MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones announced Thursday that Matt Floyd has signed a Grant-In-Aid and will join the program this fall.

Floyd comes to the Jaguars from South Florida with two years of eligibility remaining and will be able to play immediately.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of Milton, Fla., was voted a team captain for the Bulls prior to the beginning of last season.  He started the opener for USF against McNeese State, going 9-of-20 for 72 yards, and in two years — he sat out as a redshirt during the 2011 campaign — would complete 66-of-130 pass attempts for 538 yards while making eight appearances.  As a redshirt freshman, Floyd connected on 20-of-35 attempts for 175 yards at Miami (Fla.) while posting career highs in completions, pass attempts and passing yards after going 21-of-39 for 176 yards in first career start at Cincinnati.

Off the field, Floyd received the Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award — honoring a collegiate football player from Florida or South Carolina each year that has impacted the lives of others through giving and community service — at the Premier Players of College Football banquet in 2013.  He was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team last season as well as to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team in 2012.

A starter for three seasons at Milton High, he recorded 4,988 yards passing, 37 touchdown passes and 10 scores on the ground during his career.  Floyd led the area with 2,277 passing yards — completing 150-of-272 attempts while throwing for 17 touchdowns — as a senior to collect Super Senior honors while being named to the IMG Academy All-Madden and first-team all-area squads.  As a junior, he posted 1,711 yards and 14 TDs while completing 112-of-205 passes to be named second-team all-area, and he recorded 1,000 passing yards and 10 scores — five passing, five rushing — his sophomore season.

"We recruited Matt out of high school, he was the No. 1 guy on our board at quarterback," said Jones.  "He ended up going to South Florida, so having this opportunity to get him will be great for our program not only at quarterback but because of his character and leadership skills — he is a high-quality young man.  Matt is a dual-threat quarterback; he fits what we do because he can run and throw, he has a strong arm and good size.  We feel like we've got a guy who can fit into our scheme offensively."

The Jaguars finished 6-6 last fall, tying for third in the Sun Belt Conference with a 4-3 mark.  USA opens the 2014 season on Saturday, Sept. 6, with a 1 p.m. (CDT) kickoff at Kent State.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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