MOBILE, Ala. – The opening of the college football season brings excitement to campuses across the country each fall, but there might be an even higher level of anticipation for those following the University of South Alabama's program.

For the first time ever, the Jags will begin the year coming off a bowl appearance after earning an invitation to the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in December.  And with 17 starters gone from that squad, many are anticipating finding out who will lead this season's team in its effort to return to postseason action.

"This year we have a lot of new faces and names, which is exciting," observed Jag head coach Joey Jones, entering his seventh season guiding the program.  "It's been fun working with them, I think they have gotten better and better, so it has been a real satisfying camp.  We have some work to do, but I really feel like they are ready to play a ball game, as most teams are by now."

The Jaguars, who concluded the 2014 season 6-7 overall, will open up Saturday with a match-up against Gardner-Webb at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.  Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m., with the game scheduled to be broadcast nationally on ESPN3.  The Runnin' Bulldogs, an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision member from the Big South Conference, went 4-8 last fall.

While USA began last year with a 23-13 win at Kent State — improving to 4-2 in season openers — the previous two campaigns began at home with a two-point loss to Texas-San Antonio and a one-point defeat at the hands of Southern Utah.  Those results have garnered the attention of all within the Jaguar program.

"We are very focused on this week's opponent. [Offensive coordinator] Coach [Bryant] Vincent has done a really good job of preparing us," senior offensive lineman Chris May explained.  "A problem we have had here in the past is starting slow the first game.  Coach Vincent has done an amazing job of pushing that upon us, and we have taken it upon our own shoulders to not start slow and prepare for this team the way we will for any opponent.  They are a very good team."

"You have to treat every opponent the same," added cornerback E.J. May, also a senior.  "We have to prepare for Gardner-Webb just like we will prepare for Nebraska, San Diego State and N.C. State.  Everyone is focused on this week."

Chris May and Joseph Scelfo — both members of the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List — are the lone returning starters for the Jags up front.  The left side of the line is expected to be filled out by juniors Daniel Aust, a two-year letterwinner, and junior-college transfer Curtis Williams, with Cameron Blankenship slated to play right guard; the latter started all 11 appearances he made at UAB in 2014.

While USA will start at quarterback an individual taking his first official snap with the program, with Cody Clements listed as the starter and redshirt freshman Dallas Davis his back-up, two of the four running backs with them in the backfield contributed to an offense that gained nearly 180 yards per outing on the ground a year ago.  Both Terrance Timmons and Xavier Johnson averaged 5.4 yards per play while combining to post almost 850 yards and five scores, and they will be joined by junior-college All-American Tyreis Thomas and Dami Ayoola, who began his collegiate career at Illinois.

Tight ends Braedon Bowman and Gerald Everett caught 18 and 17 balls, respectively, a year ago — the latter at UAB — while the Jaguar receiving corps will include a plethora of upperclassmen; seniors Claude Garrett, Marvin Shinn and D.J. Vinson are slated to see action alongside juniors Cameron Broadnax, Kevin Kutchera, Josh Magee and Tony Ray Parnell.

The Jags have a pair of starters back in the defensive secondary as well in safeties Roman Buchanan and Antonio Carter.  Buchanan, a preseason second-team all-Sun Belt Conference selection over the summer, is the leading returning tackler after making 74 stops last year — he also defended seven passes — with Carter supplying 54 tackles.  Seniors E.J. May and Margo Reed, both of whom made multiple starts and intercepted a pass in '14, are projected to start on the corners, with freshman Jalen Thompson a potential contributor too, and Devon Earl and Jeremy Reaves are expected to contribute in the secondary as well.

Up front, where USA must replace a trio of all-SBC performers, all four slated to start — interior linemen Tre Alford and Caleb Butler, and ends DeMarion Harper and Akeem Lewis — saw action last fall to contribute to a unit that surrendered fewer than 400 yards per contest.  At linebacker, Blake Dees (Texas Tech) and Kalen Jackson (UAB) have experience at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, with seniors Demarius Rancifer and Raymoné Wiggins along with freshman Bull Barge expected to see time at the position also.

Special teams is an area where the Jaguars are bringing experienced individuals back, however.  Placekicker Aleem Sunanon has converted 33 field goals over the last two seasons, earning preseason first-team all-league honors, while Brandon McKee averaged a school season-record 42.34 yards per punt a year ago with 28 kicks downed inside the opposition's 20-yard line.

The Runnin' Bulldog defense also allowed less than 400 yards per game last season, returning 15 individuals with starting experience.  Outside linebacker Aaron Cook recorded 92 tackles, with 13 behind the line including four sacks, five passes broken up and a pair of forced fumbles, while preseason first-team FCS All-American O.J. Mau collected 60 stops including 10 for loss from the nose guard position.  The unit will be bolstered by the return of inside linebacker Tanner Burch, who had a team-leading 107 tackles during the 2013 campaign but missed last fall due to injury.

"I know last year they had a really good defense — I think they were 20th in the country — and have a lot of those guys back, so you would think they would be good defensively," Jones stated.  "They are really good on the defensive front; to me, that's the strength of their team based off of last year.  They know how to play and are very well coached."

GWU tight end Mike Estes recorded 34 receptions for 408 yards and two touchdowns last fall, and the unit returns five upperclassmen on the line.  Otherwise, the Runnin' Bulldog offense is replacing starters at every skill position on a unit that gained just under 75 yards rushing and 220 overall during the 2014 campaign.

Placekicker Paul Schumacher led the team with 46 points a year ago while Andrew Komornik average 38.8 yards per punt.

It will be the first meeting between the two schools as well as the first time the Jaguars face an opponent from the Big South Conference.

Tickets for the contest, with the cost $20 for sideline seats and $10 to be located in the end zone, are available on-line at tickets.southalabama.edu, over the phone by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872) or by visiting the Mitchell Center Box Office in person.  The ticket office is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The Ladd-Peebles Stadium parking lot will open at 8 a.m. Saturday, with stadium gates opening at 3 p.m., while tickets can be purchased on site beginning at 2 p.m.  Jaguar fans will be permitted to bring a soft-sided cooler with up to two bottles of water into the stadium as well as reasonably sized chair backs.

The FanFest area of Jag City will run from 1-4:30 p.m., with free tailgating and food samples provided by Sonny's BBQ and Moe's Southwest Grill.  The "Jag Prowl" — the team's arrival at the stadium — is set for a 2:45 p.m. start and will run through the tailgating area outside the South end zone.

For individuals without a parking pass, round-trip shuttles will run from the Shoppes of Bel Air Mall — located behind J.C. Penney's — beginning at 1 p.m.  Shuttles will provide continuous service until 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game, with the cost $2.50 per person; children five years old and younger can ride for free.

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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