MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama will open the 2012 football season with a lineup featuring considerable experience, particularly on defense, as the Jaguars prepare to host Texas-San Antonio in the UTSA opener at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
The opener is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 30, though Tropical Storm Isaac could force a postponement.
Extra Year of Eligibility
South Alabama competed as an unclassified program in the NCAA during its first two seasons. Under that status, players who joined the team were able to appear in games during what would otherwise have been their redshirt year, allowing them to use all five seasons of eligibility.
The Jaguars are in their transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision and are not eligible for the Sun Belt Conference championship this season.
Defensive Starters
The first-team defense includes four seniors, six juniors and one sophomore. The senior starters are Jack linebacker Anthony Taylor, Mike linebacker Jake Johnson, safety B.J. Scott and nose tackle Andy Dalgleish.
Junior starters are tackle Montavious Williams, end Alex Page, Sam linebacker Clifton Crews, Will linebacker Enrique William and cornerbacks Darrius Marrow and Tyrell Pearson. Strong safety Alonzo Long is the lone sophomore starter. Long and Pearson both transferred from junior colleges.
Offensive Lineup
The offense features several sophomores entering their third season of competition, along with one senior, two juniors and a redshirt freshman.
Center Trey Clark is the only senior listed as a starter, with Tremain Smith listed as a possible starter at right tackle. Bryant Lavender is a junior starter, with juniors Greg Hollinger and Corey Waldon listed as co-starters.
Sophomore starters include left guard Drew Dearman, right guard Shaun Artz, quarterback C.J. Bennett and running back Demetre Baker. Tight end Wes Saxton, left tackle Ucambre Williams and receivers Melvin Meggs and Jereme Jones are listed as co-starters.
UTSA Coordinator Recalls Physical Matchup
South Alabama defeated UTSA 30-27 at the Alamodome last season. Roadrunners defensive coordinator Neal Neathery said Baker and Kendall Houston took turns running through holes created by the Jaguars’ offensive line in that game.
“Both of the (backs) they played were physical, strong, in between the tackles runners. I thought it was a game where we didn’t feel great about ourselves when it was over when it comes to who was the tougher team,” Neathery said.
“Just as a unit last year they were probably the toughest, most physical offensive line we played,” he added. “They were really good, and their running backs had a lot to do with that.”
South Alabama is coached by Joey Jones, who has led the program since its first season in 2009.
