Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | L 18-21vs California | 6 | 105 | 17.5 | 0 | 25 | Season-high 105 yds |
| Total | 6 | 105 | 17.5 | 0 | 25 |
#86
Justus Ross-Simmons
Senior wide receiver for Syracuse. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 210 lb · Rochester, NY · Inglewood (Calif.)
CFB Index 64 · #104 of 497 WRsHigh confidenceReturning to Syracuse for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
105
receiving yards · 2026
6 catches · 17.5 per catch
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 6 rec, 105 yds, vs California
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 wide receiver for Syracuse. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Colorado State in 2022.
- Transferred from Colorado State to Syracuse in 2024.
- Court rules Syracuse WR eligible (Aug 28) Reported
Justus Ross-Simmons
Wins the 50-50 ball at the goal line. Two head coaches in five seasons, at two different programs. The receipt: 82 rec yds, 5 receptions against California — Week 2, 2026.
105 REC YDS · 6 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 5 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
The week the volume broke through — put up 128 yds vs Air Force.Air Force · L 13-302023
20228 games
- Signed with Colorado State3-star out of Inglewood
20245 games
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
3 coachesPlayed under 3 different head coaches: Dino Babers, Nunzio Campanile, and Fran Brown. Multi-era developmental context.
2026 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
2026Syracuse1-1HC: Fran Brown · Balanced, fast tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Elite: yards / catch (86th percentile). Concern: receptions (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 6.0 REC/g, 105 YDS/g, 17.5 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Fran Brown
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Syracuse | 6 | 105 | 17.5 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | Syracuse | 20 | 312 | 15.6 | 5 | -- |
| 2024 | Syracuse | 9 | 202 | 22.4 | 2 | -- |
| 2023 | Colorado State | 45 | 724 | 16.1 | 3 | -- |
| 2022 | Colorado State | 26 | 424 | 16.3 | 3 | -- |
| Career | 106 | 1,767 | 16.7 | 13 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Syracuse | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Syracuse | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Syracuse | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Colorado State | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2022 | Colorado State | -- | -- | 23 | -- | -- |
| Career | -- | -- | 23 | -- | -- |
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Wins contested catches at the goal line. Size and catch radius are the weapons.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Syracuse
2026 Depth chart
Returning starter
Wide receiver · Syracuse
Returning around him
- 35% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate 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 #35 · 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.
Matches Xavier on
EPA / play (adj)
Class year
TD rate
Differs from Xavier on
Yards / reception (higher)
Recruiting rating (higher)
Through 5 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Cary Angeline’s path through NC State.
97%match
Matches Cary on
Yards per reception
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Noah Thomas's senior season at Georgia (2025).
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
Background
Career Overview: Transferred to Syracuse in the summer of 2024 after an All-Mountain West selection at Colorado State … Appeared in 42 games across both schools, had 100 catches for 1,662 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career … Also has one career kick return for 23 yards and a pair of tackles. S...
The receiver room · Syracuse
- #11Cole Weaver642 receiving yards · 2025
- #86Justus Ross-Simmons312 receiving yards · 2025
- #7Darien Williams112 receiving yards · 2025
- #8Tyshawn Russell84 receiving yards · 2025
- #17Elijah Moore52 receiving yards · 2025
11 more on the roster · Syracuse team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology