South Alabama Sign 19 Student-Athletes On Early Signing Day
Head coach Steve Campbell and his staff announced that they signed 19 student-athletes to National Letter-of-Intent on Wednesday.
Eight of the 19 are junior college transfers with two years of eligibility remaining. Three of them have won a junior college national title and 13 of them are rated as three-star recruits.
The eight Ju-Co players, all of which are joining the team in January are: Dewayne Betts Jr. (Memphis, Tenn.), Hayden Burton (Bogue Chitto, Miss.), Zeke Chapman (Lake, Miss.), Chance Lovertich (Brandon, Miss.), Darrell Luter Jr. (Hattiesburg, Miss.), Jamie Sheriff (Terry, Miss.), CJ Thompson (Tulsa, Okla.) and Quentin Wilfawn (Oxford, Miss.).
The remaining 11 student-athletes have all completed their senior seasons at their respective high-schools: Yamarus Banks (Ridgeland, Miss.), Nae’Saan Dickerson (Ellenwood, Ga.), Latarius “Kado” Carr (Olive Branch, Miss.), Elijah Gainey (Flowery Branch, Ga.), Jacob Hopper (Boaz, Ala.), Carlos Johnson (Spanish Fort, Ala.), Caullin Lacy (Mobile, Ala.), Andrew McMillan (Long Beach, Miss.), Christian Sapp (Kiln, Miss.), Zyon Walker (Memphis, Tenn.) and Christian Wortham (Grenada, Miss.).
They will all enter with four years of eligibility and McMillan will join the team in the spring semester as an early graduate.
According to coach Campbell, they signed some players to give them immediate help at positions of need such as defensive line where they lost some guys to graduation. Additionally they added experience in the secondary.
The Jags expect to return three quarterbacks currently on the roster and they signed two. A ju-co player with championship experience at the high school and ju-co level for immediate help and a freshman to develop.
Yamarus Banks (CB, 5’11”, 200 lbs, Ridgeland HS, Ridgeland, MS) Rated a 2* athlete by 247sports.com and he recorded 52 tackles and four interceptions. He also caught 37 passes for 788 yards and three touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball.
Dewayne Betts Jr. (S, 6’2″, 200 lbs, Coahoma (MS) CC, Memphis, TN) rated a 2* ju-co recruit by 247sports.com, and the second-best prospect as an athlete in the country, as well as a 2* by Rivals.com. Had offers from Massachusetts and Liberty.
Hayden Burton (OL, 6’5″, 325, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, Bogue Chitto, MS) rated a 3* ju-co prospect by both Rivals.com and 247sports.com. He was on the 2019 NJCAA national championship team for 2019. Had scholarship offers from Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe and Marshall. Was also recruited by Tulane, Ohio, and Liberty.
Latarius “Kado” Carr (LB, 5’10”, 225 lbs, Olive Branch, MS, Olive Branch HS) rated a 3* recruit by 247Sports.com and selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. In three years, he compiled 248 tackles, 37 for loss, as the school went 33-8 overall and made the playoffs each year.
Zeke Chapman (DL, 6′, 305 lbs, Pearl River CC, Lake, MS) A 3* rating by 247Sports.com and was ranked in the top-20 Ju-co defensive tackles. He was credited with 35 tackles and 6 for loss with a fumble recovery in his sophomore season. Was also recruited by Troy and Southern Miss.
Nae’Saan Dickerson (WR, 6’2″, 180 lbs, Hapeville Charter HS, Ellenwood, GA) rated 3* from 247Sports.com and 2* by Rivals.com. He and his team won the state championship as a sophomore. He had scholarship offers from Illinois, Boston College, Tulane, UNLV, Troy, Toledo, Kent State and Bowling Green. He was also recruited by Kentucky, Ball State and Liberty.
Elijah Gainey (QB, 6’3″, 215 lbs, Flowery Branch HS, Flower Branch, GA) A 3* rating by 247Sports.com and 2* by Rivals.com. He sat out his senior season with a knee injury after starting the previous two seasons. In 8 games he had 2,005 yards and 20 touchdowns. He had a scholarship offer from Troy and was recruited by Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Jacob Hopper (TE, 6’6″, 230 lbs, Sardis HS, Boaz, AL) rated a 3* recruit by 247Sports.com and a three year letterwinner and qualified for the state playoffs his senior season. He was recruited by Arkansas, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic and Charlotte.
Carlos Johnson (DL, 6′, 310 lbs, Spanish Fort HS, Spanish Fort, AL) rated a 3* recruit by 247Sports and a 2* by Rivals.com. He was selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game after being a four-year letterwinner, four appearances in the state playoffs, and a 41-12 record over that stretch. Was offered a scholarship by Troy as well.
Caullin Lacy (WR, 5’10”, 175 lbs, Faith Academy, Mobile, AL) rated 3* by 247Sports.com and 2* by Rivals.com. He helped his team to back-to-back state playoff and a 17-6 record over the past two seasons.
Chance Lovertich (QB, 5’11”, 195 lbs, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, Brandon, MS) Went 236-of-366 passing for 2,794 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was also recruited by Ole Miss and UAB.
Darrell Luter Jr (CB, 6′, 180 lbs, Pear River (MS) CC, Hattiesburg, MS) Rated a 2* recruit by 247Sports.com and was rated among the top 30 cornerbacks in the nation. Offered a scholarship by Houston and was also recruited by Southern Miss and Coastal Carolina.
Andrew McMillan (OL, 6’4″, Long Beach HS, Long Beach, MS) Rated a 3* recruit by 247Sports.com and the 5th best offensive tackle in the state of Mississippi.
Christian Sapp (OL, 6’2″, 310 lbs, Hancock HS, Kiln, MS) Rated a 2* recruit by 247Sports.com and considered in the top 10 guards in the state of Mississippi.
Jamie Sheriff (DL, 6’1″, 260 lbs, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, Terry, MS) Rated a 3* prospect by 247Sports.com and among the top 20 strongside defensive ends in the state. He was offered a scholarship by North Texas and Toledo.
CJ Thompson (S, 6’1″, 195 lbs, Northeast Oklahoma A&M JC, Tulsa, OK) Rated a 3* recruit by 247Sports.com, the top Ju-co recruit in OK and the 13th rated safety in the country.
Zyon Walker (DL, 6′, 305 lbs, Whitehaven HS, Memphis, TN) rated a 2* recruit by both 247Sports.com and Rivals.com. In eight games in his senior season he recorded 27 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. He was also recruited by Southern Miss.
Quentin Wilfawn (LB, 6’1″, 245 lbs, Northwest Mississippi CC, Oxford, MS) rated a 3* recruit by 247Sports.com and the 8th best inside linebacker. He was recruited by Memphis, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Charlotte out of high school. Had offers from Georgia Southern, Louisiana-Monroe and Liberty out of ju-co.
Christian Wortham (WR, 6’1″, 185 lbs, Grenada HS, Grenada, MS) Was rated a 3* athlete by 247Sports.com and among the top 50 recruits. Rivals.com rated him a 2* recruit. He was recruited by Auburn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Wake Forest. His father played at Alabama from 2000-2004 and played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2005.