MOBILE, Ala. — With roughly two weeks remaining before National Signing Day, South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones and his staff are working to add to the program’s 2013 recruiting class while holding onto players who have already given non-binding verbal commitments.
The Jaguars have received more verbal commitments for their 2013 recruiting class than in any previous recruiting cycle in the program’s history.
Full Scholarships and Bowl Eligibility
South Alabama will have the full complement of 85 scholarships this season, the same as other Football Bowl Subdivision programs. Having completed its two-year transition to the FBS, the program can now tell recruits they will be eligible to compete for the Sun Belt Conference championship and to play in a bowl game.
Shifting Recruiting Needs
In earlier recruiting classes, the Jaguars concentrated on the secondary and the offensive line, areas where they needed players who could contribute right away. With those positions now considered strengths, the staff is focusing on the defensive line and offensive skill positions, while remaining open to signing talented players at any position.
“On the offensive side of the ball, we’re looking for playmakers, and that means running backs and receivers,” Jones told AL.com. “Defensively, we’ll try to find more defensive linemen because we have a lot of senior d-linemen this year and we’re obviously trying to recruit some depth there.”
Romelle Jones, Pat Moore, Ridge James, Alex Page, Montavious Williams, Randon Carnathan and Byron Sneed will all be seniors on the defensive line in 2013. Several of them have been part of the South Alabama defense since the program began, including last season, when the Jaguars ranked second in the Sun Belt in defense.
Junior College Signees Arrive
Six junior college players signed with South Alabama in December and have enrolled or are expected to enroll in classes this week, which would make them available for spring practice. Spring drills could begin near the end of February. Some members of the group may not be able to enroll until May.
The junior college signees are running back Cristobal Dinham, twin defensive backs Steffon and Steven Fuller, linebacker Desmond LaVelle, running back Jay Jones and cornerback Montell Garner.
“The guys we signed from junior college, we feel good about them and the guys we have,” Jones told AL.com, referring particularly to the defensive backs as well as to the junior college group as a whole. “We feel good there. I feel like our needs have been met there.”
Big Recruiting Weekend Ahead
South Alabama hosted several recruits on campus over the weekend, but its largest recruiting weekend is scheduled for two weeks from now, when prospects will visit Mobile during Senior Bowl week and Mardi Gras.
“We do feel good about where we are, but we’ve got to finish,” Jones said. “That’s one thing we’ve got to do. It’s just like every year, we’ve got to finish strong. There are a lot of times when it comes down to three or four players at the end. If you land those guys you’re in really good shape and you can have a great year.”
