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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE REPORT – 3/28

Date: 3/28
Time: 3:30-5:30 p.m. (CDT)
Place: James A. and Frances H. Yance Football Practice Facility
Practice attire: Full pads

Offensive Player of the Day: Kawaan Baker, So., WR, Atlanta, Ga.
-Offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield on Baker: "We were a little inconsistent during today's practice, at times there were some really good plays and some really bad plays; we're still installing some stuff and adding some wrinkles.  What was encouraging is that Kawaan is a quiet gentle giant, he made a couple of plays today and has been really consistent."

Defensive Player of the Day: Tré Young, So., S, Mobile, Ala.
-Defensive coordinator Greg Stewart on Young: "Tre had a play today at field safety where he took one guy and then released him to tackle another, that was good stuff.  He has good speed and really good football instincts, I thought he did a nice job today and is getting better every day."

Play of the Day: With the Jag offense facing third-and-seven, Khameron Taylor hauled in a pass from Tylan Morton between two defenders to gain 18 yards and move the chains.

Team period highlights: There were four separate team periods, beginning with a 10-minute segment featuring the run game prior to the midpoint of the practice.  A 10-minute period where the offense had run/pass options followed, while the day ended with five minutes focusing on third downs and another five on running snaps with tempo.

Miscellaneous Notes
-This was the team's final workout before the first full scrimmage of the spring campaign.
-During the team run period, Josh Gillard made back-to-back stops behind the line of scrimmage while Sean Brown and Nick Mobley were credited with three tackles each.
-Jaguar quarterbacks completed 15-of-19 attempts during 7-on-7 skeleton passing drills, with Tanner McGee, Cephus Johnson and Morton all throwing for a touchdown during the period.
-Davyn Flenord paced South with three receptions in that period, with Tra Minter, Malik Stanley and Jalen Tolbert catching two passes apiece.
-During the next team period, Jared Wilson recorded long gains on back-to-back rushes while Minter ended the segment with a big run to the left; Gillard and Reggie Williamson posted tackles for loss for the Jag defense.
-Young led the defense with a tackle behind the line — one of five for the unit during that segment of practice — and an interception on consecutive snaps in the next team period.
-Zac Crosby made a diving catch at the goal line on a throw from Desmond Trotter to give the offense a score in the same period; it was his second touchdown of the afternoon.
-USA's defense posted a stop on 10 of 16 third-down plays, with Jeremiah Littles contributing 1½ sacks
-The offense had a stretch of five straight conversions in the middle of the period, however, highlighted by back-to-back completions by Morton to Logan Morgan and Taylor.

Head coach Steve Campbell
-On how the team has performed since returning from Spring Break: "Today was the second day after Spring Break, we had a good, physical day; I thought we got better on both sides of the ball.  We still have a lot of things we need to clean up offensively, but I saw us make some plays down the field.  Cephus and Tylan did some good things, and Desmond made a good deep throw.  Defensively they moved around well, Coach Stewart put in a new package or two over there and introduced a couple of new things, I thought our guys responded well."
-On what he is looking to see in Saturday's scrimmage: "We had a half scrimmage before the break, that was the first tackling we had done.  We didn't protect the ball well before the break so in this first real scrimmage we need to do a good job with ball security, that's going to be important.  Offensively we need to get the ball to playmakers out in space and let's see if we can make some plays.  Defensively we need to run to the football, and see if we can force some punts and some three-and-outs."

Sophomore DL Jeremiah Littles
-On his performance in Thursday's practice: "I just want to focus on consistency and doing the little things.  Coach always tells me to make plays, he puts me in the right position."
-On the improvement of the Jaguar defense this spring: "We started small, not doing too much, but we have a lot of movement.  I feel like everybody is coming together, we have a good, team-oriented family.  We just have to buy in to what the coaches are giving us."
-On the spirit in spring practices so far: "Even though it is the spring, it feels like fall camp.  The season is coming up quick, going back and forth with the offense we're giving them competition but also a good look, but we are all one family."

Junior RB Tra Minter
-On returning to the practice field this week: "I love the feeling of everybody flying around and competing, and guys hitting each other.  It's a great feeling to be out here, there's a great atmosphere."
-On what the team needs to accomplish the second half of the spring season: "We just need to tighten a few things up, running backs need to hit the hole, linemen can stay on their blocks a little bit longer.  The defense can read their keys and go attack and fly around."
-On the competition between offense and defense during the spring: "It's a lot of fun when you are just out here competing, flying around and making plays.  It's amazing."

Up next: The first of three spring scrimmages for the Jags will get underway at 9:30 a.m. (CDT) on Saturday.
 
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