#12

Justus Ross-Simmons

WR · Syracuse · Sr. · #12

Returning to Syracuse for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Justus Ross-Simmons

WR · Syracuse · Sr · #12

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#1483 national
CFB
College
2 teams
2022–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2022–2025

3 coaches
2022
Syracuse
2023
Nunzio Campanile
Syracuse
era →
2024
Fran Brown
Syracuse
era →
2025
Fran Brown
Syracuse

Played under 3 different head coaches: Dino Babers, Nunzio Campanile, and Fran Brown. Multi-era developmental context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2022Colorado State3-9HC: Jay Norvell · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2023Colorado State5-7HC: Jay Norvell · Pass-leaning
2024Syracuse10-3HC: Fran Brown · Pass-leaning, fast tempo
2025Syracuse3-9HC: Fran Brown · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Syracuse2031215.65--
2024Syracuse920222.42--
2023Colorado State4572416.13--
2022Colorado State2642416.33--
Career1001,66216.613--
SeasonTeam
2025Syracuse----------
2024Syracuse----------
2023Colorado State----------
2022Colorado State----23----
Career----23----

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 3 · 2025

W 66–24

vs Colgate

1 rec · 26 yds · 1 TD

Dominant 42-point win at home against Colgate.

How he plays

Play style

Wins the 50-50 ball at the goal line.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Syracuse

Updated May 27

2026 Depth chart

Returning starter

Wide receiver · Syracuse

Returning around him

  • 14% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • Transfer portal: -10 net (19 in / 29 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Syracuse · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #34 · 2026 recruiting class #35

DNA match

Player DNA

Jump-Ball Target

Wins contested catches at the goal line. Size and catch radius are the weapons.

WR

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Xavier Guillory’s 2024 season.

Arizona State · 2024

#2

Kentron Poitier

Florida State · 2022

71%
#3

Rara Thomas

Mississippi State · 2021

71%
#4

Traeshon Holden

Alabama · 2022

70%
#5

Joseph Scates

Memphis · 2022

68%

Matches Xavier on

EPA / play (adj)
Class year
TD rate

Differs from Xavier on

Yards / reception (higher)
Recruiting rating (higher)

Through 4 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Cary Angeline’s path through NC State.

Cary Angeline

97%match

NC State · 2020

#2

Jared Wayne

Pittsburgh · 2022

All-ACC
94%
#3

CJ Lewis

Bowling Green · 2022

91%
#4

Erik Ezukanma

Texas Tech · 2021

92%
#5

Austin Watkins

UAB · 2020

91%

Matches Cary on

Yards per reception
2022202320242025

As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Noah Thomas's senior season at Georgia (2025).

Noah Thomas

73%match

Georgia · 2025

#2

Xavier Guillory

Arizona State · 2024

69%
#3

Joseph Manjack

Houston · 2024

61%
#4

Stephon Johnson Jr.

Houston · 2025

60%
#5

Mudia Reuben

South Florida · 2025

59%

Matches Noah on

Total EPA (college ability)
Yards / reception
Weight

Differs from Noah on

Height (lower)

Player DNA

Players who play like Justus Ross-Simmons

#1

Jared Wayne

Pittsburgh · 2021

94%
#2

CJ Lewis

Boston College · 2021

91%

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #631

Final rank
#1084
Avg #895.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #631 this season.

Development

Development Trajectory · receiving yards

2022–2025
4242022
7242023
2022024
3122025

-26%

Sharp dropoff (-26%) — career inflection point.