BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- New UAB football coach Garrick McGee unveiled his first signing class with the Blazers on Wednesday at an afternoon press conference on National Signing Day.
McGee, with less than two months on campus, worked with his staff to put together a class that is laden with in-state talent. The class features 17 players from Alabama, including nine from the Birmingham area.
UAB also placed an emphasis on recruiting high schoolers. Of the 25 players in the class, 23 are coming from high schools, while two are from the junior college ranks.
McGee said this year's signing class addressed the Blazers' needs heading into the 2012 season and beyond. Specifically, UAB was able to takecare of needs on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield, two areas where the team was senior-heavy in 2011.
| OL | Alexander City, ALBenjamin Russell | 6'4" | 280 |
| 2 stars | 5.4 | 1/8/12 |
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| | DB | Prichard, ALBlount | 5'11" | 186 | 4.4 | 3 stars | 5.5 | 7/30/11 | | | | | 1/6/12 |
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| | DB | Hoover, ALSpain Park | 5'11" | 182 |
| 2 stars | 5.2 | 8/8/11 | | | | |
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| | OL | Albany, GAAlbany | 6'3" | 311 |
| 2 stars | 5.4 | 10/18/11 |
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| | DB | Birmingham, ALSpain Park | 5'11" | 213 | 4.7 | 2 stars | 5.4 | 8/8/11 | | | | |
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| | QB | Birmingham, ALBriarwood Christian | 6'2" | 197 |
| 2 stars | 5.4 | 7/11/11 | | | | | 1/6/12 |
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| | TE | Kingwood, TXKingwood | 6'3" | 260 | 4.8 | 2 stars | 5.4 |
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| | OL | Pelham, ALPelham | 6'5" | 275 | 5.3 | 2 stars | 5.4 | 12/11/11 |
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| | ATH | Chelsea, ALChelsea School | 6'3" | 190 | 4.6 | 3 stars | 5.5 | 7/14/11 | | | | | 1/6/12 |
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| | OL | Gadsden, ALGadsden City | 6'4" | 295 |
| 2 stars | 5.2 | 1/8/12 |
| | | | 1/6/12 |
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| | QB | Arlington, TXArlington | 6'4" | 215 | 4.8 | 2 stars | 5.4 | 1/6/12 |
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| | OL | Huntsville, ALGrissom | 6'4" | 280 |
| 2 stars | 5.2 |
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| | WR | Marietta, GAOsborne | 6'0" | 180 | 4.7 | 3 stars | 5.5 | 7/13/11 | | | | |
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| | LB | Lannett, ALLanett | 6'3" | 193 |
| 2 stars | 5.2 | 1/15/12 |
| | | | 1/14/12 |
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| | DB | Opelika, ALOpelika | 6'1" | 175 |
| 2 stars | 5.2 |
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| | DE | Birmingham, ALWoodlawn | 6'3" | 216 | 4.9 | 2 stars | 5.2 | 1/30/12 |
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| | DT | Albany, GAAlbany | 6'2" | 295 |
| 2 stars | 5.2 | 10/18/11 |
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| | TE | Ponte Vedra, FLPonte Vedra | 6'3" | 220 |
| 2 stars | 5.3 | 1/31/12 |
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| | LB | Prichard, ALBlount | 6'2" | 205 |
| 2 stars | 5.4 | 7/31/11 |
| | | | 1/6/12 |
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| | DE | Pell City, ALPell City | 6'4" | 225 | 4.7 | 2 stars | 5.4 | 7/9/11 | | | | |
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| | LB | Hueytown, ALHueytown | 5'10" | 208 | 4.7 | 2 stars | 5.4 | 1/8/12 |
| | | | 1/6/12 |
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| | OL | Huntsville, ALGrissom | 6'5" | 315 |
| 2 stars | 5.2 |
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| | OL | Alfred, NYAlfred State C.C. | 6'3" | 300 |
| 2 stars | 5.2 |
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| | DB | El Dorado, KSButler County C.C. | 6'2" | 185 |
| 2 stars | 5.4 | 12/23/11 |
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| | WR | Homewood, ALHomewood | 6'2" | 180 | 4.5 | 2 stars | 5.4 | 8/9/11 |
