South Alabama Preview, Best Players, Top Transfers, Season Prediction, Win Total 2024

South Alabama Jaguars Preview 2024

South Alabama is relatively new to the FBS world of college football, and 12 years in it figured it out.

Over the first ten seasons the program failed to come up with a winning season, and then it all clicked in going 17-9 over the last two.

The D was fine, the O was great, and that was enough for head coach Kane Wommack to leave for that program up the road - he’s now the Alabama defensive coordinator.

There might not be a ton of pressure to win big at South Alabama compared to other spots, but the spotlight is on the head coach.

In comes Major Applewhite, the former Texas star quarterback who went 15-11 in his two seasons and a bowl at Houston. He’s known for being a strong offensive coordinator and a top assistant, but can he take what Wommack set in motion and keep this good thing going?

There’s no reason he can’t.

There’s a ton of personnel turnover, but the Jaguars did a great job in the transfer portal, the lines are good enough to build around, and the schedule works out well.

Nothing stops.

NOTE: The previews were published early this summer. We tried to catch the changes, but if we missed anything, please let us know at @ColFootballNews and we'll fix it right away.

South Alabama Preview 2024: Offense

- Step One under the new coaching staff is to remain efficient. Former QB Carter Bradley led a good attack that was No. 1 in the Sun Belt in passing efficiency, wasn’t bad running the ball, and it all worked even with a mediocre year from the line.

Helped by the addition of C Malachi Preciado from Purdue, the Jaguars have size, experience, and even a little depth up front. If this group is a bit better in pass protection, then …

- The passing game might not be as good without Bradley, but Gio Lopez got in a little bit of work last season. The lefty destroyed Eastern Michigan in the bowl win with three touchdown passes and 88 rushing yards and a score.

Star WR Collin Lacy left for Louisville, but the next three top pass catchers are back including Jamaal Pritchett - who led the team with eight touchdown grabs - and five-touchdown TE DJ Thomas-Jones.

- The ground game is missing 1,000-yard back La’Damian Webb, but former Ole Miss transfer Kentrel Bullock should be able to handle the load along with ultra-quick option Braylon McReynolds. There will be a good ground attack.

South Alabama Preview 2024: Defense

- There wasn’t a huge pass rush last season, but the run defense was a wall, and overall the Jaguars were 15th in the nation allowing 313 yards per game. Like the offensive side there are a slew of missing parts, and like the offensive side, the transfer portal is helping. However …

- The Jaguars have the tackles to anchor the front seven. Wy’Kevious Thomas is one of the Sun Belt’s best defensive players - he can get behind the line and be the anchor for the D - and the portal is bringing in the pass rushers.

Aakil Washington is a hybrid from Liberty, and JUCO transfer Jalyn Durgan will get a shot right away on the other side. Former Kansas State transfer Gavin Forsha should be a force at one linebacker spot, and sophomore Blayne Myrick should be the team’s leading tackler in the middle.

- The biggest move in the portal was what didn’t happen. Star S Jaden Voisin chose to come back - he’s a lock for All-Sun Belt honors - the corners got a boost with JUCO transfer Jordan Scruggs, and former Oklahoma State safety Lardarius Webb will be a stat sheet filler from Day One.

South Alabama Key To The Season

Turnovers - don’t give them up.
With so many new parts this season, being mistake-free should be almost everything. As good as South Alabama has been over the last two seasons, it wasn’t good enough to overcome mistakes. Penalties were a steady issue, but turnovers were the bigger problem.

When the Jaguars turned it over multiple times, they were 0-4. When they didn’t, they were 7-2.

South Alabama Key Player

DT Maurice Strong, Sr.
The pass rushers should be okay if they get help from the interior, and Wy’Kevious Thomas will demand a double team on almost every play.

The 6-2, 294-pounder could take the already good-looking defense to another level against the run if he’s fantastic. He made 13 tackles and two sacks, and he’s got the experience to do even more.

South Alabama Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: C Malachi Preciado
A backup with Purdue who saw a little bit of time, he’s now in charge of being the leader of the Jaguar line for the for the next few years. The front five was already going to be good, but adding the 6-4, 310-pounder at center should ease the loss of a few parts.

Top Transfer Out: S Yam Banks
Losing top receiver Caullin Lacy to Louisville hurts, but the receivers will be okay. The secondary will be strong without Banks, too, but over the last three years he turned into a force with 145 tackles, seven picks, and 16 broken up passes. Ole Miss is getting a playmaker.

South Alabama Key Game

Troy, Oct. 15
The Sun Belt still does the division thing, and the West is still going to be ruled by South Alabama and the Troy Trojans. It’s a rivalry, but Troy has won six in a row as it made the division its own.

The Jaguars get a week off to get ready, and they get the game at home. Win this, and a trip to the Sun Belt Championship should be there for the taking.

South Alabama 10 Best Players

1. Wy’Kevious Thomas, NT Sr.
2. Jaden Voisin, S Sr.
3. Jamaal Pritchett, WR Sr.
4. Lardarius Webb, S Jr.
5. Ricky Fletcher, CB Jr.
6. Khalil Jacobs, LB Jr.
7. Jordan Davis, OT Jr.
8. Gio Lopez, QB Soph.
9. Malachi Preciado, C Soph.
10. Jordan Scruggs, CB Jr.

South Alabama 2023 Fun Stats

- 3rd Quarter Scoring: South Alabama 107, Opponents 43

- 4th Down Conversions: South Alabama 17-of-27 (63%), 8-of-21 (38%)

- Red Zone TDs: South Alabama 39-of-50, Opponents 15-of-31

South Alabama 2024 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen

Over the last two seasons there were a few shockers to go along with the layups.

South Alabama blew out Oklahoma State 33-7 last season, should’ve beaten UCLA in 2022, and …

There were a whole lot to wins over bad teams.

Out of the 17 wins, two were against FCS programs, and 13 more were against teams that didn’t finish with a winning record. That Oklahoma State win and a 27-20 victory over Southern Miss in 2022 - those were the only two over winning teams.

This season should look more like 2023 than 2022, but there aren’t a slew of killers on the slate.

There’s a rough run of four road games in five weeks before things ease up, and getting Troy, Georgia Southern, and Texas State should help.

It’ll take two wins in November to get there, but the Jaguars will make it three straight bowl appearances.

Set The South Alabama Win Total At … 6.5

Likely Wins: Northwestern State, ULM

50/50 Games: at Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, at Louisiana, North Texas, at Ohio, at Southern Miss, Texas State, Troy,

Likely Losses: at Appalachian State, at LSU

2024 South Alabama Football Schedule

Aug 31 North Texas
Sept 7 at Ohio
Sept 14 Northwestern State
Sept 19 at Appalachian State
Sept 28 at LSU
Oct 5 at Arkansas State
Oct 12 OPEN DATE
Oct 15 Troy
Oct 26 ULM
Nov 2 Georgia Southern
Nov 9 OPEN DATE
Nov 16 at Louisiana
Nov 23 at Southern Miss
Nov 29 Texas State

Missing: Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion