The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Watching former Blazers in the Senior Bowl this week reminds me of what could have been....and what can still be.

Just doing the inventory of some of those UAB football players who still had eligibility left when they shut us down:

TE Gerald Everett (South Alabama) is on the South team at the 2017 Senior Bowl and is projected as high as a 2nd round draft pick.

WR Jamari Staples (Louisivlle) is on the North team at the 2017 Senior Bowl and is also expected to play on Sundays.

OT Victor Salako (OK State) started two years for the Cowboys and was a 2nd team All-Big 12 pick this year. He will be playing in the East-West Shrine Game and is definitely an NFL prospect.

RB Jordan Howard (Indiana/Chicago Bears) was first team All-Big 10 last year as a junior and left early for the NFL draft. He was the second leading rusher in the NFL this season, and will be playing in the Pro Bowl this week.

LB Jake Ganus (Georgia) played in the 2016 Senior Bowl after leading the Dogs in tackle. He also earned the Vince Dooley Award as the team MVP at Georgia in his one season. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings but was released on the final day of roster cuts.

QB Jeremiah Briscoe (Sam Houston State) - set several NCAA passing records in 2016, was All-Southland Conference, and won the Walter Payton Award, which is the "Heisman" of FCS division.

S Roland Milligan (Toledo) was one of the stars for 2015 Rockets team that was ranked #24 and won their bowl game. Signed with Dallas Cowboys as undrafted free agent, but did not make the roster.

DL Jontavius Morris (Western Kentucky) led the Toppers in tackles in 2015 and signed with the Tampa Bay Bucs, but didn't make the final roster.

Other players who were starters:
DB Bobby Baker (Ga. State- 1st team All-Sun Belt, 2016)
WR Josh Magee (South Alabama - 2nd team All-Sun Belt, 2016)
S Kalen Jackson (South Alabama - Hon. Mention All-Sun Belt, 2016)
LB Alonzo McGee (Ga. State - Hon. Mention, All-Sun Belt, 2016)
LB T.J. McCallum (Western Kentucky - Hon. Mention, All-CUSA, 2015)
QB Cody Clements (South Alabama)
OL Cameron Blankenship (South Alabama)
OL Roscoe Byrd (Georgia Southern)
DB Kelton Brackett (UMass)
WR/RB DJ Vinson (South Alabama)
S Desman Carter (Montana)
CB Lamarcus Farmer (Troy)
DL Robert Mondie (Arkansas State)
OL Kelepi Folau (Georgia State)
OL Daniel Anousheh (Coastal Carolina)
WR Darius Powell (Delta State)
DL Josh Smith (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
CB Jamal Hundley (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
OL Hayden Naumann (Samford)
LB Derek Slaughter (Samford)
DL Parish Huddleston (UT Martin)
DE Chris Rabb (West Georgia)

And two players who started elsewhere....and came back home!
WR Collin Lisa (Buffalo)
TE/OL/DE Steve Pickren (Chattanooga)

But that is in the past, and can't be undone, even as I still haven't gotten over what they did to us. On the other hand, we now have a schedule for 2017 of actual games, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Go Blazers!

Fire Ray Watts.

Great recruiting by Magee and Clark