At the midpoint of the 2023 season, South Alabama already has as many losses as it did in the entirety of 2022.

In that sense, this year has been a disappointing one for the Jaguars, who hit their bye week at 3-3 overall and 1-1 in Sun Belt Conference play. Though South Alabama is already out of contention for any type of major bowl berth or final Top 25 ranking, Kane Wommack’s team is still in the running to win the Sun Belt West Division and overall championship.

Consistency, of course, has been a problem. For example, the Jaguars dominated Power 5 opponent Oklahoma State 33-7 on the road Sept. 16, then followed that up a week later with a 34-30 home loss to Central Michigan, a mid-level MAC team.

So, that’s the what. But what about the why?

On Aug. 1, we provided five questions for South Alabama that needed to be answered heading into preseason camp. Here are those questions again, along with the answers at the midseason point:

1. How will the pieces fit on the offensive line?

The Jaguars returned four starters up front from a year ago, but two of them were playing different positions. Reggie Smith has taken every important snap at center after moving from right guard, while returning starter Adrein Strickland has been steady at right tackle. James Robinson and Dontae Lucas have done most of the work at guard, though Mississippi State transfer Reed Buys has cut into playing time for both. Josh McCulloch injured his knee in practice during Week 3, and might not be able to get his job back from South Carolina transfer Jordan Davis even after he’s healthy. Line play has been more good than bad overall, though experienced defensive fronts from Tulane and James Madison controlled the line of scrimmage when they faced the Jaguars.

2. Who emerges as the third wide receiver?

This question remains unanswered, in part because Devin Voisin’s season-ending knee injury in Week 2 left the Jaguars with only one proven receiver instead of one. Caullin Lacy has thrived despite Voisin’s injury, and is currently third nationally in receiving yards after a run of five straight 100-yard games. Beyond Lacy, however, there’s not much to get excited about. Jamaal Pritchett has had a few big moments and Memphis transfer Javon Ivory has been a solid possession receiver, but neither of them exactly strikes fear in opposing secondaries. The tight ends got have gotten more involved in the passing game the last two weeks, and DJ Thomas-Jones and Lincoln Sefcik might end up being the answer as to who will keep defenses honest by making sure defenses can’t focus solely on Lacy.

3. Will the Jaguars identify some pass-rushers?

This also rates an incomplete at this point, if not an outright “no.” The Jaguars rank in the middle of the pack in the Sun Belt with 13 sacks this season, in addition to 19 quarterback hurries. Defensive ends Jamie Sheriff and Brock Higdon have been South Alabama’s most-reliable pass-rushers, combining for 4.5 sacks thus far. Much was made in the spring and the preseason about former inside linebacker Quentin Wilfawn moving outside to the “Wolf” position, but the production has not followed as of yet. Wilfawn has only one sack and one quarterback hurry in six games, the same number as back-up Lamondre Brooks. The Jaguars’ most-effective situational pass-rusher thus far has been inside linebacker Khalil Jacobs, who is used as a blitzer in long-yardage scenarios. Generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks “organically” — that is, without blitzing — has been an issue for the Jaguars going on three years now.

4. Are there enough snaps to go around at safety?

This is a “yes,” but for different reasons than initially suspected. Veteran Keith Gallmon suffered a season-ending injury for the second straight year in Week 2, solving the conundrum that had come about when the Jaguars entered preseason camp with three starters for two positions. Jaden Voisin got off to a poor start at the Rover position, but has been among the team’s best defensive players in recent weeks. Jalen Jordan has been both injured and inconsistent at free safety, with transfers Mike Harris (Baylor) and Wesley Miller (Mississippi State) getting more playing time than expected heading into the season. For the third straight year, Yam Banks has taken nearly every important snap at Husky/nickel. The secondary as a whole has been shaky for the Jaguars this season, with the safeties not providing as much support as had been hoped for a youthful cornerback group.

5. Who takes over for Jack Brooks at punter?

A four-year starter, Brooks unexpectedly chose to “retire” from football over the summer and enter the workforce in his native Australia. South Alabama recruited Finland native Aleksi Pulkkinen with the idea of him being Brooks’ understudy for a year, then taking over the job in 2024. However, Pulkkinen was not eligible to play in South Alabama’s first two games as an NCAA penalty for playing on a club team in his home country, and walk-on Jack Martin has taken full advantage. The Alabama transfer is averaging 40.7 yards on 19 punts, getting good enough hang time that the Jaguars’ coverage unit has not allowed a single punt-return yard all season. Martin is also the primary holder on field goals and extra points, and it looks like he’s in the lineup to stay.

Next up: South Alabama hosts Southern Miss (1-5, 0-3) on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at Hancock Whitney Stadium. That game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. and will be televised live by ESPN2.