After one season in Happy Valley and four total years in college, Penn State football wide receiver Devonte Ross is aiming to take his talents to the NFL at the 2026 NFL Draft.

Originally from Cartersville, Georgia, Ross played in 11 games for the Nittany Lions last season, hauling in 36 receptions for 501 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned eight punts.

Ross was a three-star recruit out of Cartersville High School, where he played both football and basketball. As part of the 2021 recruiting class, he was ranked as the No. 106 player from the state of Georgia, according to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings.

Ross signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Kentucky before enrolling at Troy for his freshman season in 2022. After recording just 13 receptions for 147 yards as a freshman, Ross was solid in year two, recording 40 catches for 428 yards and three touchdowns.

In his junior year as a Trojan, Ross excelled, making 76 catches for 1,043 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns, good for the seventh most in the nation. Following his breakout junior season, he elected to enter the transfer portal. Ross was ranked as a four-star and the No. 30 wide receiver in the transfer class, and committed to Penn State on Christmas Eve in 2024.

As a Nittany Lion, Ross’ production naturally dipped as the No. 2 receiver behind Trebor Peña, but he was also impacted by the struggles of the entire team through the 2025 season.

Ross didn’t receive an invite to the 2026 NFL Combine, but did participate in Penn State’s pro day, where he recorded the fastest 40-yard dash time of any Nittany Lion, at 4.45 seconds. Ross also turned in a 36″ vertical jump and a 10’8″ broad jump.

Measuring in at 5’9″ and 162 pounds, Ross’ speed is his biggest asset, allowing him to fly past defenses and be a serious deep threat every time he lines up. Ross also has punt and kickoff return experience that could prove valuable to an NFL special teams unit.

Ross is not featured in many draft projections or big boards, meaning he will likely be a late-round pick or enter the NFL as an undrafted free agent.

The NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, and ends on Saturday, April 26, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. All seven rounds will be televised on ESPN and the NFL Network.