Over the next three weeks, BSN Buffs will be breaking down our top 20 Colorado Buffaloes entering the fall of 2017. These rankings were voted on by BSN Buffs editor Jake Shapiro and staff Chase Howell and Sam Weaver.
Devin Ross was one of the biggest contributors to the Colorado Buffaloes offense last season. His incredible speed made it exceptionally hard for nickel corners and safeties to try and cover him at the slot receiver (or H) position.
After recording just 25 receptions during his sophomore season in 2015, Ross burst onto the scene last year with touchdown catches in his first four games and finished the season with a team-leading 66 grabs (fourth most in the conference). He now has 97 career receptions with the Buffaloes, placing him tied for No .15 on the all-time list along with some guy by the name of Darrin Chiaverini. He finished the year second on the team in receiving yards (765) and touchdowns (5).
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior has a favorite route that the Buffs love to break out when they are up against a cover two defense, the slot post route. It’s virtually unstoppable when the defense isn’t expecting it because Ross is too fast for the defense to make adjustments.
This is the touchdown against Michigan that put the Buffaloes up 7-0, watch how quickly Ross beats the defensive backs and all Sefo Liufau had to do was put the ball on the money.
After his second touchdown in that game a few minutes later, Ross became the first Buffalo since 1982 to have two touchdown receptions in the first quarter.
Ross was able to score in a very similar way against Oregon but it took a deeper throw by Steven Montez to be able to pull it off. Slot guys are able to thrive off of this route because it utilizes both the speed and cutting through the middle of the defense, which are two things really good slot receivers excel at.
Ross is going to be able to do much of the same this year, with defensive backs having to also focus their attention on CU’s outside receivers it should leave the speedster plenty of room down the middle to do what he does best. Expect to see Ross’ big-play ability on display in plenty of games in 2017.
As for out list, we placed Ross one spot ahead of Bryce Bobo because we predict Juwann Winfree, who is No. 16 on our list, will take away more balls and playing time from Bobo than Ross.
