The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
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Introducing the New UAB Football Transfer Portal Signees
6/3/2024 2:42:00β―PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM β Head Coach Trent Dilfer and the UAB football program have added nine new players to the roster from the spring transfer portal who are ready to contribute in the 2024 season.
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The nine players are listed in alphabetical order:
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Baron Franks II β R-Jr. β OL β 6'5'' 265 β Greenville, S.C./Greenville Senior High/Norfolk State
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Note on Franks II: Started 21 games on the offensive line from 2022-23 after using a redshirt season as a true freshman in 2021. Β
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Troy Jakubec β R-Sr. β CB β 6'1'' 185 β Warren, Ohio/Warren Harding/Youngstown State
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Note on Jakubec: Has played in 43 career gamesβ¦For his career, has 109 tackles, 31 passes defended and seven interceptionsβ¦ Second Team All-MVFC as a senior and helped YSU to an overall record of 8-5 in 2023.
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Tyjon Jones β Sr. β S β 6'2'' 180 β Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown/Youngstown State
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Note on Jones: Has played in 35 career gamesβ¦Has 98 career tackles, eight passes defended and three interceptionsβ¦As a junior in 2023, had 42 tackles, five passes defended and two interceptionsβ¦Helped Youngstown State to an overall record of 8-5.
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Donald Lee β R-Jr. β CB β 6'3'' 180 β Houston, Texas/Klein Collins/Grambling State
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Note on Lee: Has played in 23 career gamesβ¦For his career, has 36 tackles, 10 passes defended and three interceptionsβ¦In 2022, had 21 tackles and five passes defendedβ¦In 2023, had 12 tackles, two INT and 2 passes defended.
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Jack Nickel β R-So. β TE β 6'4'' 245 β Milton, Ga./Milton/Michigan State
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Note on Nickel: Played in 10 games in 2023 primarily on special teamsβ¦Academic All-Big Ten selectionβ¦Made a total of 90 appearances on special teamsβ¦Played 13 snaps on offense at tight end.
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Calib Perez β R-Jr. β OL β 6'5'' 300 β Pearland, Texas/Glenda Dawson/Duke
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Note on Perez: Played in 11 career games at Dukeβ¦Did not see action in 2023 due to injury. Β
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Derrick Shepard Jr. β R-So. β DT β 6'3'' 305 β Dayton, Ohio/Archbishop Alter/Cincinnati
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Note on Shepard Jr.: Played in seven games during the 2023 season as a redshirt freshman for the Bearcatsβ¦Had four tackles and 0.5 TFL last seasonβ¦2023 Big 12 Fall All-Academic Team
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Demarcus Smith β R-Jr. β DT β 6'3'' 295 β Birmingham, Ala./Parker/Ole Miss
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Note on Smith: Played in two games for the Rebels in 2023 and had one tackleβ¦Local talent from Birmingham who played high school ball at Parker. Β
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Tariq Watson β R-So. β CB β 5'10'' 185 β Gretna, La./Helen Cox/Minnesota
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Note on Watson: Played in all 13 games last season as a redshirt freshmanβ¦Had 10 tackles and 0.5 TFLβ¦Had a career-best three tackles against Michiganβ¦Played in one game as a true freshman in 2022.
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For more information on the UAB football team, be sure to follow @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.
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The nine players are listed in alphabetical order:
Β
Baron Franks II β R-Jr. β OL β 6'5'' 265 β Greenville, S.C./Greenville Senior High/Norfolk State
Β
Note on Franks II: Started 21 games on the offensive line from 2022-23 after using a redshirt season as a true freshman in 2021. Β
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Troy Jakubec β R-Sr. β CB β 6'1'' 185 β Warren, Ohio/Warren Harding/Youngstown State
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Note on Jakubec: Has played in 43 career gamesβ¦For his career, has 109 tackles, 31 passes defended and seven interceptionsβ¦ Second Team All-MVFC as a senior and helped YSU to an overall record of 8-5 in 2023.
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Tyjon Jones β Sr. β S β 6'2'' 180 β Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown/Youngstown State
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Note on Jones: Has played in 35 career gamesβ¦Has 98 career tackles, eight passes defended and three interceptionsβ¦As a junior in 2023, had 42 tackles, five passes defended and two interceptionsβ¦Helped Youngstown State to an overall record of 8-5.
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Donald Lee β R-Jr. β CB β 6'3'' 180 β Houston, Texas/Klein Collins/Grambling State
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Note on Lee: Has played in 23 career gamesβ¦For his career, has 36 tackles, 10 passes defended and three interceptionsβ¦In 2022, had 21 tackles and five passes defendedβ¦In 2023, had 12 tackles, two INT and 2 passes defended.
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Jack Nickel β R-So. β TE β 6'4'' 245 β Milton, Ga./Milton/Michigan State
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Note on Nickel: Played in 10 games in 2023 primarily on special teamsβ¦Academic All-Big Ten selectionβ¦Made a total of 90 appearances on special teamsβ¦Played 13 snaps on offense at tight end.
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Calib Perez β R-Jr. β OL β 6'5'' 300 β Pearland, Texas/Glenda Dawson/Duke
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Note on Perez: Played in 11 career games at Dukeβ¦Did not see action in 2023 due to injury. Β
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Derrick Shepard Jr. β R-So. β DT β 6'3'' 305 β Dayton, Ohio/Archbishop Alter/Cincinnati
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Note on Shepard Jr.: Played in seven games during the 2023 season as a redshirt freshman for the Bearcatsβ¦Had four tackles and 0.5 TFL last seasonβ¦2023 Big 12 Fall All-Academic Team
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Demarcus Smith β R-Jr. β DT β 6'3'' 295 β Birmingham, Ala./Parker/Ole Miss
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Note on Smith: Played in two games for the Rebels in 2023 and had one tackleβ¦Local talent from Birmingham who played high school ball at Parker. Β
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Tariq Watson β R-So. β CB β 5'10'' 185 β Gretna, La./Helen Cox/Minnesota
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Note on Watson: Played in all 13 games last season as a redshirt freshmanβ¦Had 10 tackles and 0.5 TFLβ¦Had a career-best three tackles against Michiganβ¦Played in one game as a true freshman in 2022.
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For more information on the UAB football team, be sure to follow @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.
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Players Mentioned
OL
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CB
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S
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CB
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DT
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DT
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CB
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