Offensive Lineman Noah Armstrong Becomes 10th Verbal Commitment in South Alabama’s 2013 Class

MOBILE, Ala. — Noah Armstrong, a 6-foot-8, 300-pound offensive lineman from Lawrence County High School, has verbally committed to South Alabama, becoming the 10th commitment in the Jaguars’ 2013 football recruiting class.

Campus Visit Sealed Decision

South Alabama offered Armstrong a scholarship several months ago. He also held offers from Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee, Southern Miss and Tennessee-Martin.

Armstrong had narrowed his choices to three Sun Belt Conference schools: Arkansas State, Western Kentucky and South Alabama. He said the Jaguars remained on his list because of their steady communication, and his first visit to campus on July 19 moved them from the bottom of the list to the top. He committed shortly afterward.

“Everything that South does, they try to do the best,” Armstrong said. He described the facilities as the “best of anybody else” and said the coaching staff “kept great contact and made a relationship with me. They made me feel like family already.”

Armstrong said he was happy to end his recruitment so he can focus on his senior season.

“I’ll do whatever they need me to do. I’m here to help,” he said when asked about contributing early. “South Alabama offered me long before anybody else did, months before I got my next offer. After that, they just kept coming in and coming in and coming in. It got to the point it started to be a job of its own. I’m happy to make the commitment. I put everything I have behind that commitment and it’s not going to change unless something terrible happens.”

Armstrong said offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Robert Matthews told him he would have a good chance to play within his first two years and the ability to earn a starting job.

Starting Left Tackle in Class 5A

Armstrong is the starting left tackle at Lawrence County, which competes in Class 5A. He plans to study mechanical engineering and carries a 3.9 grade-point average.

South Alabama’s 2013 Commitments

Armstrong joins these verbal commitments in South Alabama’s 2013 class:

• Tiquan Lang, CB, Lowndes (Ga.), 5-8, 168: 73 tackles, three interceptions and a blocked kick in 2011, plus five kickoff returns for 201 yards and a touchdown and six punt returns for 113 yards.
• Terrell Pinson, FS, Itawamba Community College, 6-3, 200: caught 10 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown as a freshman receiver.
• Xavier Johnson, RB, Chamberlain (Fla.), 5-9, 170: rushed for 1,736 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2011.
• Caleb Hayman, WR/TE, Gainesville (Fla.), 6-1, 193.
• Dejon Funderburk, WR, Washington High in Pensacola (Fla.), 6-0, 175: 31 catches for 720 yards and seven touchdowns, plus 362 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
• Taylor Lamb, QB, Calhoun (Ga.), 6-1, 190: completed 73 percent of his passes for 3,635 yards, 40 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
• Justin Jones, RB, Northeast Mississippi Community College, 5-6, 180: rushed for 920 yards and caught 27 passes as a freshman.
• Roman Buchanan, S, Daleville (Ala.), 6-2, 195: 72 solo tackles, 45 assisted tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, four passes defended and a blocked field goal as a junior.
• Tevaris McCormick, WR, Biloxi (Miss.), 5-9, 170: 769 receiving yards, 213 rushing yards and 265 return yards with 16 total touchdowns.
• Jacob Chaffin, DT, Spain Park (Ala.), 6-3, 260: 38 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks as a junior.
• Devon Earl, S, Hoover (Ala.), 5-10, 180: 61 tackles, five interceptions, 10 pass deflections and 3.5 tackles for loss as a junior.

Prospects cannot sign binding national letters of intent until national signing day in February.