Date: 8/6
Time: 10-11:45 a.m. (CDT)
Place: Jaguar Training Center
Practice attire: Helmets and shorts, no pads

Featured Offensive Player of the Day: Trey Simpson, So., OL, Mobile, Ala.
-Offensive coordinator Major Applewhite on Simpson: "Talk about a guy who has really taken to the terminology, the details of the play and the why of what we are doing, Trey is a great communicator who has done a fantastic job during the offseason in June and July.  You could see his presence in the weight room trying to get better physically, and you could also see some of the stuff he did in the offseason with the offensive line.  His communication has really progressed and developed."

Featured Defensive Player of the Day: Keith Gallmon, Jr., S, Mobile, Ala.
-Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon on Gallmon: "Keith has done a great job in the offseason, I really like what he has done with his body.  He is continuing to mature in that regard, he looks a lot quicker than he did in the spring and I attribute that to the great job the strength staff did with him in the offseason.  Keith has picked up where he left off in the spring, we're looking forward to really, really good things from him this fall."

Play of the Day: Near the end of the final period of the day, Devin Voisin was able to catch a pass from Desmond Trotter that was first deflected by the cornerback in coverage for a 31-yard touchdown; another candidate for honors came earlier in the morning when Trotter threw a pass just over the fingertips of a leaping defender for a gain of 20-plus yards to Trent Tyre.

Team period highlights: The first team period of the morning covered perimeter play calls on first and second downs, while during the second the unit ran base plays over a 12-minute span.

Miscellaneous Notes
-This was first session of preseason camp for the Jaguars.
-The duo of Jake Bentley and Trotter combined to complete 37-of-50 pass attempts on the day.
-Nine wide receivers and tight ends finished the workout with multiple receptions, with Jalen Tolbert pacing the group after posting seven catches.
-Jalen Wayne and Devin Voisin recorded four receptions each, while Caullin Lacy, Jamel Thomas and Allen Dailey Jr. chipped in with three apiece.
-Brandon Crum had three catches and Tyre added two to lead the team's tight ends.
-During the first team period of the workout both Chris Henderson and Christian Bell were credited with sacks.
-The latter also broke up a pass, as did Yam Banks on the final snap of the period.
-During a 15-minute 7-on-7 skeleton passing drill period that followed, Bentley and Trotter connected on 14 of their first 15 throws with both tossing a touchdown pass in that segment of practice.
-In that period, Kwameh Lewis, Tré Young and Jamal Brooks each broke up a pass.
-Bentley twice connected with Tolbert for touchdowns covering more than 25 yards to begin the last team period of the day before Trotter found Voisin just prior to the conclusion of the workout.
-The Jaguars also went through two specials teams periods focusing on kickoff coverage as well as one working with the field goal/PAT unit.
-All practices are closed to the general public.

Head coach Kane Wommack
-On his thoughts of the first day of camp: "I thought today was a direct reflection of all the work that's been put in during the summer time with our team.  They have been absolutely relentless in learning our offense, defense and special teams schemes.  They understand the tempo that we communicate with and the urgency that we play with.  All of those things showed up today and that was really encouraging."
-On players that stood out during the first practice: "I thought Jake Bentley did a tremendous job of navigating the offense; he made some great decisions.  Jalen Wayne and Jalen Tolbert also stood out with some of the things they are doing athletically.  Then schematically, even though it was just day one of install we already have some great offensive concepts out there and in the passing game; the run [game] complements off of those things.  Our guys just leaned into our offensive schemes and some of the things we're doing.  I'm really proud of the urgency of our offensive line, they read the articles and hear all the things about them having to be the guys that take the next step but they are able to put all that out of their minds and have the right urgency."
-On how the new guys meshed with the returners today: "This is a credit to coach Joey Jones and coach Steve Campbell, but the people that they have brought into this program makes it a great locker room; they are a group of guys that care about each other.  When someone new comes in, they just welcome them in with open arms, they set a standard of what needs be met day in and day out.  Credit to the guys that we've brought in, they have really leaned into our process and how we do things here.  Some guys are coming from Power 5 programs and others are coming from the FCS, but we have a very elite standard here and everyone has to meet that standard and expectation."
-On his excitement level: "I'm excited to see this team get better from day one to day two, from game one to game two; that's what really gets me excited as a football coach, to be able to see the impact that you are able to make on someone both on and off the field.  Knowing that we are able to fix things we do out on the field tomorrow and hold that correction for the rest of the season, those are the things we did this spring and I'm anticipating doing that going forward, which is really exciting."
-On the local players on the roster: "If anyone hasn't figured out this by now, I absolutely adore the city of Mobile and everything in it.  One of the greatest resources of our city is its talent.  When you have talent like Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Wayne, Caullin Lacy and all these other guys that take ownership over their city and the University of South Alabama, and the impact that they know they can make for years to come; they have a platform to make a real impact in this city and that's what we all want."

Senior QB Jake Bentley
-On the team's first fall practice: "I thought it was great, the overall execution was great.  To be able to take what we did in the spring, build on it in the summer and then come out here and execute the way we did was really encouraging.  It was something special we can build on going forward."
-On Jalen Tolbert: "He's a guy that you know you can put it anywhere in his area and he'll get it.  It's the culmination of him being a really great receiver and the work we put in this summer, all the time the receivers and I were up here working on our timing."
-On his relationship with Coach Wommack: "It's been great, we've really connected on all levels.  Off the field he is a guy who cares about us not only as football players but as men too.  I'm able to talk to him about everything is really what I've noticed, he is always available and will stop what he's doing to talk with any of us.  That's a guy who you want to play for."

Junior S Keith Gallmon
-On how the Jaguars performed in their first practice of camp: "It was fun to compete against one another for the first time with a ball and the coaches out here.  We made a few mistakes, but we're going to fix them and we're going to watch the film so we can be better tomorrow."
-On the difference between the defense last season and this year: "We're just flying around a lot faster, we're communicating a lot better as a defense and I think everybody is on the same page.  We have to capitalize on turnovers and make plays, we have to put our offense in good situations to help make them better because we already know how explosive they can be."
-On wearing the number 0 this year: "I've always wanted to change my number, I wanted something different and something new."
-On having local players stay in Mobile to be a part of the program: "South Alabama is the place to be.  The community is always going to be behind you, and you know you're going to be able to have your family come watch you.  Everybody is already going to know your name in the city, it will always be a blessing to be here where the people are going to believe in you and lift you up every day."

Junior WR Jalen Tolbert
-On the first day of fall camp: "We've been waiting for this day all summer.  Our offense came out here today and did a tremendous job.  Jake [Bentley] came out and threw the ball well.  Jalen Wayne and the rest of the receivers made some plays.  I feel that we took a step forward in this practice as we head into tomorrow."
-On the difference in Jake Bentley since his arrival: "We've put in a lot of work during the offseason both on the field and in the film room.  We've talked over things and connected on a lot of throws over the past three months.  I think that will help us come this fall."
-On where he feels he's improved the most since the spring: "Mentally, I feel that I've gained a lot of knowledge on the game.  I started playing kind of late, and I have been constantly learning even back during the spring.  I've learned about different coverages and schemes team might play.  I've also learned about reading defenses and just becoming a better wide receiver.  I trained with some NFL guys over the summer and they just showed me some steps and other things I can work on to improve my game for this season."
-On what he tells other local players that want to come to South Alabama: "South Alabama gives you the same resources that you'd get anywhere else.  I feel that it says something when you stay home and you're able to grow as a player, just as if you were at another school.  Myself and the other players on our team from this area are trying to show other guys that you don't have to go to the Alabamas and Auburns to get on people's radar and become a top D-I player."
-On his recent visit to the Senior Bowl office: "We watched film on the Southern Miss and Tulane games from last season, and talked about this upcoming season.  We talked about things that I can work on and get better at or improve on.  Hopefully, I will get an invite to the Senior Bowl when that time comes."

Up next: South practices again beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the James A. and Frances H. Yance Football Practice Facility.
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics.  Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give

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