Penn State is adding another wide receiver to its 2025 roster from the transfer portal. Its latest addition comes from the Group of Five. Former Troy receiver Devonte Ross picked the Lions on Tuesday. He joins former USC receiver Kyron Hudson and one-time Texas A&M defensive end Enai White in the Penn State portal class so far.
Ross caught 76 passes for 1,043 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024 while playing for former Nittany Lions wide receivers coach and current Trojans head coach Gerad Parker and also returned a punt for a touchdown. He hit the portal earlier this month and was in State College Dec. 18 for an official visit.
Ross, who is listed by Troy at 5-foot-11, 161 pounds, initially committed to Marshall in the Class of 2021 but then backed away from that pledge and was set to go to Kentucky. However, he never arrived on campus in Lexington. He then ended up at Troy in 2022. Over three years, he hauled in 129 passes for 1,618 yards and 14 touchdowns. A Cartersville, Ga., native, Ross will have two years to play one season, as he still has a redshirt year available. He’s unlikely to use it, however, which should make 2025 his final college season. On3 currently ranks him as the No. 158 player in the portal and No. 33 receiver.
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What is Penn State getting in Ross?
Speed is the name of this receiver’s game. BWI film analyst Thomas Frank Carr offered an early scouting report on Ross when he first entered the transfer portal.
“His best attributes are running deep routes and generating explosive plays,” Carr writes. “He gained 400 yards and five touchdowns on passes of 20 or more yards this past year and had four games in which he crested 100 yards. His best statistical performance of the season came against Florida A&M, where he caught 11 passes for 234 yards.
“At his best, Ross is the type of player that can run behind any coverage. He lined up primarily outside for Troy and has experience running routes from the slot. From a fit perspective, he would compliment what Omari Evans brings to the offense. The duo would provide a deadly combination of deep speed that would be difficult to defend and would likely create open space underneath.”