MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama linebacker Jake Johnson was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference on Wednesday, leading four Jaguar defenders who earned recognition in the program’s first season as a member of the league.
Defensive lineman Alex Page was a second-team selection, while safety B.J. Scott and linebacker Enrique Williams received honorable mention. The teams were chosen by a vote of the conference’s 10 head coaches and selected media members.
The honors are the first all-conference selections in the four-year history of South Alabama football.
Johnson Leads League in Tackles
Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound senior from Fredericksburg, Va., led the Sun Belt in tackles. He is the only player in the conference averaging double figures, with 131 stops in 13 games.
He ranked third in the league with 15 tackles for loss and recorded at least one in every game. Johnson added three sacks and six quarterback hurries, led the Jaguars in tackles seven times and posted five double-digit tackle games.
Page Sets Mark for Linemen
Page, a 6-foot-1, 245-pound junior from Prattville, Ala., ranked fifth in the Sun Belt with six sacks and eighth with 11.5 tackles for loss. His career-high 64 tackles ranked fifth on the team and were the most among South Alabama defensive linemen.
Against FAU, Page made 10 tackles, becoming the first defensive lineman in school history to reach double figures in a game.
Scott and Williams Earn Honorable Mention
Scott, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior from Prichard, Ala., transferred to South Alabama from Alabama with two years of eligibility remaining. He finished the season with 84 tackles, including six for loss, along with two interceptions, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He had four double-digit tackle games, including a career-high 12 in the season finale against Hawaii, and his 6.5 tackles per game tied for 15th in the conference.
Williams, a 6-foot, 235-pound junior linebacker from Mobile, ranked seventh in the Sun Belt with 105 tackles, six for loss. He reached double figures four times and led the team in tackles on five occasions. His career-high 12 tackles came against Mississippi State, then ranked No. 23, and again at Arkansas State in the Jaguars’ first Sun Belt road game.
Defense Ranks Among League’s Best
South Alabama allowed 383.7 yards per game, ranking second in the Sun Belt in total defense and third against the pass. The Jaguars led the conference in red zone defense and were second in opponent third-down conversion percentage.
South Alabama, coached by Joey Jones, completed its first season in the Sun Belt and the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2012.
