I held off posting this story here because Cotton spent a few days looking around at other schools but he showed up at USA today.
He's a four-star quarterback who challenged for the starting job at Ole Miss this spring. As a matter of fact, the reason he left was because he thought he had outplayed the guy who came out #1 and believes that the staff at Ole Miss was playing favorites.
He set a Ole Miss QB record with a bench press of 365 lbs, can run the 40 in around 4.5 seconds and can throw the ball 79 yards in the air. We'll take him.


Raymond Cotton gets release from Ole Miss, coming to USA
Published: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 7:55 PM Updated: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 8:55 PM
Mike Herndon, Press-Register Mike Herndon, Press-Register
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raymondcotton.jpgMike Herndon/Press-RegisterFormer Ole Miss QB Raymond Cotton is headed to USA, his father says

Raymond Cotton, who led Faith Academy to an AISA final as a junior before moving to Maryland, is coming back to Mobile.

Cotton received his release from Ole Miss on Thursday and plans to sign with South Alabama, according to his father, Raymond Cotton Sr.
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"Even though he competed for the starting job, he just never felt comfortable (at Ole Miss)," the elder Cotton said Thursday evening. "He had many options, but he said he was going to be happiest in Mobile, Alabama. ... He's excited about becoming a Jaguar."

Cotton's father said the release from Ole Miss was good only for South Alabama. USA officials could not comment Thursday as no scholarship papers have yet been signed.

Cotton, who originally committed to Auburn before changing his mind and signing with Ole Miss, threw for 2,243 yards and 24 touchdowns at Fort Meade, Md., as a senior. The redshirt freshman threw for 178 yards and two scores in the Grove Bowl spring game, but was hampered by a partially torn labrum and came out of spring drills No. 2 on the depth chart behind sophomore Nathan Stanley.

JUCO transfer Randall Mackey is the only other quarterback on Ole Miss' roster, although several outlets are reporting that suspended Oregon signal-caller Jeremiah Masoli is set to transfer in as a graduate student and join the team as a walk-on.

As South Alabama has not yet reached Football Bowl Subdivision status, Cotton will not lose any eligibility. USA currently has three quarterbacks on the roster -- 2009 starter Myles Gibbon, Brennan Sim and Gabe Graham -- and two more in the incoming freshman class, C.J. Bennett of Tampa (Fla.) Alonso and Calvin Jenkins of Auburn High.

Here are some other quotes about Cotton:

Some spring review comments about Cotton from Ole Miss' Official Website:
"Sophomore Nathan Stanley, who saw limited duty last season, and freshman Raymond Cotton, who was redshirted, took the majority of the snaps during the spring, and Stanley emerged as the potential starter. Cotton’s progress was limited due to a sore shoulder, brought on by a tear in the labrum of his right shoulder."

"Raymond showed signs of just being an excellent quarterback, because he’s so strong and fast. He’s 6-4, 228, so he is a real physical specimen. He can run the option. He can sprint out. He can do a few things like that to keep teams off balance. He’s just got to keep learning and hopefully we can manage his arm."


Spring Game (The Grove Bowl):

Quarterback Raymond Cotton, playing with a sore throwing shoulder, was impressive in selected series with both squads. Cotton was 5-of-7 for 178 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Grandy.


"We're not afraid to play Raymond Cotton," Nutt said. "He's can rise to the occasion. We will make a decision on his physical status in the next two weeks. The best case scenario is Raymond can rehab and play, but we're going to do what is best for Raymond."


From 04/02:

A bright spot Friday was wide receiver Ja-Mes Logan with a pair of touchdown catches. The redshirt freshman hauled in an eight-yard scoring pass from Raymond Cotton and a 20-yarder from Nathan Stanley.


The quarterback competition continues with Stanley holding the edge, although Nutt said that Cotton would come in for the third series if the season started today. Nutt said both QBs need to show better instincts in the pocket.

That's a very big pickup. He'll be eligible right away and have three seasons of eligibility, yes? If he's good enough to pick this team up and put them on his back, I might go back on my prediction that USA won't make it through their second season undefeated.

Big pickup, and hopefully it will help a little more to put our program on the map. Go Jags!

Mr. Cotton will not have the starting QB job handed to him on a silver platter. He will have stiff competition from Brennan Sim, a transfer from Oregon State who played well last year. Also he will have to compete agains a very tough quarterback named Myles Gibbon, a Canadian who will get a lot of playing time. Things are going to get very interesting on who will be the Jags' stater on Sept. 4.

(08-04-2010 01:29 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  That's a very big pickup. He'll be eligible right away and have three seasons of eligibility, yes? If he's good enough to pick this team up and put them on his back, I might go back on my prediction that USA won't make it through their second season undefeated.

He'll have four years of eligibility, so he could possibly be our starting QB during the 2013 season, which will be our first as a full-fledged FBS member.

(08-04-2010 03:09 PM)USACoN2012 Wrote:  He'll have four years of eligibility, so he could possibly be our starting QB during the 2013 season, which will be our first as a full-fledged FBS member.

If so, start him now, if he's close to being ready.

Yep, Raymond has been on campus for several days now and is currently taking part in fall practice. Since we have some experience qbs on the squad, Cotton is getting some pretty fair competition and he states that he loves competition.