Date: 8/14
Position: Defensive Line
Position Coach: Harland Bower

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Jordan Beaton (12 games played, 11-19—30 TT, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR), Sean Brown (12 GP, 6-11—17 TT, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 QBH), Will Elliot (2 GP, 0-1—1), Jeremiah Littles (12 GP, 10-6—16 TT, 4 TFL, 2½ sacks), Rocel McWilliams (12 GP, 14-9—23 TT, 2½ TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FR)*, Jalon Sheffield (4 GP, 1-5—6, 1½ TFL), Tyree Turner (12 Games played, 31-20—51 TT, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FF), Jeffery Whatley (GP 12, 8-4—12 TT, 1½ TFL, 1 PB, 1 QBH)

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Sean Grayer (12 GP, 17-11—28 TT, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 QBH), Chason Milner (12 GP, 15-14—29 TT, 7 TFL, 4½ sacks, 1 PB, 3 QBH, 1 FF)

Returning Redshirts/Squad Members (Hometown, Previous school): Charles Coleman III (R-Fr., Huntsville [Ala.] Mae Jemison HS), Maurice Strong Jr. (R-Fr., Raiford, [Fla.] Union County HS)

Newcomers (Yr., Hometown, Previous school): Gi'Narious Johnson (So., Gulfport, Miss., Pearl River [Miss.] CC), Markes Johnson (So., Mobile, Ala., Birmingham-Southern), Brock Higdon (Fr., Pelham [Ala.] HS), Wy'Kevious Thomas (Fr., Riverdale [Ga.] HS)

Miscellaneous Notes
-Tyree Turner was voted preseason all-Sun Belt Conference by the league's head coaches and selected media members for the second straight year last month.
-Turner was also named preseason first-team all-Sun Belt by four publications this summer — Phil Steele Publications, Athlon Sports, Lindy's and Street & Smith's — after receiving second-team all-league accolades a year ago.
-Turner ranked fourth on the squad last season in tackles (51) and led the club with 10 tackles for loss with four sacks to go along with three additional quarterback pressures, ending the campaign ranked among the top 10 in the conference in tackles behind the line per game.
- Sean Brown recorded one of two blocked kicks by the Jaguars a year ago in the opening minute of the fourth quarter against Texas State, a game in which the Jags rallied back from an eight-point deficit in the final period of play.
-In his first season in a Jaguar uniform, Jordan Beaton recorded 30 total tackles and his six stops behind the line were third-most on the team.
-Rocel McWilliams missed the 2018 season after suffering an injury during preseason camp. McWilliams was credited with a total of 23 tackles — with 2½ behind the line including a pair of sacks — and a fumble recovery as a junior.
-South also returns a pair of players who redshirted a year ago – Charles Coleman III and Maurice Strong Jr.
-Strong redshirted but as a result of the NCAA's new "redshirt rule", was able to play in two games where he recorded a pair of tackles.

Assistant Coach Harland Bower
- On the experience along the line: "For me, it's really fun to come into the [position] room when you have a bunch of older guys that have the mentality and understanding of what's expected of them every day. They come to work and they're ready, and they have fun doing it. The advantage to having an older group is that I have a bunch of older guys that help me coach the younger guys. I'll look around and Sean [Brown] will be coaching Wy'Kevious [Thomas], a young nose guard that we have, or Tyree [Turner] will be talking with Maurice [Strong Jr.], a younger [defensive] end that we've got. We really police ourselves and that room is really player-led. That's one of the best parts of having a veteran room."
- On Tyree Turner's continued development: "Tyree is a really great football player. What he's honed in on is the off-the-field part of it. The understanding that you have to grind in the weight room. He studies the opponent, even our opponent, which right now is our offense. He understands the little nuances of the game. I feel he's putting it all together and every piece of his game is coming together."
- On having Rocel McWilliams back and his progression: "It's funny and we've talked about it in the [coaching] staff room a little bit, but I really didn't know what to expect from Rocel. I knew he was a mature guy, but what I've seen from him [on the field] is exactly what I thought I would. He comes to work every day. He gives us a little edge to our defensive line and adds that little 'extra' thing for us, whatever that is. He helps us tremendously and I think he's going to be a really important part of what we do this season."
-On what's the key for this group in order for the defense to be successful this season: "The key is really two things. As a d-line, we've got to reset the line of scrimmage. We've got to knock people back which we talk about every day. That's really the basis of what we do as a defensive line. If we're not knocking people back every snap, we're not doing what we need to do. Secondly, we've got to lead the defense. That's on us and we have to take that on our backs. We've got to not only lead them by example, but vocally also. I feel our guys have stepped up and done that."

Tyree Turner
- On receiving the preseason recognition: "The preseason honors are a big thing to me, but I try to just look past them. I know that none of that will matter if I don't produce on the field this year. I just try tune out all of the noise and focus on what I need to do this year. I just approach the season the same way I always do I've just tried to work on my craft during the offseason."
- On strength of the unit being its depth and experience: "This is probably the deepest we've been at this position since I've been here. We are able to rotate four strings of guys in and about 10 guys that we know are going to play. Just the fact that you are able to depend on the guy next to you and know they can get the job done when you aren't there is big time."
- On what he wants to see out of this group during his final season: "I just want to see us dominate. In the past we've played well, but this season we have a group of older guys that can take over a game. That's something I've been preaching and I'm just waiting to see us dominate a game."

Rocel McWilliams
- On being back out on the field: "It feels great to be back out on the field, especially with the guys I came in with and the ones I've built a bond with playing here."
- On the strength of his game: "I would say my leadership and just playing my role. I'm just taking things one practice at a time."
- On his goals/expectations for himself and the unit this season: "Personally, I want to be better than my first season playing here. I want to be able to record more tackles and sacks than I did that season. We have a deep group of guys at this position. I want to be a leader for the young guys. We are going to be able to go three-deep and we are going to have some young guys step up and play."

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