The departure of Quentin Wilfawn certainly left a void for South Alabama at outside linebacker, but arguably the Jaguars’ most-accomplished incoming transfer will have a chance to be his replacement.

Aakil Washington joined the South Alabama program from Liberty prior to spring practice, after totaling 83 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 34 games the last four years while playing mostly inside linebacker. With the Jaguars, he steps into the opening at “Wolf” outside linebacker left by Wilfawn, who compiled 84 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in a breakthrough 2023 season.

“Playing Wolf is kind of like outside and inside ‘backer,” Washington said. “So it’s taking all my years playing in college and mixing them together. I feel like I’m able to get into coverage, play the run, play the edge, pass-rush. Pass-rushing is why I got recruited out of high school, so I get to use those abilities again. It’s something I still have to work on, playing inside the last few years. But that’s a big plus, getting the chance to be a pass-rusher again.”

The Wolf position is a key one in South Alabama’s 4-2-5 defensive look, sometimes rushing the passer, sometimes dropping into coverage, but always being a key in run support. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Washington emerged from spring practice as the first-team player at the position, almost by default.

Wilfawn’s graduation, coupled with injuries, portal departures and the shift of former outside linebackers Gavin Forsha and Dalton Hughes to help fortify the inside linebacker spots left Washington as the lone scholarship player at the Wolf during the spring. He’s since been joined by program veteran Lamondre Brooks — who can play both Wolf and “Bandit” defensive end — and Florida Atlantic transfer Courtney McBride, among others.

McBride was also highly productive at his previous stop, having put together 57 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries and five sacks in 29 games at FAU. Brooks, a top recruit in the Jaguars’ 2021 signing class out of Huffman High School in Birmingham, has been limited to a total of 19 games the last three seasons due to a number of injuries.

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“The good thing is, Aakil’s been here since the spring,” South Alabama outside linebackers coach Tre’ Williams said. “So treat him as an older guy. He’s been in the system for quite some time now, so we can get some leadership out of him.

“Obviously, we’ve got a lot of competition in that room now, adding Courtney McBride and Lamondre Brooks and (freshman) Will Felton. Just (Washington) getting a lot of reps in this defense and being able to lead those guys and them, being able to see how we operate, you know, he’s done a great job.”

A native of Marietta, Ga., Washington entered the transfer portal after just four games in 2023 so that he could retain an extra year of eligibility. Thus, he’s got two years to play two at South Alabama.

Washington was connected to South Alabama through former defensive coordinator Corey Batoon, who was on staff at Liberty early in Washington’s tenure with the Flames. Batoon left Mobile in late January for Missouri, but Washington chose to stick it out with the Jaguars rather than enter the transfer portal for a second time.

“South Alabama a lot closer to home compared to Liberty,” Washington said. “Originally, I was talking to Indiana and Oregon State, but coach Batoon was the biggest reason I came here. When he left, he was like ‘the defense is going to be the same.’ It’s definitely something I prayed on, especially after spring ball, because there were some opportunities that came up.

“I just sat down with God and I really just felt in my heart that the spirit was moving me to stay here and not leave, not chase everything else that other people were chasing.”

• South Alabama will work in full pads for the first time this preseason on Tuesday after having gone in shells Friday, Saturday and Monday. The Jaguars’ first scrimmage of camp is set for Saturday night at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

Applewhite said he’s seen “consistent effort” from his team through the first five days of camp.

“I saw our team, for the first four days, steadily improve in terms of consistent effort throughout the course of practice,” Applewhite said. “I saw our ball security get better. It’s getting tighter to the body, better decisions with the ball. There are some things that we’ve got to clean up in terms of execution. There’s a handful of guys that need to learn how to push themselves and today (Monday) was a big step forward for those guys.

“We want to see consistent effort, consistent toughness with the pads on. We’ll continue to add our installations for offense and defense from base offense, base defense and then play them out through those situations.”

South Alabama opens the 2024 season at home Aug. 31 vs. North Texas.