Gulf Coast sends 13 players to 4-year schools, five to FBS programs

PERKINSTON -- Tevaris McCormick hadn't even arrived on campus in Perkinston when he injured his foot.

When the former Biloxi High receiver, whose strength is his speed, called Gulf Coast coach Chad Huff with the bad news he feared the worst.

"I was scared. I thought he was going to quit on me," McCormick said Wednesday. "I'm thinking, 'oh please don't cut me.' But he didn't.

"When (the injury) happened you always have that thought in your mind that you're not going to bounce back. Sometimes you just have to tell yourself to never give up on yourself."

That was three years ago. Wednesday morning, the redshirt sophomore was one of 13 Gulf Coast Bulldogs to sign with four-year universities during the first day of the junior college mid-year signing period.

Along with McCormick, who signed with Troy, four other Bulldogs inked with Football Bowl Subdivision programs. Safety Neiko Robinson and linebacker Romello Riley signed with nearby South Alabama; quarterback A.J. Erdely and offensive lineman Brandon Hill signed with Alabama-Birmingham; Defensive lineman Chris Johnson signed with Western Kentucky.

Other signees included linebacker James Graves and long snapper Austin McIntosh following former Gulf Coast coach Steve Campbell to Central Arkansas, defensive lineman Joe Green (West Alabama), defensive back Alex Feazelle (Mississippi College), offensive lineman Malik Moore (Arkansas-Monticello), former Ocean Springs receiver Ishmel Morrow (West Florida) and offensive lineman Fiante Weir (West Florida).

Wednesday's big class comes one year after Gulf Coast sent 17 players to four-year schools, including seven to the SEC.

Both Hill and Erdely, who threw for 1,881 yards and 14 touchdowns, are in a unique situation, signing with a program that won't play an actual game until the 2017 season.

Hill, who signed with Alabama out of high school, previously said signing with the Blazers is a chance to make history. Wednesday, the hulking lineman expanded a bit.

"If you look at all the guys who are signing today to go to UAB out of JUCO, we've got talent," he said. "... It's going to be a big JUCO class. We're going to get there and ball out."

He also said the year away from the field, which won't count against their eligibility, is a big plus.

"It's a better opportunity," he said. "In that year they can make you stronger, they can make you the player you want to be. ... I think it's going to help me be the player I want to be."

McCormick, who held offers from Colorado State, South Alabama and Arkansas State, among other schools, racked up 195 yards receiving and another 101 rushing with seven total touchdowns. He expects to be utilized similarly by the Trojans.

"I feel like they can use me a lot in the spread, keep me in space," he said. "I'm a very quick guy so if they keep me in space I can do a lot of good things for their program. I feel like I can do a lot for them."

Defensive leader Neiko Robinson enrolled at Penn State out of high school before transferring to Gulf Coast. The sophomore safety recorded 44 tackles and was second on the team with six pass breakups.

He expects to play right away at South Alabama.

"I think I can be a leader on the back end, which is important with any team," he said. "I think I'm going to play a big role in their defense."

The same goes for Johnson, a sophomore defensive lineman who recorded 37 tackles with one sack, six tackles for loss and a 41-yard fumble return.

"(Western Kentucky) feels like I can come right in and fit their scheme," he said. "They need a veteran, someone with a lot of experience, because they're losing three defensive tackles after this season.

"I need to come in and start."

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 11:47 AM with the headline "Gulf Coast sends 13 players to 4-year schools, five to FBS programs ."