NEW ORLEANS – Offensive lineman Kenton Jerido and defensive back Jayvon Henderson will represent South Alabama Football alongside head coach Major Applewhite at the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Football Media Days.
The event will take place at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District in downtown New Orleans, La., on July 15-16 with the Jags set to take the stage on the 16th with the rest of the west division. The Sun Belt's annual preseason event will feature all 14 conference football programs and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Jerido earned Third-Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors after appearing in all 12 games and starting five of the Jaguars' final six contests in 2025. One of the nation's most versatile offensive linemen, he logged snaps at all five positions along the offensive line throughout the season. Jerido helped anchor a unit that ranked 20th nationally in rushing offense (199.8 yards per game), finished third in the Sun Belt with 30 rushing touchdowns, and paved the way for conference rushing leader Kentrel Bullock.
Henderson started all 12 games at cornerback during the 2025 campaign, totaling 26 tackles, including two tackles for loss, while adding two fumble recoveries and five pass breakups. He recorded a season-high six tackles against Arkansas State, broke up two passes against both Arkansas State and Georgia State, recovered a fumble in the Jaguars' victory over Georgia State, and added a tackle for loss in South Alabama's Senior Day win over Southern Miss.
The remainder of the Sun Belt attendees can be found below:
APP STATE
Dowell Loggains (Head Coach – 2nd Season)
Malachi Singleton (RS Jr., QB – Kennesaw, Ga.)
Colton Phares (RS Jr., LB – Beaufort, S.C.)
COASTAL CAROLINA
Ryan Beard (Head Coach – 1st Season)
Robby Washington (RS Jr., WR – Miami, Fla.)
Ibrahim Diawara (RS Sr., DL – Philadelphia, Pa.)
GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Clay Helton (Head Coach – 5th Season)
Josh Dallas (RS Sr., WR – Sharpsburg, Ga.)
Chance Gamble (6th Yr., DB – Fitzgerald, Ga.)
GEORGIA STATE
Dell McGee (Head Coach – 3rd Season)
Cameran Brown (RS Sr., QB – Warner Robins, Ga.)
Jabriel Rhodes-Nelson (Sr., DL – Philadelphia, Pa.)
JAMES MADISON
Billy Napier (Head Coach – 1st Season)
Zach Greenberg (RS Sr., OL – Livingston, N.J.)
Amar Thomas (RS Jr., DL – Upper Marlboro, Md.)
MARSHALL
Tony Gibson (Head Coach – 2nd Season)
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (RS Sr., QB – Atlanta, Ga.)
Daytione Smith (RS Sr., S – East Highland Park, Va.)
OLD DOMINION
Ricky Rahne (Head Coach – 7th Season)
Devin Roche (RS Jr., RB – Baltimore, Md.)
Mario Easterly (RS Sr., S – Harrisburg, Pa.)
ARKANSAS STATE
Butch Jones (Head Coach – 6th Season)
Chauncy Cobb (RS Jr., WR – Clewiston, Fla.)
Brandon Barnes (Jr., S – Dallas, Texas)
LOUISIANA
Michael Desormeaux (Head Coach – 5th Season)
George Jackson (RS Sr., OL – Stone Mountain, Ga.)
Lunch Winfield (RS Jr., QB – Lutcher, La.)
ULM
Bryant Vincent (Head Coach – 3rd Season)
AJ Vinson (Sr., OL – Social Circle, Ga.)
Noah Flemmings (Sr., LB – Austin, Texas)
LOUISIANA TECH
Sonny Cumbie (Head Coach – 5th Season)
Eli Finley (Sr., TE – Heath, Texas)
Kolbe Fields (Gr., LB – New Orleans, La.)
SOUTH ALABAMA
Major Applewhite (Head Coach – 3rd Season)
Kenton Jerido (RS Sr., OL – Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Jayvon Henderson (RS Sr., S – Auburn, Ga.)
SOUTHERN MISS
Blake Anderson (Head Coach – 1st Season)
Davis Dalton (RS Sr., WR – Madison, Miss.)
Mathis Haygood (RS Jr., LB – Fayetteville, Ga.)
TROY
Gerad Parker (Head Coach – 3rd Season)
Evan Crenshaw (Sr., P – Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.)
Donnie Smith (Sr., DL – Greenville, Miss.)
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