# 2021 South Alabama Jaguars football team

The 2021 South Alabama Jaguars football team represented the University of South Alabama during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Jaguars played their home games at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference.
Prior to the season, South Alabama saw a near complete overhaul of its coaching staff, including Kane Wommack taking over as head coach, Major Applewhite taking over as offensive coordinator, and Corey Batoon taking over as defensive coordinator.

## Preseason
### Recruiting class

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Jake Bentley QB | Lexington, SC | Opelika HS South Carolina Utah | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jason Brooks DB | Mobile, AL | Mobile Christian | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Lamondre Brooks LB | Birmingham, AL | Huffman HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Cole Daniels DL | Sumrall, MS | Sumrall HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Travis Drosos LS | Gilbert, AZ | Perry HS Colorado | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Reid Gavin OL | Ellisville, MS | South Jones HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 325 lb (147 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
| Dalton Hughes LB | Tupelo, MS | Tupelo HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 72 |||||||
| Trey Kiser LB | Sulphur, OK | Sulphur HS Northeastern Oklahoma A&M JC | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 70 |||||||
| Antawn Lewis OL | West Palm Beach, FL | Dwyer HS Louisiana Tech | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 320 lb (150 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Chris Rias LB | Carrollton, MS | J. Z. George HS Copiah-Lincoln CC | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
| Lincoln Sefcik TE | Enid, OK | Enid HS Northeastern Oklahoma A&M JC | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 70 |||||||
| Edward Smith IV DL | Tuscaloosa, AL | Central HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 70 |||||||
| Adrein Strickland OL | Panama City, FL | Mosley HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 320 lb (150 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Jay'juan Townsend WR | Eufaula, AL | Eufaula HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
Source:

### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

#### Preseason

| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| Maxwell Award | Jalen Tolbert | WR | JR |
| Allstate AFCA Good Works Team | Keith Gallmon | S | JR |
| Biletnikoff Award | Jalen Tolbert | WR | JR |
| Ray Guy Award | Jack Brooks | P | SO |
| Wuerffel Trophy | Keith Gallmon | S | JR |
Sources:

### Sun Belt coaches poll

The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 20, 2021. The Jaguars were picked to finish third in the West Division.
West Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| 1 | Louisiana | 49 (9) |
| 2 | Arkansas State | 38 (1) |
| 3 | South Alabama | 27 |
| 4 | Texas State | 25 |
| 5 | Louisiana–Monroe | 11 |
East Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| T1 | Coastal Carolina | 44 (6) |
| T1 | Appalachian State | 44 (4) |
| 3 | Georgia State | 24 |
| 4 | Georgia Southern | 20 |
| 5 | Troy | 18 |

### Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
## Schedule

The 2021 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Jaguars will travel to Sun Belt foes Texas State, Louisiana–Monroe, Troy, and Appalachian State. South Alabama will play host to Sun Belt foes Louisiana, Georgia Southern, Arkansas State, and Coastal Carolina.
South Alabama will host two of the four non-conference opponents at Hancock Whitney Stadium, Southern Miss of the Conference USA and Alcorn State, from NCAA Division I FCS Southwestern Athletic Conference, and will travel to Bowling Green of the Mid-American Conference and Tennessee of the Southeastern Conference.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 7:00 p.m. | Southern Miss* | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPN+ | W 31–7 | 20,156 |
| September 11 | 3:00 p.m. | at Bowling Green* | Doyt Perry StadiumBowling Green, OH | ESPN+ | W 22–19 | 15,105 |
| September 18 | 7:00 p.m. | Alcorn State* | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPN3 | W 28–21 | 15,204 |
| October 2 | 7:00 p.m. | Louisiana | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPN+ | L 18–20 | 16,764 |
| October 9 | 6:00 p.m. | at Texas State | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN+ | L 31–33 $^{4OT}$ | 16,223 |
| October 14 | 6:30 p.m. | Georgia Southern | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPNU | W 41–14 | 16,089 |
| October 23 | 6:00 p.m. | at Louisiana–Monroe | Malone StadiumMonroe, LA | ESPN3 | L 31–41 | 11,723 |
| October 30 | 4:00 p.m. | Arkansas State | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPN+ | W 31–13 | 15,043 |
| November 6 | 2:30 p.m. | at Troy | Veterans Memorial StadiumTroy, AL (Battle for the Belt) | ESPN+ | L 24–31 | 26,211 |
| November 13 | 1:30 p.m. | at Appalachian State | Kidd Brewer StadiumBoone, NC | ESPN+ | L 7–31 | 29,348 |
| November 20 | 6:30 p.m. | at Tennessee* | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | ESPNU | L 14–60 | 75,203 |
| November 26 | 2:30 p.m. | Coastal Carolina | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPN+ | L 21–27 $^{OT}$ | 13,242 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Southern Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Jaguars | 0 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USA –2.0 | 57 |
| Statistics | Southern Miss | South Alabama |
| First downs | 19 | 13 |
| Total yards | 259 | 300 |
| Rushing yards | 126 | 31 |
| Passing yards | 133 | 269 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:27 | 28:33 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Trey Lowe | 13/29, 133 yards, 2 INTs |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 19 carries, 81 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jakarius Caston | 3 receptions, 38 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 17/22, 269 yards, 2 TDs |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Kareem Walker | 18 carries, 26 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 5 receptions, 168 yards |

### At Bowling Green

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Jaguars | 0 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 22 |
| Falcons | 8 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 19 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USA –14.5 | 48 |
| Statistics | South Alabama | Bowling Green |
| First downs | 21 | 10 |
| Total yards | 371 | 318 |
| Rushing yards | 114 | 10 |
| Passing yards | 257 | 308 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 35:29 | 24:31 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 29/46, 257 yards, 1 INT |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Terrion Avery | 20 carries, 82 yards, 1 TD |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 7 receptions, 95 yards |
| Bowling Green | Passing | Matt McDonald | 23/32, 308 yards, 1 TD |
| Bowling Green | Rushing | Terion Stewart | 5 carries, 16 yards |
| Bowling Green | Receiving | Christian Sims | 8 receptions, 76 yards |

### Alcorn State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Braves | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| • Jaguars | 7 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USA –21.5 | 45 |
| Statistics | Alcorn State | South Alabama |
| First downs | 13 | 22 |
| Total yards | 297 | 396 |
| Rushing yards | 32 | 238 |
| Passing yards | 265 | 158 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 32:00 | 28:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alcorn State | Passing | Felix Harper | 20/33, 265 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Alcorn State | Rushing | Jonathon Bolton | 7 carries, 16 yards |
| Alcorn State | Receiving | CJ Bolar | 5 receptions, 128 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 14/25, 158 yards |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Kareem Walker | 23 carries, 150 yards, 3 TDs |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 2 receptions, 54 yards |

### Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ragin' Cajuns | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Jaguars | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –12.0 | 53 |
| Statistics | Louisiana | South Alabama |
| First downs | 17 | 18 |
| Total yards | 283 | 387 |
| Rushing yards | 225 | 144 |
| Passing yards | 58 | 243 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 23:13 | 36:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 9/20, 49 yards |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Emani Bailey | 7 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Neal Johnson | 1 reception, 18 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 19/29, 243 yards |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Bryan Hill | 22 carries, 81 yards, 2 TDs |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 6 receptions, 143 yards |

### At Texas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | 3OT | 4OT | Total |
| Jaguars | 0 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| • Bobcats | 7 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 33 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USA –4.0 | 53 |
| Statistics | South Alabama | Texas State |
| First downs | 20 | 23 |
| Total yards | 329 | 399 |
| Rushing yards | 140 | 212 |
| Passing yards | 189 | 187 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 28:24 | 31:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 19/26, 189 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| South Alabama | Rushing | AJ Phillips | 19 carries, 74 yards, 2 TDs |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 5 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Passing | Brady McBride | 18/28, 187 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Texas State | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 11 carries, 70 yards |
| Texas State | Receiving | Javen Banks | 4 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD |

### Georgia Southern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| • Jaguars | 10 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 41 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USA –2.5 | 50 |
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | South Alabama |
| First downs | 10 | 20 |
| Total yards | 233 | 545 |
| Rushing yards | 121 | 140 |
| Passing yards | 112 | 405 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:02 | 29:58 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Cam Ransom | 2/12, 63 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Logan Wright | 14 carries, 60 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Amare Jones | 4 receptions, 90 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 24/31, 389 yards, 3 TDs |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Bryan Hill | 8 carries, 65 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 11 receptions, 174 yards, 1 TD |

### At Louisiana–Monroe

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jaguars | 7 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
| • Warhawks | 7 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 41 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USA –13.5 | 51 |
| Statistics | South Alabama | Louisiana–Monroe |
| First downs | 22 | 25 |
| Total yards | 409 | 555 |
| Rushing yards | 89 | 186 |
| Passing yards | 320 | 369 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:18 | 25:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 30/41, 320 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Terrion Avery | 14 carries, 87 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 10 receptions, 155 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Chandler Rogers | 25/35, 369 yards, 4 TDs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Andrew Henry | 18 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Will Derrick | 5 receptions, 135 yards, 1 TD |

### Arkansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| • Jaguars | 14 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USA –9.0 | 66 |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | South Alabama |
| First downs | 14 | 23 |
| Total yards | 224 | 421 |
| Rushing yards | 38 | 173 |
| Passing yards | 186 | 248 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:19 | 35:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 19/37, 186 yards, 3 INTs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 8 carries, 32 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 4 receptions, 67 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 29/39, 248 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Terrion Avery | 22 carries, 113 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 8 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TDs |

### At Troy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jaguars | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
| • Trojans | 10 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TROY –3.5 | 48 |
| Statistics | South Alabama | Troy |
| First downs | 22 | 17 |
| Total yards | 335 | 308 |
| Rushing yards | 148 | 107 |
| Passing yards | 187 | 201 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 36:25 | 23:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Desmond Trotter | 20/32, 138 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Terrion Avery | 23 carries, 75 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 4 receptions, 65 yards |
| Troy | Passing | Gunnar Watson | 11/14, 121 yards |
| Troy | Rushing | B. J. Smith | 12 carries, 49 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Luke Whittemore | 3 receptions, 59 yards |

### At Appalachian State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jaguars | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Mountaineers | 14 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP –21.5 | 52 |
| Statistics | South Alabama | Appalachian State |
| First downs | 17 | 17 |
| Total yards | 284 | 330 |
| Rushing yards | 58 | 135 |
| Passing yards | 226 | 195 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 30:05 | 29:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Desmond Trotter | 21/38, 226 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Terrion Avery | 11 carries, 24 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 7 receptions, 108 yards |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Chase Brice | 14/26, 195 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Camerun Peoples | 23 carries, 90 yards |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Jalen Virgil | 2 receptions, 57 yards |

### At Tennessee

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jaguars | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| • Volunteers | 14 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 60 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TENN –28.0 | 61 |
| Statistics | South Alabama | Tennessee |
| First downs | 13 | 28 |
| Total yards | 285 | 561 |
| Rushing yards | 69 | 250 |
| Passing yards | 216 | 311 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 37:00 | 23:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Desmond Trotter | 19/32, 216 yards, 2 TDs |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Kareem Walker | 7 carries, 29 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 7 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 17/20, 273 yards, 2 TDs |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 13 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Velus Jones Jr. | 6 receptions, 103 yards |

### Coastal Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| • Chanticleers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 27 |
| Jaguars | 7 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CCU –15.0 | 55 |
| Statistics | Coastal Carolina | South Alabama |
| First downs | 25 | 20 |
| Total yards | 491 | 349 |
| Rushing yards | 315 | -5 |
| Passing yards | 176 | 354 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 32:52 | 27:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | Grayson McCall | 16/25, 176 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | Shermari Jones | 23 carries, 211 yards, 1 TD |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Jaivon Heiligh | 6 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 28/41, 354 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Terrion Avery | 6 carries, 11 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 10 receptions, 191 yards, 1 TD |