MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama returns to Hancock Whitney Stadium on Saturday to face Arkansas State, looking to snap a two-game losing streak and keep its bowl hopes on track, with the status of starting quarterback Carter Bradley not expected to be known until game time.
The Jaguars (4-5, 2-3 Sun Belt) are coming off a loss at Troy, their sixth straight defeat in the Battle for the Belt rivalry. Arkansas State (5-4, 3-2 Sun Belt) has won two in a row, beating Louisiana-Monroe 34-24 and Louisiana-Lafayette 37-17.
A win would make Arkansas State bowl eligible. South Alabama needs at least two more wins to reach bowl eligibility. The Jaguars are 11.5-point favorites.
Series History
Arkansas State leads the all-time series 6-5, but South Alabama has won the last four meetings, including a 31-3 victory in Jonesboro last season in which La’Damian Webb rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns. The Jaguars are 3-2 against the Red Wolves in Mobile.
The two teams finish the regular season against the same opponents in reverse order. South Alabama hosts Marshall and then travels to Texas State, while Arkansas State hosts Texas State and then visits Marshall.
Red Wolves Improving Under Butch Jones
Butch Jones, in his third season at Arkansas State, has improved the team’s record each year, going 2-10 in his first season and 3-9 in his second. The Red Wolves are 5-4 with three games remaining and can become bowl eligible for the first time since 2019.
Arkansas State has a turnover margin of minus-2, with nine giveaways (six interceptions and three lost fumbles) and seven takeaways.
Red Wolves Offense
Freshman quarterback Jaylen Raynor has completed 102 of 172 passes (59.3 percent) for 1,648 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions in seven games. A dual-threat player, Raynor is third on the team with 324 rushing yards and leads the team with five rushing touchdowns on 84 carries. Jaxon Dailey is 17 of 33 for 137 yards in four games, and J.T. Shrout is 24 of 51 for 227 yards and two interceptions in two games.
Courtney Jackson leads the receivers with 25 catches for 480 yards and six touchdowns. Corey Rucker has 22 catches for 443 yards, and Jeff Foreman has 17 catches for 367 yards and three touchdowns.
Ja’Quez Cross leads the rushing attack with 470 yards and three touchdowns on 83 carries, and Zak Wallace has 435 yards and four touchdowns on 103 carries.
Red Wolves Defense and Special Teams
Arkansas State allows an average of 172.8 rushing yards per game. Javante Mackey leads the defense with 69 tackles, 44 solo, five tackles for loss and two sacks. Charles Willekes has 62 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack, and Melique Straker has 59 tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception. Keyron Crawford leads the team with 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, and Thurman Geathers has nine tackles for loss, three sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. Eddie Smith leads the team with two interceptions.
Kicker Dominic Zvada has made 13 of 17 field goals (76.5 percent) with a long of 53. Punter William Przystup averages 44.19 yards per punt with a long of 59, 13 downed inside the 20 and 13 of 50 or more yards.
Quarterback Situation
Bradley did not play against Troy because of a left knee injury. Coaches said he made significant progress last week but was held out because of concerns about his mobility and his ability to protect himself. Gio Lopez and Desmond Trotter will split repetitions with the first- and second-team offenses this week while Bradley continues his rehabilitation.
Bradley has completed 167 of 254 passes (65.8 percent) for 2,156 yards with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions in eight games. Lopez, a true freshman who started against Troy, is 27 of 42 for 283 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in four appearances. Lopez has reached the maximum number of games he can play while preserving his redshirt.
Running back Braylon McReynolds has been working out with the team in non-contact gear. He is not expected to play this week but could return before the end of the regular season.
Lacy, Webb Set Milestones
Caullin Lacy last week became the first receiver in the Football Bowl Subdivision this season to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. He has 64 catches for 1,046 yards, which ranks second nationally, and six touchdowns. Jamaal Pritchett has 41 catches for 600 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Lincoln Sefcik has 17 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown, DJ Thomas-Jones has 14 catches for 150 yards and Kentrel Bullock has 14 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Webb set South Alabama’s single-season record for rushing touchdowns against Troy with his 14th score of the season, which ranks second nationally. He has 727 rushing yards on 134 carries. Bullock has 380 yards and three touchdowns on 76 carries, and Marco Lee Jr. has 186 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries.
South Alabama also has a turnover margin of minus-2, with 15 giveaways (nine interceptions and six lost fumbles) and 13 takeaways (six interceptions and seven fumble recoveries).
Jaguars Defense and Special Teams
Linebacker Quentin Wilfawn leads the defense with 61 tackles, 33 solo, a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, sharing the sack lead with Brock Higdon. James Miller has 57 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, and Trey Kiser has 55 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Jaden Voisin has 51 tackles, six pass breakups and a team-high two interceptions. Maurice Strong Jr., Yam Banks, Wesley Miller and Marquise Robinson each have one interception.
Kicker Diego Guajardo has made 10 of 14 field goals (71.4 percent) with a long of 46 and has missed both attempts from 50 yards or longer. Punter Jack Martin averages 39.86 yards per punt with a long of 53.
Home Record Under Wommack
South Alabama has not finished a season at or below .500 at home under head coach Kane Wommack. The Jaguars are 2-2 at home this season with two home games remaining.
South Alabama’s wins this season have come against Southeastern Louisiana, Oklahoma State, Louisiana-Monroe and Southern Miss. Its losses have come against Tulane, Central Michigan, James Madison, Louisiana-Lafayette and Troy.
