MOBILE, Ala. — Quarterback Raymond Cotton has been released from his scholarship at Ole Miss and plans to sign with South Alabama, according to his father, Raymond Cotton Sr.
Cotton Sr. said his son received his release from Ole Miss on Thursday and that it applies only to South Alabama. The university could not comment because no scholarship papers have been signed.
Local Ties
Cotton has roots in the Mobile area. As a junior, he led Faith Academy to the AISA state final before moving to Maryland, where he threw for 2,243 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior at Fort Meade. He initially committed to Auburn before choosing Ole Miss.
At Ole Miss, Cotton redshirted as a freshman. In the Grove Bowl, the Rebels’ spring game, he threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Despite playing through a partially torn labrum, he finished spring drills as Ole Miss’ No. 2 quarterback.
His departure leaves the Rebels with sophomore Nathan Stanley as the projected starter and junior college transfer Randall Mackey as the only other quarterback on the roster.
No Eligibility Lost
Because South Alabama has not yet reached Football Bowl Subdivision status, Cotton will not lose any eligibility by transferring to the Jaguars.
Crowded Quarterback Room
Cotton would join a South Alabama quarterback group that includes Myles Gibbon, Brennan Sim and Gabe Graham, along with incoming freshmen C.J. Bennett and Calvin Jenkins. Jenkins may greyshirt, which would mean enrolling at South Alabama in January, though nothing has been formally announced about his status.
South Alabama played its first football season in 2009 under head coach Joey Jones, and the Jaguars are preparing for their second season.
