Kansas State Wildcats gain commitment from Alabama football transfer Jayshawn Ross
Chris Klieman missed out on Jayshawn Ross when the talented linebacker picked Alabama over Kansas State as a high school recruit coming out of Liberty North.
But Ross is ready to play for the Wildcats now.
Ross, a 6-foot-4 and 220-pound versatile defender, committed to the K-State football team on Tuesday as a transfer after spending his freshman season in the SEC.
He will figure to play a hybrid role with the Wildcats. Ross can line up at both defensive end and linebacker as a pass rusher. K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman will likely find many different ways to use his skills after he arrives on campus.
Ross was a priority target for Klieman and his coaching staff when they began exploring options in the transfer portal. Even though he didn’t record any stats for the Crimson Tide this season, the Wildcats were familiar with his abilities on the football field after they recruited him when he was a four-star prospect.
Alabama won a recruiting battle against K-State and Nebraska for Ross when he signed with the Crimson Tide. But he held a total of 25 scholarship offers. The Wildcats clearly made an impression on him during the recruiting process, because he quickly chose them when he began exploring his options as a transfer.
With Ross on board the Wildcats have landed 10 incoming transfers this recruiting cycle.
He joins Jerand Bradley (Boston College), Gabe Ervin (Nebraska), Amarion Fortenberry (South Alabama), Gunner Maldonado (Arizona), Mar’Quavious Moss (West Georgia), Gabe Powers (Ohio State), Jayden Rowe (Oklahoma), Amos Talalele (USC) and Jaron Tibbs (Purdue).
This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Kansas State Wildcats gain commitment from Alabama football transfer Jayshawn Ross."