Missouri Tigers Add RB Alex Ross, OL Darvis Holmes
The Missouri Tigers officially announced two additions to their 2016 roster on Wednesday.
The Missouri Tigers officially announced on Wednesday that they’ve added running back Alex Ross, a fifth-year transfer who previously played at the University of Oklahoma, and incoming freshman offensive lineman Darvis Holmes, a product of Long County High School in Hinesville, Georgia. Both moves had been rumored for quite some time, but now both players are officially on the roster and all set to participate when the team begins fall camp.
Ross is a much-needed addition to Mizzou’s thin running back corps, and he figures to stand a good shot at opening the season as the starter, especially since his former offensive coordinator with the Sooners, Josh Heupel, now holds the same position with the Tigers. Ross walks into a running back room where he’ll have the most career rushing yardage (767) and rushing touchdowns (5) of any back on the roster.
He’ll face competition from incumbent starter Ish Witter and freshman Damarea Crockett, but it’s unlikely that he would have left a championship-caliber program (albeit, one where he’s blocked by Samaje Perine) to come to Mizzou unless he thought he had a good chance to get regular playing time.
More from Arch Authority
- St. Louis Cardinals: Randal Grichuk to begin Double-A rehab stint
- John Brebbia deserves a shot as the St. Louis Cardinals’ closer
- St. Louis Cardinals place Randal Grichuk on DL, recall José Martínez
- St. Louis Cardinals release RHP Corey Baker from organization
- St. Louis Cardinals activate Kolten Wong and Kevin Siegrist from DL, option Luke Weaver and Alex Mejia to Triple-A
Ross will be eligible to play immediately, as he’s taking advantage of the NCAA’s graduate transfer rule.
Holmes, who’s listed as a three-star prospect by Rivals, has been listed on most recruiting sites at 6-foot-6 and between 325-330 pounds, but Mizzou listed him at 6-foot-5 and 315 in their announcement today. He’ll join a freshman class that also includes Trystan Castillo and Tre’Vour Simms. While it’s always unlikely that linemen will see the field during their freshman year, this Mizzou freshman class might have a slightly better chance to do so because of the current makeup of the Tigers’ line.
Next: Five Freshmen Who Could See Action for Mizzou in 2016
Nate Crawford is already set to be Mizzou’s only returning starter up front, but his status is in doubt following back surgery this spring. It’s likely that junior college transfers Tyler Howell and Kyle Mitchell will see immediate playing time, and walk-on Samson Bailey has a chance to start as well. If any of those players falter early on in the season, it’s possible that the Tigers could turn to a player like Holmes to protect Drew Lock and aid the running game.