MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama added 25 newcomers to its football program in its 2015 recruiting class, a group that combines high school signees, junior college transfers and seven former UAB players.
The class of high school and junior college players was ranked third in the Sun Belt Conference after a late addition moved the Jaguars up one spot. That ranking does not account for the players arriving from UAB, which discontinued its football program in December.
Head coach Joey Jones said at the program’s signing day social that he has no doubt South Alabama signed the best overall class in the conference. The class is the latest for Jones and his staff, who have led the program since it began play in 2009.
Size and Length in the Secondary
The class features considerable size across the roster. Three of the five defensive backs who signed stand 6 feet or taller, and the group includes five offensive linemen listed at 275 pounds or more, among them 6-foot-7, 310-pound De’Arius Young.
Former UAB Players
Seven of the newcomers played at UAB:
- Cameron Blankenship, OL, 6-5, 285, Alexander City, Ala. — A three-year letterwinner for the Blazers. He also started all 11 games in which he appeared as a sophomore at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College.
- Austin Chipoletti, QB, 5-11, 190, Jacksonville, Fla. — Playing for Weber State in 2013, he completed 172 of 302 passes for 1,650 yards and eight touchdowns and ran for 142 yards and two scores.
- Cody Clements, QB, 6-2, 200, Whittier, Calif. — In his only season at UAB, he completed 183 of 275 passes for 2,227 yards and 14 touchdowns. His 145.6 pass efficiency rating ranked fourth in Conference USA.
- Lee Dufour, OL, 6-4, 285, Saraland, Ala. — Originally slated to redshirt as a freshman, he played in UAB’s final three games as the Blazers became bowl eligible for the first time in 10 years.
- Gerald Everett, TE, 6-4, 215, Decatur, Ga. — He caught 17 passes for 292 yards in his lone UAB season, appearing in all 12 games with one start.
- Kalen Jackson, LB, 6-1, 200, Magee, Miss. — He started UAB’s first two games before a season-ending injury. Against Troy, he recorded five tackles and recovered a fumble.
- D.J. Vinson, RB, 5-10, 180, Pinson, Ala. — He ranked second on the team with 670 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 166 carries last season and added 15 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Junior College Signees
- Dami Ayoola, RB, 5-10, 200, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Arizona Western CC) — Helped his team finish 11-1 and fifth in the NJCAA poll.
- James Bynes, TE, 6-3, 230, Miami (Dodge City CC) — Caught 30 passes for 269 yards in 11 games as a sophomore.
- Alex “Speedy” Byers, WR, 6-2, 175 (Antelope Valley College, Calif.) — Caught 23 passes for 398 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games and returned 14 kicks for 496 yards and three touchdowns. He has three years to play two seasons at South Alabama.
- Quinton Lane, CB, 6-1, 185, Ackerman, Miss. (Itawamba CC) — Recorded 25 tackles, 20 of them solo, and led his team with eight pass breakups as a sophomore.
- Curtis Williams, OL, 6-4, 285, Miami (ASA College, N.Y.) — A second-team All-Northeast Football Conference pick in 2013 for a team that finished seventh in the final NJCAA rankings.
- Tyrone Williams, WR, 6-2, 200, Kiln, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC) — A first-team All-MACJC selection as a sophomore after leading his team with 46 catches for 812 yards and 12 touchdowns.
- De’Arius Young, OL, 6-7, 310, Cincinnati (San Bernardino Valley College, Calif.) — Named first-team All-Region and All-Mountain Conference as a sophomore for an offense that averaged 413 yards and 36.2 points per game.
High School Signees
- Roy Albritton, DL, 6-2, 310, Pensacola High School — Played in the Max Emfinger All-American Bowl and the Pensacola Subway All-Star Game.
- De’Themeus “Bull” Barge, LB, 5-9, 220, Colquitt County High School (Ga.) — A three-star prospect according to 247Sports.com who helped his team to a 15-0 record and the Georgia 6A state title.
- Tavon Cox, LB, 6-3, 195, Haines City High School (Fla.) — Rated a three-star prospect by Scout.com, ESPN.com and 247Sports.com. He recorded 71 tackles and four sacks as a senior.
- Sean Grayer, DE/OLB, 6-2, 240, Clay High School, Green Cove Springs, Fla. — Made 81 tackles and forced five fumbles as a senior, earning first-team All-District and second-team All-State honors.
- Nigel Lawrence, DB, 5-11, 175, Smiths Station High School (Ala.) — A three-star prospect by 247Sports.com who was rated among the top 35 players in Alabama. He made 91 tackles as a senior.
- JarMarkus Sims, S, 6-1, 210, Dothan High School (Ala.) — A first-team All-State pick rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and the second-best safety in Alabama by ESPN.com.
- Troy Thingstad, OL, 6-5, 275, St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Mobile — A three-star prospect by Scout.com, ESPN.com and 247Sports.com who earned first-team All-State honors as a senior after helping St. Paul’s win the 5A state championship.
- Jalen Thompson, CB, 6-0, 170, St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Mobile — Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, Scout.com, ESPN.com and 247Sports.com, and the second-best cornerback in Alabama by Scout and ESPN.
- Tyree Turner, DL, 6-0, 265, Stockbridge High School (Ga.) — A two-time All-Region selection who helped his team to an 11-3 record and the 5A state semifinals last season.
- Rashaan Watson, CB, 5-10, 180, Pinellas Park High School, Largo, Fla. — A first-team All-District, All-County and All-Conference pick in 2014 for a team that went 8-3 and reached the 7A state playoffs.
- Jeffrey Whatley, DE, 6-1, 265, Dale County High School, Midland City, Ala. — A first-team All-State choice in each of his last two seasons who made 105 tackles as a senior and helped his team reach the 3A state championship game.
Local Ties
Two of the high school signees, Thingstad and Thompson, come from St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile, and Dufour is from neighboring Saraland. The class also includes Alabama high school standouts from Dothan, Smiths Station and Midland City.
South Alabama competes in the Sun Belt Conference and plays its home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.
