Fred Ross (American football)

Frederick Darrell "Fred" Ross Jr., (born May 19, 1995) is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Mississippi State.

High school career
Ross attended John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas, where he caught over 200 passes and was named a First-Team Parade All-American.

Ross was rated as a four-star recruit by 247sports.com, ESPN, Rivals.com, and Scout.com. Ross received scholarship offers from Baylor, Memphis, Missouri, Texas Tech, Rice, and West Virginia, but committed to Oklahoma State on February 25, 2012.

A year later, Ross decided to instead sign with Mississippi State.

Freshman season (2013)
Ross played as a true freshman and made his debut in the first game of the 2013 season, catching a pass in a 21-3 loss to Oklahoma State in the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff. Ross finished the season with nine catches for 115 yards.

Sophomore season (2014)
Ross played in every game for the Bulldogs in 2014. He caught his first two touchdowns in a 49-0 rout of Southern Miss. Ross came on strong in the second half of the season, with 24 catches for 382 yards over the last 7 games. This included a 107-yard performance against Arkansas and 102 yards in the Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech. Ross also saw limited action at punt returner in 2014.

Junior season (2015)
Ross has had a breakout season in 2015, leading the team in receptions. Highlights include nine receptions in a 21-19 loss to LSU, 11 receptions against Texas A&M, and a two-touchdown game (one receiving, one on a punt return) against Troy. Ross had 10 receptions in a 51-50 thriller over Arkansas and 12 receptions in an Egg Bowl loss to Ole Miss. Ross finished the season with a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the Belk Bowl against NC State.

Ross finished the season with a school-record 88 receptions (which was also the highest total in the SEC), and became the second receiver in MSU history to post a 1,000-yard season.

Senior season (2016)
Ross missed Spring practice before the 2016 season with a groin injury. On October 22 in a game against Kentucky, Ross became the Bulldogs' career leader in receptions.

Professional career
Ross was not drafted in the 2017 NFL Draft but signed with the Carolina Panthers following the draft. On September 1, 2017, he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain.

On August 19, 2018, Ross was waived/injured by the Panthers with a hip injury and was placed on injured reserve. He was released on September 25, 2018.