MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama has added junior college defensive tackle Lucas Melo, who will join the Jaguars on Tuesday as the football team prepares to open preseason camp.
Melo, a 6-foot-2, 305-pound lineman from Pierce College in Los Angeles, was an all-conference selection in the Southern California Football League. Rivals.com rated him a two-star recruit.
Productive Junior College Career
At Pierce, Melo recorded 47 solo tackles, 9.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He also forced two fumbles and blocked two field goals.
He drew early scholarship offers from BYU, New Mexico State and Texas State, among others, and signed in February with Maine, a Football Championship Subdivision program. After signing day, Melo learned that many of his credits would not transfer to Maine or several other schools. He requested and received a release from Maine.
Melo then received offers from Akron, Buffalo, Georgia State, Jacksonville State, Washington State, Boise State and South Alabama. He said he enjoyed his visit to South Alabama and liked Mobile and the campus, but that his decision came down to the opportunity for early playing time and the ability to enroll without further academic complications.
One Academic Step Remaining
Before he can officially join the team, Melo must complete an online English course within 21 days of the start of practice. If he does not, he will be held out of practice until the course is finished. Melo said he expects to complete it within a week.
Fit in the 3-4 Defense
Melo said he believes the coaching staff plans to use him mainly at nose guard, though he could also line up at end or at the 3-technique depending on the defensive package.
South Alabama runs a 3-4 defense under coach Joey Jones, who has often noted that “God only makes so many 300-pound linemen.” Jones has said he prefers the scheme for two reasons: as a coach with an offensive background, he knows an odd front creates blocking problems for opposing offenses, and a three-man front requires fewer large defensive linemen while smaller, faster linebackers are easier to find.
Defensive line coach Brian Turner prefers to rotate his linemen roughly every three plays, and Melo adds size and experienced depth to that rotation. He joins a group of defensive linemen that includes Romelle Jones, Montavious Williams, Randon Carnathan, Andy Dalgleish, Alex Page and Ceasare Johnson.
The Jaguars are preparing for their first season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference in football. South Alabama plays its home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
