University of South Alabama Athletics

Jaguar Highlights: Named preseason first-team all-Sun Belt Conference guard by Phil Steele Publications ... Begins preseason practice listed as the starting right guard ... Earned the program’s award as the most improved academically following the spring season.

As A Junior (2013): Sat out the season after suffering injury in the weight room over the summer.

As A Sophomore (2012): One of two individuals to start all 13 contests on offense ... Had the top grade on the team while being credited with 76 knockdown blocks ... Earned a mark of 90 percent or higher on six occasions ... Best grade of the season was 94 percent against Middle Tennessee ... Was on the field for all but 15 of USA’s 938 plays, allowing just one sack while protecting the quarterback’s blind side…Was not called for a hold or a false start all year.

As A Redshirt Freshman (2011): Recorded 45 knockdown blocks while serving as the only underclassman to start a game on the offensive line ... Graded out at 70 percent or better following each of the final eight contests of the year ... Received the highest grade on the line twice, against North Carolina State (78%) and Henderson (Ark.) State (season-best 87%) ... Also paced the team in pancakes in back-to-back outings against Tennessee-Martin and Georgia State with five and a season-high eight knockdowns, respectively ... Finished with a 77 percent mark against the former and 72 percent grade in the match-up with the latter ... Collected seven pancake blocks and earned a 74 percent mark at Kent State ... Credited with five knockdown blocks in win over Lamar and at N.C. State ... Received a 77 percent grade after season finale against Cal Poly, also grading out better than 70 percent in games with Mississippi Valley State (74%) and Texas-San Antonio (71%).

As A Freshman (2010): The only true freshman to earn a start on the offensive line, appeared in all 10 games while starting each of the final nine ... Ranked third on the squad with 41 knockdown blocks ... Earned a grade of 70 percent or higher on six occasions ... Tied for the highest mark on the line after being credited with an 82 percent grade following Georgia State victory ... Had a season-high 89 percent grade against Edward Waters (Fla.), earning an 84 percent score the following week — to go along with four pancakes — in win over Kentucky Wesleyan ... Graded out at 75 percent after season-ending win over Arkansas-Monticello and given a 73 percent grade after posting five knockdowns against Henderson (Ark.) State ... Recorded a season-high nine pancake blocks in road win at Lamar, adding six — along with a 75 percent mark — against Missouri S&T and five in victory at UC Davis ... Made first start of career in win over Nicholls State.

High School Highlights: Earned three letters, starting every season, at Petal High ... Played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic following his senior season ... Helped lead the Panthers to a 17-7 mark and a berth in the state 6A playoffs the last two seasons ... Named first-team all-state, all-district and all-area after PHS finished 7-5 while advancing to the state playoffs last year ... As a junior, was selected first-team all-district and all-area ... Picked up two letters in weightlifting — his highest squat total was a school-record 635 pounds — and track, and also lettered in baseball one year.

Personal: Full name is Melvin Maurice Meggs Jr. ... Born March 16, 1992, in Hattiesburg, Miss. ... Son of Melvin Sr. and Lillie Meggs ... Oldest of three children ... Favorite movie is “Friday” ... Favorite book is “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’” ... Favorite team is the New Orleans Saints ... Favorite athlete is Drew Brees ... Favorite musical artist is Drake ... Enjoys soul food ... Favorite subject is biology ... Would like to earn a master’s degree in business and one day run his own company ... Also recruited by Southern Mississippi, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe ... A management major.