Alabama homecoming: USC’s JaMarcus King takes long road back for Senior Bowl

It has been a long journey, but South Carolina defensive back JaMarcus King is back in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama, this week for the Senior Bowl.

The last time he played at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium -- site of Saturday’s Senior Bowl -- he was a wide receiver and punt returner for Blount High School. He told al.com that he spent some time in the secondary in high school, but he described that as "just playing around."

He was switched to the secondary fulltime in his two seasons at Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College, where he became the nation's top-ranked JUCO cornerback.

After two seasons starting at South Carolina, King earned the Senior Bowl invitation he had always wanted.

"Really just worked hard, and I ended up back where I wanted to come to," King told al.com.

King figured he had attended at least 10 Senior Bowls while growing up in Mobile.

"This is a game I always wanted to play in, so I kind of made a good effort to try to get in here," King said.

King is a member of the North team, which is being coached by the Denver Broncos' staff.

He said he knows what he wants to show the NFL scouts this week.

"That I'm one of the best and they should draft me," King said.

USC linebacker Skai Moore also was selected for the game.

Linebacker Darius Leonard of S.C. State and linebacker Myles Pierce of The Citadel also were selected for the Senior Bowl.

This story was originally published January 25, 2018 at 12:14 PM with the headline "Alabama homecoming: USC’s JaMarcus King takes long road back for Senior Bowl."