Football Signs Six on First Day of Early Signing Period
12/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss football team signed six junior college players to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday during the early signing period. The Golden Eagles signed Kwadra Griggs, Isaiah Jones, Marquez McNair, Tarvarius Moore, Shannon Smith, and Allenzae Staggers to NLIs.
Griggs (6-3, 225) is a quarterback from Greenwood, Miss. He comes to Southern Miss from Itawamba Community College. At Itawamba in 2015, Griggs played in 10 games, passing for 2,138 yards and 18 touchdowns. He averaged 213.8 yards per game in the air.
Jones (6-4, 195) played wide receiver at East Mississippi Community College. He is a native of Milton, Fla. who began his collegiate career at Florida State. Last season, Jones caught 19 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore for the 8-1 MACJC North Division champions. He enjoyed a breakout game against Itawamba with season highs of six catches for 128 yards, including a season-best, 55-yard touchdown reception with multiple receptions in five other games. At Florida State, Jones sat out the majority of the 2014 season. He appeared in five games in 2013 and tallied two receptions for 31 yards, missing the second half of 2013 season with a foot injury.
McNair (6-0, 175) is a wide receiver from Magee, Miss. who played at Hinds Community College. Last season, he saw limited action, making three receptions in two games for 54 yards and a pair of TDs. During the 2014 season, he led the team in receptions (30), receiving yards (433) and touchdowns caught (four). McNair received the team's Most Valuable Receiver Award. He played high school football at Magee HS and was a five-year letterman for the Trojans. McNair was a star QB at MHS, where he was 335-701 with 9,526 passing yards and 83 touchdowns. He is cousin of former NFL great, Steve McNair.
Moore (6-2, 190) out of Quitman, Miss. joins the defensive backfield after playing for Pearl River Community College. He earned All-MACJC Honors this season. Moore returned nine kickoffs for 356 yards (39.6 yards per return), including one for a 97-yard touchdown against Southwest. On defense, Moore had 61 solo tackles and 11 assists, including one for a 3-yard loss, one interception, one quarterback hurry, two forced fumbles, and eight pass breakups.
Smith (6-3, 205) is a wide receiver from Macon, Ga. He joins the Golden Eagles from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Smith led Northeastern Oklahoma A&M with 34 receptions for a team-high 559 yards and a team-best four touchdowns, averaging 16.4 yards per catch. Smith started his career at Middle Tennessee. With MT, he redshirted as a true freshman in 2013. Smith played in all 12 games in 2014, finishing with nine total receptions for 73 yards. He had 325 total snaps, including a season-high 58 at Minnesota.
Staggers (6-1, 190) also played at East Mississippi Community College and is originally from Woodville, Miss. Last season, Staggers caught 37 passes for 477 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore for the 8-1 MACJC North Division champions. He averaged 12.9 yards per reception with a 13.6 yards per catch average in conference play.
Southern Miss concludes the 2015 season at The Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl as the Golden Eagles take on Washington. The Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl takes place Saturday, Dec. 26, at 1:20 p.m. (CT), at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Tickets for the game can be purchased online at SouthernMissTickets.com, over the phone at 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or in person at the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office weekdays from 8 a.m., until 5 p.m.