Over the course of this final month leading up to the start of the 2022 South Alabama football season, we will preview all the position groups on the Jaguar roster.

The nine-part series examines each position group ahead of the season opener versus Nicholls State on Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. at Hancock Whitney Stadium. This installment looks at South Alabama's defensive backs. 

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RETURNING STARTERS (3)
- Yam Banks (So., 6-1, 208) – Safety – Started all 12 contests at 'Husky' position last season where he recorded 49 tackles, including 4½ for a loss of 10 yards with an assist on a sack, while also forcing two fumbles, recovering another and breaking up two passes
- Keith Gallmon Jr. (Sr., 5-9, 203) – Safety – Named second-team all-Sun Belt Conference in 2021 after starting all 12 games where he posted 59 stops — including 2½ behind the line of scrimmage — two pass break ups, an interception and a fumble recovery
- Darrell Luter Jr. (Sr., 6-0, 190) – Cornerback – Named second-team All-America by Pro Football Focus following the 2021 season, and was an honorable mention All-America selection as well by Phil Steele Publications and Pro Football, while also being selected the SBC Defensive Player of the Year by PFF

OTHER RETURNING PLAYERS (6)
- Jason Brooks (R-Fr., 5-8, 169) – Cornerback – Attended same prep program as Keith Gallmon and redshirted the 2021 season
- Dallas Gamble (R-So., 6-0, 184.) – Cornerback – Saw action in each of the Jaguars' first 11 contests in 2021, making the first start of his career at Tennessee
- Isaac Mason (R-Yr., 5-9, 181) – Cornerback – Member of 2021 Jaguar roster (redshirted)
- AJ Sims (R-Yr., 5-9, 192) – Cornerback – Redshirted the 2021 season after recording 31 tackles and breaking up a pass as a senior at Vestavia Hills HS
- CJ Thompson (Sr., 6-1, 205) – Safety – Played in 10 games last fall, posting 12 tackles, including seven solo stops
- Jaden Voisin (Jr., 6-1, 205) – Safety – Third year with the program and did not see action in 2021

NEWCOMERS (14)
- Ricky Fletcher (Fr., 6-2, 193) – Cornerback – Helped Holmes County High to a pair of state championships (2021 and 2022)
- Rickey Hyatt, Jr. (R-So., 6-1, 203) – Safety – Transfer from Kentucky who was rated as one of the nation's top 40 safeties by ESPN and Rivals.com coming out of high school
- Quartez Jackson (Fr., 6-1, 170) – Cornerback – Lettered at Davidson High School
- Jalen Jordan (Jr., 5-9, 180) – Cornerback – Three-year member of the Ole Miss roster where he played in nine games with six starts at the Star position as a sophomore in 2020, finishing with 53 tackles including 31 solo stops
- Brandon Lockett (Jr., 5-11, 175) – Safety – Lettered in high school at Mary G. Montgomery
- Marvin Martin (So, 6-0, 196) – Safety – Played in nine games as both a reserve defensive back and on special teams at Kansas State
- Trey Nelms (Fr., 5-10, 165) – Safety – As senior, recorded four interceptions, 60 solo tackles, 11 assists and five pass breaks ups, while helping Auburn High reach the state title game
- Josh Reynolds (Fr., 6-2, 190) – Cornerback – Prepped at Murphy High School
- Jamar Richardson (Sr., 6-0, 180) – Cornerback – One of three Ole Miss transfers joining the South Alabama roster this season
- Marquis Robinson (So., 6-1, 193) – Cornerback – Rated a three-star prospect and considered among the top 10 cornerbacks in the country coming out of junior college
- Tremel States-Jones (Fr., 6-0, 195) – Safety – Attended Clearwater Academy International where he helped the team win a state championship during his senior season after being credited with 21 solo tackles, 36 total tackles, one sack, one interception, eight pass deflections
- Chris Wallace Jr. (Jr., 6-0, 180) – Cornerback – Recorded four interceptions and had a fumble recovery, while totaling 75 tackles and 15 pass breakups at Mary G. Montgomery
- Brady Wiggins (Fr., 5-11, 190) – Cornerback – Lettered three seasons in both football and baseball at Spanish Fort High, helping the Toros reach the championship game (football) of the state 6A playoffs his senior season

2021 LETTERWINNERS/ROSTER MEMBERS LOST (10)
- Nic Bunkosky – Safety 
- Davyn Flenord – Cornerback 
- Kwameh Lewis – Safety 
- Ryan Melton – Cornerback 
- Devin Rockette – Cornerback 
- Patrick Rosette – Safety 
- Doug Sullivan – Safety 
- Keon Voisin – Safety 
- Atanza Vongor – Safety 
- Tré Young – Safety

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
- South Alabama's 15 interceptions last fall were tied with Appalachian State for second most in the Sun Belt
- Both Gallmon (Wuerffel Trophy and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team) and Luter (Jim Thorpe Award, Bednarik Award, and Bronko Nagurski Award) were selected to multiple preseason watch lists 
- Luter led the Sun Belt in passes defended per game and was second in interceptions per contest, while ranking third in the nation in passes defended per outing and seventh in interceptions per game
- Luter had the second-highest interception total (4) in a season in school history, and the most recorded by a Jaguar since the program moved up to the NCAA FBS level in 2012
- Luter's 10 pass break ups accounted for a third of the total (31) recorded by the program

FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of South Alabama football, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaFB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaFB (Facebook), @SouthAlabamaFB (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.

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