The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Signs Trio Of Junior College Defensive Standouts
12/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 15, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB head football coach Neil Callaway announced Wednesday that three junior college defensive standouts have signed with the Blazers for the 2011 season.
The three signees are: Johnny Cockrell, 6-0, 200, Safety/Cornerback, East Mississippi Community College; Lamar Johnson, 6-2, 200, Safety, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College; and Calvin Jones, 5-10, 175, Safety, Copiah-Lincoln Junior College.
Cockrell, from Columbus, Miss., was a starter at cornerback this past season at EMCC and was credited with 46 tackles (35 solos). He had a season-high eight tackles in games against Northwest Mississippi and Pearl River. Cockrell returned a 56-yard interception for a touchdown against Itawamba and also ranked second on the team in pass breakups with six. In reserve duty as a freshman in 2009, Cockrell had 13 total tackles (10 solo hits).
Cockrell was a member of back-to-back state playoff teams at EMCC. The Lions finished 5-5 in 2010 after going 11-1 and winning the school's first-ever MACJA state championship a year earlier.
A native of Pascagoula, Miss., Johnson ranked No. 2 in the nation in interceptions with eight during the 2010 season, including seven in the final four games. He also recorded 38 tackles as he helped Mississippi Gulf Coast CC to a 10-2 record and a final national ranking of No. 3. Johnson earned NJCAA Academic All-America recognition in 2009.
Jones, from Petal, Miss., will have three years of eligibility after an outstanding season at Copiah Lincoln JC. He finished with 105 tackles this fall as Co-Lin finished with a 9-2 record and No. 13 national junior college ranking. Jones registered a pair of interceptions and also had three tackles for loss and one sack. He had a season-high 17 tackles against Mississippi Gulf Coast.
