Coach Fedora and his staff signed what some have said is Fedora's best recruiting class on Wednesday. Many of the commitments made their pledge early in the process and Southern Miss coaches had to fight off other schools late into signing day.
Class Gems: Travis Woodyard & O.C. Brown
Sleeper: Arsenio Favor
Immediate Impact Player: Corey Acosta
Corey Acosta (PK) 5-10, 182
Memphis, Tennessee (Christian Brothers High School)
Converted 12-of-17 field goals and connected on 29-of-30 extra points during his senior campaign for coach Kevin Locastro at Christian Brothers. A two-star athlete by Scout.com and was ranked the No. 14 kicker in the country. Rated the 17th-best kicker by Rivals.com and a two-star prospect. Hit a 49-yard field goal during the year. Was 3-of-5 from 40-yards and beyond. Earned First Honors for a 3.80 grade point average or better for the first two quarters of his senior year. A member of the blue squad for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl All Star game. Also received scholarship offer from Memphis.
Kelvin Bolden (WR) 6-0, 165
Ocean Springs, Mississippi (Gulf Coast Community College)
Attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and finished the year with 1,337 yards receiving on 53 catches and 17 touchdown receptions. An All-Region 23 selection and first team MACJC pick tallied 236 yards receiving in the state championship game with three touchdown receptions. Added a 194-yard receiving game on four catches against Hinds, a 172-yard contest against Southwest Mississippi Community College on 13 catches and three touchdowns and a 112-yard tilt against East Mississippi with three touchdowns during the year. Attended Ocean Springs High School. Also received scholarship offers from Arkansas State, Mississippi State and North Texas.
Cortez Bowen (LB) 6-2, 218
Memphis, Tennessee (Trezevant High School)
Prepped at Trezevant High School for coach Teli White. Tallied 74 tackles to go along with nine sacks and four fumble recoveries during his senior campaign. Added 102 stops, 18 sacks and two fumble recoveries as a junior during his first season of playing organized football. A three-star linebacker by Rivals.com and was projected as the No. 22 player in the state following his senior campaign. A two-star athlete by Scout.com. A three-star athlete by ESPN.com. A 4A Tennessee Sportswriters Association All-State pick. A member of the blue squad for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl All Star game. Also received offers from Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech and Texas Tech.
Furious Bradley (ATH) 5-8, 158
Gulfport, Mississippi (Harrison Central High School)
Played running back and defensive back last season for coach Ronnie Cuevas at Harrison Central High School. Rushed for 937 yards on 132 carries with 12 touchdowns, to go along with 19 catches for 211 yards. Added 47 tackles, including 31 solos, to go along with three interceptions. A first team All-State pick by the Clarion Ledger. A Biloxi Sun-Herald Top 30 selection. Played in the Mississippi/Alabama All Star game where he made six tackles and tallied an interception. Voted three-stars by Rivals.com and is the No. 29 athlete from the state of Mississippi. Notched two stars by Scout.com.
O.C. Brown (OL) 6-2, 319
Memphis, Tennessee (Manassas High School)
A member of the offensive line at Manassas High in Memphis. A 3A All-State selection by the Tennessee Football Coach Association. Voted by Memphis Commercial Appeal as one of the ‘Most Wanted’ football players in area in 2009. Played on blue squad in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Subject of film documentary profiling his recruiting process and was also featured in segment on ABC’s 20-20. A four-star player by Rivals.com and was voted by the website as the No. 6 rated player in the state of Tennessee and No. 11 in the country at offensive guard. A three-star performer by Scout.com and No. 34 nationally among offensive guards. Also received offers from Arkansas State, Colorado, Kentucky, Marshall, Middle Tennessee State and Mississippi State.
Jacorius Cotton (ATH) 5-11, 179
LaGrange, Georgia (Troup County High School)
Played on both sides of the football for Bubba Jeter at Troup County High, concentrating mostly in the secondary during his senior campaign. A three-star athlete by Rivals.com and earned two stars from Scout.com. Named team’s offensive most valuable player at the inaugural Columbus Valley High School Awards luncheon. Also received offers from Central Florida, South Florida and Troy.
Arsenio Favor (QB) 6-2, 226
Montgomery, Alabama (Stanhope Elmore High School)
Played for coach Jeff Foshee at Stanhope Elmore High. Garnered WSFA-TV and Montgomery Quarterback Club Player of the Week honors once each. An all-county performer. A two-star athlete by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. Junior stats included 87 completions for 175 attempts for 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns. Also scored six rushing touchdowns that season. Also received offers from Arkansas State and Western Kentucky.
David Fowler (OL) 6-3, 289
Daphne, Alabama (Daphne High School)
Prepped Daphne High for Coach Glenn Vickery in which the school reached the state playoff quarterfinals. An Alabama Sportswriters Association Class 6A All-State selection. A three-star rated prospect by Rivals.com. A two-star prospect and the No. 91 rated offensive guard by Scout.com. Participated in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic last December in a 21-13 win for his home state. Also received offers from Arkansas State, Duke, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisville, Middle Tennessee State and Troy.
Jeremy Hester (RB) 5-7, 172
Panama City, Florida (Arnold High School)
Attends Arnold High and plays for Coach James Hale. Rushed for 1,497 yards on 164 carries with 17 rushing touchdowns. Returned one kickoff for 94 yards and a touchdown to earn All-Bay County honors. Garnered FSWA 3A First Team All-State in 2008 on the strength of 2,305 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns. A three-star rated prospect by Rivals.com and No. 27 All-Purpose Back nationally. A three-star prospect by Scouts Inc. and No. 97 running back nationally. One of 30 finalists for the inaugural Rudy Award. Also received offers from Colorado State, East Carolina, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisville, Memphis, Northern Illinois and Western Kentucky.
Lamar Holmes (OL) 6-6, 335
Gastonia, North Carolina (Itawamba Community College)
A December signee from Itawamba Community College where he played the last two seasons for Jeff Terrill. NJCAA Pre-Season All-American first team prior to 2009 campaign. Was a first team MACJC North pick during his freshman campaign. A three-star performer by Scout.com and a four-star pick by Rivals.com and No. 18 junior college player nationally. Prepped at Huss High School in North Carolina. Also received offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State and Troy.
Alan Howze (RB)6-1, 209
Ocean Springs, Mississippi (Ocean Springs High School)
Used at running back for coach Todd Mangum at Ocean Springs High. Rushed for 868 yards on 158 carries with a pair of touchdowns. A Biloxi Sun-Herald Top 30 pick … An All-South Mississippi Honorable Mention by the Sun Herald in 2008. A three-star prospect by Rivals.com and rated two stars by Scout.com.
Reggie Hunt (ATH) 5-9, 175
Robertsdale, Alabama (Copiah-Lincoln Community College)
A three-star athlete by Scout.com and Rivals.com from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Recorded 18 tackles, including eight solos, to go along with 16 pass breakups and one interception in which he returned for a touchdown at defensive back in 2009. Prepped at Daphne (Alabama) High School, where he was one of the top 20 prospects in the state of Alabama. Participated in the 2007 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game in which he rushed for 15 yards and caught two passes for 32. Played cornerback as a sophomore at Daphne before switching to offense as a junior and rushing for 1,009 yards and 12 touchdowns on only 72 carries. A nagging ankle injury limited him to just over 800 yards rushing as a senior, though he added about 500 yards receiving. Originally signed with Auburn out of high School. Also received offers from Memphis, Middle Tennessee State and Troy.
Josh Magee (WR) 5-10, 170
Hoover, Alabama (Hoover High School)
A first-team 6A Alabama All-State selection who helped Hoover High School to a 14-1 record and a state championship in 2009. A two-star prospect by both Rivals.com and Scout.com that participated in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Birmingham News 2009 Hoover/South Player of the Year. A dual-sport athlete that is expected to play infield for the Golden Eagle baseball team as well as wide receiver for coach Larry Fedora on the gridiron. A top baseball prospect in Alabama and will likely be drafted in this June’s major league baseball amateur draft. Son of former major league outfielder Wendell Magee, who spent seven seasons in the major leagues with Philadelphia and Detroit from 1996-2002. Also received offers from Middle Tennessee State and UAB.
Dasman McCullum (DE) 6-5, 230
Taylorsville, Mississippi (West Jones High School)
A first-team 5A all-state selection as a defensive end from West Jones High School by the Mississippi Association of Coaches. A second team selection all-state by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. Tallied 45 tackles to go along with three sacks, while adding an interception, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Played in the 61st Bernard Blackwell All Star Football Classic last December. A two-star defensive end by Scout.com and Rivals.com. Named one of the Sun Herald’s top 30 prospects and the Clarion Ledger’s top 40 prospects for the state of Mississippi. Selected to the WDAM All-Area Team. Also received offers from Arkansas State and Memphis.
Steve McNair, Jr. (WR) 6-1, 195
Hattiesburg, Mississippi (Oak Grove High School)
Member of the Clarion Ledger’s Dandy Dozen team as wide receiver from Oak Grove High for coach Nevil Barr. Caught 61 passes for 709 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 311 yards on 66 carries with four touchdowns. Named the 12th best player in the state by Scout.com. A three-star receiver by both Scout.com and Rivals.com. Helped lead his team to an 11-3 record and to the class 6A state championship game as a senior. Participant in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game in which he caught two passes. Selected as the Area Player of the Year by WDAM television. Son of the late Steve McNair Sr., a former NFL MVP who spent 13 seasons in the NFL. Also received offers from Minnesota, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Tulsa and West Virginia.
Justin Penn (LB) 6-1, 193
Bassfield, Mississippi (Bassfield High School)
A 3A first-team all-state selection from Bassfield High for coach Lance Mancuso. Tallied 74 tackles, four sacks, 4 interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. A three-star linebacker by both Scout.com and Rivals.com. Helped lead his team to the class 2A State Championship. Named one of the top 40 prospects in the state of Mississippi by Scout.com and the Clarion Ledger. Selected to the WDAM All-Area Team. Participated in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and registered one tackle. A Biloxi Sun-Herald Top 30 pick.
Taylor Peterson (OL) 6-4, 296
Auburn, Alabama (Auburn High School)
Prepped at Auburn High for Tim Carter for a squad that went 13-1 his senior campaign. A two-star athlete by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. Started as a sophomore and junior at McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Georgia before transferring to Auburn High in 2009. Was an honorable mention region 5-AAAA while at McIntosh High in 2008. Also received offers from Memphis, Troy and UAB.
Seth Reedy (OL) 6-3, 264
Piedmont, Alabama (Piedmont High School)
A Class 3A All-State pick by the Alabama Sports Writers Association for coach Steve Smith at Piedmont High. Ranked a three-star rated player by Rivals.com and a two-star by Scout.com. Participated in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic. As a junior he was named ASWA 3A first-team All-State as well as all-region and all-county. Graded out at 92 percent that year and helped team to a 10-3 record. Recorded 52 pancake blocks and only one sack allowed. Also received offers from Middle Tennessee State and Troy.
Brandon Smith (DE) 6-2, 247
Columbus, Georgia (Carver High School)
Played at Carver High for coach Dell McGee. A three-star rated player by Rivals.com in which he was also rated as the #29 defensive end in the nation by and No. 43 overall in Georgia by the website. Played in Georgia North-South All-Star Game on Dec. 29 in Columbus. A Top 50 player from state of Georgia by Macon.com. Also received offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Miami and South Carolina.
Dominque Sullivan (QB) 6-3, 189
Taylorsville, Mississippi (Taylorsville High School)
Played for coach Bud Blackledge at Taylorsville High School. Compiled 1,997 yards passing and 16 TDs to go along with 386 rushing yards and 5 TDs. The Class 2A Offensive Player of the Year in Mississippi. Named 2nd team All-State by the Clarion Ledger. A Biloxi Sun-Herald Top 30 selection. A three-star rated player by Rivals.com…Rated as the No. 40 pro-style QB nationally by Rivals.com and No. 23 overall in Mississippi. Participated in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic … Threw for 50 yards in the contest. A WDAM All-Area selection as a junior and senior.
Also received offers from Florida International, Louisiana Tech and Tulane.
Markese Triplett (WR) 6-4, 199
Louisville, Mississippi (Louisville High School)
Prepped at Louisville High for coach Brad Peterson. A Class 4A second-team All-State selection by the Mississippi Association of Coaches. Named first-team All-State by Clarion Ledger. A Top 30 selection by the Biloxi Sun-Herald. Registered 37 receptions for 633 yards and seven TDs. Added 55 tackles, four sacks and three interceptions. Rated the No. 57 wide receiver nationally by Rivals.com and No. 12 player in Mississippi. Participated in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic, where he caught one pass for 38 yards and a touchdown from Dominque Sullivan. Also received offers from Louisiana Tech and Mississippi State.
Alexander Walters Jr. (DB) 5-10, 163
Northport, Alabama (Tuscaloosa County High School)
Played for Coach Lee Gibson at Tuscaloosa County High School in which they finished 7-4 during his senior season. Recorded 34 tackles to go along with three pass breakups and an interception. A two-star rated player by Rivals.com and Scout.com. Prepped at Park Hill South in suburb of Kansas City for his freshman and sophomore seasons and lived in Birmingham during his junior campaign before transferring to Tuscaloosa County.
Zeke Walters (TE) 6-2, 217
Birmingham, Alabama (Briarwood Christian High School)
Prepped for coach Fred Yancey at Briarwood Christian High School. Totaled 76 tackles at linebacker, 25 solo, along with one sack, two pressures, two tackles for a loss and one fumble recovery. Added 12 rushes for 18 yards and six TDs on the ground … Star of the week with 16 tackles against John Carroll. A team co-captain as well as an all-county as a senior and all-Over The Mountain his final two campaigns. Rated the No. 56 tight end prospect by Scouts.com and a two-star player. A three-star rated player by Rivals.com. Also received offers from Air Force, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee State and UAB.
Jason Weaver (OL) 6-5, 320
New Orleans, Louisiana (Arizona Western Community College)
Signed in December 2009 as a transfer player from Arizona Western Community College Enrolled in January for spring semester. Spent the last two seasons there, where his team finished 9-2 this past season and earned a trip to the 2009 Mississippi Bowl. A NJCAA All-American on the offensive line. A three-star rated player by Rivals.com and Scout.com. Also received offers from Arizona, Idaho, Kansas State and Miami.
Anthony Wilson (DE) 6-3, 215
Midfield, Alabama (Midfield High School)
Transferred to Midfield High after playing at Homewood High in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Ranked as the No. 26 defensive end prospect nationally and No. 21 player in the state. Tallied eight tackles for Homewood. Moved to state of Alabama following Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans. Also received offers from Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, UAB and UCLA.
Jamal Woodyard (ATH) 5-8, 200
Fairhope, Alabama (Fairhope High School)
Played for coach David Faulkner at Fairhope High. A honorable mention 6A all-state selection by the Alabama Sportswriters Association. Star of Alabama when he rushed for 384 yards with six touchdowns on 32 carries against Foley. A three-star prospect by Rivals.com and a two-star performer by Scout.com. Participated in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic. An ASWA All-State 6A first-team selection in 2008 as a junior after he rushed for 1,442 yards. Also received offers from Louisiana Tech, Louisville, Mississippi State, Troy and UAB.
