Jayden Hobson, a Mississippi State lineman transfer, joins the South Alabama football team.
Monday saw the addition of former Mississippi State offensive lineman Jayden Hobson to South Alabama’s transfer portal commitment list.
From Tuscaloosa’s Hillcrest High School, Hobson (6-foot-5, 295 pounds) was a 3-star recruit in the 2023 class. Having redshirted as a true freshman, he still has four years left to be eligible.
Following fellow offensive lineman Ethan Hubbard (Duke), linebacker Darius McKenzie (Maine), safety Trent Singleton (Mississippi State), tight end Rodrecas Gibbs (Texas Southern), outside linebacker Courtney McBride (Florida Atlantic), defensive lineman Tre’Darius Brown (Texas Tech), and wide receiver Micah Woods (Buffalo), Hobson is the Jaguars’ eighth portal commitment in the 2024 spring cycle. A few additional transfers are anticipated by the Jaguars before the summer session starts on May 29.
Hobson is a part of the Mississippi State alumni network that reaches South Alabama, which also includes Singleton, current safety Wesley Miller of the Jaguars, and offensive linemen Reed Buys and Lucas Taylor. Jay Hopson, the coach of the USA cornerbacks, served as the Bulldogs’ Director of High School Relations in 2021 and 2022.
Following the 2023 season, South Alabama lost five offensive linemen—including starting right tackle Adrein Strickland and starting center Reggie Smith—to graduation or the transfer portal. Overdue transfer After beginning the program in December, Malachi Preciado was the starting center by the end of spring practice.
Players who are already in the transfer portal can commit to and sign with new schools at any time; however, the system closed to new submissions on May 1. During the January portal period, the Jaguars signed Preciado and six other players: safety Lardarius Webb Jr. (Oklahoma State), kicker Laith Marjan (East Carolina), defensive lineman Bryston Dixon (Georgia Tech), outside linebacker Aakil Washington (Liberty), tight end Andrew Bench (Bowling Green), and wide receiver Noah Toster (Chowan).
Summer exercises in South Alabama start in early June. The Jaguars play their home opener against North Texas on August 31, 2024.
