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UAB offensive lineman Lee Dufour announced Sunday he will sign a scholarship offer from South Alabama and play for the jaguars. He said he will enroll in classes at the Mobile school in January and take part in spring practice with the Jags. (Photo by Jimmy Mitchell)

(Jimmy Mitchell)

MOBILE, Alabama -- UAB center Lee Dufour told AL.com on Sunday that he has received a scholarship offer from South Alabama and it is his intention to enroll at the school in January and join the Jaguars' football team.

Along with several of his UAB teammates, Dufour made an official visit to South Alabama over the weekend and informed the Jags' coaching staff on Sunday he would be accepting their offer.

"I went to Saraland so South Alabama is right here in my backyard,'' Dufour, a 6-foot-3, 285-pounder, said. "My offensive coordinator for UAB (Bryant Vincent, now OC for the Jags) returned to South Alabama so I know the offense. ... It's good to be back home. I know where everything is in Mobile and my family and friends are here and those are all big factors in deciding to come here.''

Dufour, a true freshman from Saraland this past season, had intended to redshirt this season, his first with the Blazers. But an injury to fifth-year senior starter Brian O'Leary in the 10th game of the year led to Dufour playing in the Blazers' final three games -- completing the Louisiana Tech game (10th game of year) and earning starting assignments in UAB's final two games of the season against Marshall and Southern Miss.

"I was kind of angry at the time because I wanted to redshirt and still have four years (of eligibility) but it also has been a blessing because (other) colleges didn't have any game film on me, so it kind of helped me out in this whole process,'' he said. "Colleges have been able to see what I can do and they based my performance off that.''

Along with South Alabama, Dufour said he was recruited by Southern Miss, Troy, Utah State, South Florida and Georgia Southern all recruited him once UAB president Ray Watts announced he was disbanding the Blazers' football program, allowing UAB players to look for other schools at which to continue their football careers and education.

Just a year removed from going through the recruiting process out of Saraland High School, Dufour, as well as many of his UAB teammates, found himself being recruited once again.

"It's been pretty crazy for me because I'm a true freshman and I had go go through all of this last year,'' Dufour said. "I had to get right back into it. Out of high school, I only had one Division I offer, though I was recruited by some other (Division I) schools. Now, those same schools (are recruiting) me again and making offers.

"It's been a crazy past two weeks, taking visits all over the place, and I've finally made my decision so now I can relax over the rest of the holiday season. So that's nice.''

He said it has been "pretty crazy'' for UAB players with eligibility remaining to find themselves being recruited once again. Dufour was one of a group of UAB players that visited South Alabama over the weekend and he said he expects some other UAB players will join him at South Alabama.

"I feel pretty confident some of them will come,'' he said.