This is where Justus Ross-Simmons always pictured himself.
The star two-sport athlete at Rochester's East High School had to take a detour to Colorado State for a couple of seasons, because the ACC school 90 minutes to the east hadn't taken notice. But then Ross-Simmons balled out for the Rams, and he earned a transfer to Syracuse before last fall.
One problem: Ross-Simmons hurt his hamstring just before the 2024 season started, and he had only nine catches for the campaign.
He gets a chance to run it back this fall, and he isn't holding back.
“I will be a 1,000-yard receiver,” Ross-Simmons told Syracuse.com's Chris Carlson. “You heard it here first. Will. I will be a 1,000-yard receiver.”
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The Orange got 1,000 yards out of Jackson Meeks last season. Meeks is now in preseason with the NFL's Detroit Lions after going undrafted. He was SU's first 1,000-yard receiver since 2019.
Ross-Simmons is part of a talented receiver depth chart. The Orange got top-notch transfer Johntay Cook from Texas. Their top returning WR is Darrell Gill, who had 570 yards last season.
They don't know for sure who they'll be catching passes from. LSU transfer Rickie Collins and Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli are competing for the starting quarterback job.
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Regardless, Ross-Simmons has been making highlight catches in camp.
Like this one:
BRUH 🤯 @ross_justus https://t.co/9adOBMHqqz pic.twitter.com/NwtMhnFu6O
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) August 5, 2025
The Orange certainly wouldn't mind seeing more catches like that when the season starts from the upstate New York product. Ross-Simmons is ready to prove himself.
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