South Alabama announces Scotts addition

The University of South Alabama formally announced the addition of former Crimson Tide cornerback B.J. Scott to the football program on Tuesday, the first day of classes for the spring semester.

The Jaguars also announced the transfers of Georgia running back Demetre Baker, Tuskegee defensive back Marquel Gardner and Western Michigan defensive back Damond Smith. Scott and Gardner both attended Vigor High School in Prichard.

"As we look at each position on our roster, we break it down and then ask, 'Can we find players as good or better than what we've got?' That's the standard we've tried to hold to," Coach Joey Jones, himself a former Crimson Tide player, said in a statement.

"If we're bringing players like these guys in, we feel like they are going to have a chance to contribute immediately; we don't want someone coming in mid-year after two seasons of junior college or at another school and not play. If you bring in an older guy, you expect him to play, so we believe they will have the opportunity to impact the program fairly quickly.

"One thing about all these guys is that they are good people, we're excited about that."

Specific to Scott, who could start immediately at cornerback, Jones said: "When you bring in guys with the type of experience that Demetre and B.J. have you expect them to lead in the right way, and we have talked to each one about that," Jones stated. "They are now going to be a part of our Jaguar family, and we're glad they're here to lead these young guys. They are also very good players on the field."

All four transfers will be eligible to participate in spring practice. Scott will have two seasons of eligibility remaining and won't have to sit a year since South Alabama is still considered a Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) team.

The Jaguars have recorded back-to-back undefeated seasons after going10-0 in 2010, and will face their first Bowl Subdivision opponent, North Carolina State in September.

Rivals rated Scott, a five-start prospect, the No. 3 athlete (someone who could play more than more position) in the nation in 2008 and the third-best prospect in the state behind wide receiver Julio Jones and safety Mark Barron.

His true freshman year Scott lined up at wide receiver and played in nine games with two receptions for seven yards, the longest for seven yards from John Parker Wilson in the 41-30 victory at No. 3 Georgia. He moved to cornerback prior to spring practice in 2009 and then redshirted the subsequent season, but never won a starting job. This past season he had one interception and six tackles off the bench, and had season-ending ankle surgery in November.