Six South Alabama players make Phil Steele

South Alabama Jaguars are getting recognized in their new football program by a well know college football source “PHIL STEELE” . Six South Alabama players have been named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference football team by Phil Steele on Friday.

USA Linebacker Jake Johnson and Free Safety B.J. Scott earned second team honors. Also making third team honors are Darius McKellar a transfer from Alabama, also making the fourth team are running back Kendall Houston, Demetre Baker, and JC transfer Wes Saxton.

The young guys has showed their abilities in the last season, Johnson was the Jags' leading tackler last season with 83 total stops. He was also credited with 6.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks as well as a forced fumble, fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry.

Scott, who transferred from Alabama, was the Jags' sixth-leading tackler with 48 tackles. He played just seven games, missing three because of injury. He had no interceptions but produced four pass breakups and a forced fumble.

McKellar is the son of former Buffalo Bills tight end Keith McKellar. He expected to provide South Alabama team with experience, as well as size and strength to an offensive line in need of such qualities. Houston was the team's leading rusher the past two seasons. Last year he rushed for 558 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He was No. 3 on the team in scoring and No. 3 in all-purpose yards.

Baker was the Jags' No. 1 player in all-purpose yards with 644. The Georgia transfer gained 491 rushing yards and scored a team-high nine rushing touchdowns. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry. Saxton, a transfer from Itawamba, Miss., Community College, had 10 catches for 137 yards and one touchdown for the junior college team last season. He enrolled at South Alabama in December and participated in spring practice with the Jags.

South Alabama will play their last year in FBS transition this fall, and their first full year of FBS and SBC conference play. The jaguar has proven that they are capable of playing with the big boys and come August 30, the jaguars will have that opportunity on the field. This fall the jaguars are schedule to play SEC team ( Mississippi State) and ACC team once again (NC State), the jaguars will also play new Mountain West Conference team (HAWAII) on December 1^st in Hawaii as their last game of the season.

South Alabama opens the season Thurs., Aug. 30 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.