If there’s one most disappointing trend early in 2023 for South Alabama, it’s big plays allowed by the defense.

The Jaguars (2-3 overall, 0-1 Sun Belt Conference) have surrendered seven touchdowns of at least 40 yards this season, including three in last week’s 31-23 loss at James Madison. South Alabama gave up just six such touchdowns in 13 games in 2022 and only three in 12 games in 2021, head coach Kane Wommack’s first season.

RELATED: Jaguars face another road challenge at ULM, where they have never won

“You can’t give up explosive plays for touchdowns,” Wommack said. “I think that put us in a really challenging situation. … We dug ourselves in a pretty deep hole, really defensively (vs. JMU) with those three explosive plays. … We’re not going to reach our potential as a football team until we stop doing that.”

South Alabama travels to Louisiana-Monroe (2-2, 0-1) on Saturday, a team that had success with big plays when the teams met last season in Mobile. The Jaguars won 41-34, but the Warhawks hit a pair of long touchdowns, passes of 75 and 83 yards to Tyrone Howell that were the two longest plays USA allowed all season.

Howell is back this year, and coming off a three-touchdown performance in a 41-40 loss to Appalachian State a week ago. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Kansas State transfer certainly has South Alabama’s attention this year after torching the Jaguars for nine catches for 244 yards in 2022.

“Tyrone Howell is probably the best receiver we faced a year ago and he had a career day against us,” defensive coordinator Corey Batoon said. “He plays with a lot of confidence, he’s very physical at the top of the route, very strong, and really good running routes. … We understand how good he is, because we saw it live last year. So it will be a tremendous challenge for us.”

Another issue for South Alabama this season has been opposing quarterbacks getting loose in the running game. Central Michigan’s Jase Bauer ran for four touchdowns in a 34-30 win over the Jaguars on Sept. 23, while James Madison’s Jordan McCloud had runs of 9, 16 and 33 yards last week.

ULM quarterback Jiya Wright is also a two-way threat, having rushed for 74 yards in addition to passing for 268 vs. App State a week ago. South Alabama defensive tackle Wy’Kevious Thomas said his team will have to play with more discipline up front against the Warhawks.

“It’s definitely going to come down to improving our lane integrity and getting (Wright) uncomfortable,” Thomas said. “You want to get him to roll out to the side he’s not comfortable rolling out to; that’s been a big focus this week.

“He runs after contact really well, and he’s a guy that’s going to find an open hole. You’ve got to take him down with good (technique).”

• Safety Jaden Voisin will wear the honorary No. 5 jersey for Saturday’s game at ULM.

A different South Alabama player is awarded the No. 5 jersey each week during the season in honor of Anthony Mostella, a former Jaguars running back who died in a 2010 motorcycle accident. Voisin’s twin brother, South Alabama wide receiver Devin Voisin, wore No. 5 for the season-opener vs. Tulane.

“Jaden has become a really steady presence and is starting to make plays like we know that he’s capable of,” Wommack said. “To be honest, he didn’t start the season off particularly well, and was well aware of that. I think he’s a guy that has built consistency into his game. … I’m very proud of Jayden and some of the things that he’s doing, in terms of his consistency in practice and those things showing up on Game Day.”

Jaden Voisin, a junior from Crestview, Fla., has totaled 30 tackles, with two pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble this season. Along with the Voisin brothers, other South Alabama players to have worn the No. 5 jersey this season are linebacker James Miller (Southeastern Louisiana), linebacker Trey Kiser (Oklahoma State), quarterback Desmond Trotter (Central Michigan) and wide receiver Caullin Lacy (James Madison).

Kickoff for Saturday’s South Alabama-ULM game is set for 6 p.m. at Malone Stadium in Monroe, La. The game will stream live via ESPN+.