After leaving Arizona State University in 2013 to enter his name in the NFL draft, Rashad Ross was not a highly coveted prospect compared to his counterparts; like Tavon Austin, Deandre Hopkins, and Cordarrelle Patterson. As a result, Ross was put in a position where he had no choice but to try and outwork his peers. It was no secret that Ross was one of the speedier players coming out of the draft but to put that speed on display, Ross would need an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine which unfortunately, he did not receive.
Ross ended up not being selected in the draft and was subsequently picked up shortly after as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans. After not sticking with the Titans very long, Ross landed on a few practice squads with different teams until the mid-season of the 2014 season, when the Washington Redskins brought him onto the team’s practice squad until the end of the season when he signed a futures contract. The 2015 season with Washington was Ross’ best season of his NFL career as he appeared in 13 games as the starting kick returner, where he recorded a kickoff return for a touchdown while also gaining 184 receiving yards and a touchdown on just 8 receptions.
After a few years of bouncing around different NFL teams, Ross decided to switch gears and sign with the Arizona Hotshots of the now defunct AAF. He had great success during his time in the AAF. Many believe Ross was on his way to an MVP season with the Hotshots before the league was halted. During the eight weeks the league was active, Ross had already racked up over 550 yards and 7 touchdowns.
A year later, Ross is in a favorable position back in the nation’s capital once again, this time with the D.C. Defenders. Ross now in his third professional football league, finds himself in a very similar position to the one he was in just a year ago. Through the first two weeks, Ross is thriving and already has 147 yards and a touchdown, which he scored week one against the Seattle Dragons.
In a league blossoming like the XFL, Rashad Ross is now in an intriguing situation with the Defenders. Ross is a top target for the Defenders and in a better position to succeed in the XFL than anywhere he has been in his football career. As always for a receiver, it helps tremendously to have an extreme arm talent at quarterback like Cardale Jones to pair with an electric wideout like Ross.
