MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama signed an 11-player football class on National Signing Day on Wednesday, with a group that draws heavily from the Mobile area and includes McGill-Toolen wide receiver Jalen Tolbert.
The class is smaller than usual because of players who were blueshirted last season and count toward this year’s total. The Jaguars closed the day with a signing day social at a restaurant near campus.
Local Emphasis
Three signees played high school football in Mobile: linebacker Kendric Haynes of Murphy, quarterback Cephus Johnson of Davidson and wide receiver Jalen Tolbert of McGill-Toolen. Five of the 11 signees are from Alabama.
Tolbert, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound receiver, chose South Alabama over scholarship offers from Michigan State and Vanderbilt. Wide receiver Davyn Flenord of Central Clay County turned down offers from Toledo, Troy, UMass and Jacksonville State.
Davidson quarterback Cephus Johnson committed to South Alabama early in the process and remained with the Jaguars through signing day.
The Signees
- AJ DeShazor, S, 6-0, 185, Lake Gibson HS, Lakeland, Fla. — Four-year starter and letterwinner; rated three stars by Rivals, Scout, ESPN and 247Sports.
- Davyn Flenord, WR, 6-3, 185, Central Clay County HS, Lineville, Ala. — Three-star prospect ranked among the top 60 recruits in Alabama by 247Sports; second-team All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a senior.
- Kendric Haynes, LB, 6-0, 225, Murphy HS, Mobile — Three-time All-State selection with 412 career tackles; rated three stars by Rivals, Scout, ESPN and 247Sports.
- Cephus Johnson, QB, 6-4, 205, Davidson HS, Mobile — Two-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports; second-team all-region and honorable mention All-State as a senior.
- Kenard King, S, 6-0, 170, Auburndale HS, Auburndale, Fla. — Had 82 tackles, four interceptions and four pass breakups as a senior; rated three stars by 247Sports.
- Gus Nave, CB, 5-11, 175, Kemper County HS, DeKalb, Miss. — Ranked among the top 60 prospects in Mississippi by 247Sports; helped Kemper County win the Class 3A state title as a senior.
- Zeke Powell, OL, 6-5, 290, Georgiana HS, Georgiana, Ala. — Two-star prospect by 247Sports; first-team All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a senior.
- Devin Rockette, CB, 5-10, 175, Oxford HS, Oxford, Miss. — Three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout, ESPN and 247Sports; first-team all-state and all-region as a senior.
- Malik Stanley, WR, 6-3, 215, Coffeyville (Kan.) CC — First-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference as a sophomore with 58 catches for 712 yards and six touchdowns.
- Jalen Tolbert, WR, 6-3, 185, McGill-Toolen HS, Mobile — Honorable mention all-region by the Mobile Press-Register/AL.com after catching 37 passes for 696 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior.
- Tywun Walters, RB, 5-11, 215, Northwest Mississippi CC — Signed in December and is already enrolled at South Alabama. Ran for 1,000 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns as Northwest Mississippi went 9-3 and finished No. 6 in the final NJCAA poll.
Class Outlook
Because of its size, the class is not expected to rank highly in team recruiting rankings compared with other Sun Belt Conference programs. Speed and athleticism were common traits across the group, which includes three wide receivers and four defensive backs.
South Alabama, coached by Joey Jones, competes in the Sun Belt Conference and plays its home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
