MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama received a verbal commitment this week from Mesa Community College left tackle David Griffin, a 6-foot-7, 315-pound offensive lineman.
Griffin, a Tallahassee, Fla., native, is regarded as a strong pass blocker with quick feet. He is scheduled to graduate in December and enroll at South Alabama in January.
Connection to Current Jaguar
Griffin is a former teammate of Tyrell Pearson, a starting cornerback for South Alabama. Griffin said he heard from Pearson how much he enjoys Mobile, and that, along with his regard for the coaching staff, led him to commit to the Jaguars.
Griffin also held an offer from Florida Atlantic. Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Utah and South Florida had shown interest as well.
South Alabama’s Other Verbal Commitments
Griffin joins a list of players who have given verbal commitments to coach Joey Jones’ program:
- Tiquan Lang, CB, Lowndes (Ga.), 5-8, 168: 73 tackles, three interceptions and a blocked kick in 2011, with five kickoff returns for 201 yards and a touchdown and six punt returns for 113 yards.
- Terrell Pinson, FS, Itawamba Community College, 6-3, 200: Caught 10 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown as a freshman receiver.
- Xavier Johnson, RB, Chamberlain (Fla.), 5-9, 170: Rushed for 1,736 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2011.
- Caleb Hayman, WR/TE, Gainesville, Fla., 6-1, 193.
- Dejon Funderburk, WR, Washington (Pensacola, Fla.), 6-0, 175: 31 catches for 720 yards and seven touchdowns, plus 362 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
- Taylor Lamb, QB, Calhoun (Ga.), 6-1, 190: Completed 73 percent of his passes for 3,635 yards, 40 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
- Justin Jones, RB, Northeast Mississippi Community College, 5-6, 180: Rushed for 920 yards and caught 27 passes as a freshman.
- Roman Buchanan, S, Daleville (Ala.), 6-2, 195: As a junior, 72 solo tackles, 45 assisted tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, four passes defended and a blocked field goal.
- Tevaris McCormick, WR, Biloxi (Miss.), 5-9, 170: 769 receiving yards, 213 rushing yards and 265 return yards with 16 total touchdowns.
- Jacob Chaffin, DT, Spain Park (Ala.), 6-3, 260: 38 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks as a junior.
- Devon Earl, S, Hoover (Ala.), 5-10, 180: 61 tackles, five interceptions, 10 pass deflections and 3.5 tackles for loss as a junior.
- Noah Armstrong, OT, Lawrence County, 6-8, 300: Also offered by Arkansas State, Western Kentucky and Southern Miss.
- Willie Williams Jr., DE, Americus (Ga.), 6-2, 255: Also recruited by Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas and UCLA.
- Brandon King, 6-2, 212: 118 tackles last season, including 70 solo, six tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble; drew interest from Northern Illinois, Maryland, Rutgers and Auburn, among others.
- Jalen Wells, DE, Dublin (Ga.), 6-4, 230: Projected by scouting services at tight end or linebacker; drew interest from Florida, Georgia, NC State, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech.
- Caleb Alves, WR/S, Melbourne (Fla.), 6-3, 185: Chose South Alabama over Bowling Green, Florida A&M, FIU, UMass and Memphis.
Verbal commitments are nonbinding. High school prospects may sign national letters of intent beginning on national signing day in February.
South Alabama is in its first season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference in football.
