South Alabama’s 2025 “Spring Showcase” didn’t much resemble spring football games of the past.

The Jaguars held what amounted to an open practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium on Saturday, with individual drills and a few 7-on-7 periods, but no live scrimmaging. South Alabama then followed up the practice portion with a skills competition, which included 1-on-1 drills between offensive and defensive lineman, a “Fastest Jag” race (won by defensive back Brian Dillard), a strong man contest with linemen pulling sleds, a quarterback accuracy competition (won by redshirt freshman Jared Hollins), plus field goal kicking and wide receivers catching passes on a number of routes.

South Alabama also held an Easter Egg hunt and the annual “yard sale” of surplus apparel and equipment prior to the practice. Afterward were a kids’ clinic and autograph session with Jaguars players and coaches.

“It was awesome,” quarterback Gio Lopez said. “… We had a quick little 7-on-7. We got to show the fans a little bit of something in pads.

“But today was all about just getting fan interaction and just having everyone have a good time and just kind of settle down from the spring. You’re working so hard for like two months. Just kind of relax and have a good time.”

South Alabama went 7-6 under first-year coach Major Applewhite in 2024, its third straight winning season. The Jaguars completed the season with a 30-23 victory over Western Michigan in the Salute to Veterans Bowl, it second consecutive postseason win.

South Alabama returned 14 from last season this spring, though a number sat out of most or all practices due to injury. Applewhite said there has been “competition at every position” this spring.

“That’s the great thing about our spring practice this year,” Applewhite said. “We’re having more competition at more spots, and I think we’ve done a good job over the last couple of years of building our roster. There’s going to be some spots that are going to have to be decided in fall camp.”

The Jaguars now look ahead to the offseason, with one event being the spring transfer portal window, which opens for 10 days beginning Wednesday. South Alabama will likely lose a few players to the portal (as happens every year), but is also expected to add a handful of scholarship players prior to summer workouts.

Some post-spring observations …

• Lopez ended the spring with a very solid hold on the quarterback competition, with Bishop Davenport the clear No. 2. Davenport, the MVP of the bowl game while Lopez was sidelined due to injury, does appear to be a starting-caliber Sun Belt Conference quarterback.

Hollins showed off a strong arm once again this spring, but is still a step behind Lopez and Davenport. Bubba Thompson, a 26-year-old true freshman who spent eight years playing professional baseball before walking on this spring, is definitely No. 4, but has the speed and athleticism that he might be able to help somewhere if not at quarterback.

We’ll see what happens when the portal opens, but for now, the Jaguars are very strong at the game’s most important-position.

• Despite the loss of Fluff Bothwell and Braylon McReynolds to the transfer portal, the South Alabama running back position appears to be well-stocked barring any more defections in the offseason.

Senior Kentrel Bullock is back after rushing for 832 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago, with sophomore P.J. Martin most likely to be the Jaguars’ second back. Iverson Celestine is also in the mix for carries.

Junior-college transfer Keenan Phillips made a strong impression with his speed and versatility this spring. He’s a good bet to be in the mix for kick-return duties, and also as a receiving threat out of the backfield.

• Wide receiver was a position hit hard by graduation, with only seventh-year senior Devin Voisin and redshirt sophomore Anthony Eager back among the Jaguars’ top passing-game targets from last season.

Voisin — who appears all the way back from a knee injury that cost him all of 2023 and limited him last season — is very much a proven commodity. But it’s the speedy Eager, who caught 10 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns last season, who might be one of the keys to the offense following the departure of All-Sun Belt receiver Jamaal Pritchett.

“I’ve had a lot of pressure on me stepping up, and I feel like I’m filling that role with J.P. leaving,” Eager said. “I feel like I can fill his shoes a little bit. I’m confident that I can do it and be that guy this year.”

Other players expected to be targets in the passing game in 2024 are Samford transfer Brendan Jenkins, redshirt freshman Jeremy Scott, sophomore Noah Toster and senior Micah Woods. Toster and Woods both transferred to South Alabama prior to last season, but neither caught a pass in 2024.

South Alabama is also looking for a receiving tight end following the graduation of three-year starter DJ Thomas-Jones. Junior Rod Gibbs, Arkansas State transfer Miller McCrumby and junior-college transfer Brec Long could step into that role this fall, with sophomore Trent Thomas — a part-time starter last season — a key part of the run-game blocking corps.

• Arkansas transfer Amaury Wiggins took over a first-team spot at right guard early in spring and appears a good bet to start there when preseason camp begins. Starting tackles Jordan Davis and Malachi Carney return from last season, as does center Malachi Preciado.

Sophomores Asher Hale and Adrian Griffin and junior Kenton Jerido — who has started at both guard positions in his career and also has experience at center — are all in the mix at left guard. Two other newcomers who will have a shot to compete for playing time on the line this fall are South Carolina transfer Ni Mansell and Western Kentucky transfer Leavy Johnson.

• Linebackers Blayne Myrick (shoulder) and Dalton Hughes (knee) missed the entire spring, giving a number of younger players a shot a key reps.

Senior Darius McKenzie is likely line up next to Myrick at inside linebacker when fall camp begins, with Hughes also in the mix once he returns to full health. Junior Chrystyile Caldwell and sophomores Parker Shattuck and Julian Demby saw plenty of action, as did transfers Caleb Dozier (Georgia Tech) and Tirrell Johnson (Harding).

Dozier, a redshirt freshman from Headland, was one of the more impressive newcomers throughout the spring. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Johnson could see action at both linebacker and defensive end.

• One player whose health will be key in 2025 is cornerback Ricky Fletcher, who missed all of last season with a back injury.

Fletcher, a 13-game starter in 2023, practiced all spring without limitation. He pronounced himself fully healthy following Saturday’s spring showcase.

“I feel pretty good; I feel normal,” Fletcher said. “I’m just glad to be back with my guys and battling.”

Senior Lardarius Webb, South Alabama’s other returning starter at corner, was held out of contact work in spring practice due to injury. However, he is expected to be fully healthy by the time preseason camp begins.

• Questions remain on the defensive line, where South Alabama lost three key interior defenders — Wy’Kevious Thomas, Maurice Strong and Carlos Johnson — to graduation and another — Jordan Norman — to the transfer portal.

Junior Ed Smith seems like the heir apparent to Thomas’ nose guard position and sophomore Tyler Thomas (Trent’s twin brother, but no relation to Wy’Kevious) will be a major factor at end, but little is settled elsewhere. Junior-college transfer Dominic Wiseman joined the program this spring, while senior Jalyn Durgan and redshirt freshmen Tyler Carter, Nathan Jennings and Achilles Wood are all back for their second full seasons as Jaguars. Sophomore R.J. Moss will likely also be part of the rotation.

“I feel like the spring went very productive,” Smith said. “We all got better day by day. … We’ve got a lot of guys excited for the season. We’ve got a lot of guys excited to get better.”

It’s possible the defensive line is a position South Alabama hits hard in the transfer portal.