PHILADELPHIA – The Cincinnati Bengals selected Husky wide receiver John Ross III with the ninth overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft Thursday evening.
 
Ross, a Long Beach, Calif., native, is the highest-drafted Husky since quarterback Jake Locker was selected by the Titans with the eighth pick of the 2010 draft. Ross also tied for the highest-drafted UW wide receiver, as Reggie Williams also went No. 9 in 2004.
 
Ross, who sat out the 2015 season due to injury, returned with a vengeance in 2016, turning in one of the best seasons ever by a Husky wide receiver. An outstanding kick returner with a school-record four career kick returns for touchdowns, Ross also saw time at cornerback early in his career at Washington.
 
In 2016, he earned first-team All-America (ESPN.com and scout.com) and first-team All-Pac-12 after catching 17 touchdown passes, second-most in Pac-12 history and third-most in the FBS in 2016. He caught 81 passes for 1,150 yards and those 17 scores and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown vs. Rutgers in his first game since the end of the 2014 season.
 
In 2014, he scored seven touchdowns, from 91, 20, 55, 75, 86, 100 and 96 yards, an average of 75 yards per touchdown play.
 
The 2017 NFL Draft continues Friday with rounds two and three and concludes with rounds four through seven on Saturday.