NEW ORLEANS – University of South Alabama student-athletes junior wide receiver Jalen Tolbert and senior outside linebacker Chris Henderson met with the media Thursday as part of the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Football Media Day.

Below are a few highlights from Thursday's Media Day for Tolbert and Henderson.

Junior Wide Receiver Jalen Tolbert
On what's been the biggest change in the offense under [offensive coordinator] Major Applewhite: 
"The biggest change has been our aggressiveness that we have out there on the field. We're looking to attack the defense and at what defense package they are in. We also have a wider variety of positions we are able to line up in. They are able to see a wider variety of guys at different spots, which should help us match ups and miss matches as we go throughout the season." 

On what the biggest factor is in being able to get the ball into the end zone: 
"Finishing. That's something [Assistant Head Coach/Director of Athletic Performance Matt] Shadeed, [Head Coach Kane] Wommack, coach Applewhite and the rest of the staff has emphasized to us. We've been working on finishing games this spring and this summer. We've worked on finishing whether its in workouts, a route session, a film session or whatever it was, we've just worked on being able to finish."

On the importance of being able to have full capacity of fans in Hancock Whitney this season: 
 "It's exciting to be able to see fans back in the stadium of course. We were able to have a limited capacity last year. They recently announced that we were going to be able to have full capacity, where we will have about 25,000 fans. This season will mark the first time that we are able to pack out our stadium on campus. A lot of the players, including myself are excited about having the opportunity to go out and perform well against Southern Miss and put on for the city of Mobile."

On the preseason accolades and what they mean to him: 
"It's definitely a blessing to receive those preseason accolades. Last season, I wasn't on any of them, so it's a blessing for me to see my name associated with other great players. It also provides me with motivation to take things and run with them, and go into the season with the confidence of knowing of what I am capable of achieving with those All-American and all-conference honors. That being said, I still have to go out there and get it done, so I have to continue to work for it. I love working and being underrated; it's something that keeps a chip on my shoulder."

On being a leader in the wide receiver room and in the offense: 
"With the success I've been able to have on the field, those other guys look up to me, and being able to lead those guys in a correct way is something I take pride in. Jake [Bentley] has come in and done a tremendous job of helping me lead the offense. We're trying to turnaround the culture of the offense at the University of South Alabama. 
"We have a lot of guys in the wide receiver room that I feel will really wow people this season. Jalen Wayne has done some great things this summer. He's always been a heck of a player and is a guy I expect to have a season like I did last season or even do more than that. Caulllin Lacy is another guy that has really been showing up for us this offseason. He's always willing to work. Cade Sutherland is a reliable resource on our offense. He does everything correctly out on the field. With the veteran pieces we have along with the continued emergence of Caullin, I'm excited to see what this offense is capable of doing this season."

On how the culture has changed over this brief period: 
"The change in the culture is like day and night. We're able to connect with different position groups of the team. We're able to lead different guys. A lot of guys are respected and are able to say and do more. We have a lot of loving parts of the team as well. The culture of LEO that Coach Wommack has brought with him has changed the reason we do things. It's fun going to work with the guys you love and the guys you know have your back like you have their backs."

Senior Outside Linebacker Chris Henderson
On the defense wearing down last season and how depth and going to the 4-2-5 defense will help correct that: 
"You're exactly right, we didn't have enough depth last season, especially up front on the defensive line. That's what came back to bite us later on in the season and at the end of games. Coach Wommack has an outstanding resume running the 4-2-5 defense. We are able to bring pressure from anywhere on the field at any time. With us being so aggressive on defense and having the depth that we have, I feel that we are going to win some games this season."

On the importance of being able to have full capacity of fans in Hancock Whitney this season: 
"When we are able to have the fans in the stadium, it will definitely give us a home-field advantage. Coach Wommack brought "LEO" with him, which means "Love each other". We love our teammates and we love our city. We're going to be behind them and they are going to be behind us. We're looking for a great turn out on September 4."

On the opportunity to have a second senior season and being able to play under Coach Wommack again: 
"It's a blessing to have this extra opportunity to come back for another season, and especially to be able to do it under Coach Wommack. He's the reason I came to South Alabama initially. He's the most genuine coach that I talked with during my recruiting process. To be able to have another shot at this is God giving me another chance, so I'm going to give it everything I've got. I'm going to go out knowing I gave it everything I've got."

On the defense picking up the new system: 
"The defensive system is really not new to me, but is to a lot of the other guys on the team. I played in a similar system when Coach Wommack was our defensive coordinator. It's not really a hard system to learn as long as you are locked in and really focus on learning the playbook."

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