SOURCE: Ross signs financial aid paperwork with Mizzou
Former Oklahoma running back Alex Ross signed a financial aid agreement with Missouri, multiple sources have confirmed to PowerMizzou.com.
Chris Gervino of KOMU reported Ross' transfer.
Ross will be a redshirt senior, and as a graduate transfer, will be immediately eligible to play this fall. A financial aid agreement is non-binding, but a source said the Tigers’ staff is not expecting Ross to take more visits.
The 6-1, 227-pound Ross is originally from Jenks, Okla., and visited Missouri this past weekend. His transfer from OU was announced on Friday, May 6, and sources then told PowerMizzou.com that Missouri would “act fast.” Missouri has an obvious connection to Ross, as current offensive coordinator Josh Heupel held the same role at Oklahoma from 2011-2014, overlapping with Ross.
The Tigers currently have one running back with game experience on their roster (Ish Witter), but are expected to add two more four-star running backs this summer. JUCO transfer Natereace Strong and Little Rock, Ark., running back Damarea Crockett signed with Missouri in the 2016 class.
Ross, however, is expected to add more than just carries to Missouri’s 2016 season. CBS Sports named Ross as a second-team All-American kick returner after the 2014 season. That year, Ross finished third nationally with 31.44 yards per kickoff return, including two returns for touchdowns. For his career, Ross is averaging 25.7 yards per return.
Last year, Missouri ranked 128th (last) in the FBS in kickoff return yardage at a 15.08 yard average.
Ross was a four-star recruit by all the recruiting services (Rivals, Scout, 247 and ESPN) coming out of high school in 2012. He was selected to the Under Armour All-America Game that year. Ross, however, could never find a big role in Oklahoma’s backfield while in college, and with the impressive play of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon in 2014, the writing seemed to be on the wall.
In three seasons at OU, Ross rushed for 786 yards on 124 carries (6.34 average) with five touchdowns. He also has 11 carries for 66 yards.