It appears several NFL teams are interested in Old Dominion basketball player Richard Ross as a future NFL football player, presumably at tight end. Count the Vikings among the teams sniffing around the athletic 6-6, 236-pounder.

According to a source close to the situation, the Vikings sent tight ends coach Kevin Stefanski to conduct a private workout at Old Dominion today. Ross' basketball teammates also showed up to watch and wonder if perhaps an ODU basketball player will become the first ODU product to be drafted by an NFL team.

Ross, who averaged 8.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a senior this past season, hasn't played football since high school. Of course, he wouldn't be the first college basketball player to transition to NFL tight end. The Chargers' Antonio Gates made that a popular possibility years ago.

The Vikings reportedly were one of the NFL teams that met with Ross at ODU's pro day. Ross didn't work out at the time because his basketball team was still in the NIT tournament. According to the Virginia-Pilot, Vikings quarterbacks coach Scott Turner was there to watch ODU quarterback Taylor Heinicke.

The Vikings' interest doesn't necessarily mean they're planning to use even a late-round draft pick on Ross. The team also spends a lot of time preparing for the mad dash of signing undrafted rookies as soon as the draft is over.

Those close to the situation say the Vikings have had their eye on Ross for a while. But he probably will have more private workouts scheduled with other teams before the draft.