NEW ORLEANS — South Alabama opens its 2023 season Saturday night at No. 24 Tulane at Yulman Stadium, a matchup of two programs coming off the best seasons in their recent history.
The Jaguars are 6.5-point underdogs against the Green Wave.
Contrasting Finishes to 2022
Tulane went 12-2 last season, beating UCF in the American Athletic Conference championship game to earn the Group of Five’s spot in the New Year’s Six. The Green Wave then beat top-10 USC 46-45 in the Cotton Bowl and finished ninth in the AP poll, one season after going 2-10.
South Alabama finished 10-3 in 2022, its best season as an FBS program, closing the regular season with five consecutive wins. The Jaguars then lost 44-23 to Western Kentucky in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, leaving the program 0-3 in bowl games.
South Alabama’s other losses last season were by one point at UCLA, on a field goal as time expired, and 10-6 at home against Troy.
Tulane Reloads Around Pratt
Tulane is in its eighth season under head coach Willie Fritz. Quarterback Michael Pratt, a three-year starter, threw for 3,009 yards and 27 touchdowns last season and ran for 494 yards. He has been named to the Maxwell Award watch list for the second straight year.
The Green Wave must replace running back Tyjae Spears, the Cotton Bowl MVP, who rushed for 1,581 yards and 19 touchdowns. Fritz has not named a replacement, saying he has five capable running backs who will be evaluated over the first few games. Tulane averaged just under 205 rushing yards per game in 2022.
Tulane’s projected starting offensive linemen are all seniors or redshirt seniors and average 308 pounds. The receiving corps has less experience.
Defensively, Tulane uses a base 4-2-5 alignment, as South Alabama does. The Green Wave’s defensive line is experienced and deep, while the projected starting linebackers have less experience. The secondary is made up of upperclassmen, most of whom transferred into the program.
Punter Casey Glover averaged more than 41 yards per punt last season, with 20 downed inside the 20, nine of 50 or more yards and a long of 65. He also handles kickoffs and had 45 touchbacks in 14 games. Placekicker Valentino Ambrosio, a Rutgers transfer, made 10 of 11 field goals with a long of 47 last season.
Jaguars Enter Wommack’s Third Season
South Alabama enters its third season under head coach Kane Wommack with nine returning starters on an offense that averaged more than 31 points per game last season. Major Applewhite is the offensive coordinator.
Senior quarterback Carter Bradley set school records last season with 3,326 passing yards, 276 completions and 28 touchdown passes in his first year at South Alabama. He ranked in the top 50 nationally in 11 categories and has been named to the watch lists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Manning Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Wuerffel Trophy and the Maxwell Award. Desmond Trotter is the backup, and freshman Gio Lopez is listed third on the depth chart.
Running Backs
Redshirt senior La’Damian Webb returns after setting the school’s regular-season rushing record with 1,015 yards in his first season with the program. He ran for 247 yards and four touchdowns against Georgia Southern, both school records, and ranked 13th nationally in rushing touchdowns and 10th in total touchdowns.
Sophomore Braylon McReynolds ran for 326 yards on 59 carries as a true freshman. Ole Miss transfer Kentrel Bullock joins the rotation, and senior Marco Lee, who had 247 yards and four touchdowns on 67 carries last season, including two touchdowns at UCLA, returns for short-yardage work. South Alabama averaged just over 155 rushing yards per game last season.
Receivers and Tight Ends
Receiver Jalen Wayne was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. Sophomore Jamaal Pritchett, who has two career catches, replaces him in the starting lineup. Redshirt junior Devin Voisin, an honorable mention All-Sun Belt selection, had 64 catches for 867 yards and five touchdowns last season, including 11 catches for 153 yards in the New Orleans Bowl.
Junior Caullin Lacy started all 13 games in the slot last season and led the team with 65 catches for 816 yards and six touchdowns. He also returned 21 punts for 189 yards and a touchdown.
South Alabama returns five tight ends: seniors Lincoln Sefcik, DJ Thomas-Jones and Brandon Crum, junior Jacob Hopper and redshirt junior Todd Justice. Sefcik and Thomas-Jones are expected to share starting duties.
Offensive Line
The offensive line returns all but one starter. James Jackson exhausted his eligibility, while Josh McCulloch, Dontae Lucas, Reggie Smith and Adrein Strickland return. Smith moves to center, and Tennessee transfer James Robinson will start at left guard.
Defense Returns Experience
Defensive linemen Jamie Sheriff, Wy’Kevious Thomas and Charles Coleman return as starters, with Brock Higdon, Jamall Hickbottom, Carlos Johnson, Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge and Maurice Strong Jr. also back. Ed Smith was injured in the final practice of fall camp and will miss the opener and possibly the season.
Linebackers James Miller, Trey Kiser and Quentin Wilfawn return as starters, with Ke’Shun Brown, Khalil Jacobs and LaMondre Brooks providing depth. Transfers Gavin Forsha from Kansas State, Taylor Milton from Texas A&M, Emauri Sibley and Eli Webb were added at linebacker.
Cornerbacks Ricky Fletcher and Marquise Robinson return as starters. Free safety Keith Gallmon returns after missing all of 2022 with an injury. Jaden Voisin or Jalen Jordan will start at rover, and Yam Banks, who led the team with six interceptions last season, returns at husky. South Alabama added several transfers in the secondary, including Wesley Miller from Mississippi State and Mike Harris from Baylor.
Wommack hired former Southern Miss head coach Jay Hopson, who spent the past two years as director of high school relations at Mississippi State, to coach cornerbacks. Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon coaches the safeties and calls plays from the press box. South Alabama held opponents to just over 92 rushing yards per game last season.
Special Teams
Diego Guajardo enters his fourth season as the starting placekicker, and Jacob Meeks returns as kickoff specialist. With punter Jack Brooks gone, Alabama transfer Jack Martin and true freshman Aleksi Pulkkinen of Helsinki, Finland, are listed at punter. Travis Drosos handles long snapping. Lacy will return punts, and McReynolds and Lacy will return kickoffs.
Under Wommack, South Alabama beat Southern Miss in the 2021 opener and defeated Nicholls and Central Michigan early in the 2022 season.
