MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama landed a Drew Dearman commitment this week, as the Vestavia Hills High School offensive lineman gave the Jaguars a verbal pledge following his appearance in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic in Mobile on Saturday.
Dearman, a guard, is listed at 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds. He made his decision after the all-star game, choosing the Jaguars over interest from Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State, Tennessee and UAB.
All-Star Selection
Dearman’s spot on the Alabama roster for the annual all-star game placed him among the top senior football players in the state. The game matches a team of seniors from Alabama against a team of seniors from Mississippi, and it is played in Mobile.
A verbal commitment is non-binding. High school seniors may sign a national letter of intent beginning on National Signing Day in February.
Standout in the Classroom
Dearman has also been recognized for his work away from the field. In October, The Birmingham News named him its Scholar-Athlete of the Week. He carries a 3.86 grade-point average, is a member of the National Honor Society and plays basketball in addition to football at Vestavia Hills.
A Young Program Building Its Roster
South Alabama played its first season of football in 2009 under head coach Joey Jones, who was hired to build the program from the ground up. The Jaguars play their home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.
Four of the schools that recruited Dearman, Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee, are members of the Southeastern Conference.
