South Alabama gets a Wide Receiver transfer from Alabama

WR Danny Woodson

After signing and playing briefly with the top SEC school, Alabama wide receiver Danny Woodson will transfer to South Alabama.

After being suspended for team rules, the Mobile native and former four star Leflore High School standout is returning home to play for South Alabama Jaguars. The Jaguars coach Joey Jones has confirmed the move during Sun Belt spring meetings. He red shirted his freshman season in 2011 and must sit out a year to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. Woodson has signed a grant-in-aid with South Alabama and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining when he becomes eligible to play.

Woodson 6’1, 195 lbs is the son of Danny Woodson Sr., who played quarterback at Alabama from 1990-91. Fresh out of High School Woodson was recruited by Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and Texas Tech.

We wish him well at South Alabama and welcome back home to Mobile, Alabama. 

Tojans completes there Spring Game with a White Team 22-14 victory

A team that seen two losing seasons and was expected to bounce back last season, is looking to do this year as they look to have improved this spring. Troy is looking to reclaim their identity as champions when they take to the field this fall. The Trojans ran through approximately 80 plays with the defense and offense splitting into two teams to showcase what they have to offer and been working on during this offseason.

Head Coach Larry Blakeney

Four quarterbacks threw for touchdowns and the defense saw multiple highlight plays as the white squad defeated the cardinal, 22-14, on Saturday in Troy.

“We got a little over 80 snaps which was our goal,” head coach Larry Blakeney said. Coach also said that he is expected to bring in more talent when other players who signed with the Trojans come in June and add to the team.

Senior quarterback Corey Robinson finished the day 11-of-15 passing for 130 yards and a touchdown, while senior Deon Anthony finished 7-of-10 for 124 yards and a score, to go along with 29 yards rushing on five carries. Dallas Tidwell went 7-of-7 for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Eric Thomas led the group of receivers on the day with 81 yards on six catches, while K.D. Edenfield finished with 48 yards on five receptions and a touchdown. Chandler Worthy hauled in three receptions for 90 yards and a score, while Bryan Holmes finished with just one catch, a 69-yard touchdown grab.

The Trojans may not have gotten all they wanted in the spring, but there is still time and a chance to get more improved this summer and fall.  I believe that the Trojans have the weapons; they just have to put them in place. 

South Alabama improves offense in last spring scrimmage

South Alabama went to the practice fields for their last spring scrimmage, and the offense blossomed; just as the Jaguars had hope.

South Alabama offense switched over to the spread offense last season under new offensive coordinator Robert Matthews. The jaguars had a few problems adapting to the new fast pace spread offense. However during spring practice the Jaguars have taken to the practice fields of South Alabama to get better for a better season this fall.  On yesterday head Coach Joey Jones described it as better than when they first got started.

The offense of South Alabama improved their running game and produced bigger plays through the air and really showed that the Jaguars can get it done.

While Ross Methany is expected to be the starting quarterback again this fall, there are others putting in hard work to compete for that job and for that second spot at quarterback. Brandon Bridge an FCS transfer from Jackson State, didn’t get no playing time last season; but he is looking for a chance to shine come this fall. Brandon Bridge connected with Jake Howton for a 33 yard completion to mark the longest pass play of the scrimmage.  Davin Hawkins posted four catches for 71 yards and a 29 yard scoring pass from Brandon Bridge.  Ross Methany connected with Bryant Lavender with 4 catches for 52 yards including a 13 yard touchdown.

Julien Valentin ran for 49 yards on his second carry of the day, ending with a team leading 63 yards on eight attempts; and Demetre Baker chipped in with 56 more on 10 rushes.  The two combined to add 21 yards on two completions as well.

Head coach Joey Jones said they ran the ball much better on yesterday during the scrimmage, something they wasn’t able to do last season. He also said the defense is coming together much better as well, and that the defensive players are flying around to the ball a lot faster than before.

The Jaguars will practice again on Tuesday and Thursday, before the Spring Red and White game on Saturday, April 6^th at 2:00pm at Ladd Pebbles Stadium in Mobile, AL. 

Troy football scheduled for three ESPNU games in 2013

Troy is looking for an exciting season in 2013 as they are beginning to bounce back to where they once were. In 2013 the Troy Trojans is locking up on TV appearances and they are looking to wear a crown.

So far three of the Trojans football games will be televised on national TV according to the Sun Belt Conference.  Troy will host ULM, and travel to UL-Lafayette for both home games. Troy will also get a Thursday night game against Arkansas State on ESPNU as well.

Troy is loaded and talented and expect the Trojans to be a force in 2013. 

South Alabama spring practice is under way

Jaguars are back on the field in 2013

On Thursday morning the South Alabama Jaguars begin their first practice of 2013. The Jaguars are preparing for what could be a rewarding season in the Sun Belt Conference and their FBS history.

According to USAjaguars.com Coach Jones said the first day was OK with just a little confusion on the field with everybody trying to get use to the changes the team has implemented in new coaches. Other than the program is kicking into high gear as they prepare for a much anticipated spring game on April 6th at 2pm and results as their head into their full fledge year of FBS football.

On this year rosters are 26 seniors and all are working for a prize this year, the team is eligible for the Sun Belt Conference Championship and a post season bowl invitation. South Alabama also bring in new coaches in Kevin Sherrer as Defensive Coordinator and new assistants on defense in Coach Roach and Pearson.

Expect this spring practice for the Jags to be about eliminating much of their team mistakes and all about fundamentals.  

Also note that your insider was correct on the possible South Alabama Jaguars Schedule, as the Sun Belt Conference released its 2013 schedule on yesterday March 1, 2013.  See the post here http://sunbeltinsider.blogspot.com/2013/02/south-alabama-may-have-exciting-home.html

South Alabama may have an exciting home schedule in 2013

With the Sun Belt Conference scheduled to release their official 2013 Conference schedule on next month. South Alabama may get an exciting home schedule in 2013, which will feature some of the SBC top performers and 2013 SBC bowl teams.

South Alabama will be playing a five game non-conference schedule and two of those games will be in Mobile, Alabama at Ladd Pebbles Stadium with Kent State and Southern Utah.  Kent State was also a top 25 ranked team in 2012 and appeared in the Mobile’s GoDaddy.com Bowl against Sun Belt Conference member Arkansas State where they was defeated by the Red Wolves of Arkansas State.

There are a few news coaches that may be making their way to Mobile as well to take on the Jaguars of South Alabama in the Sun Belt Conference. South Alabama will also welcome to new members to the conference in Texas and Georgia State. South Alabama suppose to open the 2013 season the first weekend in September, but with defection in the SBC the Jags had to add another non-conference game and they choose a competitive FCS team to open the season on August 29.

I am also projecting that South Alabama will take on its in-state conference rival Troy on Saturday, September 21, 2013. Hey I might be wrong but a guess don’t hurt.

Here is a look at South Alabama possible 2013 Schedule…..

8/29 – Southern Utah

9/7 – at Tulane                                                                            

9/28 – at Tennessee

10/19 – Kent State

11/16 – at Navy

*Conference schedule *

at Troy

Arkansas State (Ladd Pebbles Stadium) Mobile, AL

at Texas State

Louisiana Lafayette (Ladd Pebbles Stadium) Mobile, AL

Louisiana – Monroe (Ladd Pebbles Stadium) Mobile, AL

at Georgia State

Western Kentucy (Ladd Pebbles Stadium) Mobile, AL

It’s also possible that South Alabama get two bye weeks this fall, however that is not guaranteed.  It seems that the Jaguars have another competitive schedule as they did last year. This year the difference is that the Jags are more experienced and have a lot more talent to take to the field. Don’t count the Jags out in 2013. I believe that the defense will create some problems for a lot of teams in the SBC and a few in the non-conference schedule. South Alabama have brought on some talent from Alabama to coach the defensive side of the ball, so it will be interesting to see this new full FBS team compete for the Sun Belt Conference title and a post season bowl game.

South Alabama is set to begin spring practice on February 28 and host it’s annual spring game on April 6, 2013 at Ladd Pebbles Stadium. 

Troy brings in a strong class in 2013

Troy is looking to improve their offensive and defensive line and they found some recruits that would help them get to where they are trying to get to in the upcoming 2013-2014 season and beyond. They have brought in some good talent. Let us take a look at the talent the Trojans have brought in.

Troy 2013 recruiting class is lead by recruit Sam Lebbi of Dematha Catholic in Hyattsville, Maryland; he is rated as the # 6 6’1 235lbs middle linebacker in the country by one scouting service, which also puts him at a four-star recruit with one recruiting service.  

The Trojans have also brought in CB Cardell Lue 6’0 185lbs of Hebron High School in Carrollton, TX , RB Tim Longmire 5’11 194lbs of Godby High School in Tallahassee, FL, OL David Gross, 6’5 270lbs from Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery, Alabama and Jordan Chunn a 6’0 205lbs running back from Madison County High School in Gurley, Alabama. These players where highly recruited and should receive immediate playing time with the Troy Trojans.

Also signed with the Trojans on yesterday are the following recruits.

Joshua Anderson, RB

South Paulding H.S., Douglasville, Ga.

5-11, 230

3-Start Recruit

Arie Anderson, DT

Stanhope Elmore H.S., Millbrook, Ala.

6-3, 285

Jaylen Daniels, DE

Dooley Co., H.S., Vienna, Ga.

6-3, 205

Taylor Driggers, DT

Brantley, Ala., H.S.

6-2, 250

Taylor Edwards, OL

Water valley, Miss., H.S.

6-4, 290

Highly recruited by several schools

Xavier Fields, OL

Stanhope Elmore, H.S., Millbrook, Ala.

6-4, 345

Dondrell Harris, DB

Rutherford H.S., Panama City, Fla.

5-11, 180

Jalen Harris, WR

Northview, H.S., Dothan, Ala.

6-1, 185

Julius McCall, DB

Chelsea, Ala., H.S.

5-10, 170

Brett Medforth, OL

Sylacauga, Ala., H.S.

6-3, 245

Zach Moore, LB

Coffee County, H.S., Douglas, Ga.

6-1, 200

Clark Quisenberry, WR

Enterprise, Ala.

6-3, 205

Seth Roberts, DT

Ariton, Ala., H.S.

6-4, 250

Bryan Slater, DL

St. Paul's Episcopal School, Mobile, Ala.

6-2, 268

Montavious Smoke, DB

Stanhope Elmore H.S., Millbrook, Ala.

6-1, 182

Jevius Terry, DB

Eagles Landing Christian Academy, McDonough, Ga.

5-9, 160

We can also look for Josh Anderson of Douglasville, GA to make a strong impact for the Trojans along with Taylor Edwards of Water Valley, Mississippi.

GO TROJANS! 

Roach, Pearson headed to South Alabama to fill coaching vacancies

Coach Travis Pearson

South Alabama Jaguars head coach Joey Jones has completed the hiring of two more coached to fill the vacancies left open by former coaches that took coaching jobs elsewhere.

Joey Jones has hired Freddie Roach and Travis Pearson to the coaching staff. Roach a former Alabama standout who was recently a defensive line coach at Murray State, and Pearson, most recently the defensive coordinator at Colquitt County, Ga., High School. 

"I'm very happy to have the two additions to our staff that we have in Freddie Roach and Travis Pearson,'' Jones said Friday. "

"But also, they are great football coaches. They really understand football and they bring the factor that -- the thing I noticed in both of them in the interview process -- is they have a look in their eyes that they will translate to our players. They'll get them to play extremely hard on the field because they have a lot of passion for what they're doing and they are going to bring that to the field.

Coach Freddie Roach

"They aren't going to settle for anything less than that, and like I said, they are unbelievable ball coaches. They understand Xs and Os and they are going to teach all those things to our young players.''

Both new coaches are in town this weekend to be a part of South Alabama recruiting weekend. This recruiting season will be very special and important for South Alabama as they moved into the Sun Belt Conference as full members and be able to compete for the conference championship and a post season bowl game.

Roach will join Brian Turner in coaching defensive linemen for the Jags, with Pearson set to coach linebackers. Sherrer will coach the Jags' secondary as well as handle defensive coordinator duties.

South Alabama football adds Six “JUCO” transfer to their rooster for 2013

JUCO's signs with South Alabama 

Six junior-college transfers is headed to the University of South Alabama football program in the spring after signing National Letters-of-Intent with the school on Wednesday, head coach Joey Jones announced.

1.       Cristobal Dinham from Independence (Kan.) C.C.,

2.       Steffon and Steven Fuller from East Central (Miss.) C.C., both are twins.

3.      Navarro (Texas) J.C.'s Montell Garner, Jay Jones -- who attended Northeast Mississippi C.C. in the fall  

4.      Desmond LaVelle of Northwest Mississippi C.C.

Each JUCO will enroll in school in January and be eligible to participate in spring drills, and earn a spot on the South Alabama Jaguars rooster for playing time as a starter. Each of these JUCO comes with playing experience but must learn Division 1 play.

"I think we have upgraded our team for sure,” said Coach Joey Jones.

South Alabama is now a full fledge NCAA Division 1 member, and they can now compete for the Sun Belt Championship and Post Season Bowl Games. 

South Alabama Men’s Basketball ready for the Court

South Alabama had a winning season last season, losing a few games in some close calls and there was some games where the players seems as though they just gave up.

After Middle Tennessee, South Alabama was the only team in the East Division to have a record above .500 overall (17-12), but at 8-8 in conference play, didn't give much pressure to the Blue Raiders in terms of division supremacy. In 2012-2013, Ronnie Arrow is hoping his squad will be able to rectify that. Like the Blue Raiders, the Jaguars are extremely potent up front. Last season South Alabama was the top rebounding team in the conference (39.7 pg) and the eighth best in the nation overall.

Junior forward Augustine Rubit (15.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg) is the major reason for the Jaguars strong inside game. Last season he connected on 71.3 percent of his shots as is scoring numbers jumped by two points per game from his freshman season, although his rebounding did drop by nearly the same amount in that time. Mychal Ammons (10.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg) is more of a swingman but can play both on the inside and outside effectively on both sides of the ball.

More consistent guard play could push the Jaguars to the next level. Freddie Goldstein (11.7 ppg) was the best scorer from the perimeter, while Trey Anderson (5.8 ppg, 3.1 apg) turned in the best numbers in terms of assists. TCU transfer Xavier Roberson is also an intriguing backcourt option after averaging 9.9 points per game in eight games last season.

South Alabama will begin its regular season on November 9^th against Florida State in Tallahassee, Florida.