While the stats during his freshman and sophomore seasons won’t blow anyone away, the University of Louisville’s latest recruit will present a good target for UofL quarterbacks.
Jamari Staples, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound wide receiver, is transferring to UofL immediately and will be available for the college 2015 football season. He played his first two seasons at Alabama-Birmingham, which recently decided to drop its football program.
Hampered by an injury, Staples had 190 yards on nine catches in seven games this past season. As a freshman, he recorded 458 yards on 41 receptions and four touchdowns.
Garrick McGee, UofL’s offensive coordinator, was head coach at UAB in 2013 when Staples committed to UAB. McGee said at the time, “To put that name on the board changes the whole face of this recruiting class,” McGee said. “It’s a class that can take us to another level, but when you add Staples, it turns it into one of the greatest classes that I bet we’ll have.”
Staples was named a Class 4A first-team all-state selection by Alabama Sports Writers Association after his senior year at Central High School.
He was also in contact with Auburn, Florida and Oklahoma before making his decision to play at Louisville.