AHS’ Ross tabbed South Alabama’s first football signee

By Tom Peavy

Published: May 14, 2008

The name Richard Ross will forever be synonymous with University of South Alabama football.

Ross, a senior at Auburn High, became South Alabama’s first football signee, making his plans to be a part of the Jaguars’ inaugural football team.

“It feels good to know I’m the first ever signee there,” Ross, who plays running back, said. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.”

Ross had originally signed to play baseball at Wallace Community College. NCAA rules allow an athlete who has signed with a junior college to resign at a four-year institution.

“I’ve always wanted to play both,” Ross said of passing up baseball to play football at USA. “But I talked this over with my parents, and we all knew this was the best decision for me.”

South Alabama will field its first football team in 2009, playing a limited schedule. All players on the team will be awarded redshirt years.

In 2010, the Jaguars will play their first full schedule and have plans to join the Football Bowl Subdivision in either 2012 or 2013 as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

“We are very excited about Richard being our first full-scholarship signee at the University of South Alabama,” USA head coach Joey Jones said in a press release. “He is a great athlete and will be able to help us create a winning tradition here at USA. Athletically, he is a big, strong running back who possesses speed, toughness and the ability to catch the football.”

As a senior, Ross, 6-1, 225 pounds, earned third-team All-Area honors after rushing for 515 yards on 78 carries with eight touchdowns. He also caught 19 passes for 294 yards and three touchdowns.

“South Alabama was really impressed with his versatility,” Auburn High head coach Tim Carter said. “He was kind of our Ronnie Brown — he played wide receiver, tight end, fullback and running back for us. His versatility is what made him such a special player.”

As of now, Ross is unsure of what position he will play at South Alabama — but he also said it didn’t matter much to him.

“Honestly, I just want to play,” he said.

Ross will graduate from Auburn High at the end of this month. At Auburn, he was a three-sport athlete, excelling in football, baseball and basketball.

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