenty of talented players in the Clemson receiving corps, but not can hold a candle to what Ross is capable of on his best days. The two probable candidates to step up from within are Amari Rodgers and Joseph Ngata. Perhaps we’ll see an uptick in production out of Cornell Powell and Frank Ladson Jr., too?

Rodgers and Ngata will carry much of the workload, while players such as Powell and Ladson will see an increase role in the offense. Let’s also not overlook Clemson incoming freshman in four-star wide receiver E.J. Williams. Expect him to play in more than four games this year. Williams hails from the same alma mater as Ross at Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama.

Overall, Clemson has about five or so receivers who can potentially offset Ross’ loss in the aggregate. However, the best thing they’ve got going for them is arguably the two best offensive players in the country in Lawrence at quarterback and Doak Walker award hopeful Travis Etienne at running back. Simply put, Etienne becomes Lawrence’s new “No. 1 target.”

With one of the best running backs in the Power 5, Lawrence can lean on his bell-cow back to help open up more passing lanes for his depleted receiving corps. In a way, Etienne’s return to Clemson for his senior season when he would have been a top-40 pick is a blessing in disguise. He’ll be so much better than everyone he faces in ACC play. Etienne sort of offsets not having Ross this year.

No, the Clemson offense will not look like we thought it would at the start of spring. The trio of Etienne, Lawrence and Ross would have been better than anyone’s best in the country. Fortunately, Clemson still has the best quarterback/running back duo in the game by a wide margin. Whether is Rodgers, Ngata or even Williams, someone will rise to the occasion in 2020.

Rodgers and Ngata have to step up, but Lawrence’s “No. 1 target” is undeniably Etienne.

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