Louisiana-Monroe South Alabama Football Nov. 23, 2013
South Alabama has attracted 18 verbal commitments for its 2015 signing class. It is the most by far the Jaguars have gained prior to the start of a season in the young program's history. (Photo by Mike Kittrell/mkittrell@al.com)
(Mike Kittrell)
MOBILE, Alabama -- South Alabama will be replacing several starters on defense this season and a few seniors will be starters for the Jaguars this year.
That means there will be voids to fill in future lineups. The South Alabama coaching staff is making an effort to fill those spots now. Toward that aim, they have concentrated their recruiting efforts toward finding defensive players. They added one more with the verbal commitment of inside linebacker Doug Salter of Brantley.
Salter's commitment adds to a successful recruiting season for the Jags this summer. South Alabama has 18 verbal commitments thus far.
The 6-foot-1, 222-pounder was a first-team all-state selection last season, He produced more than 120 total tackles for Brantley.
"I liked the campus and the coaches. It seemed like it was the right fit for me,'' Salter said in a telephone interview with AL.com. "I liked the environment.''
Salter said he was also attracted to the fact the Jags' program is young and enjoyed success last season. He added he was drawn to the direction the program appears to be headed.
"They had a good year last year and they're moving up a lot.''
Salter said he feels his style of play fits well with how the Jags' defense plays and he hopes he will be able to play quickly once he joins the team. "I feel pretty good about it,'' he said. "I think I can do the same that I'm doing now if I keep working in the weight room and working hard.''
The number of previous commitments and the quality of commitments the Jags' have attracted thus far has caught Salter's attention.
"I'm just started to keep up now. I think it's going to be pretty good. It seems like a pretty good group they have committed,'' he said.
Aside from South Alabama, Salter said he received offers from UAB, Jacksonville State, Georgia Southern, Southern Miss, Appalachian State and Troy.
The Jaguars have picked up verbal commitments from four defensive backs -- Nigel Lawrence of Smiths Station, Jalen Thompson of St. Paul's in Mobile, Itawamba Community College's Quinton Lane and Rashaan Watson of Pinellas Park, Fla.
Other verbal commitments have been received from quarterback Aaron Johnson of Lakeland, Fla.; offensive linemen Zach Davis of Lauderdale County High, Nelson Santiago of Orange Park, Fla., and Steven Clark of Brindlee Mountain School. The list also includes defensive linemen Roy Albritton of Pensacola Christian, Jeffrey Whatley of Dale County Christian, Tyree Turner of Stockbridge, Ga., and Anfernee Mullins of Aliceville; linebacker Desean Grayer of Green Cove Springs, Fla.; wide receivers Reid Rials of Satsuma and William French of Dodge City Community College; and tight ends Julian Allen of Lackawanna Community College and James Bynes of Dodge City Community College.
Verbal commitments are non-binding.