Coach Calvi talks to his team after Friday's Intrasquad Scrimmage. The Blue def. the Grey, 4-1. http://t.co/Eyf5DryW
USA SNAGS LOCAL CORNERBACK
The University of South Alabama Football team has secured a commitment from LeFlore High School CB Sir’Vegias Steele (c/o ’12). We spoke to Sir’Vegias about his decision to commit to USA...
JagsJungle: What schools are recruiting you? Who is recruiting you the hardest?
Sir'Vegias Steele: LA Tech, South Alabama, Savanna State, Middle Tennessee State, Alcorn State, Auburn, and a couple others but Savanna State, South and La Tech are recruiting me the hardest.
JagsJungle: Do you have a favorite, or are you committed to anyone?
Sir'Vegias Steele: Yes, La Tech and South were my favorites, but I committed to South Alabama.
JagsJungle: AWESOME. Great news. What were the biggest factors in your decision?
Sir'Vegias Steele: Thanks, that’s nice to hear. South is in my home town, the coaches are nice and they are always checking up on me. I’ve got a chance to play early. I like the campus and it just fits me.
JagsJungle: Speaking of playing early, will you try to enroll this summer and get a head start with summer workouts, or will you wait until August?
Sir'Vegias Steele: I’m going to try to enroll this summer.
JagsJungle: One last question, are you taking any official visits anywhere else and have you taken a visit to South?
Sir'Vegias Steele: Yes, I have an official visit at South on the 27th, even though I’ve visited many times before, and an official visit to Savanna State. That’s all for now.
JagsJungle: Thank you for your time. I'm thrilled you're headed to South. Good luck.
Sir'Vegias Steele: Thank you, and so am I.
Highlights (warning explicit song lyrics):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlH5zBBmIgU&context=C397611dADOEgsToPDskJo9WD6DczlpxMTE-3X_Wr9
JagsJungle Player Evaluation:
Steele is a confident and aggressive corner. He has good top end speed, natural cover skills and outstanding ball skills. At this point, Steele is an underrated and overlooked prospect and this is a good job by Joey Jones and his coaching staff of evaluating local talent.
Heralded Kicker Pledges to USA
A great ending to 2011 promises to make 2012 and beyond even better for South Alabama football. In late December the Jags received a commitment from kicker Aleem Sunanon of Orlando, one of the South's most heralded kicking prospects.
Sunanon, an honors student who has aspirations towards medical school, was selected All-State, All-Metro and a Central Florida All-Star as a senior. He is projected as a placekicker and kickoff specialist for USA as he hit on 8 of 10 field goal attempts (including game winners of 41 and 48 yards) and 24 of 29 extra point attempts. The five misses on extra points came via four blocks and one bad snap that led to a failed two point attempt. Sunanon also excelled as a punter, averaging 43.7 yards per kick, and is willing to fulfill all three roles at South Alabama, if needed. As a junior he was 10 of 14 on field goals (long of 46), 19 of 19 on extra points and averaged 41.3 yards per punt.
Selecting USA over walk-on offers from several other schools, Aleem had this to say about his choice:
"It's a brand new program and I want to be a part of that history that they're going to create. And looking at the kind of school they have, they support my major (biology) and I know they have a top medical school so I thought 'This is perfect.' As far as football, they're just going to keep getting better and better and I want to be a part of that rising as a program at South Alabama."
Like many kickers, Sulanon started out as a soccer player until encouraged by a coach from the University of Georgia to try kicking the oblong ball. In just a few years he has managed to transform himself into an accomplished football player. USA coach Tommy Perry has requested that he enroll in classes at South Alabama beginning in late May so that he can take part in summer workouts, so expect to see him on the field early as the Jags foray into FBS territory in 2012.
Sunanon, an honors student who has aspirations towards medical school, was selected All-State, All-Metro and a Central Florida All-Star as a senior. He is projected as a placekicker and kickoff specialist for USA as he hit on 8 of 10 field goal attempts (including game winners of 41 and 48 yards) and 24 of 29 extra point attempts. The five misses on extra points came via four blocks and one bad snap that led to a failed two point attempt. Sunanon also excelled as a punter, averaging 43.7 yards per kick, and is willing to fulfill all three roles at South Alabama, if needed. As a junior he was 10 of 14 on field goals (long of 46), 19 of 19 on extra points and averaged 41.3 yards per punt.
Selecting USA over walk-on offers from several other schools, Aleem had this to say about his choice:
"It's a brand new program and I want to be a part of that history that they're going to create. And looking at the kind of school they have, they support my major (biology) and I know they have a top medical school so I thought 'This is perfect.' As far as football, they're just going to keep getting better and better and I want to be a part of that rising as a program at South Alabama."
Like many kickers, Sulanon started out as a soccer player until encouraged by a coach from the University of Georgia to try kicking the oblong ball. In just a few years he has managed to transform himself into an accomplished football player. USA coach Tommy Perry has requested that he enroll in classes at South Alabama beginning in late May so that he can take part in summer workouts, so expect to see him on the field early as the Jags foray into FBS territory in 2012.
D1 Transfers to Join USA
According to reports, South Alabama will welcome two Division One transfers to the program when classes begin on January 16th. The 247Sports Kentucky page stated yesterday that offensive lineman James Elliott is transferring to USA, while QB Brandon Bridge tweeted to his followers at nearly the same time that he would be transferring from Alcorn State. Here is brief overview of both players:
JAMES ELLIOTT
University of Kentucky freshman, and former Florida All-State offensive lineman James Elliott has transferred to The University of South Alabama. The class of 2011 graduate of Pensacola Catholic redshirted last season as a true freshman while in Lexington.
JAMES ELLIOTT
University of Kentucky freshman, and former Florida All-State offensive lineman James Elliott has transferred to The University of South Alabama. The class of 2011 graduate of Pensacola Catholic redshirted last season as a true freshman while in Lexington.
James Elliot first committed to the University of Michigan and coach Rich Rodgriguez. When Rodriguez was let go and Brady Hoke became the head coach, Elliott reopened his recruitment, eventually settling on the University of Kentucky the final week before signing day.
Elliott had a celebrated prep career at Pensacola Catholic.
He became a starter midway through his freshman year and went on to be a three time all-area pick by the Pensacola News Journal. He was selected to play in the East-West High School All-Star Game and had 17 DI offers.
He was rated a 3-star by Scout.com (who ranked him as the No. 65 guard prospect in America).
He was rated a 3-star OG by rivals.com.
He was rated a 3-star OG by ESPN (who ranked him as the No. 20 OG prospect in America).
Go here for game highlights (from UK’s signing day coverage)…
http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020211aaa.html#Dupree
As a freshman this year, he was listed at 6’3,301 on the Kentucky roster. Center is where he will likely begin his USA career.
Brandon Bridge
Former Alcorn St. QB and Ontario native Brandon Bridge will continue his football career as a University of South Alabama Jaguar. As a prepster in Canada, Bridge was one of 31 Canadians selected to represent Team World vs. the United States, on a roster that also included players representing American Samoa, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico and Sweden.Bridge was the starter in 2010 as a true freshman, but fell out of favor with newly hired coach Melvin Spears (since placed on administrative leave). The genesis of the rift between Spears and Bridge seems to date back to a hip flexor injury that sidelined Bridge early in the 2011 season.
In 2010 as a true freshman Brandon Bridge completed 150 of 291 passes (51.5%) for 2,086 yards, 19 TD with 13 Interceptions. He also rushed for 601 yards and 8 TD despite being sacked 24 times.
Perhaps the most impressive feat that season came in the third game of his college career against a very stout Mississippi State defense when he passed for 193 yards and 1 TD on 13 of 24 passing, while rushing for 77 yards and a TD.
Playing through pain this past season for 5 games Bridge was still a respectable 49 of 98 (50%) for 632 yards, 5 TD with 4 Interceptions and 9 Sacks. He had also rushed for 129 yards and 2 TD.
After his decision to transfer from Alcorn State, Bridge visited South Alabama along with Mississippi State and Northern Arizona.
Freshman highlights at Alcorn State …
Jags Add New Football Commitment
The Jags seemingly unending pursuit of a quality junior college offensive lineman to help them in the transition to FBS football seems to have finally resulted in success. Perry Meiklejohn of El Camino College in California has decided to join teammate DB Anthony Harris (a December signee from El Camino) and become part of the South Alabama program.
"I love the coaching staff, I love the direction the program's headed and I felt it was the right fit for me for my future," said Meiklejohn.
Meiklejohn is a 6'3" 295lb center/guard who originally hails from Miami. He says that the USA coaches project him as a center and hope he can provide stability on the interior. He began his career at the University of Central Florida but ended up transferring to junior college. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
He selected USA over offers from UT-San Antonio and several FCS schools.
His highlights can be seen at http://www.hudl.com/athlete/748733/perry-meiklejohn
"I love the coaching staff, I love the direction the program's headed and I felt it was the right fit for me for my future," said Meiklejohn.
Meiklejohn is a 6'3" 295lb center/guard who originally hails from Miami. He says that the USA coaches project him as a center and hope he can provide stability on the interior. He began his career at the University of Central Florida but ended up transferring to junior college. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
He selected USA over offers from UT-San Antonio and several FCS schools.
His highlights can be seen at http://www.hudl.com/athlete/748733/perry-meiklejohn
