May 21, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB has added a pair of football prospects to its 2009 recruiting class, Blazers head coach Neil Callaway has announced.

Jonathan Perry, a prep quarterback from Dunbar High School in Baltimore, Md., has signed with UAB, as has safety A.J. Wilson, a Texas product who spent last season at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas.

Wilson, who will enroll this summer at UAB, will have three years of eligibility remaining.

The 6-2, 195-pound Perry was among the top quarterbacks in Maryland last fall, throwing for nearly 1,800 yards with 19 touchdown passes. Perry has helped lead Dunbar to three consecutive Class 1A state titles. Following the 2008 season in which the Poets finished with an 11-1 record en route to their state crown, Perry played in the Maryland Crab Bowl, an event that draws the top senior football players throughout the state.

In the 2008 state championship game, Perry engineered a game-winning, 89-yard drive in the final two minutes, culminating with his 34-yard touchdown pass with only two seconds remaining. Perry becomes the ninth Dunbar senior from last year's team to sign with a Division I program.

Meanwhile, UAB has also signed Wilson who was a standout on defense in 2008 while attending Trinity Valley CC. Wilson, who graduated from Marshall (Texas) High School in 2008, made an early impact in his one season on the Cardinals' defensive unit.

The 6-0, 180-pound Wilson ranked third on the team in tackles as a freshman with 58 total stops, including 47 solo hits.

UAB opens its 2009 season on Sept. 5th when the Blazers play host to Conference USA foe Rice at Legion Field.