# 2020 Southern Jaguars football team

The 2020 Southern Jaguars football team represented Southern University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Jaguars were led by eighth-year head coach Dawson Odums and played their home games at Ace W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as members of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
On July 20, 2020, the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced that it would not play fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included the football program. The conference is formalizing plans to conduct a competitive schedule for football during the 2021 spring semester.

## Preseason
### Recruiting class

Reference:
US college sports recruiting information for 2020 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Antonio Smith Offensive Tackle | Ocala, FL | Van Guard HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 305 lb (138 kg) | - | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Andre Jones Defensive End | Ocala, FL | Van Guard HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 197 lb (89 kg) | - | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Luke Rose Free Safety | Citra, FL | North Marion HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | - | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Ethan Howard Tight End | Cecilia, LA | Cecilia HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | - | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Carline Davis Free Safety | Marrero, LA | Higgins HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | - | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Tikey Reese Defensive Tackle | Monroe, LA | Neville HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | - | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Marquis Martin Defensive End | New Orleans, LA | John Curtis HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | - | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Tyquez Hampton Wide Receiver | El Paso, TX | Chapin HS El Dorado HS Utah Coffeyville CC | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | - | Dec 19, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Amauchechukwu Nnaji–Collins Defensive End | Destrehan, LA | Miami ASA | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | - | Dec 19, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Shamar Zaragoza Wide Receiver | Miami, FL | Miami Central HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | - | Dec 19, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Derrick Williams Linebacker | Miami, FL | Miami Central HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | - | Dec 19, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Letrelle Johnson Nose Tackle | Hattiesburg, MS | Hattiesburg HS Southwest Mississippi CC | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | - | Dec 19, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Dakota Masters Long Snapper | Seminary, MS | Seminary HS Jones CC | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 196 lb (89 kg) | - | Dec 19, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Ronell Burbank Defensive Tackle | New Orleans, LA | Edna Karr HS McNeese State Mississippi Gulf Coast CC | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | - | Dec 19, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Rahem Shorter Linebacker | Pattison, MS | Port Gibson HS Jones CC | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 196 lb (89 kg) | - | Dec 19, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Jadyn Landrum Linebacker | Grand Prairie, TX | Bowie HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | - | Dec 19, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||

### Preseason polls

The SWAC will release their polls in July 2020.
West Division :
* Predicted finish
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
East Division :
* Predicted finish
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5

### Preseason all–SWAC teams
## Schedule

The 2020 schedule originally consisted of 5 home, 3 away, and 3 neutral site games in the regular season. The Tigers will travel to SWAC foes Alabama A&M, Alabama State, and Prairie View A&M. The Tigers will play host to SWAC foes Jackson State, Alcorn State, and Arkansas–Pine Bluff. The Tigers will play two neutral site conference games—the Dallas State Fair Showdown against Texas Southern at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX and the Bayou Classic against Grambling State at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA.
Due to the SWAC's postponement of the 2020 football season to spring 2021, games against Florida A&M, Florida Memorial, Morehouse, and Tennessee State were canceled.
Southern's revised schedule, released by the conference on August 17, will feature six games; 2 home, 3 away, and 1 at a neutral site.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| February 26 | 6:00 p.m. | at Alabama State | New ASU StadiumMontgomery, AL | ESPN3 | W 24–21 | 5,654 |
| March 6 | 1:30 p.m. | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | A. W. Mumford StadiumBaton Rouge, LA | ESPN3 | L 30–33 | 0 |
| March 20 | 7:30 p.m. | at Texas Southern | BBVA StadiumHouston, TX | AT&TSN | W 51–23 | 0 |
| March 27 | | Alcorn State | A. W. Mumford StadiumBaton Rouge, LA | | W 2–0 (forfeit) | |
| April 3 | 4:00 p.m. | at Jackson State | Mississippi Veterans Memorial StadiumJackson, MS (Boombox Classic) | ESPN | W 34–14 | 22,000 |
| April 17 | 1:30 p.m. | vs. Grambling State | Independence StadiumShreveport, LA (Bayou Classic) | NBCSN | W 49–7 | 11,312 |
| Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### At Alabama State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Jaguars | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| Hornets | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SOU −7.0 | 52 |
| Statistics | Southern | Alabama State |
| First downs | 12 | 22 |
| Total yards | 274 | 274 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 125 |
| Passing yards | 135 | 149 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 23:44 | 36:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern | Passing | Ladarius Skelton | 10/22, 135 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern | Rushing | Ladarius Skelton | 10 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern | Receiving | Gregory Perkins | 1 reception, 59 yards, 1 TD |
| Alabama State | Passing | Ryan Nettles | 16/27, 149 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Alabama State | Rushing | Ezra Gray | 14 carries, 73 yards |
| Alabama State | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 5 receptions, 47 yards, 1 TD |

### Arkansas–Pine Bluff

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Golden Lions | 3 | 23 | 7 | 0 | 33 |
| Jaguars | 7 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 30 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SOU −11.0 | 56 |
| Statistics | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | Southern |
| First downs | 20 | 23 |
| Total yards | 411 | 426 |
| Rushing yards | 188 | 134 |
| Passing yards | 223 | 292 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 30:26 | 29:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas–Pine Bluff | Passing | Skyler Perry | 22/37, 223 yards, 2 TDs |
| Arkansas–Pine Bluff | Rushing | Skyler Perry | 8 carries, 58 yards, 2 TDs |
| Arkansas–Pine Bluff | Receiving | Tyrin Ralph | 7 receptions, 86 yards |
| Southern | Passing | John Lampley | 20/33, 238 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Southern | Rushing | Jarod Sims | 11 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern | Receiving | Brandon Hinton | 3 receptions, 60 yards |

### At Texas Southern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Jaguars | 9 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 51 |
| Tigers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 23 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SOU −11.5 | 57 |
| Statistics | Southern | Texas Southern |
| First downs | 24 | 22 |
| Total yards | 460 | 383 |
| Rushing yards | 258 | 102 |
| Passing yards | 202 | 281 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:51 | 27:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern | Passing | Ladarius Skelton | 11/18, 174 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Southern | Rushing | Ladarius Skelton | 14 carries, 71 yards |
| Southern | Receiving | Ethan Howard | 2 receptions, 56 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas Southern | Passing | Jalen Brown | 21/37, 281 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Texas Southern | Rushing | Jacorey Howard | 14 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas Southern | Receiving | Ke'Lenn Davis | 3 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD |

### At Jackson State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Jaguars | 7 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 34 |
| Tigers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SOU −1.5 | 59 |
| Statistics | Southern | Jackson State |
| First downs | 26 | 16 |
| Total yards | 474 | 309 |
| Rushing yards | 294 | 66 |
| Passing yards | 180 | 243 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 42:49 | 17:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern | Passing | John Lampley | 9/14, 116 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern | Rushing | Jerodd Sims | 17 carries, 79 yards |
| Southern | Receiving | Ethan Howard | 4 receptions, 54 yards |
| Jackson State | Passing | Jalon Jones | 17/29, 243 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Jackson State | Rushing | Tyson Alexander | 8 carries, 38 yards |
| Jackson State | Receiving | Daylen Baldwin | 3 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. Grambling State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| • Jaguars | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SOU −14.0 | 55 |
| Statistics | Grambling State | Southern |
| First downs | 13 | 19 |
| Total yards | 208 | 520 |
| Rushing yards | 143 | 232 |
| Passing yards | 65 | 288 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:51 | 34:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Grambling State | Passing | Elijah Walker | 9/14, 65 yards, 1 TD |
| Grambling State | Rushing | Lyndemian Brooks | 9 carries, 71 yards |
| Grambling State | Receiving | Raylon Richardson | 3 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern | Passing | John Lampley | 8/11, 143 yards, 1 TDs |
| Southern | Rushing | Ladarius Skelton | 7 carries, 76 yards, 2 TDs |
| Southern | Receiving | Ethan Howard | 5 receptions, 80 yards |