SAN MARCOS, Texas — In preparation for this weekend's conference-opening football game against South Alabama, below are five taking points to preview the Jaguars:
THE YOUNG BUCK
South Alabama football head coach Kane Wommack, 34, is the youngest head coach at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level. Wommack, who was hired on Dec. 12, 2020, came to Mobile after being named one of five finalists for the Broyles Award — given to the top assistant coach at the FBS level — when he helped Indiana finish the 2020 season with a 6-2 record the earn the No. 12 spot in the final Associated Press poll. Wommack, who served as South Alabama's defensive coordinator for the 2016 and 2017 seasons, served in the same role while at Indiana and became the youngest defensive coordinator among Power Five football programs.
CHECK, CHECK ONE TWO
It's taken no time for the South Alabama football program to inherit Wommack's defensive philosophies. After holding Louisiana to only 283 yards of total offense last weekend, the Jaguar defense has now held three of its last four opponents to under 300 yards of total offense. The Ragin' Cajuns managed just 58 yards through the air, which were the fourth-fewest passing yards allowed by a South Alabama defense in program history and least give up to an opponent since November 2015.
GROUND GAME
Bryan Hill, who transferred to South Alabama from Tuskegee during the offseason, became the third different leading rusher for the Jaguars after earning 81 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries against Louisiana. The previous week, Kareem Walker ran for 150 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries against Alcorn State. Against Bowling Green two weeks ago, Avery Terrion was the Jaguars' leading rusher with 82 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
TRAVELIN' MAN
Atop South Alabama's depth chart at the quarterback position is senior Jake Bentley. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander returns to his home state after graduating from Opelika (Ala.) High School, then beginning his collegiate career at South Carolina. Following a four-year career as a Gamecock, Bentley moved on to Utah, where he started four of the program's five football games in the fall of 2020. Following the season, the Alabama native opted to return to the Yellowhammer State by enrolling at South Alabama. Through four games this season, Bentley has completed 79-of-122 pass attempts for 927 yards and two touchdowns.
DOING IT ALL
South Alabama junior wide receiver Jalen Tolbert enters this weekend's game ranked third in the conference in all-purpose yardage with a 115.0 per game mark. He's also 25th in the nation in receiving yards with 460 and seventh in receiving yards per game at 115.0. His 5.0 receptions per game mark is the fourth-best average in the conference. He's also number sixth in the country in yards per reception at 23.0 yards per catch.
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