Influx of Transfers from UAB Will Bolster South Alabama

(This is the eleventh in a series of 14 articles previewing the Sun Belt Conference and the 2015 opponents of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.  Today:  South Alabama.  The Cajuns and Jaguars meet in a nationally televised game on Thursday, November 12th on ESPNU at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.)

Last year started with so much promise for the South Alabama Jaguars.  They started 5-2 with a senior laden team, but faced a brutal schedule (at UL, at Arkansas State, Texas State, at South Carolina, Navy) and lost four of five.  At 6-6 they got a bid to the inaugural Camellia Bowl, where they fell to Bowling Green to finish at 6-7.  They have the fewest amount of starters back in the Sun Belt Conference, but they’ve benefitted from UAB’s (temporary) decision to drop football, adding a slew of transfers.  South Alabama is hoping those newcomers will mean it’s not a rebuilding year at South Alabama.

OFFENSE—You’ll see a big UAB influence on the offensive side of the ball, as senior quarterback Cody Clements transfers in after throwing for 2,227 yards and 14 touchdowns in Birmingham a season ago. Running back Terrance Timmons is back after gaining over 400 yards a season ago, but transfer Demi Ayoola and JUCO Tyreis Thomas will see action back there as well.  Danny Woodson (30-382) has experience at receiver and he’ll get help from former Alabama WR Marvin Shinn, who missed almost all of last season with an injury.  UAB transfer D. J. Vinson will be a weapon as well.  Braedon Bowman, who split starts with the departed Wes Sexton, returns at tight end.  Two starters on the line are back, but UAB transfer Cameron Blankenship and JUCO De’Arius Young should step in.

DEFENSE—They lose their top three guys up front and there aren’t any UAB transfers there to pick up the slack.  Akeem Lewis and Tre Alford will move into the starting lineup and Jimmie Gipson, who started the last four games returns as well.  Demarius Rancifer transfers in from UAB and Texas Tech transfer Blake Dees will make up for lost experience at LB.  E. J. May didn’t start last year, but saw action at corner. Safety Roman Buchanon is back at one safety, while former LB Antonio Carter moves to the FS spot.

SPECIAL TEAMS:  Both K Aleem Sunanon (first team pre-season SBC kicker) and P Brandon McKee (42.3) return for the Jaguars   Their return game will (once again) welcome a UAB transfer which should offset the losses of T. J. Glover and Jerame Jones.

SCHEDULE:  Non conference will be a challenge for the Jags.  After opening with Gardner-Webb, USA goes to Nebraska and San Diego State and then hosts N. C. State.  They get Arkansas State, Louisiana and Appalachian State at home, but have to go to Georgia Southern.  Troy, Georgia State and Texas State are all on the road.  Those home games against the favorites will give them a fighting chance, but this is a pretty tough slate.  South Alabama does not play New Mexico State or ULM.

OUTLOOK:  This would be a massive rebuilding job if not for the good fortune of getting so many players from the (short) demise of UAB.  But even with that, the schedule will be a challenge for the Jaguars.  But Joey Jones and his staff are pretty solid coaches and they’ll be prepared every week.  They might flirt with bowl eligibility again, but will probably have to pull an upset, maybe two, in the league to make that happen.

(Information from Phil Steele's College Football Preview contributed to this report.)