MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones said Monday that his team, with more new faces than in past seasons, is ready to play as the Jaguars released their depth chart for Saturday’s season opener against Gardner-Webb.
Jones was joined at the game-week press conference by senior offensive lineman Chris May and senior defensive back E.J. May.
New Faces, Higher Goals
“There is a lot of anticipation for this season, probably because we don’t have as many starters coming back as in previous years,” Jones said. “It’s been fun working with them, I think they have gotten better and better, so it has been a real satisfying camp.”
South Alabama played in its first bowl game last season, the Camellia Bowl. Jones said the program does not intend to be satisfied with that.
“Our goal is to win the conference championship first, and secondly to get in and win a bowl game,” he said. “We are going to have to play some really good football in order to do that, but our guys believe they can.”
Jones said he considers this season’s schedule extremely tough. It includes games against Nebraska, San Diego State and NC State.
Scouting Gardner-Webb
Jones said Gardner-Webb had one of the nation’s top defenses at its level last season, ranking about 20th, and returns many of those players, including a strong nose guard. He said the Runnin’ Bulldogs have an athletic quarterback who played some as a backup last season.
“The first game is always a scary one for any team,” Jones said. “We will have to make some adjustments early and play well.”
He said Gardner-Webb’s defensive front is its strength and will challenge the Jaguars’ offensive line, which he said has answered questions on the left side.
“We have five guys up there who I think can win in the Sun Belt Conference, and we’re starting to get some depth behind those guys as well,” Jones said.
Players Ready for Kickoff
Chris May said a strong defensive line in the opener offers a measuring stick for the offensive line. He credited offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent with stressing the importance of avoiding the slow starts the Jaguars have had in previous openers.
“We have really meshed together and become a team, so we’re excited. We have a really good feeling about this year,” May said.
E.J. May said the defense will focus on its own execution and adjust during the game, noting that Gardner-Webb is expected to start a new quarterback.
“We have to prepare for Gardner-Webb just like we will prepare for Nebraska, San Diego State and N.C. State. Everyone is focused on this week,” he said.
Offensive Depth Chart
- Quarterback: Cody Clements starts, with Dallas Davis second and Hunter Vaughn third.
- Running back: Terrance Timmons starts, backed by Tyreis Thomas, Xavier Johnson and Dami Ayoola.
- Z receiver: Josh Magee starts ahead of Marvin Shinn.
- Offensive line: left tackle Curtis Williams, left guard Daniel Aust, center Joseph Scelfo, right guard Cameron Blankenship and right tackle Chris May. Redshirt freshman Noah Fisher is the backup at both tackle spots.
Defensive and Special Teams Depth Chart
Defensive lineman Jimmie Gipson III tore his Achilles tendon in summer workouts, prompting changes on the defensive front.
- Defensive line: Akeem Lewis at jack, Tre Alford at nose tackle, Caleb Butler at defensive tackle and DeMarion Harper at end. Redshirt freshman Chason Milner of Spanish Fort is second at end.
- Linebackers: Blake Dees starts at Mike, backed by freshman Bull Barge or senior Andrew Philon. Kalen Jackson starts at Money, backed by Demarius Rancifer or Raymone Wiggins.
- Cornerbacks: Margo Reed starts on the left with freshman Jalen Thompson behind him. E.J. May starts on the right, backed by Quinton Dent and Nigel Green.
- Safeties: Antonio Carter at free safety, Roman Buchanan at strong safety and Jeremy Reaves at the Star position.
- Returners: Claude Garrett and Xavier Johnson on kickoffs, with Josh Magee and Tony Ray Parnell next. Magee returns punts, with Thompson behind him.
- Kicking: Junior Aleem Sunanon handles field goals with Brandon McKee holding. Corliss Waitman handles kickoffs, and McKee or Waitman will punt. Freshman Carson Sharp is the long snapper.
Update: Carter, Woodson Sidelined for Opener
South Alabama will be without two experienced players when it opens the season against Gardner-Webb. Safety Antonio Carter, who made 54 tackles last season, is expected to miss four to five weeks with a broken foot. Receiver Danny Woodson Jr. will miss two games because of academic issues.
Game Information
Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, and the game will be televised on ESPN2. The radio broadcast is available on Lite Mix 99.9 FM in the Mobile area, on affiliates elsewhere in Alabama and on iHeartRadio.
The FanFest area in Jag City is open from 1 to 4:30 p.m. with free tailgating and food samples from Sonny’s BBQ and Moe’s Southwest Grill. The Jaguar Prowl is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. and will pass outside the south end zone through the tailgating area.
About Gardner-Webb
Gardner-Webb is a private university of about 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students in Boiling Springs, N.C., west of Charlotte. Founded in 1905 as Boiling Springs High School, a Baptist institution, it is the youngest Baptist university in North Carolina. The Runnin’ Bulldogs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision as members of the Big South Conference, fielded their first football team in 1970 and play home games at 9,000-seat Ernest W. Spangler Stadium.
Gardner-Webb’s defense allowed fewer than 400 yards per game last season and returns 15 players with starting experience. Outside linebacker Aaron Cook made 92 tackles, including 13 for loss and four sacks, with five pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Nose guard O.J. Mau, a preseason first-team FCS All-American, had 60 tackles, 10 for loss. Inside linebacker Tanner Burch, who led the team with 107 tackles in 2013, returns after missing the 2014 season with an injury.
“I know last year they had a really good defense — I think they were 20th in the country — and have a lot of those guys back, so you would think they would be good defensively,” Jones said. “They are really good on the defensive front; to me, that’s the strength of their team based off of last year. They know how to play and are very well coached.”
On offense, Gardner-Webb returns five upperclassmen on the offensive line and tight end Mike Estes, who caught 34 passes for 408 yards and two touchdowns last season, but is replacing starters at every skill position. The Runnin’ Bulldogs averaged just under 75 rushing yards and 220 total yards per game in 2014. Placekicker Paul Schumacher, the team’s leading scorer with 46 points, and punter Andrew Komornik, who averaged 38.8 yards per punt, also return.
South Alabama Returners
Strong safety Roman Buchanan, a preseason second-team All-Sun Belt selection, is South Alabama’s leading returning tackler with 74 stops and seven passes defended last season. Kicker Aleem Sunanon, a first-team All-Sun Belt pick, has made 33 field goals over the past two seasons, and Brandon McKee averaged a school-record 42.34 yards per punt last season with 28 kicks downed inside the 20.
Running backs Terrance Timmons and Xavier Johnson each averaged 5.4 yards per carry last season and combined for 850 yards and five touchdowns. Tight ends Braedon Bowman and UAB transfer Gerald Everett caught 18 and 17 passes, respectively, last season. Receiver Marvin Shinn returns from an injury-shortened 2014 season.
