After being left to dangle in the air by the University of Memphis, Rashaad DeJarnett signed a national letter of intent with Alabama A&M in front of his peers at Elmore County High School on Thursday morning. As the unquestioned leader for the Panthers this past season, DeJarnett hauled in 59 passes for 927 yards and 10 touchdowns during his senior campaign. The 6-foot-1 standout also discovered the end zone on the ground with five rushing scores. The coaching staff of A&M had never seen the senior receiver play in person, but that did not stop the SWAC school from offering him an athletic scholarship.
"With my confidence and with (the players) they lost, I should be able to step in and play right away," DeJarnett said about contributing as a true freshman. "I've been traveling behind him since Little League, and now he finally gets an opportunity to excel -- not only in athletics, but in education and in life," said Mable Lawrence, DeJarnett's mother. The senior become a victim of the recruiting process when Memphis fired Tommy West on Nov. 9 after nine years of running the program and hired LSU assistant Larry Porter later that month.
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AAMU Bulldogs signee RaShaad DeJarnett, Elmore County High School, AL
Note to Fans: We are very happy to see Rashaad DeJarnett sign with a SWAC program. He doesn't realize it today, but he increased his probability of earning a Bachelors Degree by 50-75 percent in signing with AAMU. Yes, the young man is talented on the football field but as a student-athlete he will need to excel in both venues--especially education. Get in the weight room young man, hit those text books hard in preparation for college and forget all that bull---- the Memphis, Western Kentucky, UAB and USM recruiters told you to get your commitment. Recruiting is ov-er!
I certainly would love to observe his first Bulldog practice in pads in the fall, as a few junior and senior linebackers give him his first lessons in humility for his freshman-like statements: "When (Memphis) dropped out and had that coaching change, they didn't want the same guys," DeJarnett explained. "So I had to downgrade to Division I-AA -- that's another reason I know I can go in and play at that level, because of the competition" or “I knew I was a Division I player, but with the coaching change there it was frustrating,” said DeJarnett. “With my ability, I think I can see a lot of playing time as a true freshman.”
Mr. DeJarnett will soon get a memorable lesson that playing in the SWAC is not a downgrade in competition from Memphis. The difference is 63 scholarship student-athletes vs. 85 scholarship student-athletes and 20 preferred walk-on athletes at the Football Bowl Subdivision (1-A) programs. He will learn very quickly that everyone on the AAMU team was a star in high school and was recruited by some big brand FBS or FCS program at some point in their career. The MEAC and SWAC schools receive FBS and FCS transfers every year, and some never make any significant contributions on the football field, if they make the cut. Nothing is guaranteed in college football--other than competition.
We look forward to seeing Bulldog Coach Anthony Jones and staff develop this young man into a productive SWAC and FCS player. 2010 is going to be a fun season in SWAC/MEAC football.
--beepbeep
Description: Truman Franklin hook and ladder pass to Tanner Falk who pitches to Rashaad Dejarnett for a 75 yd TD vs. Alabama Christian Academy
