MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer has been hired by Georgia, leaving head coach Joey Jones to fill the position for the second consecutive offseason.
Sherrer, 40, spent one season as the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator and also coached South Alabama’s defensive backs. At Georgia, he will join the defensive staff of newly hired coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.
Longtime Ties to Pruitt
Sherrer and Pruitt have a long history together. Both played at Alabama, coached together at Hoover High School and later both worked on the Alabama staff.
Defense Ranked Among Sun Belt Leaders
In Sherrer’s lone season in Mobile, South Alabama led the Sun Belt Conference in sacks with 38. The Jaguars ranked second in the league in scoring defense, allowing 25.2 points per game, and in total defense at 384.3 yards per game, and were tied for fourth with 11 interceptions.
South Alabama finished 50th nationally in total defense, five spots behind Georgia.
Recruiting Impact
The departure comes two weeks before National Signing Day, when high school prospects can sign national letters of intent.
Separately, Shaquille Jones, a 6-foot-2, 165-pound defensive back from Palm Bay, Fla., switched his verbal commitment from South Alabama to Louisville, becoming the first commitment for new Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino. The secondary has been a major focus of South Alabama’s recruiting over the past year.
Other defensive commitments in South Alabama’s class have reaffirmed their pledges on social media.
Second Straight Search
Jones hired Sherrer a year ago to replace Bill Clark, who left South Alabama after the 2012 season. No timeline has been announced for naming Sherrer’s replacement, and the staff’s immediate focus is on recruiting ahead of signing day.
