MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – It’s been a productive offseason for the South Alabama Jaguars, but it didn’t come without some challenges. The jags lost several key pieces to the transfer portal including starting quarterback Gio Lopez who left for North Carolina. Now running the show will be redshirt junior bishop davenport who started two games last year including the Jags’ win in the Salute to Veterans bowl. That experience helped win him the job.
“Understanding the offense, the comfort the familiarity with it, I’ve thought he’s done a really good job. I think all the other ones have too, but he just has the slight edge right now because of experience,” said South Alabama Head Coach Major Applewhite.
Davenport’s top targets will be veteran receiver Devin Voisin and upcoming receiver Anthony Eager who saw significant playing time last year. Guys like Micah Woods and young receivers like Jeremy Scott, Noah Toster and Jeremiah Jones-Thomas will be taking on bigger roles in the offense.
“Guys like Devin Voisin and Anthony, they’re playing at a high level because they’ve gone through these reps and they’ve gained a lot of experience and talented, but we just need to continue to get that group out there and get game reps with them,” said Applewhite.
Defensively the Jags have had to rework their secondary after losing guys like Jaden Voisin. Some new faces will be in new roles like faith academy grad Ty Goodwill who’s slated to start at rover. Overall, the Jags expect to lean on the experience of their linebackers.
“We’re putting in different personnel packages and things like that that are going to put more of our linebackers on the field and give us more of that speed and ability to defend some things,” said Defensive Coordinator Will Windham.
South will get their first test this Saturday against Morgan State whose defense has been top 20 in the country at the fcs level for the last two years. The Jags feel like this will be a good test for them to find out exactly where they are this season.
“This is what we wait for. These are the three months that you for as a football player and as a coach to go have fun and it’s finally here. I’m excited to watch our team play,” said Applewhite.
South Alabama and Morgan State kickoff at 6:00 this Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
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