After an hour-long lightning delay and a torrential downpour, UAB football’s 2024 campaign officially began. The Blazers treated the 21,000 fans who managed to stay at Protective Stadium to a 41-3 romp over the Alcorn State Braves in the season opener.

Jacob Zeno picked up right where he left off in 2023 going 23-of-33 passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns while leading the offense to over 500 total yards.

Redshirt freshman receiver Kam Shanks burst onto the scene with 73 receiving yards and scored off a 57-yard punt return for the final score of the night. It’s the first time since 2013 where the Blazers have returned a punt for a touchdown.

Following a dismal effort on the defensive end a year ago, UAB held Alcorn State to just three points and 177 yards total offense.

The Blazers improved to 8-0 in season-openers since the return of the program in 2017.

Here’s what we learned on Thursday night

The offensive line remains a work in progress

UAB made it a priority to rebuild this offensive line this offseason. They brought in two experienced tackles through the transfer portal in DJ Jones and JD Morgan. Pairing them with returning guards Quez Yates and Zaire Flournoy.

The group didn’t get off to a great start on Thursday night. Jacob Zeno consistently had defenders in his face but found ways to get out of the pocket and get the ball off most of the time. His only interception on the night came on a tipped ball by a defender who blew by the line. Despite good rushing numbers from the Blazers, the line failed to provide holes or very much push for their backs.

Offensive lines historically take time to gel, especially with three new starters, but they’re going to be facing far more physical and talented defensive lines than what they faced Thursday night.

The defensive line emerged as a strength

Another position group that was heavily invested in through the portal, the defensive line backed up the hype tonight. The impact of Demarcus Smith and Derrick Shepard was felt by Alcorn’s interior offensive line. Both had Alcorn’s quarterbacks on the run at multiple points throughout the night, and Smith recovered the fumble that led to Amare Thomas’ 15-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

UAB’s starting edge duo made some noise as well. Senior edge rusher Kendall Johnson was credited with three tackles and made his way around an Alcorn State lineman to hit Tyler Macon, forcing a fumble in the first quarter, and added a sack in the fourth quarter. Bookending the starting d-line, Desmond Little’s blend of speed and power got him into the backfield for two sacks and ended the game with 3 tackles as well.

The blend of returning starters, newly acquired rotational pieces and developing players like sophomore Emmanuel Waller, who also had an impressive sack on the night, only means good things for this Blazer defense going forward.

Mistakes held Blazers from more success on opening night

UAB led the entire game but may have been able to do much more against an inferior opponent.

Running back Lee Beebe Jr. fumbled the ball twice, Zeno threw an interception on the tipped pass and the Blazers offensive line consistently stalled drives with penalties in the first half.

On a 38-point victory that felt like it could’ve been by at least 20 more, UAB head coach Trent Dilfer knows improvement is needed moving forward

“I congratulated the defense and special teams but there’s a lot of things we need to get better at.” Dilfer said after the game.

The Blazers travel to Louisiana-Monroe against former interim head coach Bryan Vincent on Saturday, Sept. 7th.