It’s been a tough week for Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora. Just days after losing freshman Steve McNair, Jr. to a junior college because of academics, he’s losing former Alabama cornerback, and one-time blue-chip recruit Alonzo Lawrence. This time, Fedora’s not sure why the Golden Eagles are losing a player.
“I haven’t seen him or talked to him, so I don’t know, to be honest with you,” Fedora told the Clarion-Ledger. “There’s nothing we did on our side.”
It’s been a star-crossed journey for Lawrence, who was best known as a recruit for locking down star receiver Julio Jones on the All-Star circuit. Ranked one of the top players in the state of Mississippi, he had offers from most of the SEC, and chose Alabama over both home state schools, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee and Miami.
Lawrence never played a game at Alabama, redshirting his freshman season before being dropped by then head coach Nick Saban, who named Lawrence and three others as players that “violated some type of team rule or policy and were not invited back on our team.” Sitting out the 2009 season after transferring, Lawrence had three seasons of eligibility left to play at USM.
His high school coach says that Lawrence is likely headed to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. “I think it’s his only opportunity,” his coach said.