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Head coach Neil Callaway discusses the 2011 signing class.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB's Neil Callaway announced the signing of 25 prospects to National Letters-of-Intent Wednesday and the head coach said he felt the Blazers had addressed their most pressing needs heading into the 2011 season.

"We were able to fill some specific needs we had to address, those being the defensive line, safety and kicker positions," said Callaway. "We were able to get good quality people and good numbers at each of those positions. Also we were able to keep our balance, which is very important in recruiting.

"You have specific needs in certain areas every year. And I think in order to keep things from getting out of whack on your roster, you need to keep balance, and I think we were able to do that."

The Blazers inked 13 defensive players, including seven on the defensive front, five safeties/cornerbacks and one linebacker. Three of the safeties (Johnny Cockrell, Lamar Johnson and Calvin Jones) signed in December and enrolled at UAB in January.

On the offensive side, the Blazers signed four linemen, a quarterback, a pair of running backs and wide receivers and a tight end. UAB also inked two kickers in the class announced Wednesday.

"I think it's a good class," said Callaway. "It's one we're very pleased with. I think we got not only good quality players but also good quality people and students that I think we'll be happy and proud to have as a part of our football program at UAB."

One noticeable change from previous years was that the staff signed fewer junior college prospects. That is due largely to the Blazers' overall scholarship numbers and depth being much improved from a few seasons ago.

"I made the statement the last couple of years that we would always like to be in the five to six range (on number of junior college signees)," Callaway said. "Right now we're at five. I do think it's better to build a program by going mainly the high school route. I do think we'll always be in the market for five to six junior college guys, though, because of the quality of the athlete you get and the maturity."

Signee	Pos.	Hometown	High Sch. / Junior Co.	Ht.	Wt.	Video
Dequindre Adams	CB	Columbus, Ga.	Carver HS	5-10	175
Colin Anderson	K	Stone Mountain, Ga.	Stephenson HS	5-10	170
Kennard Backman	TE	Austell, Ga.	Whitefield Academy	6-3	225
Austin Brown	QB	Flowery Branch, Ga.	Flowery Branch HS	6-1	195
Wesley Carter	OL	Purvis, Miss	Purvis HS	6-4	280
Jewel Christian	DT	Osyka, Miss.	SW Mississippi CC	6-2	290
**Johnny Cockrell	SAF/CB	Columbus, Miss.	East Mississippi CC	6-0	200
Bashr Coles	RB	Tucker, Ga.	Tucker HS	5-11	180
Keenen Crenshaw	OL	Lewisburg, Tenn.	Ensworth Academy	6-2	295
Uneik Crumbley	OL	Americus, Ga.	Americus-Sumter HS	6-3	340
Trey Grissett	DE	Warner Robins, Ga.	Houston County HS	6-5	230
Mickey Jackson	DT	Piedmont, Ala.	Piedmont HS	6-1	308
**Lamar Johnson	SAF	Pascagoula, Miss.	Mississippi Gulf Coast CC	6-2	195
**Calvin Jones	SAF	Petal, Miss.	Copiah Lincoln JC	5-10	175
Ty Long	K	Roswell, Ga.	Roswell HS	6-2	180
Hayden Naumann	OL	Decatur, Ala.	Decatur HS	6-5	275
Tyler Peppers	DE	Opelika, Ala.	Opelika HS	6-5	230
Kardeem Poole	WR	Prattville, Ala.	Prattville HS	6-1	180
Darius Powell	WR	Foley, Ala	Foley HS	5-10	180
Darrin Reaves	RB	Pinson, Ala.	Clay-Chalkville HS	5-10	190
Shaquille Roberson	LB	Camp Hill, Ala.	Reeltown HS	6-4	220
Shawn Samuels	DB	Bainbridge, Ga.	Bainbridge HS	6-1	180
Diaheem Watkins	DE	Brent, Ala.	Bibb County HS	6-4	230
Tevin Wells	DT	Rolling Fork, Miss.	Mississippi Delta CC	6-2	285
Daron Wright	DE	Atlanta, Ga.	Grady HS	6-2	255

** Signed in December and enrolled at UAB in January, 2011