Jaguars host two interesting guests for Mondays practice
South Alabama continues to prepare for thier first bowl appearance this Saturday in the Raycom Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They had two interesting guests viewing practice on Monday morning.
Photos: usajaguars.com
Former Alabama head coach Ray Perkins was at the Jaguars practice facility but that was not the name that drew the most attention. It was UAB running back Jordan Howard who drew the most attention.
Howard, a 6’1″, 228-pound sophomore who rushed for 1,587 yards and 13 touchdowns this season for the Blazers, has been receiving lots of interest across the country after UAB announced it was shutting down the football program.
The Gardendale, AL native has drawn interest from schools such as Indiana, Notre Dame, Louisville, Vanderbilt among others.
South Alabama head coach Joey Jones hired former UAB offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent as the Jaguars new offensive coordinator. Howard averaged 5.2 yards per carry and 132.2 yards per game under Vincent’s direction of the offense.
South Alabama’s backfield was very thin by the end of the regular season. Jay Jones suffered a season-ending knee injury in the sixth game of the season and was the Jaguars leading rusher at that time with 393 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Kendall Houston stepped up finished the season with 659 yards rushing and a touchdown to lead the Jaguars in that category. Junior Terrance Timmons rushed for 382 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Xavier Johnson rushed for 417 yards and a touchdown, but missed playing time late in the season due to a shoulder injury.
Howard is expected to make a decision soon and if he chose South Alabama he would reunite with offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent as well as center Lee Dufour and quarterback Cody Clements who both announced they would be transferring to South Alabama from UAB.