South Alabama on Monday added its first football transfer portal commitment of the spring 2024 cycle from former Maine inside linebacker Darius McKenzie.

McKenzie, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, totaled 37 tackles and three tackles for loss for the Black Bears in 2023. In 14 career games at the FCS school, he had 51 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.

McKenzie announced his commitment via a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter):

McKenzie (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) originally hails from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He finished high school at Clearwater (Fla.) Academy International, the same program that produced former South Alabama players DK Bonhomme, Tremel States-Jones and Caeleb Schlachter.

South Alabama has a need at inside linebacker following the departure of 2023 seniors Trey Kiser, Quentin Wilfawn and James Miller, as well as the portal defection last week of projected starter Khalil Jacobs. McKenzie joins a position group that also has sophomore Blayne Myrick and juniors Gavin Forsha and Dalton Hughes in contention for starting jobs.

The transfer portal closed for new entries as of May 1, but players already in the portal can commit to and sign with new schools at any time. The Jaguars added seven players during the January portal period: offensive lineman Malachi Preciado (Purdue), wide receiver Noah Toster (Chowan), tight end Andrew Bench (Bowling Green), defensive lineman Bryston Dixon (Georgia Tech), outside linebacker Aakil Washington (Liberty), safety Lardarius Webb Jr. (Oklahoma State) and kicker Laith Marjan (East Carolina).

South Alabama begins summer workouts in early June. The Jaguars open the 2024 season at home Aug. 31 vs. North Texas.