MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama defensive back Tim Harvey, who intercepted two passes in the Jaguars’ win over Georgia State, will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, coach Joey Jones said Tuesday.
Harvey, a senior, is the second South Alabama defensive back and the third Jaguars player to tear an ACL this season. Running back Brandon Ross suffered the same injury a couple of games ago. Jones said Harvey’s communication skills and knowledge of the game would make him a good coach someday. Jones said the rest of the team should be available for Saturday’s game against Henderson State, with only the usual bumps and bruises.
Jones and outside linebackers coach Chuck Dunn appeared on the Joey Jones Show with host Lee Shirvanian at Baumhower’s.
Bennett’s First Start
Freshman quarterback C.J. Bennett made his first college start against Georgia State and played the entire game, the first time this season one South Alabama quarterback has taken every snap. Jones said Bennett played very well. “He had that look about him,” Jones said, explaining why the staff left him in.
Jones said Bennett got the start because he ran a four-receiver offense in high school and was used to taking the snap, reading the defense quickly and getting rid of the ball, which suited what the Jaguars expected to see from Georgia State. Jones said Bennett will probably play the whole game again this week, though the staff wants to work Myles Gibbon in as well.
Defensive Adjustments
Dunn said South Alabama planned to rush four and play zone coverage against Georgia State, but the Panthers opened by running receivers on shallow crossing routes three or four yards past the line of scrimmage. After the first series, Dunn, defensive coordinator Bill Clark and the other defensive coaches switched to man-to-man coverage, which took away the crossing routes.
Dunn named outside linebacker Clifton Crews his player of the game, saying Crews held the player he covered without a catch. Dunn praised his entire position group.
With opponents throwing early and often in each of the past two weeks, Dunn said the Jaguars expect Henderson State to do the same and will use similar schemes with a heavy dose of man-to-man coverage.
Dunn said outside linebackers must be more versatile than inside linebackers because they drop into coverage, rush the quarterback and defend outside runs. He looks for players who can run, have good footwork and move well in space.
Jones said special teams coach Tommy Perry has spent extra time this week correcting problems that have allowed opponents big returns, as well as a turnover that led to Georgia State points.
Recruiting Momentum
Jones said wins over Lamar, UC Davis and Georgia State help recruiting, particularly because those programs are better known and the road games build awareness of South Alabama in other regions.
Jones said South Alabama is drawing more interest from highly rated prospects and that the type of recruit has changed. He said the staff has become more selective and will pursue only players who are better than those already on the roster. He said interest will grow as the Jaguars play at Kent State and NC State next season, and that several strong prospects have verbally committed.
Jones said the Jaguars’ needs include the secondary and both inside and outside linebacker, with seniors Justin Dunn and Charlie Higgenbotham departing. He said the staff also wants pass-rushing defensive ends, since the team has plenty of interior linemen, and about three more offensive linemen.
A running back who was dismissed from Georgia’s team will transfer to South Alabama and compete in spring practice. Jones said the staff spoke with Georgia’s coaches and the player’s high school coaches and felt good about giving him a second chance. He said Georgia had planned to pull the player’s redshirt and use him at tailback this season.
Division I Transition
Asked why Georgia State’s game against Alabama counts on both teams’ records while South Alabama games against Division I teams would not, Jones explained that Georgia State is classified as a Division I-AA program. He said the NCAA imposes a moratorium period on programs moving to Division I, partly as a deterrent. South Alabama is completing the second year of that period and will be classified as a Division I-AA school next year, when its games will count on Division I opponents’ records.
Jones said neither Georgia State nor South Alabama would have a chance against Alabama at this stage.
Jones said the Jaguars have had unusually good weather this season, noting that Tuesday’s practice was only about the second the team has held in the rain.
Shirvanian also noted that Jones has written a book about the final years of Paul “Bear” Bryant’s coaching career at Alabama and the transition to his successor, Ray Perkins.
