The first of South Alabama’s two preseason scrimmages is in the books, as the Jaguars ran 110-plus plays at the Jaguar Training Center on Saturday morning.

The offense controlled most of the action early, moving the ball with relative ease before the defense rallied in the middle to get a number of stops. However, the offense again had the upper hand in the scrimmage-ending red zone “lockout” period, scoring on three of four possessions.

There is one more scrimmage set for this coming Saturday, Aug. 19. The Jaguars are back on the practice field Monday morning, and will work every day this week except Thursday.

With the caveat that it is still nearly three weeks from the Sept. 2 season-opener at Tulane and thus preseason depth charts are a fluid thing, here are some position-by-position observations from Saturday’s scrimmage:

• While Carter Bradley’s status is secure at QB1 and Desmond Trotter is the clear backup, there is some intrigue for the third spot between freshman Gio Lopez and Utah State transfer Bishop Davenport. Lopez appears to be ahead right now, understandable given he was here in the spring and Davenport was not. Both are highly mobile and possess strong throwing arms, however. With Bradley and Trotter both out of eligibility after this season, an interesting competition between Lopez and Davenport is shaping up for next spring.

• Starter La’Damian Webb was held out of the scrimmage and Braylon McReynolds played only a few series, leaving plenty of room for Ole Miss transfer Kentrel Bullock and true freshmen PJ Martin and Jarvis Durr to shine. Bullock in particular looks like a definite contributor this season; a combination of size, power and speed we haven’t seen very often in a South Alabama uniform. Martin and Durr also had their moments, with Durr breaking a 35-yard run at one point and Martin scoring twice during the red zone period. Veteran Marco Lee also ran for some tough yards, and could continue to get the call in goal-line and short-yardage situations as he did a year ago.

• Caullin Lacy and Devin Voisin are proven commodities at receiver, but both got in some quality work Saturday along with emerging third wideout Jamaal Pritchett. There is a need for a big downfield and red zone target following the departure of Jalen Wayne, however, and Memphis transfer Javon Ivory showed Saturday that perhaps he could be that man. The Grove Hill native beat man coverage on a post for a 58-yard touchdown that was easily the longest play of the day. Freshman Anthony Eager and veteran walk-ons Keyshawn Woodyard and Jeremiah Webb also got work with the second-team offense.

• The four veteran tight ends will all play and all play a lot, as Brandon Crum, DJ Thomas-Jones, Lincoln Sefcik and Jacob Hopper continue to see time with both the first- and second-team offenses as situations dictate. Veteran walk-on Todd Justice remains a core special-teamer who can also help out as a second or third tight end in a pinch. Freshman Trent Thomas showed soft hands working with the third-team offense.

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• The first-team offensive line has been largely unchanged throughout camp save for a nagging injury here or there. Josh McCulloch is at left tackle, with James Robinson at left guard, Reggie Smith at center, Dontae Lucas at right guard and Adrein Strickland at right tackle. The second-team line Saturday was redshirt freshman Malachi Carney at left tackle, sophomore Reid Gavin at left guard, redshirt freshman Kenton Jerido at center, true freshman John Ward at right guard and South Carolina transfer Jordan Davis at right tackle. Ward was filling in for Mississippi State transfer Reed Buys, who had been the primary second-team right guard throughout camp but did not scrimmage Saturday.

• The defensive line also remains a fluid group, though Bandit end Jamie Sheriff, nose tackle Wy’Kevious Thomas and defensive tackle Charles Coleman are still the first group on the field. Second-team Bandit Brock Higdon will also work with the first team in passing situations, with Jamall Hickbottom rotating in at nose tackle in various scenarios. Higdon, Hickbottom and fellow veterans Maurice Strong and Carlos Johnson form a very strong second group. Ed Smith will also be a factor this season, but did not scrimmage Saturday.

• Quentin Wilfawn has moved outside to become the first-team Wolf linebacker, though Kansas State transfer Gavin Forsha and sophomore Lamondre Brooks also saw some first-team action Saturday in addition to splitting reps with the second team. James Miller and Trey Kiser appear locked in as the starting inside linebackers, though sophomore Khalil Jacobs also took some snaps with the first team on Saturday. Jacobs and redshirt freshmen Chrystyile Caldwell and Blayne Myrick worked with the second team. Veteran Ke’Shun Brown sat out Saturday, but is expected to be among the top four inside linebackers on the team.

• Cornerback might be the most intriguing position group on the defense if not the entire roster, as no fewer than six players took first-team reps on Saturday. Returning starter Marquise Robinson and sophomore Ricky Fletcher were first on the field as they have been for most of camp, though program veteran Dallas Gamble, junior-college transfers Reggie Neely and Brian Dillard and Oklahoma transfer Jamarrien Burt also got plenty of work. The latter four also split second-team reps.

• Thanks to the return of Keith Gallmon from an injury that kept him out all of last season, the Jaguars have what amounts to four returning starters for three safety positions. Yam Banks is a lock to hold down the Husky (nickel spot) and Jalen Jordan has been the first player on the field at free safety for nearly every team drill in the preseason. That leaves an interesting battle at rover between Gallmon and Jaden Voisin, who led the team in tackles in Gallmon’s absence last season. Program veteran Rickey Hyatt, Mississippi State transfer Wesley Miller and Baylor transfer Mike Harris all saw time at the two deep positions for the second team, with walk-on Christopher Wallace working as the second-team Husky.

• Diego Guajardo returns for his third full year at kicker, though there remains an interesting battle at punter following the departure of four-year starter Jack Brooks. Finland native Aleksi Pulkkinen was first on the field during punting drills Saturday, followed by program veteran Jack Martin and then San Diego State transfer David Delgado. It appears McReynolds and Lacy will once again handle kickoff- and punt-return duties.