MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football enters its first Sun Belt Conference game Saturday against Troy with a defense that ranks among the league’s best in Sun Belt statistics and an offense that sits near the bottom in most categories through four games.
The Jaguars host the Trojans at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in the conference opener. The statistical profile sets up a matchup of South Alabama’s defense against a Troy offense that ranks among the Sun Belt’s most productive through the air.
Defense Among League Leaders
South Alabama is tied with North Texas for second in the Sun Belt in scoring defense, allowing 24.2 points per game. Western Kentucky leads the conference at 23.2 points allowed per game. Troy ranks fifth at 25.8, and Louisiana-Monroe is last at 36.3.
In total defense, the Jaguars are second behind Western Kentucky, allowing 314 yards per game. Through four games, South Alabama has allowed 488 rushing yards and 768 passing yards on 256 plays, a total of 1,256 yards and 4.9 yards per play. Western Kentucky allows 279.8 yards per game, Troy ranks seventh at 396.2, and Louisiana-Lafayette is last at 508.
South Alabama is also second to Western Kentucky in rushing defense at 122 yards per game. Opponents have run 136 times for 488 yards, an average of 3.6 yards per carry, with four rushing touchdowns. Western Kentucky allows 112.5 rushing yards per game, Troy is eighth at 187.8, and Florida Atlantic is last at 252.5.
The Jaguars rank third in passing yards allowed at 192 per game, behind Western Kentucky (167.2) and Arkansas State (168.5). Opponents have completed 68 of 120 passes for 768 yards and six touchdowns. The 56.7 percent completion rate allowed is also third in the league. Troy ranks sixth in passing yards allowed at 244 per game but first in completion percentage defense, holding opponents to 49.5 percent.
South Alabama leads the Sun Belt in pass defense efficiency with a rating of 120.3, just ahead of Western Kentucky’s 120.5. Troy is seventh at 142.4, and Florida Atlantic is last at 173.8.
Pressure and Red Zone
The Jaguars lead the conference with 11 sacks through four games, one more than Western Kentucky. Troy and Louisiana-Monroe are tied for last with two sacks each.
South Alabama ranks fifth with four interceptions. North Texas leads with six, and Troy and Middle Tennessee are tied for last with one each.
In red zone defense, South Alabama is third at 69.2 percent. Western Kentucky and North Texas share first at 66.7 percent, and Troy is seventh at 83.3 percent. Opponents have scored on nine of 13 trips inside the Jaguars’ 20-yard line. Four of those scores were touchdowns, three rushing and one passing, and opponents have made 5 of 7 field goal attempts. South Alabama has also forced a fumble recovery and a turnover on downs in the red zone.
Special Teams and Situational Numbers
South Alabama is second in the Sun Belt in kickoff returns at 25 yards per return, behind Middle Tennessee’s 34.7. Troy is ninth at 17.8, and Louisiana-Monroe is last at 15.4.
The Jaguars are also second in punt returns at 11.2 yards per return. Western Kentucky leads at 14 yards, Troy is seventh at 2.7, and Florida Atlantic is last at minus-0.6.
South Alabama is third in punting at 36.5 yards per punt. Louisiana-Lafayette leads at 41 yards, and Troy is second at 39.5. The Jaguars are fourth in field goal percentage at 71.4 percent, with Troy fifth at 60 percent.
On fourth down, South Alabama has converted 3 of 4 attempts, a 75 percent rate that ranks second. Middle Tennessee is a perfect 5 for 5, and Troy is tied with North Texas for fifth, converting half of its attempts.
Jaguar opponents have been called for 30 penalties averaging 63.5 yards per game. South Alabama ranks third in opponent penalty yards per game and second in opponent penalties per game.
The Jaguars are ninth in kickoff coverage with a net average of 36.3 yards, ahead of Western Kentucky at 36.0. Louisiana-Lafayette leads at 44.1, and Troy is second at 43.4. South Alabama’s coverage numbers were affected by its game against Mississippi State.
Offense Near the Bottom
South Alabama ranks ninth in the Sun Belt in scoring offense at 14.2 points per game. The Jaguars have scored six touchdowns, five field goals and six extra points in four games. Troy is seventh at 25.2 points per game, and Florida Atlantic is last at 12.8.
The Jaguars are also ninth in total offense at 312 yards per game. Arkansas State leads at 517.2, Troy is third at 498.8, and Florida Atlantic is last at 277.8.
South Alabama is last in rushing offense at 102.5 yards per game. Arkansas State leads at 267 yards per game, and Troy is seventh at 163.2.
The Jaguars are eighth in passing offense at 209.5 yards per game, ahead of North Texas (183) and Florida Atlantic (160). Troy leads the conference at 335.5 passing yards per game.
South Alabama ranks last in passing efficiency at 112.3. Western Kentucky leads at 158.6, and Troy is fourth at 133.3.
Third Downs, Sacks and Turnovers
South Alabama has converted 29.3 percent of its third downs, last in the league. Western Kentucky leads at 52.9 percent, and Troy is second at 50 percent.
The Jaguars are also last in sacks allowed, having given up 12 through four games. Middle Tennessee has not allowed a sack. Troy is tied with North Texas and Arkansas State with three allowed.
South Alabama has a turnover margin of minus-7, or minus-1.75 per game, which is last in the Sun Belt. Louisiana-Lafayette leads at plus-6, and Troy is ninth at minus-6.
With 71 first downs, South Alabama is tied with Middle Tennessee for seventh. Arkansas State leads with 108, or 27.0 per game, and Troy is fifth with 75, or 18.8 per game.
Penalties and Possession
South Alabama is seventh in the conference in penalty yards at 61.2 per game and sixth in number of penalties. Troy is last in both categories with 36 penalties and 76.5 yards per game.
Louisiana-Monroe leads the Sun Belt in time of possession at 35:19 per game. Troy is seventh at 29:36, and South Alabama is eighth at 29:07.
Update: Individual Sun Belt Leaders
Several South Alabama players also rank among the Sun Belt’s individual statistical leaders entering the Troy game, particularly on defense and special teams, while Troy’s offensive players fill the top of several individual offensive categories.
Defense
Linebacker Jake Johnson is second in the conference with 40 tackles, one behind FIU’s Jonathan Cyprien. Johnson is also second in tackles for loss with 5.5, trailing an Arkansas State player who has six. Enrique Williams is tied for 10th in the league in tackles. Troy has four players among the conference’s top 40 tacklers, led by Trawick with 35.
Alex Page is tied for the Sun Belt lead with three sacks and is tied for eighth with 3.5 tackles for loss. Anthony Taylor had two sacks, tied for third, and three tackles for loss before suffering a season-ending injury at Mississippi State. Enrique Williams and Montavious Williams rank 18th and 19th in tackles for loss.
Defensive back Tyrell Pearson is fourth in passes defended with five, three breakups and two interceptions, and his two interceptions tie him for second in the conference. Terrell Brigham is part of an eight-way tie for 13th in passes defended with three, on two breakups and an interception.
Special Teams
T.J. Glover ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in punt returns at 11.2 yards per return and third in kickoff returns at 30 yards per return, ahead of Troy’s leaders in both categories. Troy’s Justin Albert is ninth in punt returns at 2.7 yards, and a Trojan returner is sixth in kickoff returns at 23.4 yards.
Punter Scott Garber is seventh in the league at 41.1 yards per punt. Troy’s Will Scott is ninth at 40 yards, and Middle Tennessee’s Josh Davis leads at 43.1. Kicker Michel Chapuseaux is fourth in field goal percentage, having made 5 of 7 attempts (71.4 percent). Middle Tennessee’s Carlos Lopez is a perfect 5 of 5, and Troy’s Scott is fifth at 3 of 5.
Offense
Quarterback C.J. Bennett ranks 10th in the Sun Belt in passing yards per game at 130.2, having completed 50 of 85 passes for 521 yards with three interceptions. He is also 10th in total offense at 144 yards per game. South Alabama has no players among the top 10 in rushing, receptions per game, receiving yards per game or all-purpose yards.
Troy’s Corey Robinson leads the league in passing at 321.5 yards per game, completing 119 of 178 passes for 1,286 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. He ranks fifth in passing efficiency at 134.2 and second in total offense at 316 yards per game. Running back Shawn Southward leads the Sun Belt with 430 rushing yards on 78 carries and averages 141.2 all-purpose yards and five receptions per game. Receiver Chip Reeves is tied for fifth with 6.5 catches per game and is second in receiving yards at 90.2 per game, and Eric Thomas is tied for sixth at six receptions per game.
