MOBILE, Ala. — The South Alabama depth chart has undergone several changes this week as the Jaguars prepare for Saturday’s first game in program history at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, with a group of freshmen set to handle the safety positions.
Changes On The Defensive Line
Montavious Williams has moved from defensive end to defensive tackle and has been promoted from the second team to the first team. Alex Page also moved up from the second team and replaces Anthony Taylor as the first-team defensive end.
Kicker, Returners And Running Back
Lawson McGlon earned the first-team place-kicking job after his performance in Friday’s situational scrimmage. Santuan McGee was named one of the team’s two kick returners.
McGee was listed first at running back on the depth chart released early in the week, but offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said Tuesday on the Joey Jones Radio Show that Brandon Ross is the starter.
At tight end, Kevin Helms and Paul Bennett switched places on the depth chart and are listed as co-starters.
Barefield Moves To Safety
Injuries in the secondary forced the staff to make adjustments during fall camp. Ken Barefield opened preseason practice as a wide receiver before defensive backs coach Duwan Walker convinced him to move to safety. A few weeks after the switch, Barefield is listed as a starter.
Freshman safety Zach Brownell, who missed most of camp while recovering from an injury, credited Barefield’s work ethic. “He works hard watching film, and he’s been paying a lot of attention,” Brownell said. “I give him some tips here and there, and those might have helped him out, but he’s done a great job of learning the position on his own.”
Brownell, Threatt Return
Brownell returned to practice this week and moved quickly back into the first-team defense. Walker said the time away had an upside.
“It probably worked out well because he got his legs up under him, and now he’s good and healthy and ready to go,” Walker said. “We were in a position where we had to practice some other kids, so to get these other guys back on the field has definitely built in some depth for us. We feel pretty good about going into the season as far as depth is concerned.”
Tony Threatt, another freshman safety who missed time with an injury, has also returned and is expected to provide depth along with Matt Saucier and Alex Phifer.
Former Quarterback Saucier At Safety
Saucier was the first-team quarterback during spring practice before moving to safety in fall camp. Walker said the former quarterback’s background helps him on defense.
“We like guys that handle the ball every down, and as a quarterback you’ve got the ball in your hand every down,” Walker said. “After being a quarterback, you have some kind of idea of what the offense is trying to do. He’s a smart kid, and it was easy for him to pick up.”
All five safeties expected to see significant playing time are freshmen.
Experienced Cornerbacks
The safeties will be joined in the secondary by four cornerbacks who have played beyond the high school level. Junior Michael Wilson and sophomore Anton Graphenreed are expected to start Saturday, with sophomores Jerron Mitchell and Steven Pease also in the rotation.
Walker said the staff views the four as a group rather than as starters and backups. “We don’t look at ourselves as having starters at cornerback, we just think of it as having kids that we can roll in,” he said. “Steven Pease is going to be a great player for us, and along with Jerron Mitchell, we expect those guys to be able to roll in at the corner position.”
Tickets Remain For Opener
As of Thursday morning, 15,818 tickets remained available for Saturday’s game against Hargrave Military Academy at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, according to the usagameday.com website.
South Alabama, coached by Joey Jones, is playing its inaugural football season in 2009.
