Colorado University Athletics
Buffs WR Ross Making Big Strides In Spring Drills
April 06, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — For Devin Ross, this could be the year.
So far this spring, at least, all signs are pointing in the right direction.
Ross is CU's exceptionally talented receiver from Bishop Alemany High School in Altadena, Calif. In two seasons with the Buffs, he's shown flashes of the kind of play he's capable of producing. He's been close — tantalizingly, excruciatingly close — to that breakout year that he and his coaches know is is just waiting to happen.
Last season, Ross finished third on the team in receiving yards, hauling in 25 catches for 325 yards — a 13.0 per-catch average that was second-best on the team. He also had the second-longest catch of the season for the Buffs, a 68-yard touchdown at Arizona State; and he finished with five catches of 20 yards or more.
Then there was the UCLA game, when he had nine catches for 101 yards — career bests in both categories — including a fourth-quarter 62-yard reception that set up a touchdown and short-lived 31-28 lead in a 35-31 loss to the Bruins.
But that's also the game when he had a chance for two touchdown catches, and came down empty-handed both times. It's a game he's replayed in his mind over and over again, a game he in which knows he could have made even a bigger difference.
Ross, though, is learning not to dwell on the past. Now his eyes are on the future, and if this spring is any indication, he's getting closer to turning all that potential into consistent production.
“Tons of ability,” said CU co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini. “I think his ceiling is huge. He just has to continue to work and be confident in those abilities. He's got good ball skills, good eye-hand coordination, all those things. I've seen some flashes that I've really been impressed with. Now he just needs that confidence in himself.”
At 5-9, 180 pounds, Ross has all the quickness and speed necessary to be the perfect fit for CU's up-tempo passing attack. He's been a mainstay in scrimmage situations throughout the spring, turning short passes into long gains and hauling down deep balls with regularity.
“You have to have the right mental attitude and focus on the little things every day,” Ross said. “You have to try to get better every day off the field as well as on the field. It's what life is about — being a better person, not just for yourself, but for your family. I have to be out here and represent my family every day the way I'm supposed to.”
Both Chiaverini and head coach Mike MacIntyre have said Ross has made significant progress this spring. He's shown his versatility by not only running deep routes, but also by going over the middle and catching balls in traffic. He's also improved his footwork on routes and is quicker and more explosive out of his breaks.
“He's really starting to take that next step,” Chiaverini said. “Playing receiver is all about confidence. When I played my best ball as a receiver, I was confident. Everybody at this level has ball skills, but it's a matter of being confident in what you're doing, and that means working every day.
“I told Devin, 'You can be a really, really good player if you're confident in what you are doing.' He's made a lot of gains this spring, but I still think he can take it to another level and that's what I expect from him.”
Ross knows that potential is there. He also knows that confidence in himself will mean more confidence from the quarterback. Every catch — every play — is an opportunity to build that trust.
“Coach Walters (Troy, former receivers coach) used to tell me kind of the same thing,” Ross said. “I would have four good days and then one bad day. You have to focus, to have that same attitude every day you come out here. I know I can do it. I just have to concentrate on that improvement every day.”
One big goal for the Buffs this spring has been to increase the tempo of the offense. It's been a rapid-fire approach, something that fits Ross' abilities just fine — and it also means no time to dwell on mistakes.
“It's still a lot of the same plays, just much faster,” Ross said. “The signals (from the sidelines) are more in-depth and more detailed, so we can line up and do it faster. The idea is to get ready and go and catch defenses off-guard.”
It could also mean utilizing Colorado's altitude edge even more.
“It's fun,” Ross said. “We're still learning, but we're improving. When we get it down, it could be tough on defenses coming in here. When everything is clicking, it's exciting.”
SPRING SESSION UPDATE: Saturday's spring session is scheduled to start at noon at Folsom Field and will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.
The first hour will be dedicated to position drills and workouts, with Ralphie scheduled to run at 1 p.m, followed by a scrimmage. After the scrimmage (approximately 2 p.m.), a “selfie session” will be held on the field, and fans will also have the opportunity for self-guided tours of the Champions Center and Indoor Practice Facility.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
