University of South Alabama Athletics

Mississippi Highlights (2009): Sat out as a redshirt last fall as the Rebels posted a 9-4 mark after defeating 18th-ranked Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl ... Played for both teams in the Rebels’ spring game, completing 5-of-7 passing attempts for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

High School Highlights: Played at Fort Meade High in Maryland as a senior ... Threw for 2,243 yards and 24 touchdowns, and ran for 668 yards and nine more scores to be named an All-American by both PrepStar and SuperPrep magazines ... Also selected all-state, all-county and all-metro following his only season with the Mustangs ... Ranked among the top 30 quarterbacks in the country by ESPN and Scout.com ... Rated ninth in Maryland and 11th in the Mid-Atlantic region by SuperPrep ... Rivals.com had him as the 11th-best player in the state as well as the No. 11 dual-threat quarterback nationally ... As a junior at Faith Academy in Mobile, threw for nearly 1,500 yards and ran for more than 600 more while accounting for 25 total touchdowns (17 passing, eight rushing) ... Following his one season with the Rams, participated in The Elite 11 Quarterback Camp ... Attended Blount High as a freshman and sophomore.

Personal: Full name is Raymond Lavelle Cotton ... Born Dec. 22, 1990, in San Diego, Calif. ... Son of Raymond and Gwen Cotton ... Father is a member of the Coast Guard and was transferred prior to the start of his senior year in high school ... Favorite movie is “Rush Hour 2” ... Favorite book is “Holes” ... Favorite athlete is Serena Williams ... Favorite musical artist is Pimp C ... Favorite food is fried chicken ... Favorite subject is history ... Likes to play video games in his free time ... Also recruited by Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Arkansas, Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma and Oklahoma State ... Major is undecided.