HUNTSVILLE, AL. - Alabama A&M football coach Anthony Jones announced Tuesday the addition of seven transfers, including former Johnson High quarterback David Isabelle and former Ball State wide receiver Jeremy Hill.

Isabelle and Hill join four defensive players and an offensive lineman as the Bulldogs try to bounce back from last year's 3-8  record, Jones' worst in his nine seasons.

"The guys we signed will add to our numbers and will be given an opportunity to compete for playing time," Jones said. "Nobody has been promised anything ... just an opportunity. We're going to play our best people. It doesn't matter who they are or where they came from.

"Every position is open. This is a no-nonsense year. We're going back to the days when we were hungry and you have to work for your meals."

Isabelle won the starting job at UAB, but lost it midway through last season. He played in seven games and was the Blazers' second-leading rusher with 394 yards and four touchdowns, while passing for 264 yards and three touchdowns.

As a senior at Johnson in 2007, Isabelle had more than 3,000 yards in total offense and 22 touchdowns and was a Class 5A All-State selection. Isabelle will compete with Deaunte Mason, who missed the last six games of the season with a groin injury, and Justin Jones for the starting job this spring.

"David is a good runner and thrower, but more important than that, he's a smart kid with leadership ability," Jones said. "At the quarterback position, that's one of those intangibles you have to have."

Hill started four games at Ball State last season and finished with 11 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown, but was redshirted this past season. At 6-foot-2 and 184 pounds, Hill could give A&M a big-play receiver it lacked last year.

"Jeremy is  a playmaker and we need some of those kind of players," Jones said.

Offensive lineman Bryant Ross, 6-2 and 300, was named the Most Improved Offensive Player at West Hills (Cal.) College last season. According to A&M offensive coordinator Cedric Pearl, Ross will play guard for the Bulldogs.

Defensively, the Bulldogs signed Julius Williams and Joshua Udeh, a pair of free safeties, linebacker Montay Rover and defensive end Reginald Bailey.

Williams, 6-2 and 196, had 28 tackles, including 22 solos and three interceptions, last season at Hudson Valley (N.Y.) Junior College, while Udeh is a 6-2, 215-pounder out of Grossmont (Cal.) College.

Rover, 6-1 and 230, comes to A&M from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College, while Bailey is 6-2 and 220 from Pearl River (Miss.) Community College.

"Montay was a big hitter on film," Jones said. "Joshua and Julius had good range in the secondary and it looked like they understood coverages. Bailey was explosive off the ball and hopefully he can help us with our pass rush."

Alabama A&M transfers

DE Reginald Bailey, 6-5, 230, Pearl River (Miss.) Community College

WR Jeremy Hill, 6-2, 184, Ball State

QB David Isabelle, 6-3, 185, UAB

OL Bryant Ross, 6-2, 300, West Hills (Ca.) College

LB Montay Rover, 6-1, 230, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College

DB Joshua Udeh, 6-2, 215, Grossmont (Ca.) College

DB Julius Williams, 6-2, 196, Hudson Valley (N.Y.) Junior College