2022 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: LB Josh Ross, Michigan

The Giants will more than likely look to add depth at inside linebacker this off-season, and Michigan's Josh Ross might be worth taking a flyer on.

Author:
Nick Falato
Publish date:
Jan 30, 2022 10:00 AM EST

In this story:

Michigan Wolverines

New York Giants

Josh Ross, LB

Height: 6’1
Weight: 230 lbs.
Class: Senior
School: Michigan

Ross is a former four-star recruit out of West Bloomfield, Michigan, where he attended St. Mary’s High School. Ross was the third-ranked recruit in the 2017 cycle in the state of Michigan and the ninth-ranked inside linebacker. Ross has natural leadership qualities and was voted team captain by his teammates in his junior and senior seasons.

Notables

The fifth-year senior is a hardworking individual who manned the middle of a talented defense. He earned third-team All-Big Ten in 2021 and was honorable mention 2018 - the same year he won the Team Blue Collar Award. Ross had a foot injury scare against Rutgers in 2021 but returned healthy for the rest of the season.

Ross hit the ground running in Ann Arbour. He was an automatic contributor as a true freshman in 2017 on special teams. He had an excellent 2018 sophomore year with14 pressures, 36 solo tackles, and 24 STOPS in a situational role, playing 413 snaps.

His 2019 was injury plagued, and his 2020 season was cut short due to COVID-19, but he exercised his fifth year of eligibility and returned to the Wolverines in 2021. He played a career-high 779 snaps with 16 pressures, 71 solo tackles, and 38 STOPS in his last year on campus.

Want to check out more NFL Draft profiles by Nick Falato?

Click here to see those already posted.

Gallery

1 Images

Strengths

Heralded for being a leader
Smart player, is rarely fooled by a blocking scheme
Very good key & diagnose ability
Read and helped to blow up several screen passes
Solid overall run defender in the box
Does a good job bench pressing climbing OL
Positions himself well in his responsibility, and does so quickly
Stays square to his target when filling off lateral movement in the box
Is a solid downhill tackler when moving linearly
Does a solid job working through trash and locating target between the numbers
Has enough pop on contact (isn’t bruising hitter)
Quickly gains depth in his zone drops

Has solid overall awareness in zone coverage

Does well on the blitz working down hill
Awareness to avoid contact while blitzing and moving forward
Very tough player with great hustle
Active on special teams

Weaknesses

A bit dubious about his size - seems small on the field
Wish he was longer for better tackle radius/zone coverage ability
Doesn’t have sideline to sideline speed
Change of direction and agility is adequate at best
Wish he was better moving laterally
Doesn’t have the best movement skills in space
Marginal flexibility to pivot, turn, or change direction
Missed 15 tackles in 2021 (a 13.6% miss rate)
Athletic deficiencies lead to susceptibility against more agile players in space
Not great in man coverage situations
Is aware in zone, but not overly quick to close throwing windows
Not very versatile
A two-down box linebacker who may not be ideal for sub-packages

Summary

Overall, Josh Ross is a well-respected smart linebacker with good box awareness. He does a good job working downhill, avoiding contact, and keeping himself clean to his responsibility in the run game.

He’s not overly athletic or big for the NFL, and these deficiencies may hinder his overall ability to play on defense. Ross’ best chance at earning playing time will come from special teams. He’s likely a late draft selection, or possibly a UDFA.

GRADE: 5.7