MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama added a group of junior college transfers and a high school prospect to its first football recruiting class on Wednesday, the first day junior college players could sign with new schools.
Head coach Joey Jones discussed the signees on Wednesday’s edition of the Joey Jones Show, where he was joined by Jaguars recruiting coordinator Brian Turner. By the time the program went on the air, the staff had received six signed letters by fax and expected about five more soon.
Scholarship Picture
Jones said South Alabama had 13 scholarships available for this signing period and can continue signing players for about two weeks into 2009 if needed to use all 30 scholarships allotted for the year.
The staff has recruited its assigned regions as well as Texas and California, with a focus on offensive and defensive linemen. Jones said South Alabama competed for this group of players against Memphis, Southern Miss, other Sun Belt Conference schools, Conference USA programs and Southeastern Conference teams. One player the Jaguars expected to sign had also been recruited by UCLA.
All of the signees will enroll at South Alabama in January and will take part in the program’s first spring practice.
Signees Discussed on the Show
- Early James, QB, 6-2, 191, Jones County Junior College: Jones described James as an athletic dual-threat quarterback who could also play wide receiver or safety. James, whose family lives in Moss Point, Miss., was recruited by LSU and other SEC schools and was ranked 44th among junior college players by Rivals.com. This season he completed 115 of 239 passes for 1,406 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading Jones County to a 7-2 record and a No. 14 ranking in the final National Junior College Athletic Association poll.
- Kevin Helms, TE, 6-3, 225, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College: The Gulfport, Miss., native was a first-team all-state selection. Jones said Helms can block and catch and can line up either split out or in a three-point stance, and indicated the tight end will be used often in the Jaguars’ offense. Helms helped Mississippi Gulf Coast to a 12-0 record and the NJCAA national championship in 2007, and the team was ranked fourth in the final NJCAA rankings this season.
- Corey Pittman, OL, 6-5, 300, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College: A native of Chickasaw, Ala., Pittman was a first-team all-state selection as a sophomore.
- Heath Blount, OL, 6-6, 290, Northeast Mississippi Community College.
- Chris Brunson, lineman, 6-3, 300, Tyler, Texas.
- Brian Krauskopf, OL, 6-3, 285, Blinn College: Krauskopf was named second-team all-region and all-state this season, helping Blinn to a 9-3 record and a final No. 11 NJCAA ranking. Blinn ranked third in the nation in total offense at 427.5 yards per game.
- Chris Payne, OL, 6-3, 320, Vicksburg, Miss.
- Levi Slaydon, OL, 6-3, 270, Pearl River Community College: Pearl River finished 8-3 and No. 13 in the final NJCAA poll, ranking 14th nationally in total offense at 370.8 yards per game.
- Steven Pease, DB, 5-11, 175, Milford Academy (N.Y.): The Williamstown, N.J., native helped Milford Academy to a 9-3 record with 10 pass breakups, four tackles for loss and an interception, and was named the team’s most improved defensive player.
Remaining Needs
Jones said South Alabama is essentially finished signing offensive players, with the exception of another quarterback. On defense, the Jaguars are looking for defensive linemen and defensive backs, and would also take additional linebackers.
Jones said he believes in awarding scholarships to kickers, particularly for a new program that needs to ensure it has kickers on the roster.
Asked whether building a program with too many junior college players is a concern, Turner said the foundation should be built with freshmen, with junior college transfers used to fill specific needs.
Jones said the staff expects it may add more players in the coming weeks as prospects return home and discuss their options with family. He also confirmed that South Alabama has contacted players who had been recruited by Auburn, which is undergoing a coaching change.
Staff Questions
A caller cited a report that two South Alabama assistant coaches were being considered for positions on Auburn’s new staff. Jones said he would not want to lose any of his coaches, but that he wants the best for them and that such moves are part of the business. If any assistants left, he said, the staff would work to ensure the players were not negatively affected.
Schedule Still Pending
The Jaguars’ 2009 schedule has not been finalized and will not be released until sometime after the new year. South Alabama’s football program is scheduled to begin play in 2009, with home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
