Wallace Unamba attended his first-ever NCAA Division I football game last week, taking an unofficial visit to witness the UAB football team in its annual Children’s Harbor homecoming game, and the Kilgore College (Texas) offensive lineman came away thoroughly impressed.

So much so, that not only did he commit to playing for UAB, but his teammate Leon Bell did as well, following the Blazers’ 41-14 win over Middle Tennessee State at Protective Stadium.

“It was amazing,” Unamba said. “The crowd, the scoreboard and video replays, I’ve never been a part of a program that had all of that going for them on a game day. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen. It was a great atmosphere, the team played really well and the coaching staff welcomes you in like family. It feels like home to me.”

Unamba and Bell pledged their commitment to UAB following the win over the Blue Raiders and publically announced their intention on social media Friday.

“We’re about to tear it up, we’re about to tear UAB up,” Bell said. “We’re going to come up there and get the job done. I’ve seen how they play and they have some dogs on the team. I love the players and I love watching them play. It was a great time.”

Both offensive linemen have been getting the job done during their two-year stint at Kilgore, helping the Rangers to a 5-5 finish last year and a 4-2 record at the midway point of this season. Kilgore is currently ranked No. 13 in the NJCAA DI football poll and has the fifth-ranked rushing offense (202.3 ypg) in the NJCAA.

The Blazers re-expanded their recruiting radius back into Texas after finding success in the Kansas and Mississippi junior college systems, along with a few west coast JUCO products. The lone Texas junior college player on UAB’s roster is senior receiver and former Blinn Junior College standout Trea Shropshire, who leads the Blazers with 362 yards and 2 touchdowns and a nation-leading 25.9 yards per catch.

“It’s a grind every day,” Bell said. “There are some real dogs over here that not a lot of people know about. It’s hard work every day and I get the full experience. It’s set me up for another level and turned me into a man.”

The transition from Kilgore to UAB should not be too hard for the blocking duo, considering the Blazers hang their hat on the running game.

Unamba, who plays left guard, comes in at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds and can provide immediate competition at the position with Matthew Trehern playing his final season on the Southside. Bell plays right tackle for Kilgore College, stacking up at 6-foot-8 and 305 pounds, and can also be a cog in the tackle competition next year with both tackles (Sidney Wells and Kadeem Telfort) finishing their college careers this season.

“Most of the stuff they run is stuff that I like,” Unamba said. “They pass and run the ball equally. We’re pretty used to it (running the ball) up here at Kilgore (College). I can pick up the playbook pretty quickly once I get up there.”

Bell and Unamba, along with Coahoma Community College (Miss.) defensive end Malik Puryear, bring UAB’s current recruiting class to nine commitments.

UAB verbal commits (9)

*Emmanuel Waller, 3-star DL (6-4 / 250) Oak Mountain | Birmingham, Ala.

*Michael Towner, 3-star DL (6-2 / 245) Vigor | Mobile, Ala.

*Christopher Pearson, 3-star S (6-1 / 190) Orange Beach | Orange Beach, Ala.

*Jaxon Potter, 3-star QB (6-4 / 180) Santa Margarita | Santa Margarita, Calif.

*Christopher Bracy, 3-star CB (6-1 / 185) St. Paul’s Episcopal | Mobile, Ala.

*Jake Godfrey, 3-stat WR (5-9 / 175) Spanish Fort | Spanish Fort, Ala.

*Malik Puryear, 3-star DE (6-5 / 260) Coahoma Community College (Miss.) | Greensboro, N.C.

*Wallace Unamba, OG (6-5 / 320) Kilgore Community College (Texas) | Garland, Texas

*Leon Bell, OT (6-8 / 305) Kilgore Community College (Texas) | Alvin, Texas