Date: 8/25
Time: 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. (CDT)
Place: James A. and Frances H. Yance Football Practice Facility
Practice attire: Shells (helmets and shoulder pads)
Offensive Player of the Day: Dominic Esposito, Jr., OL, Springfield, Va.
-Offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent on Esposito: "Dominic's a guy that got here in the spring and he's really taking advantage of his opportunities and practices. We've got a battle for the starting center and every day he gets better and better. His leadership is strong, he works extremely hard and he's trying to give us some stability at that position."
Defensive Player of the Day: Finessé Middleton, Jr., DE, Gadsden, Ala.
-Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack on Middleton: "Finessé is a guy that came in a little bit later to camp and had to wait a couple of days and acclimate, but he's really starting to come on strong for us. He's doing a good job learning what to do and he's a dynamic pass rusher for us."
Play of the Day: On the third play of the first series of the 7-on-7 period, Kalen Jackson deflected a pass from Dallas Davis and Jeremy Reaves came up with the interception.
Team period highlights: South Alabama conducted three team periods, the first of which saw the first- and second-team units each run an offensive series. USA later had a 21-play 7-on-7 skeleton drill period before closing out practice with a team red zone session. Both the first- and second-team units each had a series from the 20-yard line and the 10-yard line.
Miscellaneous Notes
-South Alabama began practice with one of two special teams periods working on kick offs at the beginning and later with the punting unit.
-The defense got off to a quick start during the first series of the 7-on-7 session, recording two coverage sacks and two interceptions.
-Along with the deflected pass, Jackson also intercepted a ball of his own inside the 20 on the final play of the first series of downs in the 7-on-7 drill.
-Davis led the first-team unit to a pair of scores in the red zone team session. Davis first hit Gerald Everett for a 17-yard touchdown and then connected with Everett again on the first-team's series inside the 10-yard line to set up a 3-yard scoring run by Deonta Moore.
-Gavin Patterson converted a 42-yard field-goal attempt on the second-team's first offensive series of the red zone period.
-The defense closed out practice the way it started by registering a pair of sacks on the first two plays of the final series inside the 10-yard line.
Head coach Joey Jones
-On where he feels his team is heading into tomorrow's mock scrimmage: "I think we're in good shape. We need to focus on the little things and make sure [the scrimmage] tomorrow is a great mental practice. It has to be as game-like as we can make it. We need to make good decisions out there. We need to pay attention and be aware of what's going on when we watch the game film [tonight] and be able to perform all of those things tomorrow because this will be as close as we can get to putting them in a game situation.
-On his thoughts on practice today: "I thought it was good. The defense is doing a good job in the red zone for the most part during camp. The ones on offense were able to score and put the ball in the end zone a couple of times. I just saw good things on both sides of the ball today."
-On Dallas Davis this week in practice after being named the starter: "He's done well. He hasn't really changed and been the same Dallas that he's always been. He comes out and performs everyday and is as solid as it gets."
Up next: The Jaguars will hold a mock scrimmage on campus on Friday at 3 p.m. before taking Saturday off. The scrimmage is closed to the public.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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