Menzie inks with Tide
Alabama signee Dequan Menzie with Copiah-Lincoln head coach Glen Davis on Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
Dequan Menzie, (5’11”, 200 lbs.) the highly-touted cornerback/punt returner from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, MS, has signed his Letter of Intent with the University of Alabama today.
Menzie, who committed to the Crimson Tide over the weekend, said Wednesday that he chose UA because he “had a good time at Alabama. . . better than at Ole Miss” and that “. . . my mom also liked it.” Tuscaloosa is about a 3 hour drive from his hometown of Columbus, GA.
Menzie earned NJCAA second team All-American honors in 2009. As a cornerback he recorded 51 tackles (36 solo, 15 assists). He scored a touchdown on a fake punt as a member of the Wolves’ special teams, while also returning punts.
Those numbers were good enough to earn him the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges’ Most Valuable Defensive Back, NJCAA All-Region 23 and MACJC first team All-State.
Menzie attended Carver High School in Columbus, GA. He joined coach Glen Davis and Co-Lin Wolves in 2008, recording 28 tackles and 5 interceptions while working toward a degree in biology.
“I’ve learned a lot from the coaches, players and teachers here. Co-Lin has been a second chance for me, and I’ve really enjoyed the experience,” Menzie said Wednesday.
After leaning towards Ole Miss as late as last week, Menzie was sure he’d be in Tuscaloosa after a weekend visit with Alabama coaches. Florida State, Georgia, Mississippi State, North Carolina and Tennessee also showed interest.
He said coach Nick Saban is not the tough guy everyone suspects he is. “Most people think he’s a tough and conceited type of guy, but when you get around him and start to know him, you realize he’s a good person,” Menzie explained.
Menzie said that he expects to play a position in the defensive backfield of the Crimson Tide, who are coming off their first BCS championship in 2009. The Tide has lost six starters from the defense and is looking for Menzie to help the team maintain it’s ferocity.
Asked if he could see himself in next year’s BCS championship game, Menzie said “I’m not really focused on that right now. I’m just happy to be headed to Alabama.”
Menzie graduates from Copiah-Lincoln in May and will enroll at Alabama soon after.
