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