South Alabama is winding down spring football practice, having held its second scrimmage of the spring this past Friday.

The annual Red-White spring game is set for Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium, with two more practices to take place between now and then. There are a number of key players out or limited due to injury this spring, but still a number of players making positive impressions that might just carry over to the fall.

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Here are five observations after the Jaguars’ second spring scrimmage:

1. The Jaguars are going to be loaded at running back

La’Damian Webb and Braylon McReynolds have both been limited this spring, but are proven commodities who will be 1A and 1B headed into the fall. It’s been an important spring for Marco Lee, who was mainly the Jaguars’ short-yardage back last season, but has dropped weight in hopes of taking on a larger role. Then there is Ole Miss transfer Kentrel Bullock, who has shown some explosiveness as both a runner and receiver. Highly regarded freshmen PJ Martin and Jarvis Durr arrive over the summer, but on this team are unlikely to see much playing time in 2023.

2. The offensive line is as stable as it’s been in years

The Jaguars’ front five in 2022 was its best since at least 2015, and four of the five starters are back this spring. Reggie Smith has made a seamless transition from guard to center, the position he played in high school. Josh McCulloch and Adrein Strickland have held onto starting jobs at the tackles. Dontae Lucas has been limited the entire spring due to injury, leaving an opening for James Robinson to challenge for the left guard spot. Mississippi State transfer Reed Buys and holdover Reid Gavin have split time at Smith’s vacated right guard spot. Assuming Lucas is healthy in the fall, one would figure he and Robinson will start at guard in some combination. Smith, Lucas and McCulloch are all seniors, so building depth for the future will be key.

3. Jamaal Pritchett is likely to have a role on offense

South Alabama returns the highly-productive Caullin Lacy and Devin Voisin as starting receivers, and brought in Memphis transfer Javon Ivory and junior-college transfer Shamar Sandgren during the offseason. Speedster Jay’juan Townsend is also back after seeing a limited role in each of the last two seasons. But one player who could force his way into the lineup is Pritchett, a Jackson native who transferred to South Alabama last season from Tuskegee. The 5-foot-8, 169-pound walk-on just keeps making plays in practice, including a 30-yard reception among his three grabs in Friday’s scrimmage. Pritchett filled in for the injured Jalen Wayne during the second half of the New Orleans Bowl last season, but is likely to see extensive playing time this fall at receiver, and potentially at kick returner.

4. The defensive line is deep & talented again

For the fourth year in a row, it appears South Alabama’s defensive line will be the team’s strongest unit in 2023. All but one key player among the eight or nine that rotated up front last season are back this fall, including starters Jamie Sheriff, Wy’Kevious Thomas and Charles Coleman. Brock Higdon, Carlos Johnson and Jamall Hickbottom are also returning, as is sophomore up-and-comer Ed Smith. Maurice Strong, Lamondre Brooks and Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge have all missed the spring due to injury, but could contribute if healthy. It’s a loaded group, with no observable dropoff between one unit and the next. Expect Thomas and possible Sheriff in particular to challenge for All-Sun Belt honors this season.

5. Young linebackers are getting valuable reps

With James Miller, Quentin Wilfawn, Ke’Shun Brown, DK Bonhomme and Dalton Hughes all out much of the spring while recovering from offseason surgery, the Jaguars’ young linebackers have had an opportunity to shine. Inside linebackers Khalil Jacobs and Blayne Myrick — along with walk-on transfers Eli Webb and Nick Curtis on the outside, have all had had their moments this spring (Myrick was particularly active during Friday’s scrimmage). Trey Kiser — the lone healthy veteran among the linebackers this spring — will start alongside Miller on the inside this fall, with Brown backing them and Wilfawn projected on the outside. However, Jacobs is probably the fourth inside ‘backer at this point, though Myrick appears to have a bright future.

South Alabama was back on the practice field Monday morning and will work again Wednesday and Friday. The annual Red-White spring game is set for Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Hancock Whitney Stadium.