MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones announced that former South Florida quarterback Matt Floyd has signed a grant-in-aid and will join the Jaguars this fall. The program has also added quarterback Hunter Vaughn, a transfer from Butler (Kan.) Community College.
Matt Floyd
Floyd, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of Milton, Fla., arrives with two years of eligibility remaining. He was voted a team captain at South Florida before the 2013 season.
After redshirting in 2011, Floyd played as a redshirt freshman, completing 20 of 35 passes for 175 yards at Miami. In his first career start, at Cincinnati, he completed 21 of 39 passes for 176 yards. He also started against McNeese State last season and went 9-for-20 for 72 yards.
Floyd received the 2013 Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award, which annually honors a college football player from Florida or South Carolina for community service and impact on others. He was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team last season and the Big East All-Academic Team in 2012.
High School Career
A three-year starter at Milton High School, Floyd threw for 4,988 yards and 37 touchdowns and ran for 10 touchdowns in his career.
- As a senior, he led the area with 2,277 passing yards, completing 150 of 272 attempts with 17 touchdowns. He earned Super Senior honors, IMG Academic All-Madden recognition and first-team All-Area honors.
- As a junior, he completed 112 of 205 passes for 1,711 yards and 14 touchdowns and was named second-team All-Area.
- As a sophomore, he passed for 1,000 yards and five touchdowns and ran for five more.
South Alabama recruited Floyd out of high school before he chose South Florida. Jones said the Jaguars pursued him both for his athletic ability and for his character and leadership.
Hunter Vaughn
Vaughn, a former quarterback at Robertsdale High School in Baldwin County, joined the team this summer after playing at Butler Community College. South Alabama recruited Vaughn previously but already had a quarterback commitment in that recruiting class. He has three years of eligibility remaining and is expected to redshirt this season.
Quarterback Room
The newcomers join a group led by senior Brandon Bridge, who was South Alabama’s No. 2 quarterback last season and enters the fall atop the depth chart after spring practice. Junior Trey Fetner, who has been used in short-yardage “wildcat” situations, is listed second. Sophomore Grant Powell and freshman Dallas Davis are also on the roster. Robert Matthews is South Alabama’s offensive coordinator.
Season Outlook
South Alabama opens the 2014 season Sept. 6 against Kent State, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. Central.
The Jaguars went 6-6 last season, their first as a full FBS member, and became bowl eligible but did not receive a bowl invitation. They finished third in the Sun Belt Conference at 4-3 after closing the season with three straight wins, the last a 30-8 victory over conference co-champion Louisiana-Lafayette.
