Steve Irvine Updates UAB’s 2025 Portal Additions

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - January 15, 2024

A large group of UAB football transfer portal additions joined the program this week. UAB will officially announce the new players at some point this week.

It’s possible that more players could be on the official list but here is a look at players who are expected to be among the group:

OFFENSE

QB Ryder Burton, 6-2, 201, West Virginia

The Springville, Utah native spent a season at BYU and a season at West Virginia. He did not get game action in either season. … Was rated a three-star recruit by 247 Sports as a senior at Springville High. Threw for 4,273 yards and 48 yards over his final two high school seasons. Led his team to the state championship game in 2021. … Should have three years of eligibility remaining.

RB Jevon Jackson, 5-8, 205, UTEP

Decatur, Alabama native, who was an all-state player at Austin High. … Played three seasons at Austin Peay and one season at UTEP.  Rushed for 1,980 yards and 19 touchdowns in 37 career games at his two stops. … Was selected on two FCS All-American teams in his third season at Austin Peay. … Should have one year of eligibility remaining.

WR AJ Johnson, 6-3, 195, ETSU

The New Orleans native played one season at ETSU after spending two seasons at Gardner Webb. He played 3 games in a redshirt season at Gardner Webb in 2022 and followed with 18 catches for 218 yards with two touchdowns in 2023. … Was the leading receiver at ETSU with 40 catches for 662 yards with six touchdowns in 2023. … Should have two years of eligibility remaining.

WR Kaleb Brown, 5-10, 197, Iowa

Played his first college season at Ohio State before transferring to Iowa. Caught one pass for five yards while playing in five games at Ohio State in 2022. His best college season came in 2023 when he had 22 catches for 215 yards and a touchdown. Played in just three games before announcing he was entering the portal in 2024. … A former four-star recruit at St. Rita of Cascia in Chicago. Missed all but one game as a senior because of an injury. … Should have two years of eligibility remaining.

 
WR Evan McCray, 6-1, 190, Wingate

Over the past two seasons, the Raleigh, North Carolina native caught 89 passes for 1,198 yards with nine touchdowns for Division II Wingate University. Had four catches for 113 yards with a touchdown in first round playoff loss to Virginia Union. Seven of his touchdown receptions came in 2024. … Should have one year of eligibility remaining.

TE Antonio Ferguson, 6-3, 225, FIU

Played one season at East Carolina and another at FIU. Played in four games as a true freshman at ECU but didn’t record a catch. Last season, he had seven catches for 90 yards with a touchdown. The touchdown catch came against Jacksonville State. … Helped Apopka High reached back-to-back Florida state championship games. … Should have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

TE Elijah Lagg, 6-3, 237, Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) CC

Helped Co-Lin finish 15-6 over the past two seasons. Caught 7 passes for 85 yards over two seasons. … Was a two-time all-state selection at linebacker for Mountain Home High in Arkansas. He also played fullback in high school and was a state champion wrestler. … Should have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

OL Deivi Martinez, 6-5, 315, Dodge City (Kansas) CC

Played left tackle for a Dodge City CC team that finished 6-4 in 2024. He also played at Ellsworth Community College. … The Grand Rapids, Michigan native can play guard or tackle. … Should have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

DEFENSE

DL JaMichael Rogers, 6-3, 250, Miles College

Had a breakout season in 2024 to help his team win the SIAC title and advance to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Had 53 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks this past season. Played eight games combined in the previous two seasons. … Was an all-around standout in three varsity seasons at Bessemer City High. … Should have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

DL Jelani Davis, 6-2, 285, Southern

Played at Dodge City (Kansas) Community College in 2021, Jackson State in 2022 and the past two seasons at Southern. Had his best college season in 2024 with 24 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 7 tackles for loss. Southern finished 8-5 and closed the season with a loss to Jackson State in the SWAC Championship Game. … He is a St. Louis, Missouri native. … Should have one season of eligibility remaining.

DL Jasire Peterson, 6-4, 281, Rutgers

Was a redshirt at Rutgers in 2023 and played in one game this past season. … Was rated a 4-star recruit by 247 Sports as a senior at Union City High in New Jersey. Played offensive and defensive tackle in high school. On defense, he had 52 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a senior. … Should have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

 DL Denver Warren, 6-2, 300, Sam Houston St.

Well-traveled Chicago native has played at Bowling Green, Independence (Kansas) Community College, New Mexico State and Sam Houston State. Coming off his best college season after contributing 25 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks for a Sam Houston team that finished 10-3 after beating Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl. Warren had four tackles and a pass breakup in the bowl game. … Attended two high schools, graduating from Brother Rice High in Chicago. … Should have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

DL Amorie Morrison, 6-4, 260, ODU

Played in all four seasons at ODU, contributing 81 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and six sacks in 31 games. Was a Conference USA All-Freshman selection in 2021 after compiling 32 tackles, 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss. Missed all but the first three games of the 2022 season after getting injured. … Was a three-star prospect at Salem High in Virginia Beach. … Should have one season of eligibility remaining.

DL Nigel Tate, 6-3, 320, Boston College

Spent four seasons at Boston College but only played in games in 2021 and 2023. Played in four games in 2021 as a true freshman and was credited with two tackles. Had eight tackles in 2023. Did not play in any games this past season. … Was a three-star recruit out of the Bullis School in Washington, D.C. … Should have one season of eligibility remaining.

LB Devin Hightower, 6-1 232, Rhode Island

Played in 2020 at Michigan State before transferring to Cincinnati. Spent two years at Cincinnati before going to Rhode Island, where he played two seasons. Had 100 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 14 games for Rhode Island this past season. Rhode Island finished 11-3 after a 17-10 loss at Mercer in the NCAA FCS playoffs second round. … Missed the 2022 season at Cincinnati due to an injury. … Was one of the top players in Ohio as a senior at Twinsburg High. … Should have one season of eligibility remaining.

LB Calvin Pitcher, 6-1, 225, Idaho state

Played four games this season, compiling 20 tackles, before a lower body injury ended his season. Participated in 34 games, while playing safety, at Idaho State. His career numbers included 185 tackles. In 2023, he had 87 tackles, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception to earn All-Big Sky honors. … Played in high school at Corona Centennial in Southern California. … Should have one year or eligibility remaining.

LB Eli Ennis, 6-2, 205, Nicholls State

One of the top FCS linebackers in the country. In three seasons, the Ohatchee, Alabama native had 200 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three interceptions, 11 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In 2024, he had 111 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the top FCS defensive player in the nation. … He earned Freshman All-American honors in 2022 and All-American honors this past season. .. Ennis was selected Class 3A All-State at running back after rushing for 2,287 yards and 39 touchdowns as a senior. … Should have one season of eligibility remaining.

DB Pierre Royster, 6-2, 200, Saint Francis

Played two seasons at Norfolk State and two seasons at Saint Francis. Both are FCS schools. Had 36 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and pass breakup in 17 games at Norfolk State. Had 110 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, four pass breakups and a forced fumble in 21 games at Saint Francis. … Was an all-state player at Lake Taylor High in Norfolk, Virginia. … Royster, who can play nickel or safety, should have one season of eligibility remaining.

DB Perry Fisher, 6-3, 198, Maryland

Spent three seasons at Maryland, redshirting after playing in three games in 2022. The lanky cornerback played in 11 games with 10 tackles, two pass breakups, a sack and fumble recovery. His best game that season came in the Music City Bowl against Auburn when he had three tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups. He had an extended role in 2024, contributing 27 tackles, one tackle for loss and two pass breakups. … Played quarterback and defensive back in two seasons at Lincoln High in Tallahassee, Florida. On offense, he accounted or 3,805 yards and 47 touchdowns in two seasons. … Should have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

DB Dasheen Jackson, 6-2, 211, Alabama State

Played two seasons at Hutchison Community College in Kansas, compiling 74 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, three pass  breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception in 21 games. He played one game at safety for Troy in 2023. Jackson spent last season at Alabama State, where he had 29 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception and pass breakup in 10 games. … Played in high school at Carver High in Columbus, Georgia and Russell County High in Alabama.

DB Tamarion Crumpley, 6-1, 195, Pitt

Spent four seasons at Pitt. Played in 23 games over the past two seasons on special teams and as a reserve cornerback. Was credited with nine tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. Did not play in a game during his first two seasons at Pitt. … Was a three-star prospect at Winton Woods High in Cincinnati.

 DB Josh Baka, 6-1, 205, Kent State

Was the team leader in tackles for a winless Kent State team in 2024. Had 90 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass deflections and a fumble recovery. Overall, he had 118 tackles in 24 games over the past three seasons. He played in three games in 2022 and was able to use a redshirt season. … The Ottawa, Ontario native played high school in Canada before finishing at Saint Thomas More in Connecticut. … Should have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

DB Jalen Cheek, Boston College

Can play cornerback or nickel. … Was at Boston College four seasons with a redshirt as a true freshman in 2021. Had 33 tackles, one interception and four pass breakups in 20 games. Started in six games during the 2021 season. … Was a three-star recruit at Winslow Township High in Sicklerville, New Jersey.