MOBILE, Ala. — For years, Anthony Eager waited his turn. On Saturday night, the former McGill-Toolen standout made the most of it, delivering the best game of his college career as South Alabama beat Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) 52-35 at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
Eager caught four passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, scoring on plays of 35 and 69 yards. It was the kind of performance many in Mobile had anticipated since the hometown receiver signed with the Jaguars, and it came after a college career shaped by patience, a deep receiver room and a string of frustrating hand injuries.
The win improved South Alabama to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in Sun Belt Conference play. The Jaguars now turn around on a short week to play at Arkansas State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in a nationally televised game.
A Long Road to a Starting Role
Eager is in his fourth year with the program. He is a senior academically, but after redshirting in 2023, this is his third active season with the Jaguars.
For much of that time, he played behind a talented group of receivers. In his first seasons on campus, the Jaguars relied on targets such as Jamaal Pritchett, Devin Voisin, DJ Thomas-Jones and Jeremiah Webb, and during his redshirt year Caullin Lacy was also part of the group. Eager made only five starts across his two previous active seasons.
His statistical progression shows a player steadily carving out a larger role:
- 2024: 10 receptions, 133 yards, two touchdowns
- 2025: 40 receptions, 339 yards, one touchdown — second on the team in catches
- 2026 (through five games): 11 receptions, 305 yards, four touchdowns
The big-play nature of his production this season stands out. His four touchdown catches alone account for 183 of his 305 receiving yards.
Eager offered an early glimpse of his potential in 2024 at LSU, when he caught four passes for 91 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown, against one of the Southeastern Conference’s marquee programs.
Applewhite: ‘He’s Starting to Find His Groove’
South Alabama head coach Major Applewhite, who also serves as the team’s offensive coordinator, praised Eager’s ability to track down the deep ball and make plays after the catch.
“It was great to see Anthony get underneath some of those balls. I think there were maybe three or four that were real deep shots. He did a great job on a third down and coming across on the shallow and extending it, getting us down to the 1-yard line, setting up another score. I thought he played really well.”
Applewhite noted one drop near the goal line but said Eager continues to settle into the offense after years of sharing the field with a string of productive receivers.
“He had one drop in the red area, but I think Anthony continues to find his way in this offense after, you know, having guys like Jamaal Pritchett and Jeremiah Webb and Caullin Lacy and some of those guys, he’s starting to find his groove in our system and really benefiting.”
Pritchett, one of the receivers Applewhite mentioned, was placed on the New York Jets’ active roster on Sunday — a reminder of the caliber of player Eager has been learning behind.
Playing Through Hand Injuries
Eager’s path has also been complicated by injuries, and for a receiver, the location of those injuries could hardly have been worse. Since arriving at South Alabama, he has dealt with a fractured and dislocated thumb and a torn muscle in his wrist. He missed all of spring practice ahead of this season and the latter part of fall camp while recovering.
Eager, who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, described the injuries and some arthritis he has dealt with as “annoying,” but said he did not view them as setbacks. Instead, he said, he has “learned from them.”
“I’ve just been frustrated with it. I have been frustrated, but I’ve kept a good attitude about it. That’s the thing when it comes to injuries. If you keep a good attitude about it and go through rehab, you’ll come back better.”
He said the wrist injury did not linger in his mind once he returned, but the thumb was different.
“I feel good now. The first injury [wrist], I didn’t have to really worry about that because I was ready to go. I hadn’t played ball in like two months or three months. I was ready to get back out there. But when I fractured and dislocated my thumb, you’re still conscious about it because it still hurts. But rehab, that’s why I said rehab, go through rehab and all that, you’ll come back stronger, I promise. My grip is a little messed up, but I’ve got it.”
‘It’s Good to Be Back’
Against ULM, Eager’s grip looked just fine. Asked about his breakout night, he kept his answer simple.
“It’s good to be back. That’s all I got to say. It’s good to be back. I’ve been waiting for this. I’ve been waiting my turn. I’ve been learning from the older guys. I’m grateful to be back, and I love where I’m at.”
After the game, Eager shared credit with the offensive line, with quarterback Jared Hollins and with Applewhite, pointing to the deep-passing opportunities built into the offense.
“Just like Jared said earlier, we’ve been having a struggle with deep shots, but tonight we were on fire with all of them. It’s a blessing, for real. … You had all the [other] guys that had to wait, but I was learning from them, picking it up and showing them I can belong here, too.”
A Mobile Connection Under Center
Eager’s rapport with Hollins has been one of the encouraging developments of South Alabama’s season. Hollins was making just his third start at quarterback against ULM, but the two have already connected for three of Eager’s four touchdown catches this year. The other came from Bishop Davenport.
The chemistry did not develop overnight. Both players grew up in Mobile — Hollins starred at Mary G. Montgomery (MGM), while Eager played at McGill-Toolen — and they have trained together since Hollins arrived on campus, including during the offseason.
“Me and Jared, I mean, it’s been like that ever since he first got here. I’ve always talked to Jared. He’s always called me up. We go throw, we go get reps during the summer. It’s always been like that. But I can say that for everybody. Jared has a great connection with us, including Bishop, too. We all get together, quarterbacks and receivers, and we just talk and just throw. That’s all we do. But it’s cool to have that Mobile connection here.”
Eager couldn’t resist a little hometown ribbing, adding, “I can always say I think McGill would have beaten [MGM].”
Applewhite has said Hollins will remain the starter for the trip to Arkansas State, citing his ability to take care of the football, which means the Mobile-bred pairing should get another chance to build on Saturday’s success.
A Decorated Prep Career
Long before he was catching deep balls at Hancock Whitney Stadium, Eager was one of the area’s most versatile high school athletes. As a senior at McGill-Toolen, he topped 1,000 receiving yards for the Yellow Jackets.
He was just as accomplished on the track. Eager won state championships for McGill-Toolen in the 110-meter hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles and the triple jump — events that demand the kind of speed, body control and explosiveness that translate to the receiver position.
McGill-Toolen, a Catholic high school in midtown Mobile, has long been one of the area’s most visible athletic programs, and Eager is among a number of local products who have chosen to continue their careers close to home at South Alabama.
Aiming Higher
Eager has made it clear he wants more than one big night. His goal is to be counted among the best receivers to play for the Jaguars, and he believes his game has taken a significant leap from where it was a year ago.
“It’s so much better. I feel like I can go out there and do anything. When you see how I played tonight, it was outstanding. The more and more I get touches, the more I feel comfortable out there.”
What’s Next: A Thursday Night Trip to Jonesboro
South Alabama won’t have long to enjoy the victory. The Jaguars travel to Jonesboro, Ark., to face Arkansas State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in a Sun Belt Conference game that will be televised nationally. Arkansas State enters at 2-3 overall and 0-1 in league play.
Both teams have won only at home so far this season, which adds an interesting subplot: all three of South Alabama’s wins have come at Hancock Whitney Stadium, and both of Arkansas State’s victories have come in front of its home crowd. A road win would be an important step for the Jaguars as they try to build on a 1-0 start in conference play.
For Eager, it will be another opportunity to show that his career night against ULM was not a one-time event, but the start of the breakout season he has spent four years preparing for.
