MOBILE, Ala. | South Alabama wrapped up spring practice on Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium with the annual spring game on a beautiful Saturday morning.

Senior quarterback Desmond Trotter and Tanner McGee tied in the quarterback competition, while Gio Lopez finished third as returning starter Carter Bradley did not participate. The two squads (offense and defense) tied in the "Big Guy Punt Returns" with four points each, while the offense won the Red Zone Lockdown 20-11.

Jamaal Pritchett and Devin Voisin tied in the "Best Hands Competition" at nine points each with Caullin Lacy finishing with seven and DJ Thomas-Jones with six.

Devin Voisin was awarded the first #5 of the fall where he will wear it against Tulane. The number is given in an honor of the late Anthony Mostella, a running back on the first South Alabama team who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2010.

Quotable from head coach Kane Wommack
Opening Statement…
"I thought this was a really great spring. We've got so many returning starters and a number of experienced guys that I thought we took steps forward in all phases: offense, defense, special teams had a great spring. We also had some younger guys that got opportunities in large part because of guys who were coming off of season-ending surgeries, particularly on defense. Some of those guys are really going to help us going into the 2023 season.

"We talk about cranking the dial forward – each individual coach, player, support staff – and I think everybody has moved the dial forward for their respective roles. If we'll take those individual performances and put those as a collection together, I feel we're in a better position in '23 going into this summer."
 
On what positions stood out to him in the spring…
"I feel our defensive line continues to shine. You've got some really impressive players with Bubba (Wy'Kevious) Thomas. Jamie Sheriff is a very experienced player from a pass rush standpoint. We're seeing more and more of that both on the inside and the outside. Charles Coleman III and Jamal Hickbottom had tremendous springs. I remember recruiting Jamal as an outside linebacker what feels like six or seven years ago, and now he's a 305-pound defensive tackle that is really operating at a high level. I'm excited about that group. I thought out corners took a huge step forward this spring, which was real encouraging to see.

"Offensively, our running backs are impressive. They have skill sets that we can utilize in a lot of different ways. I also thought our tight ends took a huge step forward in terms of establishing a run game. Guys like Brandon Crum and Hop (Jacob Hopper), who have done a great job in run-blocking, I thought they really opened themselves up in the passing game. Lincoln (Sefcik) and D.J. (Thomas-Jones) have always been offensive weapons and threats with the ball in their hands, but I thought they took a step forward in terms of our run production."
 
On giving Devin Voisin the No. 5 jersey…
"When you think about the No. 5 jersey, you think about someone who embodies Anthony Mostella and everything he meant to that first football team. He was such a well-rounded individual listening to (former head coach) Joey Jones, who talked about how he was such a great worker, great teammate, who did everything right on and off the field. It's hard to point one guy out right now, because I think we have a lot of guys doing things at a high level, and yet at the same time, I feel that Devin Voisin continues to standout in our program. Here's a guy who's going into his fourth season, and last year was really his first opportunity to get on the field and he made the most of it. He is so relentless in his work ethic every, single day and it's a great testament. Is he the most talented guy on the field? Not necessarily. He is very talented, but his work ethic is something that outlast other people. He reminds me a lot of (former Jag and current Washington Commander) Jeremy Reaves in that regard."
 
On the next few months heading into fall camp…
"We really try to focus on football year-round. Matt Shadeed does a phenomenal job as our assistant head coach and director of athletic performance in finding ways to keep everything connected to executing offense, defense, and special teams. Those guys have worked out through the spring and will continue to do that for next week or so, and then they'll have a little time off in May. There's an expectation of a certain number of workouts they have to get done, they do a great job of that. In the summertime, we'll have player-led practices and meetings mixed into all of that. I think our (player's) frames are so different from where they were two or three years ago, and that's a testament to the Matt Shadeed and the work ethic of our players day-in and day-out during the offseason."

Quotable from wide receiver Devin Voisin
On being awarded the #5 jersey for the first game of the season…
"It's an honor. Wearing #5 in this program means a lot, especially to everyone on staff and our players. It's a real testament to whoever gets it, and it makes you want to be better, do better for everyone else and become a servant warrior for everyone."
 
On thinking all summer about wearing the #5 versus only knowing the week before:…
"It won't change anything. I keep the same mindset with everything, same work ethic. Having a different number is not going to change a thing. It is an honor to wear that number and it means a lot, but I feel like what I've been doing is part of the reason why I am wearing it. I'm just going to keep doing everything I do and hopefully improve."
 
His assessment on the spring practices, including today…
"We are tremendously further than we have ever been these past two years. With everybody coming back, losing two guys on offense and I believe one guy on defense, we just look more prepared and more excelled than we have been on the offense and defense. I'm really excited about our running game. We have a new running back that came in, and a good run game helps us out as receivers, and of course I like catching the ball. Overall, I think as a team, we look better. We're more confident as a group of veteran guys. We do have youth all around, and I believe they'll be able to fit right in."
 
On how the team will handle the expectations for this season…
"We're not going to view it as pressure. Obviously, we want to do better than we did last year. Going 12-0 is what we want. But we're not going to let expectations give us pressure or make us nervous. We're just going to keep the same mindset and do everything we have been doing."
 
Quotable from quarterback Desmond Trotter
On how the spring went…
"I think spring went pretty well this year. I feel like we made a stride this spring offensively, just being able to establish the run with our pretty good backs who came in. The offensive line is just getting better and better. Receiver wise, we've got Devin Voisin and Caullin Lacy out there who are some returners with experience, so we've just been able to be consistent throughout the spring and just not take any steps back."
 
On what stage the team is at…
"Out of five, I think we are at a stage four right now. Like Coach Wommack says, we play football all year round. With the new guys coming in and transfers, with us having those OTAs and going into spring ball, it helps a lot. It helps us refresh on just playing football and learning out technique and assignment. I just feel like come fall camp, we will get to stage five and be ready to compete against Tulane."
 
On why he returned to South…
"I came here as a freshman at 17, and I talked to Coach Applewhite and Coach Wommack and the guys, and this is home. It just didn't feel right to leave."
 
Quotable from defensive back Keith Gallmon Jr.
On the spring overall…
"It was a great spring. There were a lot of things to build on and I feel like our team really came together and was able to build a lot of chemistry this spring, just filling in holes and seeing how different people move. It's been good and we will be happy to have our guys back that are hurt right now. We've been doing good."
 
How it felt to come back and what the team did while he was away…
"I feel like the program made a huge jump. Our confidence in our scheme and guys maturity levels just grew a lot over the past year. I feel like everyone has grown up and everyone knows their jobs, and everyone is on a mission right now. We are just trying to get ready for the fall."

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