South Alabama closed out spring practice with its annual Spring Game on Saturday. It was part regular football scrimmage and part skills competition.
The quarterback competition had a tie for first between returning backup Desmond Trotter and junior Tanner McGee. Freshman Gio Lopez finished third. Returning starter Carter Bradley, who threw for 3,343 yards and 28 touchdowns last season, did not participate. The offense won the red zone competition.
Devin Voisin and Jamaal Pritchett tied for in the best hands competition. Voisin was also awarded with the first No. 5 jersey of the fall. The number is given in honor of Anthony Mostella, a former South Alabama running back, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2010.
South Alabama is coming off one of the best seasons in school history. The Jaguars won 10 regular season games, tied with Troy for the Sun Belt regular season championship and played in the New Orleans Bowl. Many of the key contributors from that team are returning.
South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack was asked after Saturday's game what players stood out this spring. He began on the defensive side of the ball.
"I feel our defensive line continues to shine," Wommack said. "You've got some really impressive players (like) Bubba Thomas. Jalomie Sherriff is a very experienced player from a pass-rush standpoint. We're seeing more and more of that both on the inside and outside. Charles Coleman III and Jamal Hickbottom had tremendous springs. I remember recruiting Jamal as an outside linebacker what feels like six or seven years ago, and now he's a 305-pound defensive tackle that is really operating at a high level. I'm excited about that group. I thought out corners took a huge step forward this spring, which was real encouraging to see."
He then transitioned to the other side of the football.
"Offensively, our running backs are impressive," Wommack said. "They have skill sets that we can utilize in a lot of different ways. I also thought our tight ends took a huge step forward in terms of establishing a run game. Guys like Brandon Crum and Jacob Hopper, who have done a great job in run-blocking, I thought they really opened themselves up in the passing game. Lincoln (Sefcik) and D.J. (Thomas-Jones) have always been offensive weapons and threats with the ball in their hands, but I thought they took a step forward in terms of our run production."
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