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 tight ends.

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RETURNING STARTERS (2)
- Brandon Crum (Jr., 6-4, 255) – Finished the year with nine receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown
- Lincoln Sefcik (Jr., 6-3, 244) – Earned third-team all-Sun Belt Conference honors after catching 32 passes for 218 yards and five touchdowns

OTHER RETURNING PLAYERS (4)
- Jacob Hopper (So., 6-6, 248) – Caught five passes for 64 yards and a score, while also contributing on special teams as part of the field goal/PAT unit
- Todd Justice (R-So., 6-3, 249) – Played in all 12 games on the Jaguars' punt unit, recording solo tackles versus Alcorn State as well as at eventual Sun Belt Conference East Division winner Appalachian State
- Nick Ruggs (R-So.., 6-0, 218) – Saw action in six games, all at the end of the season including conference games against ULM, Arkansas State, Troy, Appalachian State, and No. 15 Coastal Carolina
- Cooper Wilson (Fr., 6-1, 210) – Redshirted the 2021 season

NEWCOMERS (1)
- DJ Thomas-Jones (Jr., 6-3, 230) – Rated as a 4-star prospect by Rivals out of high school, transferred to South after spending the previous two seasons at Ole Miss

2021 LETTERWINNERS/ROSTER MEMBERS LOST (3)
- Destin Myers
- Cameron Hatcher-Owens
- Trent Tyre

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
- The position was responsible for seven of the 22 receiving touchdowns registered by the Jags las fall 
- The group was also part of an offensive line that helped the Jaguars convert 33 percent of its third-down conversions and 64 percent of its fourth-down conversions
- Sefcik led South's tight ends in catches, receiving yards and touchdown catches, finishing second on the team overall in scoring receptions
- Sefcik ended up among the top 10 in the Sun Belt in total touchdown catches, which were the most recorded by a Jaguar at tight end since Gerald Everett had eight in 2015
- Ruggs moves over to the offensive side of the ball after playing linebacker last season

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