Sooners RB/KR Alex Ross To Transfer

Image via Tulsa World

While the timing of OU announcing senior running back/kickoff return specialist Alex Ross will transfer may come as a surprise, the bevy of RB talent and Ross’ 32 carries this past season certainly are not.

Thus the news Friday that Ross will graduate (making him immediately eligible wherever he lands next) and transfer can’t really come as all that much of a shock. Ross will definitely be remembered for a number of his long kick returns, several come at key moments in games, and his All-America season in 2014.

Best of luck to him next season.

71 Comments

  • Jeff says:

    Thought he would have left last year

    • Bob Edwards says:

      No point if he was going to get his degree. If he transferred he would have had to sit out a year anyway. This way he still got to play some.

  • Mark_in_VA says:

    Hope he has a great season. He just was recruited over.

  • RDC212 says:

    Good luck to him, but he stopped giving a damn last season.

  • cdzendolet says:

    Not surprised, but best of luck to him, and I will root for him wherever he goes

  • Tony B says:

    Not a shocker at all. Thank you Mr. Ross for your kick returns and time as a Sooner. Best of luck to you wherever you may land. That being said I honestly think a Mixon or a receiver to be named will do a better job in the KO return game due to Ross’ lack of lateral movement. Unless he had a gaping hole to turn on the jets he rarely made others miss and did not make moves in a hole as a returner or RB. There were many times last year I was calling for a change (except that run against Okie Light) so this may be a blessing in disguise. Our kickoff return game was sub par last season and I’m betting it will be much better this season with some new blood back there.

    • cheezyq says:

      I pretty much agree. He was perfectly suited to the KR game, just pick a direction and go. I think last year he complicated that role too much, and didn’t play to his strengths.

  • ouwooferman says:

    hate to see a player leave, but get it. Good luck. Thanks for your contributions to the school.

  • OUWade says:

    The best of luck to him for sure. Personally I think he won the games against west Virginia and Texas in 2014, and didn’t let the tone or momentum go the wrong way in bedlam this year.

  • Dick Bump says:

    He could motor when he broke free. His returns helped us out of some tight spots during his time at OU. The return game wasn’t really there last year, both kick offs and punts. Not sure why, but it wasn’t much of a weapon. Best of luck to him. I hope he tears it up wherever he goes.

  • Rene Goupillaud says:

    I hope he gets a chance to be a starter somewhere. He’s been a loyal Sooner and I wish him the very best.

    • 22dupree says:

      Totally agree. Always enjoyed Alex’s personality. Neat guy. I wonder where he has his sights set on playing his final season? Hope he finds success wherever he goes.?

  • Rene Goupillaud says:

    I hope he gets a chance to be a starter somewhere. He’s been a loyal Sooner and I wish him the very best.

  • j l says:

    Friend of mine told me an OU RB was transferring, and i panicked a bit. Im good now seeing its ross though. Best of luck.

  • OceanDescender says:

    Good luck to Ross. Have no doubts he’ll find somewhere that has an open starting position and try to position himself for a shot at the NFL. Once a Sooner, always a Sooner!

  • Lane Gilstrap says:

    Not really anything we can do with the open ship At this point is there?

    • Mark_in_VA says:

      Maybe M. Sutton will be able to come in December? I think we could use the ‘ship for him then.

      • Lane Gilstrap says:

        I mean I guess but it makes no difference this year

        • Mark_in_VA says:

          This year on the field, I suppose. But it means potentially 1 more ship for #SoonerSquad17.

          • Lane Gilstrap says:

            Does it, Ross is a senior so after the season his ship was open anyway.

          • Mark_in_VA says:

            Hmm. Perhaps not. I hadn’t considered that.

          • Lane Gilstrap says:

            I don’t know how it all works. Perhaps they could take a transfer from elsewhere if there was somebody worth it.

          • Mark_in_VA says:

            Yeah, not clear to me either, re: the senior thing. I ‘spect you’re right, though. Maybe they give it to this year’s Gastelum?

          • j l says:

            Its possible, but unlikely. Most transfers would prefer to be there for spring ball, makes it really hard to get on the field if you miss the spring, since you are already have a ton to learn after switching programs.

            It’ll probably go to someone like connor knight, who would absolutely deserve it.

    • cush creekmont says:

      Perhaps a Sr. walk-on can get a one-year reward.

    • Bob Edwards says:

      If one of the 2017 kids is an early entry then you can give him Ross’s scholly and he would count against 2016 limits. If we end up with more than 25 scholarships open for 2017 it would allow you to take a 26th since he would count against the previous year.

  • John Garner says:

    Best wishes. Hope he makes it to Sundays as well.

    • Susanjvoight2 says:

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  • hOUligan says:

    Feels like he has maxed his opportunities to see the field other than at KR. Being recruited over in an ever deepening backfield. Can’t blame him. Congrats on getting the degree and best of luck to him wherever he lands. Will hopefully see him break a few for his next team but he’ll always be thought of as a Sooner who gave us some good memories.

  • Lane Gilstrap says:

    First Humphrey and now Ross. At least it doesn’t really affect things. More spots for 2017

    • Stephen says:

      Expect more. They’re going to try to make room for a few 2017 recruits they don’t have a spot for yet.

    • Oscar says:

      Sure makes our Average for Team Speed go down.

    • JD says:

      He’s a senior and won’t affect 17. Just gets a walk on a scholly or maybe a late 16 grab

  • Soonerfandave84 says:

    Good luck Alex!

  • CrimsonNative says:

    I predict he’ll go to A&M and get drafted in the 3rd round as a DB.

  • cush creekmont says:

    He got his degree – makes him an alum, as am I. I wish him great success like I do all of my fellow alums!

    • Oscar says:

      Here here!!!
      Guessing his landing spot. Maybe one of these.
      Tulsa
      Mizzou
      Virginia Tech
      Arizona State
      Indiana
      T A&M
      Kentucky

  • Sacramento Sooner says:

    Thank You Ross for the memories and some key returns in games. That will be missed. I think we will actually fair better with some others receiving kicks. Ross’ downhill speed was great, but his lateral movement just never showed. Hope the best for him, and he gets the playing time he is looking for.

  • Ed Cotter says:

    Understandable, but really wanted to see him finish his career in the Crimson and Cream and maybe come up with a magical season returning KO’s for the Sooners. Best of Luck Alex!

  • Wilson says:

    Wish the young man the best and a very successful future.

  • Boomer4life says:

    Does anyone know where he is going?

  • bigrackhunter says:

    Ross’s effectiveness this past season compared to the year before is head scratching. Was it blocking, or effort on his part? Not trying to bash him or anyone else….best of luck to him wherever he ends up.

    • Walter Sobcek says:

      No Ripkowski on special teams to plow the road, perhaps?

    • soonersd says:

      I feel like it had to be blocking… like Walter mentioned, Rip, was a big special teams loss and I’m sure there were a few others. OUr punt and kick teams are pretty damn good… I really hope we can shore up OUr return teams this season.

  • Zack says:

    Last player to be named in the a&m trade for Murray.

  • OUBmrSnr72 says:

    Should have played LB…..best of luck to him.

    • Boom says:

      If you don’t have lateral movement as a RB, how the heck can you play LB. LBs live off of lateral movement.

  • JJSoona says:

    Best of luck to you Alex. So glad you got your degree. I hope that wherever you go, its a successful destination.

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  • King Tyson Todd Anderson says:

    A lot of people feel like he was a Bust!!!!!! Best of luck anyway??

  • Spitting Bull says:

    He just never could get going between the tackles. They probably would have thrown to him more out of the back field if Perine and Mixon hadn’t come along. Just rarely got in to position to use that break away speed at RB. Good luck to you Alex. You have been a great team player.

  • Walter Sobcek says:

    He might have had some success as a deep I-back, but his somewhat limited lateral movement and field vision hindered his effectiveness in the two offenses OU ran while he was there. Wish him luck. He made some big plays on special teams for Sooners, and I hope he does well at his next stop.

    • Bob Edwards says:

      He is a good back that was in the wrong offense for his skill set and then got recruited over by the signing of couple of elite backs.

  • Sooner Ray says:

    I had high hopes for Alex coming out of HS and thought he would go down as one of the really good backs in history. Wrong offense for him, as already said, and not used enough in the pass game IMO. Hope he goes to Tulsa so I can watch closely. I will always appreciate those few returns he gave us that turned momentum or saved a game.

    • Slim Sooner says:

      Agree with you. Attrition is a sad thing for me. I like Alex, but just got a feeling he wasn’t all in last season due to circumstances. Wish the young man nothing but success and happiness. Proud he is getting a degree.

    • Tim A says:

      Agree – mainly due to his combination of size and speed (and the eye test) I had huge hopes for him. Thought perhaps he would be special. Glad he stayed as long as he did – as I’m sure it is frustrating for stud HS players to come in and have that same type of success at the next level. Best of luck to him at next stop and in life.

  • Jason Vos says:

    I wonder who the KR’s will be?
    Im guessing Anderson/Brooks

    Mixon will be PR

    • Slim Sooner says:

      Hope we actually need and use returners this year. I’ll take anybody not named Baker or Samaje.

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  • cheezyq says:

    I’ll miss him, but I think the reason he doesn’t get a lot of run opportunities is because his vision and short burst acceleration aren’t very good. He’s perfectly suited to his KR role, so I hope he doesn’t plan on making it elsewhere as an RB. I do wish him well, though.

  • soonermusic says:

    Ross always seemed to me like a guy who needed time on the field to get rolling. I thought Gundy was doing a great job of developing him. In 2014 he had the second most carries on the team, and by the end of the season, I saw marked improvement in all the aspects of his game, including those for which he was most criticized. He ended up averaging 6.8 yards per carry for the season. Boulware clearly took a completely different approach. Wish him well wherever he lands.

    • Zack says:

      Yeah boulware went with Perine and mixon. Brooks is a better change of pace.

      • soonermusic says:

        Gundy went with Ford and Perine, till Ford was hurt, but he had a pretty consistent three man rotation. Boulware’s, of course, gonna use Perine and Mixon as the main two guys. But without a consistent third man presence, neither Brooks nor Ross did much with about the same limited number of touches. If Anderson’s healthy, I’d guess he might get a few more touches as “third man.”