Date: 9/1
Position: Safeties
Position Coach: Corey Batoon

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Yam Banks (7 games played, 2-0—2 TT); Keith Gallmon Jr. (11 GP, 59-25—84 TT, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 10 PBU, 1 FF); Kwameh Lewis (1 GP, no statistics recorded); Patrick Rosette (3 GP, 1-0—1 TT); Doug Sullivan (11 GP, 11-2—13 TT, 2 TFL, 1 FR); Jaden Voisin (4 GP, 1-0—1 TT); Keon Voisin (11 GP, 9-3—12 TT, 3 PBU, 1 FR); Tré Young (9 GP, 11-6—17 TT, 1 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 FF)

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Dewayne Betts Jr. (11 GP, 28-11—39 TT, 1TFL, 1 INT, 2, PBU, 2 FF); DJ Exilhomme (9 GP, 1-0—1 TT)

Returning Redshirts/Squad Members (Yr., Hometown, Previous school): CJ Thompson (Jr., Tulsa, Okla., Northeastern Oklahoma A&M JC); Nic Bunkosky (R-Fr., Ponte Vedra Beach [Fla.] Nease HS)

Newcomers (Yr., Hometown, Previous school): Shawn Steele II (Sr., Arlington, Texas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff); Atanza Vongor (So., Grand Prairie, Texas, TCU)

Miscellaneous Notes
-Gallmon is the only Jaguar on the defensive side of the ball to earn preseason all-Sun Belt Conference honors — making the second team — to go along with being named preseason All-America by both Pro Football Network (third-team) and Pro Football Focus (honorable mention).
-His tackle total a year ago, the most for any returning player on the roster this fall, was 23 more than he recorded his first two years in the program combined as he was the only individual in the league to rank in the top 10 in both tackles and passes defensed per game last season.
-Young has been credited with 61 total stops and four pass break ups his first two years as a Jag.
-After coming to South as a cornerback, Banks is projected to start at the 'Husky' position this fall.
-Keon Voisin posted at least one tackle in each of his final seven appearances a season ago, including finishing with multiple stops in each of South's last three contests.
-Sullivan made a career-best four stops in the 2020 season finale against Troy while also recording three tackles in back-to-back outings at Georgia Southern and nationally-ranked Coastal Carolina.
-As a true freshman Jaden Voisin was credited with five stops, but he was limited to four games last fall after suffering an injury the week prior to the Jaguars' opener at Southern Mississippi.
-Thompson came to USA after garnering second-team All-American honors his final season at the junior-college level but did not make an appearance during the 2020 campaign.
-In four years at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Steele II recorded 176 stops — including 13 behind the line of scrimmage — six interceptions and an additional 28 passes broken up.
-Vongor joined the program this summer after three years at TCU, where he appeared in 16 games over the last two seasons.

Corey Batoon
-On what has impressed him most about the group since coming to the program: "I think it's their demeanor and their work ethic, since the day we got here they have been anxious to learn and grow.  How they conduct their business in the meeting room and out here on the field has been first class, I've been very impressed with them."
-On his expectations for the position in the fall: "I would like to see the guys play to their potential as a group and individually.  I think they have some pretty high expectations, we have a lot of guys who have played a lot of snaps — particularly Keith and Tré — and a lot of the new guys have come on.  I just want to help them achieve all their goals as a group and individually."
-On what he has focused on teaching the unit in order to be successful in his defensive scheme: "We work on everything whether it is technique, fundamentals or how to watch film, you can't just say it's been one thing.  As coaches we try to bring these guys along and nurture them in terms of their development as a football player but also be right alongside them as they develop into manhood.  That's the exciting part for us, building those relationships and being able to see their growth throughout the process."

Keith Gallmon
-On his expectations for the upcoming season: "We want to get a lot of turnovers in the secondary and see a lot of plays being made by everyone.  We want to come out and execute our game plan and take care of business on the defensive side of the ball."
-On how to improve on last year's performance: "Collectively we need to swarm to the ball and capitalize on turnovers when we get a chance to get the ball and give it back to our offense so they can make explosive plays the way we know they can.  I can work on my communication and being a better leader for the guys, I need to do what's needed on the back end.  I want to execute the game plan and get everybody on the same page every play."
-On what he does best on the field: "I think it is coming downhill on the ball when I see it, and keeping everything in front of me when I am playing deep. I'm also pretty vocal for the guys when they need it."

Tré Young
-On what he hopes to accomplish his final year at the collegiate level: "I just want to get better every day and win with my teammates.  If we do that, everything else will take care of itself."
-On his role as a senior in the program: "My role is to be the quarterback of the defense and make sure that everybody is on the same page and aligned the right way."
-On what he has done to earn a significant role for the team this fall: "Coach [Matt] Shadeed has been trying to help me get my weight up and stay at a stable weight, I've kept my nose in the playbook day in and day out and I've been working overtime as well.  I am going to keep working, though, I am not done yet."

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