South Alabama is past the halfway point of 2024 spring football, its first under head coach Major Applewhite.

The Jaguars scrimmaged for the first time over the weekend, and will do so again on Saturday. The first scrimmage was highlighted by big plays in the passing game, as well as three interceptions by the defense.

“There was some good, there was some bad,” Applewhite said. “I don’t want to make too much out of just the first scrimmage, but I saw good signs. … The quarterbacks, all of them had a turnover, but I see a lot of good decisions being made. I saw some explosives, which was good, whether it was run after the catch or quarterbacks making good decisions. … Defensively, I thought our effort was really good getting to the ball. I thought we tackled well for the first time tackling, but our communication and some of the explosive plays was not what it needs to be.”

RELATED: Big plays early, defensive stops late highlight first South Alabama spring scrimmage

Said defensive coordinator Will Windham: “I thought that the things that we have been emphasizing were starting to show up on tape. We talk about pursuing the ball, tackling and takeaways. We were minimal on the loafs, which is our lack of effort. We were minimal on the missed tackles. I think we had 11 missed tackles the whole scrimmage, which is good for a 90-something play scrimmage.

“When we did miss those 11 tackles, guys were running to the ball with the pursuit, so they didn’t cost you in yards after missed tackles. And we talk about takeaways. We had three — two critical ones in the red area.”

Some additional observations after 9 of 15 spring practices:

• Gio Lopez’s mobility is a game-changer for the Jaguars, who have not had a quarterback who can move like him in many years — maybe ever. The redshirt freshman left-hander eluded pressure on numerous occasions to complete passes downfield in the scrimmage. And that doesn’t even take into account Lopez’s capabilities as a pure runner, as spring scrimmages typically feature a quick whistle to avoid unnecessary injury risk. Bishop Davenport — a Utah State transfer who redshirted last season — and true freshman Jared Hollins also showed mobility and arm talent in the scrimmage, but this seems like Lopez’s job to lose at this point.

• Braylon McReynolds and Kentrel Bullock should form a solid 1-2 punch at running back. There’s no 25-carry-a-game bell cow like South Alabama had the last two seasons in La’Damian Webb, but McReynolds and Bullock should be a highly productive twosome both as runners and receivers. Throw in redshirt freshmen PJ Martin and Jarvis Durr, and the Jaguars are still deep in quality ballcarriers.

• The wide receiver position still has good depth, despite the loss of All-Sun Belt performer Caullin Lacy to the transfer portal. Jamaal Pritchett is back after a breakout 2023 season, as are late-season starters Javon Ivory and Jeremiah Webb. But the big revelation in the first scrimmage was Shamar Sandgren, who often looked like the best player on the field. If Sandgren continues to develop and 2022 star Devin Voisin comes back strong from the knee injury that ruined last season, there might not be much drop-off in the Jaguars’ passing game.

• Aside from DJ Thomas-Jones, there are question marks at tight end. South Alabama lost three seniors at the position from last season in Lincoln Sefcik, Brandon Crum and Jacob Hopper, leaving only Thomas-Jones with returning experience. Redshirt freshman Trent Thomas is due for plenty of playing time in 2024, while Bowling Green import Andrew Bench will also be in the rotation along with veteran Todd Justice.

• Injuries have limited the offensive line’s cohesiveness and development this spring. The Jaguars have five scholarship offensive linemen sidelined for injury/medical reasons, including starting right guard Reed Buys and starting right tackle Adrein Strickland (both are due back by the fall). South Alabama is breaking in a new center in Purdue transfer Malachi Preciado, and left tackle Jordan Davis and left guard Kenton Jerido have stayed healthy thus far. On the plus side, veterans Malachi Carney, Daniel Foster-Allen and Reid Gavin have gotten extended reps this spring, as have a number of walk-ons.

• The defensive line should be good again, albeit not as deep. Nose tackle Wy’Kevious Thomas is as a good a player at his position as there is in the Sun Belt Conference, but three multi-year contributors on the defensive front graduated after 2023. Defensive tackle Maurice Strong’s return for a seventh season was a big boost this spring, and the potential return of promising redshirt sophomore Ed Smith from a knee injury will be key in the fall. Carlos Johnson and Lamondre Brooks are two more reliable veterans on the defensive front. However, the Jaguars will be counting heavily on youngsters such as Jordan Norman and R.J. Moss and newcomers such as Jalyn Durgan in 2024.

• Despite the loss of three multi-year starters from last season, linebacker could again be a strong unit in 2024. Khalil Jacobs and Blayne Myrick have stepped seamlessly into starting roles at inside linebacker, while Liberty transfer Aakil Washington has made an immediate impact at the Wolf/outside linebacker spot. There’s not much experienced depth behind them, however, as the Jaguars have been repping former outside linebackers Dalton Hughes and Gavin Forsha on the inside this spring. Walk-on Emauri Sibley is another player who might wind up in the rotation.

• At cornerback, Ricky Fletcher has the potential to be a breakout player for the Jaguars in 2024. Reggie Neely looks likely to get first nod on the other side, though junior-college transfer Jordan Scruggs is another possibility. Veteran Dallas Gamble will also be part of the rotation, while freshman Amarion Fortenberry is getting quality reps this spring. Oklahoma State transfer Lardarius Webb Jr. has also been getting reps at corner, but might end up being the starting Husky/nickel safety.

• Three-year starter Yam Banks left a massive hole at Husky when he transferred to Ole Miss, but the undersized-but-ultra-athletic Webb might be the man to fill that role in 2024. Former walk-on Christopher Wallace will also get a look at nickel, as will converted cornerback Brian Dillard. Three-year starter Jaden Voisin is back at free safety, as is Mike Harris, who rotated in quite a bit at rover in 2023. A wildcard is Keith Gallmon, a starter from 2019-21 who is attempting to return from two years lost to separate pectoral muscle injuries.

• There’s an interesting competition going on at punter between returning starter Jack Martin and Aleksi Pulkinnen, a native of Finland whose freshman season never really got going due to a three-game suspension levied by the NCAA for his having played on a club team in his home country. Pulkinnen has excellent “get-off” (snap-to-kick) time, and might not sit on the bench for long. East Carolina transfer Laith Marjan and holdover walk-on Hamilton DiBoyan have battled at kicker, but it seems likely that competition will extend into fall camp after the arrival of freshman recruit Davis Little.

South Alabama is back on the practice field Thursday morning. The Jaguars’ spring game is set for noon on April 20 at Hancock Whitney Stadium.