Louisiana Tech UAB Football

Louisiana Tech defensive back Adairius Barnes (21) and defensive back Kentrell Brice (23) try to stop UAB wide receiver Josh Magee (9) in the first half in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (Photo/al.com/Hal Yeager)

(Hal Yeager)

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Another former UAB offensive player will be joining the South Alabama football team. But this one is also a former South Alabama football player as well.

Wide receiver Josh Magee is returning to the Jaguars' program after spending last season with the Blazers. Magee started his college career as a walk-on at Alabama, sitting out the Crimson Tide's 2012 season. He transferred to South Alabama and had to sit out the 2013 season.

He figured to play a role with the Jaguars as both a wide receiver and kick returner, but in the summer before the 2014 season he asked to be released from his scholarship so he could move closer to his Hoover home because his father was ill. South Alabama granted the release and after he joined the UAB program the NCAA allowed granted him eligibility right away and he played the past season with the Blazers.

With the UAB program dissolved, Magee was recruited by several schools. He chose to return to South Alabama where he will return to a program with which he is familiar and an offense led by Bryant Vincent, his offensive coordinator at UAB this past season.

"I was comfortable at South and I wouldn't have left if it wasn't for my dad being ill,'' Magee said. "And I have a good relationship with coach Vincent. It was the best opportunity for me to come back (to South Alabama) and try to make it to the next level.''

Magee said he also had offers from Southern Miss and Middle Tennessee. He is expected to enroll in January and go through spring drills with the Jags. Magee is the seventh former UAB player to join the Jags' program. Quarterbacks Cody Clements and Austin Chipoletti, offensive linemen Lee Dufour and Cameron Blankenship, wide receiver-running back D.J. Vinson and tight end Gerald Everett have previously announced they will join the South Alabama team.

"That was a big part of my decision,'' Magee said. "I wanted to be able to play with some of the guys that I had been with at UAB, guys I had gone through that struggle with at UAB.''

Magee, a 5-foot-10, 170-pounder, will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. This past season he played in all 12 games for the Blazers, catching 18 passes for 342 yards, a 19.0 yards per catch average and three touchdowns.