MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football head coach Steve Campbell, offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield, defensive coordinator Greg Stewart, along with defensive lineman Jeremiah Littles and offensive linemen Jacob Shoemaker and Trey Simpson met with the media Monday to recap the Arkansas State game and preview Saturday's game versus Troy.

Head coach Steve Campbell
- On the Arkansas State game:
"I was really proud of the way our guys responded and the way that they won. Any 'W' in the league especially on the road is big, but the way they were able to come back and get the win after falling down by 10 is big. It's been well documented about our second-half troubles in the games that we've lost. Add in the fact that our starting quarterback [Desmond Trotter], who had played well to that point, goes down with injury along with the injury to KB [Kawaan Baker], in addition to the fact that we're playing without the Sun Belt's leading tackler [Riley Cole]. For our guys to overcome all that adversity and get the win was big, and a lot of people stepped up.

"Defensively, the fourth-down stop by A.J. DeShazor was huge. Nick Mobley also played really well for us. The defense was able to hold Arkansas State, who is one of the top-scoring offenses in the league, out of the end zone there at the end of the game. Jeremiah Little's sack on the final play was really big. The way they finished the game says a lot about how bad those guys wanted to win and their level of investment."

- On Tanner McGee's performance off the bench:
"Tanner was very cool, calm and collected when he got out there. The shame of it for him is that this past spring would have been huge for him. He would've gotten a lot of reps and work during the spring in scrimmages to show what he was capable of, but we didn't have a spring. We jumped right into summer and were off and running. When he had his opportunity [Saturday night] he did a great job.

"It's one thing to throw a deep ball, which is hard to do under duress, but he was able to hit three different types of deep balls, and then came back and hit an underneath pass to Trent Tyre and Jalen Wayne. One of his best throws of the day was when he hit Carlos Davis out of the backfield on a swing pass that was on third down. He was able to throw the ball at all three levels. I also like the play he made on a third and three or four situation when we ran a quarterback sweep, where he was able to pick up the first down. He executed a lot of different things which is a testament to his preparation and the job Coach [Kenny] Edenfield has done with him getting him prepared to go in there. When you're down, you have to be able to open up the play book and Tanner executed all phases of it. I was also proud of all the guys around him for stepping up and making plays."

- On the importance of Saturday's game:
"This game is important to us on a lot of different levels. It's important because it's against Troy who is our biggest rival. It's a battle for the belt. It's also important because it's the next game. Every game's important and this is the next one that we play. It'll give us a chance to gain our fourth conference victory, a chance to finish the season with a win at home and go into the offseason with a 'W'. We need to get this 'W' in order to get the belt back. This is a huge game."

- On if Troy reminds him of South Alabama this season:
"You look at the statistics and we are real similar. There have been games where we've thrown the ball really well. There have also been games were opponents have taken that away from us. Both Troy and us have experienced that this season. The team that has the most success running the ball will help open up the passing game on Saturday. I think, like us, Troy is very athletic defensively. Their defensive line is really athletic and they have one of the top linebackers in the league. I feel that we've got a very athletic defensive line and two of the top linebackers in the league. There are similarities between our two teams."

- On having this game in Hancock Whitney for the first time:
"It'll be great. It'll be the first time Troy has traveled to our campus to play and that's big. It'll be nice to have them in the confines of our stadium and we will definitely need to protect our home turf."

Offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield
- On the offense at Arkansas State:
"We scored some points, but I think both quarterbacks played probably their best game. Desmond (Trotter) was on top of his game, and ended up tweaking his ankle so Tanner (McGee) came in and didn't miss a beat. He made some plays early and had a fumble play. When he first got here he would get down on himself when he would make a mistake, but when he fumbled the ball he said, 'Coach, I'm good.' He went right back in and made some plays, and I think that shows his growth in maturity and a testament to him preparing every week to play. That's a hard thing to do, but he was ready to go and proved it."

- On Jalen Tolbert's performance at ASU:
"There have been a couple of games where it was hard to get him the ball some, and I think we both get frustrated with that but sometimes they (opponents) just do a good job of putting two guys on you. What Jalen has done is come in and tried to learn what he can do to help, and he has worked on his game a little bit. The main thing the other night was he just played; he wasn't thinking about catching a bunch of balls. He had a great week of practice last week, and usually when that happens you are going to have a great game."

- On Troy's defense:
"Those linebackers run really well, and they do a really good job up front. They also try to play over the top; the corners are going to try to play on top of all post or deep balls, and try to make you throw the ball underneath and not give up big plays."

Defensive coordinator Greg Stewart
- On the defense's performance at the end of the Arkansas State game:
"I was proud of them at the end. We played 12 plays straight with an emotional rollercoaster that is unimaginable, where you think you have won the game but all of a sudden you have to go back and play. We thought [Keith] Gallmon had picked it on the sideline but he dropped it; I didn't see that until yesterday in the film. Having that feeling and having to go back, and finish at the end. Coach Campbell and I talk about 'playing inspired', and I thought they did a good job of that. I was proud of them at the end."

- On Troy:
"I think their QB was out, but Gunnar Watson is back and he can throw it. I know they have four receivers listed as NFL possible players, so they have good receivers, but we played good receivers this week at Arkansas State. Jonathan Adams Jr., for Arkansas State is really good, I don't think they will have anyone as good as he was, but they have a good crew to throw to. I think [Troy's head coach] Chip [Lindsey] does a good job of seeing defenses and throwing where he thinks he should. They do a good job of coaching them up and a good job running the ball. The thing that beat us last year was them running the football with those two backs [DK Billingsley and Trevon Woolfolk]. We have to do a better job plus defending the pass game."

- On the differences in preparing:
"It's a rivalry game and the belt does mean something. Our players will get up for it, their players will get up for it. [Campbell, Edenfield and Stewart] We'd all like to beat them cause where we played there. I think it's a little different, but you prepare the same way regardless of who you play. It does have a special meaning though."

Defensive lineman Jeremiah Littles
- On making plays at the end of the game:
"It meant a lot, especially from that play before where we thought we had an interception. There were back and forth moments in the game, but to finish like we did and make plays meant a lot to us."

- On what the game against Troy mean's to him:
"With it being the last conference game of the season, it means a lot with Troy being able to come down here and defend the home turf on campus. We have an opportunity to bring the belt back."

- On getting fired up for the rivalry game:
"Of course we're ready to play, but it does not matter if it is a rivalry game. Troy is the next game. It doesn't take us too much to get fired up about it. It is South versus Troy as always."

- On playing the game on campus for the first time to close out the regular season:
"We did not get the opportunity to play them when the game was originally scheduled. Now, we have a great opportunity to play them at the end of the year."

Offensive lineman Jacob Shoemaker
- On what the Arkansas State win meant to him:
"Arkansas State was a tough team to come by. Getting the win this year means everything, especially coming back from missing two games due to the coronavirus. It means everything to me."

- On his thoughts on the performance of the offensive line after watching film from Saturday's game:
"While watching the film, we looked good. It was one of our best games that we've had all year. Everything was working for us, and we were having fun."

Offensive lineman Trey Simpson
- On the Arkansas State game:
"Our pass protection has gotten better in the past few weeks. We were able to run the ball when we needed to, and that was big for us. The biggest goal for us was protecting the quarterback better than what we have been in the past."

- On getting an opportunity to play the Troy game:
"We were devastated when we found out the game was originally canceled because we were ready to play them. It is a big rivalry game, and it is the Battle of the Belt. We finally get to play them after waiting for this moment the entire season. Finally, we have a chance to bring the belt back."

- On the mindset of the team heading into this weekend's game:
"The mindsets are different for the entire team. It is a rivalry game, and it is the biggest game of the year for us. Coach Campbell has always told us, 'It is the biggest game of the year because it's our next game.' Well, this is our last game, and it is against Troy, so it is our biggest game of the year. We want this win, and we are hungry for it."

- On having a weapon at receiver like Jalen Tolbert:
"He's always been a special player to have on our side of the ball. Whenever you see the ball, and you see defenders, I always know he's going to come through for us. Being able to have that confidence and faith in your teammates is unbeatable. Having him on our side of the ball is special because we know there are a lot of plays that some people cannot make, and we know he is going to make them."

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