The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Signs Six Junior College Prospects
12/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 16, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB head football coach Neil Callaway announced Wednesday that six junior college prospects have signed with the Blazers and are expected to enroll in January.
Here are the UAB football signees announced by Callaway on Wednesday: D.A. Autry, LB, 6-1, 220, Mize, Miss., Jones County JC; T.J. Ballou, DB, 6-0, 200, Meridian, Miss., East Mississippi CC; Jamie Bender, DB, 5-10, 200, Raleigh, Miss., Jones County JC; Pat Shed, RB, 5-9, 175, Starkville, Miss., East Mississippi CC; Darion Smith, OL/C, 6-2, 280, Brookhaven, Miss.; Copiah-Lincoln JC; and Emmanuel Taylor, QB, 6-0, 180, Blakely, Ga., East Central Mississippi JC.
Autry earned honorable mention All-America honors at Jones County this past season as he led his team in tackles with 93 stops, including 63 solo hits. Autry also had four tackles for loss, one sack and three forced fumbles.
Ballou had an outstanding sophomore campaign at East Mississippi Community College. He began the '09 season as a wide receiver before switching to cornerback midway through the campaign. He had 16 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown while also contributing 26 total tackles. He ranked tied for third on the team in pass breakups with 10.
Bender also will be coming to UAB from Jones County JC where he was second in tackles with 65, including 40 solos. He recorded three interceptions for 61 yards and had one interception return for a touchdown.
Shed was a two-year starter at running back for coach Buddy Stephens at East Mississippi CC, rushing for 1,593 yards and 21 touchdowns (294 carries) while leading the Lions both seasons in rushing. Shed also had 33 career receptions for 438 yards and three TDs. Shed eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark seven times at EMCC, including a career-high 150 yards (on 15 attempts and one TD) at Holmes as a freshman.
Smith earned All-Region XXIII honors at center at Copiah-Lincoln CC in 2009 while helping his team to a 6-3 record.
Taylor will join the Blazers after attending East Central Mississippi CC in Decatur, Miss. He ranked No. 8 in the country in total offense, passing for 2,063 among junior college rushers as he ran for 613 yards on 98 carries (6.3 average), scoring three touchdowns.
"We're excited about the six guys who we've signed today and think we've helped ourselves in some areas," said Callaway. "Anytime we sign a junior college player, we expect them to come in and compete for a starting position."
UAB Football Signees (12/16/09)
D.A. Autry, LB, 6-1, 220, Mize, Miss. (Jones County, Miss., JC)
T.J. Ballou, DB, 6-0, 200, Meridian, Miss. (East Mississippi CC)
Jamie Bender, DB, 5-10, 200, Raleigh, Miss. (Jones County, Miss, JC)
Pat Shed, RB, 5-9, 175, Starkville, Miss. (East Mississippi CC)
Darion Smith, OL, 6-2, 280, Brookhaven, Miss. (Copiah-Lincoln, Miss., JC)
Emmanuel Taylor, QB, 6-0, 180, Blakely, Ga. (East Central Mississippi CC)
