Kane Wommack Officially Named Head Coach At South Alabama
The University of South Alabama officially announced that Kane Wommack will be only the third head football coach in South Alabama history on Saturday.
Welcome 🏠 @KaneWommack!
— South Alabama Jaguar Athletics (@WeAreSouth_JAGS) December 12, 2020
Full release ▶️ https://t.co/GAvFBg4X8K#Something2Prove pic.twitter.com/NaorcalwWz
Coach Wommack, 33, will be the youngest head coach in the FBS ranks.
Wommack is in his third season as linebackers coach and his second season as the defensive coordinator at Indiana and is a candidate for the Broyles Award after helping the Hoosiers to a #8 ranking in this weeks AP poll.
Our previous post had an extensive rundown of his accomplishments at Indiana.
In his first year at Indiana as the youngest Power 5 defensive coordinator his squad finished in the top-50 nationally in scoring, total, rush, and pass defense.
Prior to Indiana, Wommack was the defensive coordinator at South Alabama under head coach Joey Jones from 2016-2017. He was also the youngest defensive coordinator in FBS at the time. His defense ranked in the top-10 nationally in pass defense (174.6 yards per game). They also allowed 10 fewer points per game over the previous season which ranked them the 5th best improved defense in FBS. In 2017, the Jags were ranked in the top-15 nationally in both red zone defense and fumble recoveries.
Jeremy Reaves, currently with the Washington Football Team in the NFL, was a two-time first-team all-SBC selection and the the school’s first-ever Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. Randy Allen, Bull Barge, Roman Buchanan, Kalen Jackson, and Darrell Songy all earned all-league honors during Wommack’s two years at USA.
Prior to USA he served as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Eastern Illinois where they finished in the top 25 of the final national poll in 2015 after a first-round appearance in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs.
Previously he was at Ole Miss from 2012-2013, Jacksonville State 2011, and Tennessee-Martin in 2010.
He began his playing career at Arkansas where he was a fullback in 2005-06 as the Razorbacks won the SEC West in his second season. After transferring to Southern Miss, he helped the Golden Eagles to three straight bowl appearances before earning his degree in 2009 and became a volunteer assistant at the school.
Kane and his wife Melissa have three sons named Asher (6), Tatum (4), and Jones (1).
Wommack had support from various former players, including Reaves.
Mood!!!!!!!!!!!! Proud to be a Jag today ❤️ Welcome home @KaneWommack @MCWommack pic.twitter.com/p4QjUQLjw1
— Jeremy Reaves (@JR1ERA) December 12, 2020
@KaneWommack GOOD TO HAVE YA BACK COACH!!!!
— Nick Mobley (@lone29wolf) December 12, 2020
Welcome back to Mobile and Jag Nation.
Kane Wommack To Be South Alabama’s New Head Coach
Kane Wommack has reportedly been selected and agreed to terms to be the next head football coach for the University of South Alabama according to multiple sources. This news comes five days after Steve Campbell was dismissed following a 4-7 season.
Coach Wommack is only the third head coach in the programs short history that dates back to the 2009 season. He is also the youngest head coach in FBS football at 33 years of age. He has also been nominated for the Broyles Award, which honors the nation’s top assistant coach.
He reportedly was chosen over former FBS head coaches Jim McElwain and Butch Jones, as well as assistant coaches Charles Huff (Alabama) and Tee Martin (Tennessee).
Wommack comes to South from Indiana University where he was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach since December 27, 2018. In his first season as coordinator they finished in the top 50 in several categories: 12th defensive touchdowns, T27th fumbles recovered, 34th in 3rd down conversions, 36th in total defense, T38th in 1st downs, 43rd in rush defense, 45th in scoring defense, 46th in pass defense and 48th in pass efficiency defense.
While the 2020 season has been an odd one with some widely different number of games completed, his defense is currently ranked 1st in interceptions, 1st red zone defense (57.9%), T14th in sacks (17 ints, 3 fumble recoveries, and +10 as a team), 17th in pass defense efficiency, 20th in scoring defense, 27th in fewest defensive penalties, T37th in rush defense, 38th in total defense, and 38th in 3rd down defense. This has helped the Hoosiers to a #12 ranking in the College Football Playoff standing.
Prior to Indiana, he served as the Jags defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for two seasons under head coach Joey Jones. When Wommack was hired he was the youngest defensive coordinator in FBS.
During his two seasons at USA the Jags defense was the 13th-most improved scoring defense and rush defense in the nation, and the 5th-most improved nationally in scoring defense while ranking in the top-10 nationally in pass defense. They finished in the top 5 in the Sun Belt in pass defense, pass efficiency defense, tackles for loss, and 3rd down conversion defense. Safety Jeremy Reaves was named the 2017 SBC Defensive player of the year and twice first team all-conference honoree. The 2017 defense allowed 22 or fewer points in regulation in seven of the eight conference games.
Kane grew up around the game. His father Dave Wommack has been a coach since 1981. Dave has been defensive coordinator at Southwest Missouri State, UNLV, Southern Miss, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Arkansas State and Ole Miss.
Kane’s coaching career began as quarterbacks coach at the University of Tennesee-Martin in 2010.
Then in 2011, Wommack served as a graduate assistant on Jack Crowe’s Jacksonville State staff working with the defensive line.
He served on Hugh Freeze’s staff at Ole Miss as a graduate assistant on his father’s, Dave Wommack, defensive staff from 2012-2013. He helped coach the Husky position in his fathers 4-2-5 defense.
Kane then served as the defensive coordinator at Eastern Illinois from 2014-2015 where they ranked 2nd in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring and fourth in takeaways with four defensive players earning all-OVC honors. In his second season there he helped them make a first-round appearance in the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS playoffs and a top-25 ranking prior to joining Joey Jones’ staff at South Alabama.
Coach Wommack will have a short time to assemble his staff as the Early Signing Period starts on December 16. They will have to evaluate the group of players that Campbells staff had recruited and had committed.
Kane and his wife Melissa have three sons, Asher (6), Tatum (4) and Jones (1).
Welcome back to #JagNation Coach Wommack!
One Team, One Goal, Let’s Win!
South Alabama Announces Campbell Will Not Return
It’s was previously reported that it was expected that South Alabama would be making a change at head coach. It has not been confirmed with an official announcement by Director of Athletics Joel Erdmann and the University.
He informed the team at a 2pm team meeting.
University of South Alabama Director of Athletics Joel Erdmann announced Sunday that Steve Campbell will not return as head coach of the Jaguar football program.https://t.co/9Zn1NOiaYp pic.twitter.com/ibhOpFm2gQ
— South Alabama Football (@WeAreSouth_FB) December 6, 2020
In three seasons at South Alabama, Campbell compiled a 9-26 record overall as the head coach. He had one year left on his 4 year contract that was signed in December 2017. Reportedly his $350,000 buyout was paid by a program booster.
It had looked like Campbell had secured his job for one more season after notching the programs first-ever win in Jonesboro, Arkansas against Arkansas State on November 28. However an embarrassing 29-0 shutout at home to in-state rival Troy for the first-ever meeting between the two in brand new, $80 million Hancock Whitney Stadium was too much to overcome. The Jaguars had never been shutout at home and finished the 2020 season 4-7.
The 2019 season his team finished 2-10 with their only FBS win came on a season ending upset of Arkansas State behind a stellar five catch, 144 yard and four touchdown performance by Jalen Tolbert.
Campbell came to South Alabama after a four-year stint at Central Arkansas where he went 33-15 and going 24-3 in the Southland Conference. In each of his last two seasons his teams went to the playoffs but were knocked out in the second round each time.
Prior to UCA, Campbell led Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to an 87-22 record and the 2007 National Junior College Athletic Association national champion during his 10 seasons as the helm.
During his three season stint at Delta State from 1999-2001, his teams posted a 27-8 record including a 14-1 record and the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2000.
Until his time at South Alabama Campbell had never finished with a losing record, however his Jaguar teams were continually plagued by poor performing offensive lines, an offense that struggled to score, and a porous defense that slowly improved through his tenure along with longtime defensive coordinator Greg Stewart.
We would like to also thank coach Campbell and his staff for their hard work for the student-athletes, administration, and the University. We wish them and their families the best.
Campbell became only the second head coach in South Alabama football history after Joey Jones’ contract was not renewed after the 2017 season.
The University will look to fill the position quickly with the early signing period begins on December 16.
Dan Parker of the Parker Search Firm is leading the search for the replacement.
Early names being floated or who have expressed interest are Indiana DC and former USA DC Kane Wommack, Tennessee WR coach Tee Martin, Ole Miss OC Jeff Lebby, Alabama RB coach Charles Huff, Alabama DB coach Karl Scott, Notre Dame RB coach/Run Game Coordinator Lance Taylor, and Wofford head coach Josh Conklin.
South Alabama Expected To Move On From Steve Campbell
It’s being reported that South Alabama will be moving on from head football coach Steve Campbell.
There is a team meeting scheduled for 2pm where it is expected he will make the announcement to the team.
In three seasons at South Alabama, Campbell compiled a 9-26 record overall as the head coach.
It had looked like Campbell had secured his job for one more season after notching the programs first-ever win in Jonesboro, Arkansas against Arkansas State on November 28. However an embarrassing 29-0 shutout at home to in-state rival Troy for the first-ever meeting between the two in brand new, $80 million Hancock Whitney Stadium was too much to overcome. The Jaguars had never been shutout at home and finished the 2020 season 4-7.
The 2019 season his team finished 2-10 with their only FBS win came on a season ending upset of Arkansas State behind a stellar five catch, 144 yard and four touchdown performance by Jalen Tolbert.
Campbell came to South Alabama after a four-year stint at Central Arkansas where he went 33-15 and going 24-3 in the Southland Conference. In each of his last two seasons his teams went to the playoffs but were knocked out in the second round each time.
Prior to UCA, Campbell led Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to an 87-22 record and the 2007 National Junior College Athletic Association national champion during his 10 seasons as the helm.
During his three season stint at Delta State from 1999-2001, his teams posted a 27-8 record including a 14-1 record and the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2000.
Until his time at South Alabama Campbell had never finished with a losing record, however his Jaguar teams were continually plagued by poor performing offensive lines, an offense that struggled to score, and a porous defense that slowly improved through his tenure along with longtime defensive coordinator Greg Stewart.
Early names being floated as a replacement are Indiana DC and former USA DC Kane Wommack, Tennessee WR coach Tee Martin, Carolina Panthers RB coach Jeff Nixon, and Alabama RB coach Charles Huff.
South Alabama Falls To Troy In Season Finale 29-0
South Alabama dropped their third consecutive ‘Battle For The Belt’ to Troy 29-0. The Jaguars (4-7, 3-5 Sun Belt Conference) was stymied in the first half, particularly in the second quarter, by the Trojans (5-5, 3-3 SBC).
In the end the “battle” felt more like a flailing or a flogging depending on which side you were on.
Despite coming into the game missing a few players and with a few players banged up, the Jags expected to compete in the game. Missing linebacker Christian Bell, tight end Brandon Crum, and wide receiver Kawaan Baker the Jags were missing some key contributors. But they also had player banged up such as Riley Cole, Desmond Trotter, and backup quarterback Tanner McGee.
It was the first time in program history that the Jags have been held scoreless at home, in either Ladd-Peebles Stadium and in the first season at Hancock Whitney stadium. It’s also the first time in the series that a school has won three consecutive games.
It is only the second time in school history that the Jags have been shut out in a game. The only other time was a 52-0 loss at Georgia Southern that effectively ended Joey Jones’ tenure at head coach.
The first points of the game were not scored until there was 6:02 left in the opening quarter. Troy had converted all five 3rd down attempts prior to the failing to convert on 3rd and goal at the Jaguar 1 yard line. The Trojans settled for a 22 yard field goal for the early 3-0 lead.
It was the second quarter where the Trojans did their most damage and pretty much put the game away.
The Jags opened the second quarter with a punt and Troy converted both 3rd down attempts on the drive and finished the touchdown drive with a 15 yard pass from Gunnar Watson to Khalil McClain to grow their lead to 10-0 with 11:06 left in the second quarter.
After connecting with Jalen Wayne for 11 yards on 3rd down, Trotter would get sacked and fumble the ball which Troy would recover at the Jaguar 28 yard line. Three plays later the Trojans would score again on a 15 yard pass from Watson to Kaylon Geiger with 9:26 left in the first half.
South Alabama drove down to the Troy 37 before facing 4th and 5, instead of letting Diego Gujardo try to match this career long head coach Steve Campbell opted to leave the offense on the field down three scores. Trotter threw low and behind his intended receiver and TJ Harris picked him of on a diving catch to take over at the Troy 32.
Continuing to use their very up-tempo offense, the Trojans marched right down the field gashing the defense. On the eighth and final play of the drive, Watson found Tray Eafford for a 21 yard touchdown pass to go up 24-0 with 3:56 left in first half.
After starting at their own 35 yard line from a kickoff out of bounds, the Jags drove down to the Trojans 36 yard line. Facing 4th and 9, Trotter would hold onto the ball too long and get sacked to turn the ball over on downs at the Troy 44 with only 31 seconds left until halftime.
Yet Troy was still not done.
Watson connected on two quick passes for 12 and 11 yards before calling time out at the Jaguar 33 yard line with 15 seconds left in the half. Then Watson connected with Vidal again but for only 6 yards forcing the Trojans to use their final time out with 10 seconds left. Troy head coach Chip Lindsey opted to kick to try for the points with a 44 yard field goal. Coach Campbell called a time out just prior to the snap, but Evan Legassey went ahead and kicked it, missing it wide right. The following snap he would split the uprights to go up 27-0 with 8 seconds left.
When the teams finally headed to the locker room, Troy had put up 24 points in the quarter.
The second half was mostly just running the clock out for Troy. South Alabama moved the ball better but never could hit paydirt.
The Jags Devin Rockette blocked the only scoring attempt in the second half by the Trojans. However Troy also blocked Jack Brooks punt attempt a short time later. The ball went out of the back of the end zone for the only points in the second half, a safety, for the final score of 29-0.
Desmond Trotter went 15 of 28 for 144 yards and an interception. Freshman Eli Gainey lead the final possession and went 6 of 9 for 38 yards. Redshirt freshman Tanner McGee, who finished out last weeks win was unavailable to play due to a shoulder injury.
Caullin Lacy led the Jaguar rushers, I wouldn’t call it an attack, with 38 yards on four carries. Jared Wilson added 33 on eight carries. Carlos Davis was held to a single yard on four carries.
Jalen Tolbert caught 5 passes for 92 yards and because the first Jaguar to break 1,000 receiving yards in a season, ending the year with 1,085 yards. Jalen Wayne caught four passes for 32 yards.
Jaguar linebacker Riley Cole recorded 10 total tackles in his final game as a Jaguar. In a pre-game ceremony to honor seniors on Senior Day, he was surprised with his official invitation to the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Cole will get to play at Hancock Whitney Stadium once more on January 30.
Gunnar Watson went 34 of 41 for 297 yards and three touchdowns. Kaylon Geiger caught seven passes for 51 yards and a touchdown. Former Blound standout Reggie Todd caught six for 49 yards. Kimani Vidal caught five passes for 29 yards.
Vidal led all rushers with 76 yards on 22 attempts.
Linebacker Carlton Martial, a fellow Mobile native and McGill-Toolen standout, recorded a game-high 14 tackles.
The Trojans won every statistically category. Total yards: 414 to 239. Passing yards: 297 to 182. Rushing Yards: 117 to 57. First downs: 25 to 17. Third down conversions: 10 of 15 to 5 of 15. Sacks: Troy had 5, Jags recorded one sack. Turnovers: Troy recovered two turnovers, the Jags came away with just one. Time of possession: 31:47 to 28:13.
“It got away from us in the second quarter,” head coach Steve Campbell said. “They got on a little run and we had a hard time stopping them. We didn’t generate what we needed to offensively at all.”
“I’m very disappointed in the way it wound up,” Campbell said about ending the season with a loss. “I thought we had gotten over a little bit of a hump, but we didn’t play very well at all today. We didn’t play the way that we needed to, to finish up. We had a chance to finish strong. But I give Troy a ton of respect, they are a good football team. I thought we practiced well this week and the guys worked hard though a bunch of stuff. I thought we would come out and play better than we did today, and we didn’t.”
“It’s an ongoing problem, but it can be either side of the ball,” Jalen Tolbert said. “We should be able to pick each other up when one side is playing off, and today neither side was able to pick it up. Offense nor defense was doing good, it was just a poor performance by us today so we have to get that fixed.”
With the regular season over and the program shifting into post-season mode, there will be talks about the staff.
Through three seasons the Jags are 9-26 under Campbell.
After a 3-2 start the Jags limped to a 1-5 finish. The programs four wins this season came against teams with a cumulative 8-34 record.
Finally Campbell is now 0-3 against Troy which is one of South Alabama’s most competitive recruiting foe in the area. In those three losses, the Trojans have outscored the Jags 104-30 with the closest margin of defeat coming in 2018 in a 38-17 loss.
Campbell has one more season left in his 4 year contract with a buyout of $350,000. Campbell and Athletics Directory Joel Erdmann will be meeting in the coming days, as he always do with coaches at the conclusion of their seasons.
Preview: Troy At South Alabama (Battle for the Belt)
Kickoff: Saturday December 5, 1:00 pm
Venue: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Alabama
TV: ESPN3
Radio: Sports Talk 99.5FM, 96.1 The Rocket, iHeartRadio
The Battle for the Belt.
After having their annual match up, that was scheduled for October 3 postponed due to Covid, the Jaguars (4-6, 3-4 Sun Belt Conference) will finally host the Trojans (4-5, 2-3 SBC) at 1pm on Saturday, December 5.
This Rivalry Game will be played late in the season rather near the beginning of their conference schedules for the first time in this series. This is what many South Alabama fans have wanted for some time. They have felt that, like fellow in state rivals Alabama and Auburn, that South Alabama and Troy should be played at the end of the season. Thanks to Covid, their wish has finally come true.
Well, mostly.
The game was first rescheduled to be December 12 and would have been the ending of the season for both schools. However, again thanks to Covid, Troy will take on Coastal Carolina on December 12 and thus the Battle for the Belt needed a new date, and December 5 was it.
The Jags enter the game after breaking their four game losing streak and getting their first win ever in Jonesboro, Arkansas against the Arkansas State Red Wolves last Saturday. The Jags had to fight down to the last second for the win. They clinched it on a quarterback sack as time expired with the ball inside their own 10 yard line.
The Trojans travel to Mobile in the midst of a three game losing streak. Last Saturday the Trojans were dominated by Appalachian State 47-10 in Boone, North Carolina. They allowed 275 yards rushing and were held to just 106 yards rushing themselves in the loss.
But nothing can get a pair of football rivals up for a game like a rivalry game.
Troy Offense
Troy head coach Chip Lindsey is still searching for his guy at quarterback. Quarterback Gunnar Watson is 152-of-223 passing for 1,584 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions on the season. Last week against App State he went 13-of-20 for 125 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Jacob Free, a 6’5″ 217 pound junior is 79-of-134 for 957 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions on the season. Free last saw action against Georgia Southern on November 7th when he struggled going 21-of-47 with two interceptions. He was unable to play last week due to an illness.
Lindsey was quoted during fall camp saying that their quarterback will be the one who, “can lead the team up and down the field and score.” So its possible that the Trojan may utilize him on Saturday.
On the season Troy is averaging 282.3 yards passing, 102.6 yards rushing, and 384.9 total yards of offense per game. They are scoring an average of 26 points per game, which is a bit un-Troy like.
The leading Trojan runner, true freshman Kimani Vidal, has missed the last two games. Despite that he had 393 yards on 67 attempts for the season with three touchdowns. BJ Smith is behind him with 277 yards on 73 attempts with three touchdowns.
Kaylon Geiger is the favorite receiver with 48 catches and 598 yards on the season with two touchdowns. Reggie Todd and Khalil McClain both have 29 catches and five touchdowns each, they have 380 and 350 yards receiving respectively.
Despite the numbers, Troy can still put points on the board. Especially when you’re talking about a rivalry game with an in-state opponent.
Troy Defense
Overall the Troy defense is allowing 233.7 yards passing, 177.8 yards rushing, 411.4 total yards of offense, and 26.8 points per game.
As previously mentioned, the Trojans allowed 275 yards rushing last week. So defensively they are having trouble stopping the run and the Jags have had problems running the ball in their in games they lost.
Their third down numbers look pretty good too. Defensively opponents are only converting 36% of their 3rd down attempts (48-of-132). The Jaguar offense is converting 40% of their 3rd down attempts (61-of-152) on the season.
The defense is led by linebacker Carlton Martial who has 78 total stops, 40 of them solo, with 7.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and two quarterback hurries. Next in line behind him statistically is fellow linebacker Jayden McDonald, who has 59 total stops, 36 solo, four tackles for loss, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries himself.
On the season, the Trojans have 15 sacks defensively.
Keys to the Game
Offensive Line
Last week the Jaguar offensive line held their own against an Arkansas State defense that, lets face it, is pretty terrible.
The Jaguar offense only netted 99 yards on the ground with Carlos Davis leading the way with 31 yards on 12 carries. So I wouldn’t go out and say it was a great performance by the offensive line, but it was an improvement for sure.
They were able to protect the quarterback and only allowed two sacks (25 over the last 6 games but who’s counting). That protection and the poor secondary play by the Red Wolves allowed the Jags to throw for 387 yards for the game and allowed Jalen Tolbert to set a single game record with 252 yards on 10 catches with three touchdowns.
It was good enough to earn him a helmet sticker on ESPN for his effort.
However that game is now the past and the offensive line will have to do it again this week.
Trotter should be back for the game, but will he be 100% and be mobile? Kawaan Baker seems to have suffered a partially torn MCL and does not look good to play. Brandon Crum, the most prolific pass catcher at tight end, will miss the game due to contact tracing precautions concerning Covid.
Turnovers
The Jags have been pretty good over the last couple of games concerning turnovers.
Turnovers are always big in rivalry games. There’s nothing better at shifting momentum or breathing fresh life into a team than forcing a turnover from a bitter rival.
While the Jags are still negative for the season in turnover margin, they have been +2 in turnover margin for the last two games (+3 in the loss to Georgia State). They need to keep that trend going this week and stay in the positive side of the margin.
And better yet, not giving the ball to the Trojans would be even better.
Scoring Points
The Jags found a way to put points on the board last week.
And it wasn’t field goals either!
Three of the touchdown passes went to Tolbert, the shortest of which was a 37 yard score. The only other passing touchdown went to Kawaan Baker. Tolbert scored on the ground with a designed quarterback run from 2 yards out.
With Crum out and Baker likely missing as well, that could allow Troy to focus more on Tolbert and Jalen Wayne. Could this allow the Jaguar runners to find some space to run?
Prediction
Troy opened at a 1 point favorite and the spread has grown to 4.5 points now.
As mentioned above, Crum will be out and Baker will likely be out. Trotter could have some lingering injury issues as well.
That’s just on offense.
Defensively we don’t know if Riley Cole will play, even though he has indicated that he will be ready come Saturday. But Cole has always been eager to play, but will he be cleared and able to? Christian Bell will probably miss the game as well.
The Jags have lost the last two games to the Trojans and would like nothing else than to end the season with win over their rivals as they are likely not going to get an invite to a bowl game. Plus it would be the second season in a row that the team and coaching staff took some momentum into the off-season with a season ending win.
Could this be a team getting better? Could they improve their win total by TWO games this year? A win just might save Steve Campbell his job too.
I think so! Jags not only cover, but they win outright.
Go Jags!