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NFL Draft 2017: Ranking the top 15 wide receivers

By Zach Bigalke

Dec 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver KD Cannon (9) catches a pass for a touchdown in the first half against the Boise State Broncos during the Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. Baylor defeated Boise State 31-12. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver KD Cannon (9) catches a pass for a touchdown in the first half against the Boise State Broncos during the Cactus Bowl at Chase Field. Baylor defeated Boise State 31-12. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross (1) breaks the tackle of Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Ryan Anderson (22) during the first quarter in the 2016 CFP Semifinal at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross (1) breaks the tackle of Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Ryan Anderson (22) during the first quarter in the 2016 CFP Semifinal at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

John Ross blew up the internet when he broke the modern Combine record for the fastest electronically-clocked time in the 40. The only other events in which he participated were the vertical leap and the broad jump. Ross tied for third in the broad jump, hitting a mark of 133 inches. In the vertical leap, he reached 37 inches to tie for fifth in the test among receivers.

The lack of even an attempt in any of the other events knocked him down this list a bit, but it is understandable that he would only want to push his body so hard.

After all, Ross was forced to miss the entire 2015 season after playing on damaged knees throughout his sophomore year. Even as an underclassman he demonstrated big-play ability, but 2016 showed that surgeries had not slowed Ross at all. The Washington receiver had one of the best home-run rates in college football, averaging a touchdown every fifth time he caught the ball.

Some teams might still hesitate to draft Ross due to the injury history, especially since he went in for labrum surgery to repair his shoulder after the Combine. But between playing a key role in the Huskies winning the Pac-12 and reaching the College Football Playoff, and his record-breaking showing at the Combine, Ross has effectively demonstrated that he has not lost a step after his recover.

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