The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Dilfer Announces UAB’s Early Signing Day Class of 2023
12/21/2022 10:22:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – First year head coach Trent Dilfer has unveiled his first recruiting class at UAB, which is highlighted by 16 signees.
"It was quite a day for UAB football," Dilfer said. "I don't want to talk in hyperbolizes, but I can't imagine there has ever been this big of a signing class this early on, because it hasn't been around for that long. I think we are putting together the best class that this school has ever seen.
"We have addressed both immediate issues to create competition at key positions, but mainly keeping a bigger eye on building a foundation that is an absolute stone with the freshman class."
The signees are listed in order of when their National Letters of Intent (NLI) were received.
Everett Roussaw Jr. – LB – 6-2, 215 – Ellenwood, Ga – Cedar Grove…3-star recruit…Ranked as the 103rd linebacker in the country…Led Cedar Grove to state championship game…Chose UAB over Arkansas, Louisville, Duke, Charlotte, Mississippi State, Missouri, UCF and Virginia Tech.
Ricky Lee – ATH – 5-11, 170 – Ellenwood, Ga. – Cedar Grove…Helped lead Cedar Grove to Georgia state championship game…Chose UAB over Colorado, UConn, Duke, Bowling Green and Arkansas State.
Connor Knight – DL – 6-3, 285 – Trussville, AL – Hewitt-Trussville…3-star recruit by 247 Sports…Decommitted from USF and chose UAB over Arkansas, Florida State, Houston, Kentucky, Liberty, Miami, Missouri, Oregon State, Purdue, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Western Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Memphis, Maryland, Hawaii and USF.
Emmanuel Waller – DL – 6-4, 250 – Birmingham, AL – Oak Mountain…Decommitted from BYU to attend UAB and also had offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Marshall, Memphis, Mississippi State, Troy, Tulane, West Virginia, Auburn, Kentucky, Notre Dame, UCF, USC and Virginia Tech.
Eamon Smalls – DL – 6-2, 295 – Ladys Island, S.C. – Fulshear HS (Texas)…3-Star recruit…Chose UAB over South Carolina, West Virginia, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina and Liberty.
Jalen Nettles – OL – 6-4, 300 – Canton, Miss – Canton HS – Northwest Mississippi – Help Northwest Mississippi to a 10-2 record and a berth in the NJCAA Semifinals…Helped the Rangers average 392.7 yards per game in 2022…Was 19-5 in his two seasons.
James Smyre – LB – 6-2, 220 – Columbus, Ga. – Central Phenix HS (AL)…Transferring to UAB from Marshall where he spent the 2022 season as a true freshman and did not have any stats.
Malachi Holt-Bennett – WR – 6-3, 190 – Birmingham, AL – Fairfield…Transfer from Indiana…Had six catches for 90 yards in 2022.
BJ Hawkins Jr – WR – 6-0, 185 – Waxahachie, Texas – Navarro JC – Had 28 catches for 586 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore for Navarro in 2022.
Jamarcus Jones – DB – 6-4, 220 – Union, Miss – Union – Mississippi Gulf Coast…As a senior in high school, caught 46 passes for 1,087 yards and 10 TD … Named to Mississippi Association of Coaches Class 2A First Team … Selected to play in Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game…Had 46 total tackles at Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Amare Thomas – WR – 5-10, 180 – Pinson, AL – Pinson Valley – Chose UAB over Virginia, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Arkansas State and Army.
Chris Bracy – S – 6-1, 185 – Mobile, AL – St. Paul's Episcopal…3-star recruit by 247 Sports…Selected to the North-South Alabama All-Star Game…Led St. Paul's to the third round of the State Playoffs…Chose UAB over Kentucky, North Alabama and West Florida
Alfonzo Leomiti – OL – 6-4, 310 – Los Alamitos, Calif. – Los Alamitos HS – 6-4, 310
Kameran Shanks – WR – 5-9, 175 – Prattville, Ala. – Prattville…Chose UAB over Tulane, Liberty, Jacksonville State, Southern Miss and Troy.
Jaylyn Ferguson – WR – 6-3, 160 – Fort Worth, Texas – Southwest HS
Daniel Harris – DE – 6-6, 190 – Melbourne, Fla – Palm Bay...3-star recruit...Chose UAB over UCF, Florida, Miami, South Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn, Mississippi State, and Nebraska, amongst others.
Season ticket renewals and information on how to purchase 2023 season tickets can be found by clicking here. The Blazers have six home games next season at Protective Stadium which include Memphis, USF, FAU, Temple, Louisiana and North Carolina A&T.
"It was quite a day for UAB football," Dilfer said. "I don't want to talk in hyperbolizes, but I can't imagine there has ever been this big of a signing class this early on, because it hasn't been around for that long. I think we are putting together the best class that this school has ever seen.
"We have addressed both immediate issues to create competition at key positions, but mainly keeping a bigger eye on building a foundation that is an absolute stone with the freshman class."
The signees are listed in order of when their National Letters of Intent (NLI) were received.
Everett Roussaw Jr. – LB – 6-2, 215 – Ellenwood, Ga – Cedar Grove…3-star recruit…Ranked as the 103rd linebacker in the country…Led Cedar Grove to state championship game…Chose UAB over Arkansas, Louisville, Duke, Charlotte, Mississippi State, Missouri, UCF and Virginia Tech.
Ricky Lee – ATH – 5-11, 170 – Ellenwood, Ga. – Cedar Grove…Helped lead Cedar Grove to Georgia state championship game…Chose UAB over Colorado, UConn, Duke, Bowling Green and Arkansas State.
Connor Knight – DL – 6-3, 285 – Trussville, AL – Hewitt-Trussville…3-star recruit by 247 Sports…Decommitted from USF and chose UAB over Arkansas, Florida State, Houston, Kentucky, Liberty, Miami, Missouri, Oregon State, Purdue, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Western Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Memphis, Maryland, Hawaii and USF.
Emmanuel Waller – DL – 6-4, 250 – Birmingham, AL – Oak Mountain…Decommitted from BYU to attend UAB and also had offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Marshall, Memphis, Mississippi State, Troy, Tulane, West Virginia, Auburn, Kentucky, Notre Dame, UCF, USC and Virginia Tech.
Eamon Smalls – DL – 6-2, 295 – Ladys Island, S.C. – Fulshear HS (Texas)…3-Star recruit…Chose UAB over South Carolina, West Virginia, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina and Liberty.
Jalen Nettles – OL – 6-4, 300 – Canton, Miss – Canton HS – Northwest Mississippi – Help Northwest Mississippi to a 10-2 record and a berth in the NJCAA Semifinals…Helped the Rangers average 392.7 yards per game in 2022…Was 19-5 in his two seasons.
James Smyre – LB – 6-2, 220 – Columbus, Ga. – Central Phenix HS (AL)…Transferring to UAB from Marshall where he spent the 2022 season as a true freshman and did not have any stats.
Malachi Holt-Bennett – WR – 6-3, 190 – Birmingham, AL – Fairfield…Transfer from Indiana…Had six catches for 90 yards in 2022.
BJ Hawkins Jr – WR – 6-0, 185 – Waxahachie, Texas – Navarro JC – Had 28 catches for 586 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore for Navarro in 2022.
Jamarcus Jones – DB – 6-4, 220 – Union, Miss – Union – Mississippi Gulf Coast…As a senior in high school, caught 46 passes for 1,087 yards and 10 TD … Named to Mississippi Association of Coaches Class 2A First Team … Selected to play in Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game…Had 46 total tackles at Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Amare Thomas – WR – 5-10, 180 – Pinson, AL – Pinson Valley – Chose UAB over Virginia, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Arkansas State and Army.
Chris Bracy – S – 6-1, 185 – Mobile, AL – St. Paul's Episcopal…3-star recruit by 247 Sports…Selected to the North-South Alabama All-Star Game…Led St. Paul's to the third round of the State Playoffs…Chose UAB over Kentucky, North Alabama and West Florida
Alfonzo Leomiti – OL – 6-4, 310 – Los Alamitos, Calif. – Los Alamitos HS – 6-4, 310
Kameran Shanks – WR – 5-9, 175 – Prattville, Ala. – Prattville…Chose UAB over Tulane, Liberty, Jacksonville State, Southern Miss and Troy.
Jaylyn Ferguson – WR – 6-3, 160 – Fort Worth, Texas – Southwest HS
Daniel Harris – DE – 6-6, 190 – Melbourne, Fla – Palm Bay...3-star recruit...Chose UAB over UCF, Florida, Miami, South Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn, Mississippi State, and Nebraska, amongst others.
Season ticket renewals and information on how to purchase 2023 season tickets can be found by clicking here. The Blazers have six home games next season at Protective Stadium which include Memphis, USF, FAU, Temple, Louisiana and North Carolina A&T.
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