MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones announced Wednesday that Brandon Ross has signed scholarship papers and will enroll in school beginning with the fall semester.

A transfer from Memphis, whose cousin Richard will be a redshirt freshman running back for the Jaguars this year, Ross will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

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“Brandon is a big, fast running back. In my opinion he was an SEC-caliber player coming out of high school,” Jones commented. “After you get a chance to meet him, you find that he is a great kid too.

“We feel very fortunate to have him joining our program.”

Last fall Ross was originally expected to sit out as a redshirt, but after injuries to several running backs appeared in each of the Tigers’ final eight contests. He ended the campaign second on the squad in rushing with 296 yards on 58 carries — an average of 5.1 yards per attempt — while adding four receptions for another 55 yards. Ross, who scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground, was also fourth on the team in total offense while ending up with 351 all-purpose yards.

He collected 46 yards on six rushes in his collegiate debut, a 33-30 victory at UAB, with his best performance of the season coming four games later when he ran for a career-best 111 yards and a score in a 31-26 win at Southern Methodist. In the regular-season finale, Ross gained 57 yards on 10 attempts as Memphis defeated Tulane 45-6 to earn a bid to the St. Petersburg Bowl.

Ross gained 1,275 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in his final season at Auburn High, helping the Tigers finish 8-4 overall while advancing to the second round of the 6A state playoffs. He played two years at AHS after transferring from Booker T. Washington High.

“The bottom line is that Brandon wanted to get back closer to home and he likes what we’re doing,” Jones added. “I know that Richard told him some good things about us, and he visited Richard during the year and enjoyed it. I’m sure family was a big part of the decision as well.”

Ross and the Jags will have their first preseason practice on Tuesday, Aug. 4, with the program’s first-ever game scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium against Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

South Alabama Media Relations
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