MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama announced 20 football signees on National Signing Day on Wednesday as coach Joey Jones’ staff assembled the class that will join the Jaguars for their first season as a Football Bowl Subdivision program and their first season of Sun Belt Conference football.
Four of the signees are junior college transfers. The class has a heavy presence in the secondary, with six players listed as cornerbacks along with a strong safety and a free safety.
The Signees
- Anthony Harris, CB (junior college, junior)
- Perry Meiklejohn, OL (junior college, redshirt sophomore)
- Ridge James, OLB (junior college, junior)
- Tyrell Pearson, CB (junior college, junior)
- Aleem Sunanon, P/PK
- DeVonta Staples, SS
- Sir’Vegias Steele, CB
- Jay Minor, OLB
- Steven Foster, OT
- Caleb Autry, CB
- Joseph Scelfo, C
- Paul Kyles, TE
- Davion Stuarts, LB
- Grant Powell, QB
- Daniel Aust, OL
- Clay Machen, OT
- Lawon Debardalaben, CB
- Mike Dumas, FS
- Cameron Broadnax, WR
- Terrance Jones, DL
Machen Follows Through
Machen, an offensive lineman from Auburn High School, gave South Alabama his verbal commitment last fall. He was rated a three-star prospect by Scout.com and was listed at 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds at the time of his commitment.
Program Background
Jones has led South Alabama since the program began play in 2009. The Jaguars play home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium and will complete their transition to the FBS in 2012.
Update: Signee Profiles
Additional details on South Alabama’s 2012 class, including junior college players who signed in December and transfers already enrolled for the spring semester:
High School Signees
- Daniel Aust, OL, 6-2, 260, Hoover High School: Two-star prospect by Scout and ESPN; ranked 112th nationally among guards by ESPN. His other offer was from Navy.
- Caleb Autry, CB, 5-8, 170, Foley High School: 44 tackles, eight pass deflections and two interceptions as a senior.
- Cameron Broadnax, WR, 6-1, 180, Hueytown High School: 61 catches for 835 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior; offers from Middle Tennessee, Samford and UAB.
- Lawon Debardelaben, CB, 5-8, 165, Prattville High School: Two-star prospect; ranked among ESPN’s top 115 cornerbacks nationally; offers from Arkansas State and Rice.
- Mike Dumas, S, 6-1, 180, Island Coast High School, Cape Coral, Fla.: All-Southwest Florida and all-Lee County as a senior; offers included UConn, Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, NC State, Purdue and Vanderbilt.
- Steven Foster, OL, 6-3, 305, Demopolis High School: Three-star prospect; three-time all-county and Tuscaloosa News All-West Alabama pick.
- Terrance Jones, DL, 6-0, 290, Prattville High School: Ranked 43rd nationally among defensive tackles by ESPN; offers from Arkansas State and Memphis.
- Paul Kyles, TE, 6-3, 255, Vigor High School: Three-star prospect ranked among the top 60 tight ends nationally by ESPN and Scout; also offered by Auburn.
- Clay Machen, OL, 6-4, 300, Auburn High School: Ranked the 13th-best center nationally and 40th-best player in Alabama.
- Steve McKenzie, OL, 6-1, 320, Stephenson High School, Lithonia, Ga.: Offers from Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Marshall and Southern Miss.
- Jay Minor, DE, 6-1, 240, Prattville High School: Offers from Arkansas State and Memphis.
- Grant Powell, QB, 6-2, 200, Christian Brothers Academy, Germantown, Tenn.
- Joseph Scelfo, OL, 6-0, 280, North Oconee High School, Bogart, Ga.: Rated the top center in Georgia; more than a dozen offers, including Syracuse, Tulane, Georgia Southern and Western Kentucky.
- DeVonta Staples, S, 6-1, 190, Valley High School: First-team Class 5A all-state by the ASWA.
- Sir’Vegias Steele, CB, 5-8, 170, LeFlore High School: Four-year starter with 102 tackles and 16 interceptions in his career.
- Davion Stuarts, LB, 5-10, 205, Charlotte High School, Punta Gorda, Fla.: District player of the year as a senior.
- Aleem Sunanon, PK, 5-6, 185, Olympia High School, Orlando, Fla.: All-state and all-metro as a senior.
Junior College Signees
- Ridge James, DE, 6-4, 210, Bakersfield (Calif.) College: 13 tackles in two games last season.
- Perry Meiklejohn, OL, 6-3, El Camino (Calif.) College: Second-team all-National Northern Conference as a sophomore.
- Tyrell Pearson, CB, 5-8, 150, Mesa (Ariz.) Community College: Eight interceptions as a sophomore.
- Anthony Harris, CB, 6-1, 175, El Camino (Calif.) College: 20 tackles, 2.5 for loss, last season.
- Pat Moore, DE, 6-3, 235, Northeast Mississippi Community College: Team-high 3.5 sacks and 43 tackles in 2010 and 30 tackles in 2011.
- Darrius Morrow, CB, 5-10, 170, Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College: Also offered by Indiana State, Murray State, Southern Illinois and UTSA.
- Wes Saxton, TE, 6-4, 225, Itawamba (Miss.) Community College: 10 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown as a freshman.
- Charles Watson, CB, 6-1, 195, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College: 46 tackles, six for loss, in nine games as a sophomore.
Transfers Enrolled for Spring
- Brandon Bridge, QB, 6-5, 215, Mississauga, Ontario: Played two seasons at Alcorn State and posted 2,687 yards of total offense as a freshman.
- James Elliot, OL, 6-2, 300, Pensacola Catholic High School: Three-star recruit who redshirted last fall at Kentucky.
