UConn wide receiver Cam Ross likely to miss season with broken foot

Kyle Maher, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·3 min read

Aug. 17—STORRS — The UConn football team has lost one of its top offensive playmakers indefinitely.

Coach Jim Mora announced after practice Wednesday that Cam Ross, a redshirt sophomore who was expected to be a top receiver for the team, broke his foot and "it appears that he is going to be out for the season."

Ross' injury occurred during Saturday's situational scrimmage, when he caught a pass and his foot landed in an awkward position. He limped off the field and sat on the sidelines in a boot during Wednesday's training session.

A year ago, Ross broke his right foot in Week 2 against Holy Cross and missed the remainder of the season. He caught eight passes for 60 yards and returned two punts for 22 yards in two games prior to his injury.

"You just feel so bad for the kid," Mora said, "it happened to him last year and he worked so hard to get back. He was looking good, I think he was feeling confident, and it is his other foot. Obviously our prayers are with him and they'll get that thing fixed. Knowing Cam and his mindset, and his toughness and determination and character, he'll just put the work in and he'll come back and give it another go. So really tough deal for for him and certainly a blow for the team."

Ross, who came to UConn from St. John's College High School in Washington DC, had 60 receptions as a freshman in 2019. He ranked fifth among freshmen in receiving yards and was selected as an Honorable Mention All-American by Pro Football Focus.

"It's heartbreaking for the kid," Mora said, "He's such a good person and like I said, he's worked so hard to get back. You never want to sound insensitive to those things because we're not, but it is part of this game and we have to be able to adjust as a team. And his presence will still be felt as a leader on this team. Regardless if he's on the field with us during practice or not. He'll be there with us helping us."

Ross was projected to be the No. 1 receiver in a group that has been banged up for much of fall camp. Mora said Dajon Harrison, a redshirt freshman who transferred from the University of Texas, Aaron Turner, Darius Bush, Kevins Clercius, Nigel Fitzgerald, and Kylish Hicks will be expected to step up in Ross' absence.

"It obviously means that you take a guy that's playing one position and move him to another. So now KC (Clercius) has to raise his game. Nigel (Fitzgerald) has to raise his game," Mora said. "Kylish Hicks, who's a freshman who's been out most of camp with that the hamstring. He was a guy we have high hopes for, we're gonna have to just get him working back into it. As soon as he's cleared maybe he can become a guy as well."

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