Fall camp is officially in the books as South Alabama opened preparation for its Aug. 31 opener with No. 24 Nebraska on Wednesday.
The Jaguars returned from an off day Tuesday with a two-hour workout at the outdoor facility. For the first time all camp, part of the South Alabama squad was working in scout team jerseys to give the starters a “look” at the Cornhuskers’ formations and schemes.
“First day back after classes have started, so there are always a few rough edges,” Campbell said. “I thought we got better as practice went along. We divided up into show teams and things of that nature, but I thought the guys worked hard and we got better. It was a good positive day.”
South Alabama will practice again Thursday and Friday before breaking Saturday and then beginning game-week activities on Sunday. The Jaguars open with the Cornhuskers at 11 a.m. on Aug. 31 in Lincoln, in a game to be televised nationally by ESPN.
Campbell said he’s noticed more than anything the consistency his team has performed with this fall.
“It needs to be the same day-in and day-out, and that’s what I’ve noticed with this group,” Campbell said. “They come to work and push through it with a good work ethic. That’s the culture that this group has developed. Since Day 1, they have come out and worked hard. We really have not had a bad day. It has not been an issue. We’ve got to get rid of some of the youthful mistakes. Effort is not an issue.”
Other practice notes:
• A handful of South Alabama players remain sidelined by injury and are questionable-at-best for the opener with Nebraska. That list includes wide receiver Jalen Wayne (foot), linebackers Patrick Rosette (hand) and Shawn Jennings (wrist) and running backs Damean Bivins (groin) and Jalin Bouie (knee).
Wayne was the likeliest of that group to see extensive playing time, as he opened fall camp running second-team behind Kawaan Baker at H (slot) receiver. Rosette was challenging for a starting job in spring practice, but has now broken his hand twice since arriving at South Alabama in January.
• Walk-on linebacker Josh Gillard has left the South Alabama team, AL.com has confirmed. Gillard’s name appeared in the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday, according to a source.
Gillard, a redshirt freshman from New Orleans, posted five tackles in South Alabama’s first scrimmage in the spring. However, he had been surpassed on the depth chart by several younger players this fall.
• South Alabama took the day off from practice on Tuesday due to the start of fall classes, but the team’s specialists got a chance to work out with long-time NFL kicker Matt Bryant at the Jaguar Training Center. The 44-year-old Bryant, a 17-year NFL veteran and a long-time resident of Baldwin County, is still looking for a 2019 home after being released by the Atlanta Falcons.