MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama head coach Joey Jones and his staff released the Jaguars’ National Signing Day class on Wednesday, a group of 16 signees plus a preferred walk-on.
The class includes high school players from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, along with several junior college players. Several signees held offers or drew recruiting interest from programs in the Southeastern Conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference and other FBS leagues.
Quarterback and Specialists
Dallas Davis, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound dual-threat quarterback from Panama City, Fla., is rated a two-star prospect by both the 247Sports Composite and 247Sports. He threw for 3,765 yards and 40 touchdowns last season, earning honorable mention all-state and first-team all-district honors.
Corliss Waitman, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound punter from Milton, Fla., is rated a three-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite and a two-star by 247Sports, which ranked him the fifth-best punter in the nation. He held an offer from Alabama A&M and drew interest from Maryland, Memphis and Middle Tennessee.
Carson Sharp, a long snapper from Gulf Breeze High School, will join the program as a preferred walk-on.
Defensive Backs
Jeremy Reaves, a 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback from Pensacola Catholic in Pensacola, Fla., is listed with a 4.45-second time in the 40-yard dash. He was an honorable mention all-state selection last season and drew recruiting interest from Arizona, Florida Atlantic, Mississippi State and Missouri.
CJ Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound safety and outside linebacker from Douglas, Ga., played for coach Rush Propst at Colquitt County High School. South Alabama linebackers coach Travis Pearson, who joined the Jaguars from Colquitt County last year and works under defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer, was among his recruiters. Johnson is rated a three-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite and ESPN.com, which lists him at safety, and a two-star by 247Sports. He held offers from Arkansas, NC State, Ole Miss and UCF and was also recruited by Georgia Tech and Mississippi State.
Malcolm Buggs, a 5-foot-10, 183-pound safety from Opelika, Ala., is rated a three-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite and ESPN.com and a two-star by 247Sports. He is listed with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. Buggs held an offer from Georgia Tech and was recruited by Auburn, Oregon State and Vanderbilt.
Marice Fluellen, a 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback from Dothan, Ala., is rated a two-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite, 247Sports, Scout and Rivals. He had 47 tackles and nine pass breakups last season and was rated among the top 100 recruits in Alabama by 247Sports. Fluellen held offers from Furman, Memphis and South Dakota State and drew interest from Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Purdue, Southern Miss, Tennessee and Texas State.
Christopher Wilkerson, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound safety from Bessemer City High School in Bessemer, Ala., is rated a two-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite and 247Sports, which ranked him among the top 75 recruits in the state. He is listed with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and drew interest from Chattanooga, Kentucky and Middle Tennessee.
Nigel Green, a 6-foot, 185-pound safety from Flowood, Miss., played at Northwest Rankin High School and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He is rated a two-star prospect by Scout.com. Green was fourth on his team with 41 tackles as Mississippi Gulf Coast finished ninth in the final NJCAA rankings.
Front Seven
Bryson Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound defensive tackle, comes from the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D. He is rated a two-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite and 247Sports. He held offers from Texas State, Tennessee State and Northern Illinois and was recruited by Cincinnati. As a sophomore, he made 59 tackles and was a second-team All-Midwest Conference pick.
Caleb Butler, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound weak-side defensive end and inside linebacker from Enterprise, Ala., is rated a two-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite and 247Sports. He made 108 tackles, 11 quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles as a senior and was named first-team all-state. Butler also held offers from Alabama State, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State and UAB.
Chason Milner, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound outside linebacker from Spanish Fort, Ala., is rated a two-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite and 247Sports. He held offers from Old Dominion, Furman, Tulane and UAB and drew interest from Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Auburn, Cincinnati, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Minnesota, Northern Illinois and Vanderbilt. A knee injury kept him out for most of his senior season. Milner helped Spanish Fort win back-to-back Class 5A state championships.
Offensive Line
Noah Fisher, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound offensive tackle from Decatur, Ga., is rated a two-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite and 247Sports. He was an honorable mention all-state selection and earned first-team all-region and all-county honors.
Corbin Finlayson, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive guard from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., is rated a two-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite and 247Sports. He also held an offer from James Madison.
Curtis Williams, a 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive tackle from Hialeah, Fla., is not rated by the recruiting services. His team went 9-1 and finished seventh in the final NJCAA rankings. The Jaguars’ staff kept his recruitment quiet until he signed.
Receivers and Tight End
Claude Garrett, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound wide receiver, comes from the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D. He is rated a two-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite and 247Sports. Garrett caught 53 passes for 772 yards and four touchdowns last season and was named first-team All-Midwest Football Conference. He was also recruited by Arkansas State, BYU, Illinois and Kansas.
Joshua Smith, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound tight end and athlete from Chiefland, Fla., is rated a two-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite and 247Sports. In his one season at Cascade High School, he was an All-Western Conference selection at both quarterback and defensive back.
South Alabama’s 2014 Signees
- Dallas Davis, QB, 6-2, 195, Panama City, Fla.
- Jeremy Reaves, CB, 6-0, 175, Pensacola, Fla.
- Corliss Waitman, P, 6-1, 170, Milton, Fla.
- CJ Johnson, S/OLB, 6-1, 200, Douglas, Ga.
- Malcolm Buggs, S, 5-10, 183, Opelika, Ala.
- Claude Garrett, WR, 6-3, 215, North Dakota State College of Science
- Bryson Johnson, DT, 6-3, 285, North Dakota State College of Science
- Marice Fluellen, CB, 6-0, 175, Dothan, Ala.
- Christopher Wilkerson, S, 6-2, 175, Bessemer, Ala.
- Noah Fisher, OT, 6-5, 245, Decatur, Ga.
- Caleb Butler, DE/ILB, 6-4, 240, Enterprise, Ala.
- Chason Milner, OLB, 6-4, 220, Spanish Fort, Ala.
- Corbin Finlayson, OG, 6-4, 300, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
- Joshua Smith, TE/ATH, 6-3, 200, Chiefland, Fla.
- Nigel Green, S, 6-0, 185, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
- Curtis Williams, OT, 6-5, 310, Hialeah, Fla.
- Carson Sharp, LS, Gulf Breeze, Fla. (preferred walk-on)
South Alabama competes in the Sun Belt Conference and plays home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.
