MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama’s defense beat the offense 19-9 under modified scoring as the Jaguars closed spring practice Saturday with the annual Red-Blue spring game at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
With injuries thinning the roster, the coaching staff ran the final practice of the spring as a scrimmage, mixing game-simulation periods with skills competitions for the fans in attendance. Head coach Kane Wommack also used the event to announce the return of the program’s No. 5 jersey tradition.
Injuries Shape the Scrimmage
Several players projected as starters or backups missed part or all of spring drills, and a couple more left Saturday’s session with injuries that were not considered serious. By the end of the day, the offense was particularly shorthanded.
“We had a couple of guys that got dinged up early, so offensively we were down at the end there,” Wommack said. “We wanted to make sure we kept it as clean as possible.”
Wommack said the injuries limited what offensive coordinator Major Applewhite had planned. “We wanted to do some things with Desmond [Trotter] and Carter [Bradley], but when you’re that limited you really just want to get out of the game as healthy as you can at that point,” he said.
How the Scoring Worked
The scrimmage opened with kickoffs, followed by first-team and second-team units alternating as they tried to drive the field.
The scored portion came in the final session, a period the team called “Red Zone Lockout.” The offense earned three points for each field goal, while the defense earned four points each time it kept the offense out of the end zone.
All nine of the offense’s points came on field goals. Diego Guajardo made two and Barret Pickering made one.
The defense sealed its win on the final possession of the session, when outside linebacker Dalton Hughes recovered a fumble, a play worth seven points.
Skills Competitions
The quarterbacks competed in an accuracy contest in which two golf carts carrying targets crossed the field at different depths. Each passer threw four times at each depth and then once at a stationary target deep downfield. Carter Bradley edged Desmond Trotter on points.
In the receivers’ competition, players ran across the field from the near sideline while quarterbacks and graduate assistants threw passes to them from both sides, then turned up the sideline for a deep ball. Two receivers tied with perfect scores.
In a “Big Man Punt Return” contest, three offensive linemen and three defensive linemen each got two chances to field punts launched from a machine. The offensive linemen won by one on the final attempt.
The morning also featured an Easter egg hunt for children in the Jaguar Training Center, the covered practice facility next to Hancock Whitney Stadium, and a sale of game-worn jerseys and practice gear.
No. 5 Jersey Returns
In remarks to the crowd, Wommack spoke about building new traditions while bringing back one of the program’s earliest.
The No. 5 jersey tradition began in the second season of South Alabama football in honor of Anthony Mostella following his death. Under the revived format, a different player will be selected to wear the No. 5 each game week.
Wommack announced that rising senior safety Keith Gallmon Jr. will wear the honorary No. 5 in the season opener against Nicholls on Sept. 3.
“It’s a blessing and an honor to wear this jersey and to be able to represent South Alabama,” Gallmon said. “I know it has put a lot of pressure on me to be a better leader throughout the summer and throughout the fall to get this team prepared to win games.”
Wommack Assesses the Spring
Wommack said the staff learned where the team is strong and what needs attention before the opener, noting that the program will also have scholarships available to address needs.
“I feel we’re in a really good place right now,” Wommack said. “I told both the players and coaches that ‘Spring doesn’t finish with the final game. You build your team off the things you did well and off the things you’ve got to improve on.’ It’s going to be a critical next couple of weeks for us.”
He singled out the offensive line for playing through injuries. “There were a lot of guys that were banged up every single day and they just refused to come out of practice because they knew they would be hanging their teammates out to dry if they did,” Wommack said.
Wommack also pointed to the linebackers, naming Quentin Wilfawn, Trey Kiser and James Miller, who played for Wommack at Indiana. “It’s the hardest position on our defense in what we ask them to do, so of course in year two, you’re going to see a tremendous amount of improvement from that group,” he said.
Players React
Trotter, who worked with the first-team offense Saturday, said the unit protected the ball. “We had that one fumble on the run, but other than that we took care of the ball,” he said. “We have some guys who are banged up, so when you have some of your starters out its kind of hard to get explosive plays, but I think we were able to still execute throughout the scrimmage.”
Trotter said he is more comfortable in Applewhite’s offense than he was last season, when he had trouble learning the system quickly. He said his focus before fall camp is timing. “Just working on my layups, the ones that are wide open, I can’t miss those,” he said.
Gi’Narious Johnson said the coaches emphasized finishing and physicality at the start of spring. “We are playing fast, physical and running to the ball,” Johnson said.
Gallmon said the team made a big jump from year one to year two, including improved communication in the secondary. “Everybody is flying around,” he said. “I feel like everybody has been able to react quicker and make plays faster. It definitely showed up today.”
Up Next
South Alabama has not announced the start date for fall camp. The Jaguars open the 2022 season Saturday, Sept. 3, against Nicholls at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
