New Sun Belt logo is down for Sunday's #SBCBB Championship at "The Tigue." On @csssports @CoxSportsTV & @ESPN3 http://t.co/DTl0qtufdq
31
Jan
Jags Snatch Ballhawking Cornerback
We spoke to Mesa Community College cornerback Tyrell Pearson (originally from Greenville, South Carolina) about his recent visit to South Alabama.
JagsJungle: Tyrell, thanks for your time. What schools were recruiting you?
Tyrell Pearson: Charleston Southern, South Alabama, Southern Miss and New Mexico.
JJ: Did you visit this past weekend?
TP: Yes I did. I loved it!
JJ: Anything in particular that stood out?
TP: Ellis Hill, Corey Waldon, & Bryant Lavender were my host and they were great. Everything stood out really, from the athletic department, the weight room, the stadium, the coaches, everything. Everybody I met wants to win and make history!
JJ: What are your personal goals?
TP: My goal is to reach the NFL, which I feel I can do if I get the right exposure. I feel like South Alabama was my best opportunity to get that exposure.
JJ: You have a track record as being a cornerback that makes a lot of interceptions. What do you think sets you apart as a ball hawk?
TP: Reading the QB’s drops and studying my opponent, as far as him coming off the ball. And when the ball is in the air its mine!
JJ: Do you prefer man coverage or playing zone? Did Coach Clark and Coach Walker talk to you about how they want to use you?
TP: We are going to play man and everything else is going to play off that. I like to play zone so I can read the QB, but I can play either, it doesn’t matter really.
JJ: When are you planning on getting to campus?
TP: This summer.
JJ: Sounds great. Everyone will be excited to hear you’re committed.
TP: Thanks. I'm very excited and I truly appreciate your time.
24
Jan
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.
17
Jan
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.
11
Jan
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
