With a new but familiar head coach in Major Applewhite at the helm, the South Alabama Jaguars will look to build upon a 7-6 finish and a bowl win against Eastern Michigan last season. After a third-place finish in the Sun Belt West, who will be counted on to help propel the Jaguars higher in 2024? Here are our picks for the top 10 returning players.
South Alabama Jaguars Top 10 Returners in 2024
Analyzing the returning players at every school is a difficult task in the transfer portal era. As such, we’ve included transfer portal athletes who were included on each team’s roster page to open fall camp in addition to the rostered players from last year.
10) Jack Martin, Punter
Punters are people, too, and when they are as good as Jack Martin, they deserve to be recognized. Martin isn’t the biggest punter in the game, standing at 5’11” and 176 pounds, but he has a big leg and an accurate one at that.
Martin punted 42 times in 2023 for a total of 1,689 yards, pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line 13 times with only one touchback. His average was bolstered by four punts of 50+ yards, and he should allow the Jags to flip the field effectively in 2024.
9) Blayne Myrick, Linebacker
Blayne Myrick saw time mostly as a backup in 2023, appearing in 11 games, but still managed to have decent production. He had seven total tackles, one tackle for loss, and a sack in the bowl game against Eastern Michigan.
Myrick has gained experience both as a backup and playing special teams, but this year should be a breakout for him. He’s built to play the position, standing 6’3″ and weighing 232 pounds. Even though he’s just a redshirt sophomore, the opportunity to be an all-conference linebacker is there on the table.
8) Kentrel Bullock, Running Back
The 5’10” and 203-pound Kentrel Bullock provides the Jags with some desirable depth at the running back position. In 2023, he played in 11 games with two starts, seeing plenty of snaps as part of the backfield platoon.
Bullock rushed for 448 yards on 83 carries and scored four touchdowns for South Alabama, along with 15 receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown. The former Ole Miss RB will likely have an increased workload as he brings size and versatility to the table.
7) Devin Voisin, Wide Receiver
Devin Voisin never got a chance to really showcase his full potential after going down with a season-ending injury in the second game last season. He still managed to catch five passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, though.
In 2022, Voisin played in every game, finishing with 64 receptions, 867 yards, and five touchdowns. He should be poised to repeat that kind of production in 2024.
While his twin brother Jaden garnered much of the attention in 2023, Devin is just as impressive when healthy. He’s got good size at 5’10” and 198 pounds, and whatever he gives up in size to a defender, he more than makes up for it in strength and ability to separate.
6) Ricky Fletcher, Defensive Back
Ricky Fletcher started in every Jaguars game in 2023, racking up 38 tackles, one tackle for loss, 12 pass breakups, and recover a fumble as a starter. It was a massive improvement over 2022 where he saw time in all 13 games but in a reserve role.
Fletcher has desirable size for the position. He’s very long at 6’3″, and his 197-pound frame holds a decent amount of weight, considering his position. Fletcher’s physicality will be a weapon against most opponents, and his size should lead to even more pass breakups in 2024.
5) DJ Thomas-Jones, Tight End
DJ Thomas-Jones saw time in every game for South Alabama with seven starts and hauled in 27 passes for 235 yards and five touchdowns. That’s pretty powerful production for a player who started just seven games. His best came at the end of the year against Texas State with nine receptions for 56 yards and three touchdowns.
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The senior is a load at the tight end position. Thomas-Jones is 6’2″ and weighs 256 pounds. He’s able to move well, and his size actually makes him a bit more versatile in terms of where he can line up. That, and the experience of being a senior with four years in the program, should make Thomas-Jones one to watch.
4) Gio Lopez, Quarterback
Applewhite named Gio Lopez the starting quarterback coming out of training camp, but he was the lead candidate for most of the offseason anyway. Lopez played in five games in 2023 with one start, allowing him to maintain his redshirt status.
He just so happened to lead the Jaguars to a massive bowl win against Eastern Michigan, a 59-10 drubbing due in part to his 192 yards passing, 88 yards rushing, and four total touchdowns.
Lopez isn’t fully seasoned, but the physical gifts are there, and Applewhite made note of his grasp of the playbook — both of which should help him find success in 2024.
3) Wy’Kevious Thomas, Defensive Tackle
The big plug for South Alabama’s defense, Wy’Kevious Thomas was a standout in 2023. He started every game, earning third-team All-Sun Belt honors with 38 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a sack.
Thomas has good size at 6’2″ and 303 pounds, and he’s been a starter for three straight seasons now, putting him in prime position to have the kind of season that will have NFL scouts scheduling visits to Mobile before the Senior Bowl.
2) Jamaal Pritchett, Wide Receiver
In 2023, Jamaal Pritchett earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt after registering 57 receptions for 883 yards and eight touchdowns. He had a breakout game against Louisiana with 11 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns, and a healthy Devin Voisin should give Pritchett some more space to operate.
Pritchett can work anywhere on the field. At 5’8″ and 175 pounds, he’s not the biggest target, but he finds the seams in the defense, and he’s great off of motion. Pritchett’s hands seem to clamp the ball almost robotically, and with Lopez entrenched as the starter, he should become one of his favorite targets this season.
1) Jaden Voisin, Safety
Jaden Voisin was one of the best defensive players in the Sun Belt in 2023 and is on track to repeat the performance in 2024. He had 71 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, four interceptions, and seven pass breakups along with one forced fumble.
Voisin is versatile at the safety position, and his hands might be as good as those of his twin brother Devin. Even though he’s not the biggest safety on the planet at 5’10” and 212 pounds, Voisin’s not afraid to be physical and mix it up.
Voisin will be a huge component of South Alabama’s defense, and if he continues to improve, he may also have a chance to be the player of the year.
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