Oneonta coach Phil Phillips uses one word to describe star player Da’Marion “Fluff” Bothwell.

“Generational,” Phillips said. “I’ve been doing this since 1985. I think I’ve had four, maybe five guys, where you are like, ‘I don’t know if I’ll ever have one like this again.’ He is that type guy.”

The 5-foot-11, 222-pound Bothwell committed to South Alabama on Wednesday morning. He is South Alabama’s 15th commitment for the 2024 signing class, 11 of which have come from in-state prospects.

“I think he’ll make an early impact there,” Phillips said. “Physically, he has worked himself into such good condition. He’s big, strong, powerful. He’s football smart. He does things you don’t teach. I think he has all the characteristics to go in and help pretty early.”

Bothwell joins Goshen’s Jamauri McClure as running backs committed to the Jaguars in the current recruiting cycle. South Alabama loses starting running back La’Damian Webb and short-yardage specialist Marco Lee to graduation after this season.

Four scholarship players at the position have eligibility remaining: sophomores Kentrel Bullock and Braylon McReynolds and freshmen PJ Martin and Jarvis Durr. Bothwell plays multiple positions for Oneonta, though Phillips said South is recruiting him as a running back.

“That is the position he wants to play,” he said. “That’s what pretty much everyone has talked to him about. He could play outside linebacker and play it well, but I think they are excited about having him in the backfield.”

Bothwell was named the Class 4A Back of the Year as a junior by the Alabama Sports Writers Association after he led the Redskins to an 11-2 season and an appearance in the Class 4A semifinals.

He finished the season with 3,112 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns on 256 carries. He also caught 22 passes for 314 yards and 2 scores and returned a punt for a touchdown. On defense, Bothwell made 66 tackles, including 19 for a loss, and had 5 sacks.

This season, he has rushed for 743 yards and 9 TDs on 68 carries. He’s also caught 11 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown and has a pair of interception returns for scores. Bothwell and Oneonta (2-2) host Fultondale on Friday.

“I’ve watched him grow up and all of a sudden here is this grown man,” Phillips said. “He does everything for us. This year the plan was to rest him on defense, but we can’t do that. We are going to have to move him into the box to tighten up some things there. He’s a very selfless player, just a great kid.”

Phillips said Bothwell’s mother gave him his nickname.

“He was an 11-pound baby,” he said. “His mom said he was fluffy.”

Bothwell, rated a 3-star prospect by 247 Sports, also had offers from Austin Peay, Eastern Michigan, Jacksonville State, Navy, North Alabama and Southeast Missouri State.

South Alabama 2024 football commitments (15)

Da’Marion Bothwell, RB, 5-11, 222, Oneonta/Oneonta HS

Will Felton, LB, 6-2, 215, Pelham/Pelham HS

Amarion Fortenberry, DB, 6-0, 170, Columbia, Miss./Columbia HS

Charles Gurley, CB, 6-2, 180, New Orleans, La./St. Augustine HS

Jerrian Graham, WR, 6-2, 190, Prichard/Vigor HS

Asher Hale, OL, 6-5, 300, Mobile/St. Paul’s Episcopal School

Jared Hollins, QB, 6-4, 185, Mobile/Mary G. Montgomery HS

Nathan Jennings, DE, 6-4, 240, Madison/James Clemens HS

Logan Joellenbeck, OL, 6-6, 330, Foley/Foley HS

Will Loerzel, TE, 6-4, 245, New Orleans, La./Isidore Newman HS

Jamauri McClure, RB, 5-10, 185, Goshen/Goshen HS

Kevin Norwood, DT, 6-3, 290, Mobile/Theodore HS

JayShon Ridgle, WR, 6-0, 200, Athens/Athens HS

Parker Shattuck, LB, 6-2, 215, LaGrange, Ga./LaGrange HS

Achilles Wood, DE, 6-4, 250, Decatur/Austin HS