Two Track And Field Members Will Represent USA At NCAA National Championships
Kaitlyn Beans and Renaldo Frechou look to make Jaguar history for the Track and Field teams in their first seasons donning the Jaguar uniforms.
They will travel to Eugene, Oregon this week to compete in the NCAA Division I National Championships with an opportunity to become All-Americans.
Beans is the first individual in school history of the men’s or women’s program to qualify for the national finals in any of the four jumping events: triple jump, long jump, high jump or pole vault. She earned her berth by placing seventh in the women’s triple jump at the East Region Preliminary Championships recently. She is the first-ever Jaguar freshman to advance to the national event.
But to make the story more facinating, Beans never competed in the triple jump before joining the Jaguar team. She was a three-sport start at Brewbaker Technology High School in Montgomery, Alabama.
Her performance in postseason competition has been quite remarkable as she earned the gold medal in the Sun Belt Conference Championships with a jump of 13.19m and set a new school record by more than four-tenths of a meter and topped her personal best by more than seven-tenths of a meter.
Frechou, a sophomore from Paarl, South Africa, set all-time Jaguar records in the men’s hammer throw in his first meet of his Jaguar career at the Jaguar Opener in March. He became the first Jaguar to throw over the 60-meter mark. He would break his own record five more times over the course of the season by routinely improving his marks. He tossed a 64.36m at the regional preliminaries and never finished outside of the top five until the regional competition.
They look to join an elite club of five individuals who have earned All-American honors at South Alabama. David Kimani (2000), Tonny Okello (2006, ’07) and Vincent Rono (2006, ’07) for the men and Adjoke Odumosu (2007) and Lindsay Schwartz (2011, ’12) for the women’s team. If they finish among the top eight in their respective events then they could add their names to that list.
The competition will be held June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon.
Jaguar Pitcher St. John Drafted By Detroit Tigers In 2014 MLB Draft
Locke St. John, a junior from Pell City, AL, was named the SBC Pitcher of the Week on Monday. This is the first for the Jaguars since March 25, 2013. He was selected in the 32nd round of the 2014 MLB First-Year draft on Saturday by the Detroit Tigers. | Photo by: Brad Puckett usajaguars.com
South Alabama’s Locke St. John was selected in the 32nd round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft by the Detroit Tigers on Saturday with the 970th overall pick and one of 22 pitchers taken by the Tigers in their 40 picks.
St. John, a Pell City, Alabama native, finished the season with a 6-3 record for the Jaguars with a 3.24 ERA in 15 starts. He Struck out 52 batters and walked 29 in 97 1/3 innings pitched. He also pitched one complete game and combined for a shutout this season. He finished tied for sixth in the Sun Belt Conference in wins, seventh in ERA (sixth among pitchers) while his number of innings ranked fifth in the conference.
This is the second consecutive season a Jaguar lefty has been drafted after Kyle Bartsch was taken in the seventh round of last years draft.
St. John said he was humbled and that he and his family has some thinking to do. He also said that, “I know this would not be possible without the great teammates and coaches I have at South Alabama.”
St. John is a junior and would have one more season of eligibility left if he returns to the Jaguars for next season.
Jaguar Football Announces Two Road Kickoff Dates This Fall
The University of South Alabama announced kickoff times for their first two road games of the 2014 season.
They will open the season on Saturday, September 6 at Kent State with kickoff scheduled for 1pm CDT and will be broadcast live on ESPN3. This will be the Jaguars second trip to Kent, Ohio and the third time overall they have met on the gridiron. The Jags lost the first game in 2012 in Ohio, then defeated them last season in Mobile.
The Jags will then return home for two games, including their home opener against Mississippi State and their conference opener against Sun Belt newcomer Georgia Southern.
Their next road game will be on September 27 when they travel to Moscow, Idaho to take on the Idaho Vandals in the Kibbie Dome. Kickoff for that game is scheduled for 4pm CDT. This will be the Vandals first season in the Sun Belt as they joined as football-only members.
Kickoff times for all remaining games are still yet to be determined.
Phil Steele Selects League Leading 18 Jaguars To All-Conference Teams
Phil Steele, sportswriter and analyst who releases one of the most popular preseason magazines each season, recently released his preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team with South Alabama well represented.
In all 18 Jaguars made it into his list, which is tops for the conference. The next closest is co-defending conference champion Louisiana-Lafayette with 15, then co-defending champion Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe and Texas State with 13.
Shavarez Smith WR, Wes Saxton TE, Melvin Meggs OG and Aleem Sunanon K all received First-Team selections.
Drew Dearman OG, Chris May OT, Ucambre Williams OT, Maleki Harris LB and Montell Garner CB all received Second-Team selections.
Jay Jones RB, Danny Woodson WR, Jerome McClain DT, Qudarius Ford CB, Terrell Brigham S and TJ. Glover KR received Third-Team selections.
Marvin Shinn WR, Jimmie Gipson LB, and Jesse Kelley DT received Fourth-Team selections.
Last season the Jaguars only had eight selections to Steele’s Preseason team. This season, four of the five starting offensive linemen were selected to either the first or second team. Three players from the secondary were selected and three wide receivers were selected.
If his selections are any indications as to how the Jags may fare against Sun Belt opponents this season, the season looks bright for the Jaguars.
South Alabama opens the 2014 season at Kent State on September 6 and open their home schedule the following week when they host Mississippi State on September 13.
Jag Coaches To Provide Instruction At GoDaddy Bowl Youth Clinic
The GoDaddy Bowl is played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama and typically pits a Sun Belt Conference team against Mid-American Conference team. | photo: godaddybowl.com
The University of South Alabama head coach Joey Jones and his staff will be instructing children from age 5 to 13 in the GoDaddy Bowl’s football clinic on Saturday, June 14 at Mobile Christian School.
The youth clinic will feature instruction by coach Jones’ staff in several areas of the game as well as in proper technique and football safety.
Participants will have the opportunity to take part in all of the drills provided which also includes offensive and defensive positions. It will also include proper blocking techniques, passing and pass-catching techniques as well as many other position-specific drills. They will also learn about the importance of character development and sportsmanship.
Participants must register online and bring the waiver included in the registration process with them to the clinic. Participants should wear cool, comfortable clothing and cleats and other equipment are not required. It is suggested that participants arrive early so things may proceed in a timely manner.
“We are excited to be hosting this event again this year and are looking forward to having coach Jones and his staff back with us,” Kelley Wright, director of ticket sales for the GoDaddy Bowl, told Alabama Media Group. “We had well over 300 kids at this clinic last year and look forward to great participation and attendance again this year.”
For more information visit the GoDaddy Bowl website or click here to go directly to the event page for the telephone number and email address to contact organizers from the GoDaddy Bowl or to register for the clinic.
USA Football Ranked 86th By Orlando Sentinel
Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel ranked South Alabama #86 in his ranking of all 128 FBS teams in the country for 2014.
While the ranking may not seem very high, that is truly a huge statement for a team that just finished their first season as a full FBS member and only the fifth year the football program has been in existence. Heading into last season the Jags were being ranked somewhere in the last five of the FBS teams after their 2-11 season as a FBS transitional team.
He wrote about last years team, breaks down the key losses, returning players, strengths and weaknesses of the team and the outlook for this season. He points to the loss of five defensive starters and Ross Metheny behind center as making it “tough to win enough games to earn one the Sun Belt’s limited bowl invitations”.
Head over to the Orlando Sentinel and read the whole thing for yourself and look at the other teams that they have ranked so far by clicking here.
USA’s Jereme Jones Selected One of 14 for ’14 Freakish Athletes In College Football
Jereme Jones was included in the list of 14 freakish athletes in college football for 2014 by Mike Huguenin on NFL.com. Jones will be a senior in 2014. Photo by John Adams | usajaguars.com
Jereme Jones was selected as 14 for ’14 Most Freakish athletes in college football by Mike Huguenin.
The Jaguar fans were posting this all around on Social Media sites, for good reason. Jereme Jones was named #12 on the list with his 84 receptions and 10 touchdowns over the past two seasons. But little did many know that he was pound-for-pound the strongest guy on the Jaguars team.
According to the article he reportedly is 5’8″, 167-pounds, squats 545 pounds, bench presses 365 pounds and hang cleans 335 pounds. He also has been timed with a 4.48 40-yard dash can vertical jump 37.5 inches and broad jump 10’1″. He reportedly only has 7.5% body fat too.
But what they did not note was his consecutive games with a pass-reception streak is currently sitting at 39-consecutive games and also his ability to make some amazing catches. Jereme has the heart of a Jaguar with the hands that seemingly are coated with stickum spray.
Jones is in good company with players from Arizona State, Oregon, Iowa, Florida State, Northwestern, Georgia, East Carolina, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Syracuse, Auburn, Baylor and Louisville.
Congratulations Jereme! I know all of the Jaguar fans look forward to see what you do your senior season.
Head over to NFL.com and read the article for yourself. Click here for the link directly to the page.
Former Jaguar Campbell Earns All-American Honors For Second Consecutive Season
Hannah Campbell, selected third overall in the 2014 National Pro Fastpitch Draft is finished second in the nation in ERA and led the Jaguar pitching staff to a 1.29 ERA which was tops in the Nation. She is the first Jaguar student-athlete and first female in school history to be drafted professionally. | usajaguars.com
Former USA Softball pitcher Hannah Campbell earned All-American honors for the second consecutive season by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Campbell, a native of Satsuma, Alabama, is the Jaguars first and only All-American. She was named to the third team after her performance this season after being named to the second-team last season as an at-large selection. She was also an All-South Region selection in each of her four years with the Jaguars, three of those years she was named to the first team.
She finished the season with a 0.95 ERA, the program’s single-season best, and currently ranks second in the NCAA. She led the Jaguars pitching staff to the top ERA in the nation with a 1.29 combined mark. She allowed only 0.76 walks per seven innings this season, another program best and the third best mark in the NCAA.
In addition to being named a top-25 finalist for the 2014 Collegiate Player of the Year award, she was also named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First-Team for the second season in a row after leading the conference in ERA, strikeouts looking, saves, fewest earned runs allowed, fewest walks allowed and fewest home runs allowed.
She went 18-6 on the season with 176 strikeouts, 159 hits and 26 earned runs in 192. 1/3 innings pitched in 2014.
Hannah was drafted third overall in the 2014 National Pro Fastpitch draft by the Akron Races. She was the first-ever Jaguar softball player to make it to the professional level and the first-ever female Jaguar student-athlete to be drafted professionally.
Hannah will also be joined by her twin sister who played for the UAB Blazers collegiately. Like Hannah, she becomes the first-ever UAB softball student-athlete to rise to the professional level. The sisters will play together for the first time since they were at Satsuma High School.
Lannah earned All-Conference USA honors twice in four years with a second-team selection in 2012 and a first-team in 2013. He was also named to the NFCA Mideast Region Second Team in 2013 after leading the conference in saves (6) and led the team with 180 strikeouts. She also ranks second in UAB history with an average of 0.86 walks per game andgameseven innings mark this past season.
The Racers won their season opener against the Chicago Bandits last night by a score of 4-0. Neither of the Campbell sisters saw action on the mound.
Jag Football Has Two Honored At SBC Banquet; New Additions To Team Are On Campus
Junior Rush Hendricks was named to the CoSIDA’s Academic All-District team last season and was named the Sun Belt Conference Postgraduate Scholar Athlete of the Year at the SBC Spring Banquet. Photo by John Adams | usajaguars.com
During the Sun Belt Conference Spring Banquet, the Jaguars had a member of the football team and a former member of the team honored last week.
Rush Hendricks was selected as the Sun Belt Conference Postgraduate Scholar Athlete of the Year. The 6’3″, 235-pound tight end from Jay, Florida earned his degree in exercise science earlier this month while graduating with a 4.00 GPA. Last fall he was voted to the first-team CoSIDA All Academic All-District IV team and has been twice named to the Sun Belt Commissioner’s List.
He was ranked among the team leaders in special teams tackles with six, two of which came against Kent State in the Jaguars homecoming win where he also caught a pass. He has lettered three times while playing tight end and on special teams since joining the team in 2010.
Hendricks will enroll in the physical therapy program this fall and has one season of eligibility remaining.
Ross Metheny was selected to be a representative on the Leadership Team after he earned second-team All-Conference honors in the fall after leading the team to a 6-6 record overall and a 4-3 record in conference play as the teams quarterback in the schools first season as a full member of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision.
Metheny, a native of Stephens City, Virginia, received his master’s degree in education leadership with a 4.00 GPA earlier this month. He ranked in the top 10 in the conference in total offense, passing yards per game, pass efficiency rating and rushing yards per game.
He was also voted as the Jaguar Male Student-Athlete of the Year after his second season as a Jaguar and after his final season of eligibility.
New Additions On Campus
In other news about the football program. A number of junior college transfers and an incoming freshman are reportedly now on campus.
Defensive tackles Bryson Johnson and Dondre Chanet are now on campus. Johnson was listed at 6’4″, 295-pounds with a 4.8 40-yard dash. Chanet is listed at 6’2″, 304-pounds. Both come in to help replace a number of defensive linemen who graduated after five years with the Jaguars.
UL-Lafayette Set To Host Baseball Regional
Coming off of winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns have earned a top ranking in the polls for the first time in program history and will host the Lafayette Regional in their quest to get to the College World Series.
The Cajuns (53-7) earned their first-ever top ranking in the Baseball America and USA Today polls and regained their top ranking in the Collegiate Baseball ranking, which they held for three weeks earlier this season.
Lafayette holds the national best record and the longest winning streak as they head into the NCAA Tournament with 10 games. Sophomore Blake Trahan was named the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player and was named as one of six Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week. His home run against UT-Arlington in the championship game of the SBC Tournament gave the Cajuns a 6-5 win. In the past four games he has gone 7-for-11 with a home run, a double, two triples and 5 RBI.
The Cajuns will open play on Friday, May 30 at 7:00pm against #4 seed Jackson State. They will then face the winner of #2 seed Mississippi State and #3 seed San Diego State who will play at 2:30pm on Friday, May 30.