South Alabama won several games convincingly in 2022. But the Jaguars also fell short in a few key moments.
They lost by just one point to UCLA early in the season, and then they barely lost to Troy, 10-6, for their only Sun Belt loss of the year. They ended the season with a 44-23 loss to Western Kentucky in the New Orleans Bowl.
South Alabama brings back plenty of skilled players in 2023. Could that be enough to get the team to a conference championship?
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South Alabama Football’s Over/Under Win Total
South Alabama’s win total Over/Under is 7.5, with Under 7.5 at +115 and Over 7.5 at -135.
South Alabama Football’s Schedule
9/2 at Tulane
9/9 vs Southeastern Louisiana
9/16 at Oklahoma State
9/23 vs Central Michigan
9/30 at James Madison
10/7 at ULM
10/17 vs Southern Miss
10/28 vs Louisiana
11/2 at Troy
11/11 vs Arkansas State
11/18 vs Marshall
11/25 at Texas State
Bold indicates Sun Belt contests.
Key South Alabama Football Returners
2022 All-Sun Belt 1st Team
RB La’Damian Webb
DB Yam Banks
2nd Team
K Diego Guajardo
3rd Team
AP La’Damian Webb
Honorable Mention
QB Carter Bradley
WR Devin Voisin
DL Wy’Kevious Thomas
DB Jaden Voisin
Carter Bradley And La’Damian Webb Among Standouts On South Alabama’s Offense
South Alabama might have some of the best players at its skill positions in the Group of Five.
Carter Bradley is one of the best Sun Belt quarterbacks, perhaps only behind Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall. After transferring from Toledo, Bradley paced the conference with 28 touchdown throws and was second with 3,343 yards a year ago. He also completed 65% of his passes while throwing 12 picks.
And La’Damian Webb is easily among the best Sun Belt running backs. The former JUCO transfer made the all-conference list because of his productivity on offense and special teams last year.
Webb was fourth in the league with 1,063 rushing yards and was second with 13 touchdowns on the ground, all while averaging 5.1 yards per attempt. He added 21 catches, 213 yards, and two touchdowns through the air.
Braylon McReynolds, who rushed for 326 yards, and Marco Lee, who ran for 247 yards and four touchdowns, return as well. South Alabama also added transfer running back Kentrel Bullock from Ole Miss to give the position group some depth.
And Devin Voisin and Caullin Lacy should also be in consideration for a spot among the best Sun Belt wide receivers.
Voisin was fifth in the league in receptions (64) and seventh in receiving yards (871) while tallying eight touchdowns. Lacy was just ahead of Voisin with 65 receptions and six touchdowns while recording 816 receiving yards. South Alabama also picked up Javon Ivory, a transfer wide receiver from Memphis.
Left guard Dontae Lucas, right guard Reggie Smith, and right tackle Adrein Strickland were the team’s primary starters at their positions and all return. They helped South Alabama rank sixth with 155.3 rushing yards per game and allowed the fifth-fewest sacks (26) in the league.
The Jaguars also added South Carolina transfer Jordan Davis and Mississippi State transfer Reed Buys to their O-line.
Yam Banks To Lead South Alabama’s Defense Once Again
South Alabama was among the top five in the Sun Belt in terms of total defense (331.4 yards per game allowed) and scoring defense (21.3 points per game allowed). And the Jaguars could be even better with nine of their top 11 tacklers from last season returning.
One of those players gone, cornerback Darrell Luter Jr., was drafted by the 49ers in the fifth round. But South Alabama’s secondary should still be solid.
Defensive back Yam Banks returns after an all-conference season in 2022. He tied for first in the Sun Belt with six picks and was also first with 17 passes defended to go with 50 tackles.
Safety Jaden Voisin also returns after leading the team with 80 tackles. He added six tackles for loss, five pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, and two interceptions.
Up front, Wy’Kevious Thomas returns after earning all-conference honorable mention accolades. He totaled 35 tackles, five for loss, and three sacks last year.
Linebacker Trey Kiser, who tied for a team lead with 11 tackles for loss while also recording 76 total tackles and two sacks, also returns. Defensive lineman Jamie Sheriff, who paced the team with six sacks and added 43 tackles and 7.5 TFLs, is also back.
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South Alabama Football Season Prediction
South Alabama won’t win the Sun Belt title but will win more than seven games this season.
Despite a fairly tough non-conference schedule, South Alabama should enjoy another successful year. Of the four games I see South Alabama losing, only two of them are against conference foes.
The Jaguars have to open the season at Tulane and then play at Oklahoma State two weeks later. Though I think they will be defeated in those two matchups, I see them beating Southeastern Louisiana and Central Michigan.
From there, the only games I think South Alabama won’t be favored in are contests at James Madison and Troy. Winning either of those games on the road will be difficult.
But the Jaguars should be better than ULM and Texas State on the road and should win against Arkansas State at home. Matchups with Southern Miss, Louisiana, and Marshall could be closely contested, but I give the Jaguars the advantage since all three of those games will be at South Alabama.
So while I don’t see them winning a conference title, South Alabama should have another fun season in 2023.
