South Alabama Releases First Football Depth Chart; Freshman Myles Gibbon Listed First at Quarterback

MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama released the first depth chart in its football program’s history Monday, listing true freshman Myles Gibbon as the No. 1 quarterback, as the Jaguars practiced through heavy rain from Claudette.

The rain delayed practice by about 10 minutes. The Jaguars, returning from a day off for their first practice since Saturday’s scrimmage, worked for just over two hours beginning around 3:30 p.m., their new practice time now that fall classes have begun.

The Depth Chart

Head coach Joey Jones based the depth chart on the first two weeks of camp and Saturday’s scrimmage. It lists 27 starters to account for different offensive and defensive formations, six of them true freshmen who did not take part in spring practice. In all, 22 members of the signing class appear on the depth chart.

An Experienced Offense

Three of the four projected starting receivers have used at least one year of eligibility at other schools, and four junior college transfers are listed as potential starters on the offensive line. Both tight ends have college experience, as does Brandon Ross, a potential starter at running back.

Gibbon and receiver Corey Waldon are the only true freshmen listed first at their positions on offense.

A Young Defense

The defense is considerably younger. Six of the nine defensive linemen and five of the nine players in the secondary on the chart are true freshmen.

Experienced defensive players include Andy Dalgleish, who took part in spring practice, and John Mark Patrick, who played at Troy last fall. Sophomore cornerbacks Anton Graphenreed, a transfer from Lenoir-Rhyne, and Jerron Mitchell, a transfer from Birmingham-Southern, are listed as likely starters. Justin Dunn, from Birmingham-Southern, and Charlie Higgenbotham, from Alabama, are set to start at the inside linebacker positions.

Jones: Not Final Until Game Week

“We were just looking for guys who wanted to compete. Saturday’s scrimmage provided game situations, so we were able to see how they reacted,” Jones said. “Some guys practice well but play even better in game situations. Other guys practice better than they play in games. That’s something we’re trying to evaluate as well.”

“It’s still a long process. There’s two weeks before we have a game week,” Jones said. “There are guys who are listed second and third who could end up as ones, and there are listed starters who could end up third at their position. They know that, so until we get to game week we won’t make a final depth chart.”

An Average Practice

Practice followed the format of the first two weeks of camp, with special teams, position work and skeleton drills, before 11-on-11 work and scout-team periods in the final hour that included two-minute and red zone situations.

Jones was not satisfied with the session. “I don’t think we had a great practice. I thought it was average,” he said. “I told the guys they can control two things: their effort and their intensity. Balls were wet and we were dropping passes, but that’s to be understood since this was really the first time we practiced in weather like this. That doesn’t worry me. But the mindset that we came out with today is what bothered me.”

“I think the change in routine affected a lot of the guys today, but as a coach I tell them there are no excuses for that,” Jones said. “We’re still in camp even though school has started. Some of the practices may be a little longer, but we are trying to get as much work done as we can.”

The Jaguars return to practice at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. South Alabama plays its first game Sept. 5 against Hargrave Military Academy at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.