Date: 8/17
Position: Tight Ends
Position Coach: Chase Smith

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Gerald Everett (12 games played, 41 recs, 575 yds, 14.0 avg, 8 TDs, 47.9 ypg); Easton Marshall (5 GP, no receiving stats)

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Braedon Bowman (12 GP, 11 recs, 147 yds, 13.4 avg, 55 long); DeMarrion Buford-Hughes (10 GP, 1 rec, 18 yds); Kyle Sappington (11 GP, no receiving stats)

Newcomers (Yr., Previous school): James Bynes (Sr., Dodge City [Kan.] CC); Andrew Reinkemeyer (Jr., Butler [Kan.] CC); Rashad Moore (Jr., Mississippi Gulf Coast CC); Zac Crosby (Fr., Jacksonville [Fla.] The Bolles School)

Miscellaneous Notes
-Everett enters the year on the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List and as a first-team preseason all-Sun Belt Conference selection.
-He was voted first-team all-league a year ago and to the SBC All-Newcomer Team after leading the Jaguars with 41 catches for 575 yards and eight touchdowns; in addition to tying the school season record in the latter category, his 12 total touchdowns rank second on USA's season record list.
-No other tight end on the Jag roster has recorded a catch as a member of the program.
-Bynes sat out last year after transferring from Dodge City (Kan.) CC, but in his only season with the Conquistadors he posted 30 receptions for 269 yards; the senior led all players in the Red-Blue spring game with four catches for 79 yards, which included a 55-yard touchdown reception.
-Reinkemeyer was a second-team National Junior College Athletic Association All-American in 2014 at Butler (Kan.) CC, but was injured in the Grizzlies' season opener last fall and missed the rest of the year.
-After playing linebacker a year ago, senior Grant Powell was moved to tight end prior to the start of spring practice, while Collier Smith — a transfer from Robert Morris who had to sit out last season — switched to the position this week.
-Both Powell and Marshall have the ability to contribute on special teams units as well this fall.
-Two of three former Jaguars currently in National Football League training camps were tight ends — Wes Saxton is entering his second season with the New York Jets, while Bowman signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in May after two years at South.

Chase Smith
-On his expectations for Jaguar tight ends this season: "We talk about a standard, and in meeting that standard we have to hold ourselves accountable; it starts in our meeting room.  I've talked about attitude a lot and mentality and what we are going to bring every day, and that comes with consistency.  We're consistent and students of the game, we're motivated and have a great attitude.  We're coming out with that standard every day, which I think helps us as a group and spreads to our teammates."
-On setting up two different types of tight ends to be successful: "My approach is that we are one position; some guys will find themselves playing in a detached position and some will find themselves in the box, but we are going to learn every position on the field.  There are guys taking their role very seriously and taking pride in what they do, but we split it up and work equally in those positions from top to bottom.  These guys know what is expected out of them, they really hold themselves accountable in that position."
-On expectations for Gerald Everett based on last season's performance: "We're real proud of Gerald and what he has done in the past, but he has come to me and said that is the past.  Our expectations — and his own expectations — are very high.  He holds himself to a high standard, and that has to be that way every single day; it comes with words and actions.  We talk about, as a coach and player, the mentality he brings every day and showing his teammates he can bring them up with his positivity, his attitude and his work ethic."

Gerald Everett
-On his expectations for everyone in the tight end position group this fall: "My expectations for our group is consistency throughout the entire game, no matter if it's me, James [Bynes] or anyone else in the game.  As a team I want us to be efficient in what we do in both the run and pass game, from receivers to quarterbacks all the way down to the offensive line.  I want everyone to perform to the best of their ability."
-On how he handles preseason honors he has earned: "I definitely set it aside, I'm focused on what my coaches expect from me and what my team demands of me; I'm not worried about what others are looking for me to do.  I'm not paying any mind to what others outside the program have to say, I'm here for my brothers, my family, and am ready to get going."
-On his evaluation of his performance last season: "I think I performed up to my standard, but I do believe I could've gone above and beyond that.  This year I feel like I need to do a lot better than I did last year with some catches I should've made that I didn't, some blocks that I missed that I shouldn't have missed.  I'm trying to pay close attention to detail when I'm blocking and be locked in as much as possible."

Grant Powell
-On the responsibilities of a blocking tight end: "Our responsibilities are basically the same as everybody on the field — we are supposed to do our job.  We're not necessarily route runners but we will be in routes, we are more physical guys who are a little bit heavier than everybody else who help as extra linemen who are a little more athletic."
-On the impact blocking tight ends can have on USA's run game: "I think it's a tremendous strength because we can get more athletic guys out there able to block in space.  And it transitions to the pass where we can put bigger guys on their skill players."
-On making the transition from linebacker to tight end in the spring: "It's been pretty easy to be honest, I've enjoyed every minute.  The guys have welcomed me with open arms.  Coach [Chase] Smith and Coach [Bryant] Vincent have done a great job, it's been a joy and it's been easy."

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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