MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama signed 26 players to its 2011 football recruiting class on National Signing Day on Wednesday, adding 10 defensive backs and two transfers from Southeastern Conference programs as the Jaguars continue their move toward the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Head coach Joey Jones discussed the class with WNSP’s Pat Greenwood on Wednesday. Seven members of the class enrolled at South Alabama in January, and one more plans to join the program in the fall.
Class at a Glance
Nine of the 26 signees are from Alabama, five are from Florida and three are from Mississippi. Recruiting services rated seven of the signees as three-star prospects and six as two-star prospects. Safety B.J. Scott was a four-star prospect when he signed with Alabama as part of its 2008 class.
South Alabama competed for several of its signees against FBS programs including Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, TCU, Boise State, Stanford, West Virginia, Georgia Tech, NC State, Maryland, Texas Tech, Illinois, Iowa, South Florida, Connecticut, Louisville, Washington State, Southern Miss, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, UAB, Troy and Middle Tennessee.
Jones said a saying around the Jaguars’ field house sums up the staff’s approach: “If we can just get them to Mobile, we will have a great shot.”
Secondary Gets the Most Attention
Ten of the signees are listed in the secondary. Jones said South Alabama lost a few recruiting battles for defensive linemen. Williamson High School guard DaMon Husband is the only offensive lineman in the class, and Jones indicated he was satisfied with the linemen already on the roster. Several players will work at center during spring practice after an injury left the Jaguars thin at that position last season.
As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, Scout.com rated Western Kentucky’s class as the best in the Sun Belt Conference and No. 81 nationally.
Running Backs and Receivers
- Akeem Appleton, RB, 5-11, 175, Fort Payne High School: Ranked 10th among athletes in Alabama by ESPN.com; two-star prospect by Scout.
- Demetre Baker, RB, 6-1, 210, Orange Park, Fla.: Played running back in high school and linebacker at Georgia. Named a high school All-American by SuperPrep and PrepStar.
- Jeffrey Dyson, 5-9, 150, Thomasville (Ga.) High School: Played running back and defensive back; timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40 by Scout.
- J.J. Keels, RB, 5-10, 180, Melbourne, Fla.: Three-star prospect ranked 38th nationally at running back and among the top 10 in Florida by ESPN. Rivals timed him at 4.42 in the 40 with a 36-inch vertical; he carries a 3.8 grade-point average.
- Jake Howton, WR, 6-2, 180, Cordova High School: Ranked 15th among athletes in Alabama by ESPN; totaled 1,363 yards of offense in 2010.
- Anthony Ingram, ATH, 5-9, 170, Jasper, Fla.: Three-star prospect by Rivals who led his team to a district title.
- Kennedy Helms, TE, 6-2, 230, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College: Helped Gulf Coast to a 10-2 record and a third-place finish in the NJCAA poll. His brother already plays for South Alabama.
- Kolt Peavey, QB, 6-2, 180, Bolivar (Mo.) High School: Helped Bolivar to a 9-2 record and a state playoff berth.
- Joey Hamilton, LS/FB, 6-2, 225, Northridge High School, Tuscaloosa: Listed by South Alabama as a long snapper and fullback.
Linebackers and Linemen
- Maleki Harris, LB, 6-2, 200, Cordova High School: Three-star prospect ranked No. 33 in Alabama by Rivals. Recorded 142 tackles, 13 sacks and five interceptions as an outside linebacker in 2010 and held offers from Illinois, Kansas, Memphis, Mississippi State and Southern Miss.
- Cordivido Grice, OLB, 6-0, 205, Pensacola, Fla.: Ranked among the top 25 outside linebackers in Florida by ESPN after making 114 tackles.
- Desmond LaVelle, LB, 5-11, 225, Decatur: Rated second among Alabama inside linebackers by ESPN and a three-star prospect by Rivals.
- Ramone Lewis, LB, 5-10, 230, Eufaula: Two-star prospect by Scout with 84 tackles as a senior.
- Robert Terrell, LB, 6-1, 245, Russellville High School: Three-star prospect by Rivals and Scout who chose South Alabama over an offer from Louisville.
- Devin Robinson, 6-3, 220, East Limestone High School, Athens: Three-star prospect by Rivals with offers from Arkansas State, Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee, Southern Miss, Troy and UAB.
- Ceasare Johnson, DL, 6-6, 265, Coahoma (Miss.) Community College: Memphis, Tenn., native with 70 tackles, 51 solo, and six sacks at Coahoma.
- DaMon Husband, OL, 6-2, 315, Williamson High School, Mobile: Four-year starter ranked No. 83 overall and third among Alabama guards by ESPN.
Defensive Backs
- B.J. Scott, DB, 5-11, 205, Vigor High School: Transfer from Alabama who is already enrolled.
- Ameriol Finley, DB, 6-0, 175, Spanish Fort High School: Quarterbacked Spanish Fort to its first Class 5A state championship; already enrolled.
- E.J. May, CB, 5-11, 175, McGill-Toolen High School, Mobile: Ranked 85th nationally at cornerback and among the top five in Alabama by ESPN; decommitted from Kentucky.
- Carl Williams, DB, 6-0, 180, Jacksonville, Fla.: Three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and ESPN with offers from Arkansas, Cincinnati, UConn, FIU, Iowa State, Kansas, Maryland, Middle Tennessee, Minnesota, Northern Illinois, South Florida, Texas Tech, Troy, UCF and UCLA.
- Marquel Gardner, DB, 6-2, 200, Prichard: Two-star prospect by Rivals and first-team all-region safety as a senior; transferring from Tuskegee.
- Charles Harris, DB, 6-2, 190, Coahoma (Miss.) Community College: Led Coahoma with 89 tackles, 69 unassisted.
- Gabe Loper, DB, 6-2, 190, East Central (Miss.) Community College: Second-team All-MACJC with 39 tackles and three pass breakups.
- Dionte McDuffy, DB, 5-10, 190, Evangel Christian Academy, Shreveport, La.: Helped Evangel win a Class 2A state championship as a senior.
- Damond Smith, DB, 6-0, 185, Ecorse, Mich.: Transfer from Western Michigan who arrives as a sophomore.
Program Background
Jones has led South Alabama since the program began play in 2009. The Jaguars are in the midst of their transition to the FBS, and their 2011 schedule includes road games at NC State and Kent State.
