South Alabama head football coach Major Applewhite addressed reporters this week as the Sun Belt Conference kicked off its annual Football Media Days event in New Orleans, where the Jaguars were picked to finish sixth in the seven-team West Division in a preseason poll of the league’s head coaches.
Applewhite, entering his third season leading the program and his sixth overall with South Alabama, said he feels good about the team’s chemistry heading into fall camp, which begins in three weeks. “I really feel good about a lot of things, but the two things that really stood out to me is the connection to this football team and their ability to tackle work,” he said, adding that he does not sense many players looking elsewhere for other opportunities.
Applewhite spoke at length about the program’s new coaching additions, including defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, with whom he previously worked at Houston. He said all of the new assistants, including Tyson Kee, Chris Acuff, Tim Rattay, Bryant Ross and Adam Mann, were brought in for their character, confidence and ability to connect and communicate with players.
On quarterback Bishop Davenport, Applewhite said the development focus has centered on where Davenport’s eyes and feet are positioned during plays, along with improving his pocket presence, calling him a talented athlete with strong character.
Applewhite also touched on the addition of Louisiana Tech to the Sun Belt, saying he does not have strong opinions on conference realignment but respects the program’s tradition. Asked about the transfer portal and roster rules, he said his focus stays on preparing his current roster rather than dwelling on offseason movement across college football.
Looking at the West Division, Applewhite noted that South Alabama’s regional opponents, including Troy, Southern Miss, Louisiana, Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana Tech, are all within a relatively short drive, which he said fosters familiarity and rivalry across the division. On what the Jaguars need to improve, he pointed to taking better care of the football, generating more takeaways and being more aggressive offensively early in games. South Alabama opens its season against Southeastern Louisiana.