Fred Ross is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and had a brief career in the National Football League (NFL).
College Career Fred Ross attended Mississippi State University, where he played for the Bulldogs from 2013 to 2016. During his tenure, he established himself as one of the most prolific wide receivers in the program's history. Ross concluded his collegiate career as Mississippi State's all-time leader in career receptions with 199. He also ranked second in career receiving yards with 2,528. As a senior in 2016, he recorded 72 receptions for 917 yards and 5 touchdowns, earning First-Team All-SEC honors for his performance. He was a key offensive weapon, particularly during the years quarterback Dak Prescott led the Bulldogs' offense.
Professional Career Following his successful college career, Ross entered the 2017 NFL Draft but went undrafted. He subsequently signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent. He participated in the Panthers' offseason program and preseason games but was waived by the team before the start of the regular season. Ross later spent time on the practice squads of both the Carolina Panthers and the Detroit Lions, but he did not appear in a regular-season NFL game.