South Alabama returns plenty of depth and experience on the offensive line this spring, though not all of those veteran players are presently available.

Returning starters Adrein Strickland and Reed Buys, as well as redshirt freshmen Adrian Griffin and John Ward, are all out this spring due to injury or while recovering from offseason surgery. That has led the Jaguars to use several different combinations up front on offense as they reach the midway point of spring practice, and plan for their first scrimmage of spring camp on Saturday.

“That’s kind of always spring football for an offensive line group — you’re moving the pieces around, just trying to fill in places for when guys get banged up and they go down,” first-year offensive line coach Jason Onyebuagu said. “It’s an opportunity for somebody to step up and get reps. I think that’s the biggest message right now, is that we’re building depth with the guys that are here, because we’re having to play some guys that are getting some of their real first action of football.

“It’s been good when those guys see their self getting better on tape; they start to play with more confidence. And then what we’re doing, is we’re transitioning in some guys in that are going to be able to help us when it gets to the fall.”

Strickland being out has meant more reps for sophomore Malachi Carney at right tackle, while Buys being sidelined has led to extended practice time for veteran Reid Gavin and even walk-on Julius Kidd at guard. Junior Daniel Foster-Allen and walk-ons Damon Parr and Sam Williams have also received extra work that might not have if everyone was healthy.

One newcomer who has stepped right into a first-team role is center Malachi Preciado, a Purdue transfer who joined the program in December just prior to the 68 Ventures Bowl. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound New Orleans native looks like the heir apparent to veteran Reggie Smith, who started every game in the middle of the Jaguars’ line a year ago.

“The transition’s been smooth,” Preciado said. “I was able to get up here early, get with the team, meet the guys, start learning the system. So I’m just kind of stepping into that role of being a leader and taking command. That’s been the toughest part being new, but my coaches are working with me, they’ve got my back. My guys around me, they’re helping push me on.”

Sophomore Kenton Jerido worked most of last season as the second-team center, and was being groomed as a potential successor to Smith. But things changed prior to the bowl game, when he jumped to the front of the line at right guard after starter Dontae Lucas entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Jerido (pronounced JERR-uh-do) said he found out in pre-game warmups before the Jaguars’ 59-10 win over Eastern Michigan that he was going to make his first career start that night. Now it appears the Tuscaloosa native will have a chance to be the first-teamer at the guard position in 2024.

“I had to get my mind right, go out there and perform,” Jerido said of his bowl game experience. “I think I did pretty good. It was my first time playing in a full game. I had only been in for bits and pieces toward the ends of some games before that. I played beside Reggie and Adrein and that helped me along the way. But I was just waiting for an opportunity and I took it.”

Once everyone is healthy, South Alabama’s tentative first-team offensive line would be Jordan Davis at left tackle, Buys at left guard, Preciado at center, Jerido at right guard and Strickland at right tackle (though the Jaguars did work Strickland some at right guard this spring with the versatile Carney at right tackle prior to Strickland’s injury). Strickland has started every game the last two seasons, while Davis, Jerido and Buys all won starting jobs during the course of the 2023 season.

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The 6-foot-5, 319-pound Davis has by all accounts had an outstanding spring. The South Carolina transfer took over as the starter in Week 3 of last season after Josh McCulloch suffered a knee injury in practice, but held onto the job even after McCulloch returned to health.

“He’s getting better every day,” said Onyebuagu, whose last name is pronounced On-yay-BOO-aah-ga. “You can start to see him take on more of a leadership role, but the things that he’s done in these first 6-7 practices have really excited me about his future and what he’s going to be. I mean, he has a chance to be a (professional) football player. He’s just got to stay consistent and keep working every day.”

There are more offensive line reinforcements on the way for South Alabama. Sophomore guard/center Lucas Taylor, a former Mississippi State transfer who played his high school ball at St. Paul’s Episcopal School, recently returned to practice on a limited basis after missing all of the 2024 due to medical reasons.

Freshman recruits Logan Joellenbeck of Foley and Asher Hale of St. Paul’s will arrive in the summer. In addition, the NCAA transfer portal re-opens for 15 days beginning April 16, so it’s possible the Jaguars could add additional linemen in that fashion.

South Alabama is back on the practice field Thursday morning. The Jaguars will hold their first scrimmage of the spring on Saturday.