PHILADELPHIA – Former University of South Alabama football player Jeremy Reaves will have an opportunity to continue his career at the professional level after it was announced on Saturday that he has signed a free-agent contract with the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles.

A four-year letterwinner who played multiple positions in the defensive backfield, Reaves concluded his Jaguar career as the school's all-time leader with 203 solo tackles, eight interceptions, nine forced fumbles and 22 total passes broken up as well as second with 301 total stops.  He also ended up among the top 10 on the all-time record list in assisted tackles (tie-5th,98), tackles for loss (7th, 20½) and fumble recoveries (tie-8th, 2).

Just the second member of the program to earn all-Sun Belt Conference accolades on three occasions — and the first to do so on the defensive side of the ball — Reaves was also the first Jag ever to pick up an individual league award after he was selected the Defensive Player of the Year last fall.  During his time with the program, he was twice selected the conference Defensive Player of the Week while earning Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honors once as well.

As a senior, the Pensacola, Fla., native was also voted first-team all-Sun Belt after posting a team-high 104 total stops — including seven for loss — three interceptions, eight other passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries while playing safety.  He split time at cornerback and safety his junior year, finishing with 85 tackles highlighted by 5½ behind the line, three interceptions and seven passes broken up to receive first-team all-conference recognition for the first time, earning second-team all-league accolades in 2015 following a season in which he collected 96 stops with eight for loss, a pair of interceptions, six passes defensed and three forced fumbles.

Reaves is the 17th member of the South Alabama football program to sign a contract with an NFL franchise since its inception in 2009.  Two former Jaguar tight ends are currently active on NFL rosters: Gerald Everett — a second-round selection in last spring's NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams — and Braedon Bowman, who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers last year.

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).

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics.  Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/sports/2013/3/13/Gridiron%20Club.aspx?id=22

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