2020 Southern Jaguars football team

The 2020 Southern Jaguars football team represented Southern University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Jaguars were led by eighth-year head coach Dawson Odums and played their home games at Ace W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as members of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

2020 Southern Jaguars football
ConferenceSouthwestern Athletic Conference
DivisionWest Division
Ranking
FCS CoachesNo. 19
Record5–1 (4–1 SWAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumAce W. Mumford Stadium
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 24 Alabama A&M x$   3 0     5 0  
Alabama State   3 2     3 3  
Jackson State   3 2     4 3  
Mississippi Valley State   1 3     1 3  
West Division
Arkansas–Pine Bluff x   4 0     4 1  
Southern   4 1     5 1  
Prairie View A&M*   2 1     2 1  
Texas Southern   1 2     1 2  
Grambling State   0 4     0 4  
Championship: Alabama A&M 40, Arkansas–Pine Bluff 33
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • Note: The SWAC played a spring conference-only schedule (February–May 2021) due to COVID-19 pandemic. Alcorn State opted out of the spring season; all of their scheduled games were counted as forfeit wins for their opponents.
    * – Ineligible for FCS postseason play due to NCAA sanctions.
Rankings from STATS Poll

On July 20, 2020, the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced that it would not play fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included the football program.[1] The conference is formalizing plans to conduct a competitive schedule for football during the 2021 spring semester.

Preseason edit

Recruiting class edit

Reference:[2][3]

US college sports recruiting information for 2020 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40 Commit date
Antonio Smith
Offensive Tackle
Ocala, FL Van Guard HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 305 lb (138 kg) - Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Andre Jones
Defensive End
Ocala, FL Van Guard HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 197 lb (89 kg) - Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Luke Rose
Free Safety
Citra, FL North Marion HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) - Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Ethan Howard
Tight End
Cecilia, LA Cecilia HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 225 lb (102 kg) - Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Carline Davis
Free Safety
Marrero, LA Higgins HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) - Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Tikey Reese
Defensive Tackle
Monroe, LA Neville HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 270 lb (120 kg) - Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Marquis Martin
Defensive End
New Orleans, LA John Curtis HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 240 lb (110 kg) - Feb 5, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Tyquez Hampton
Wide Receiver
El Paso, TX Chapin HS
El Dorado HS
Utah
Coffeyville CC
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 208 lb (94 kg) - Dec 19, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Amauchechukwu Nnaji–Collins
Defensive End
Destrehan, LA
Miami ASA
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) - Dec 19, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Shamar Zaragoza
Wide Receiver
Miami, FL Miami Central HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) - Dec 19, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Derrick Williams
Linebacker
Miami, FL Miami Central HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 215 lb (98 kg) - Dec 19, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Letrelle Johnson
Nose Tackle
Hattiesburg, MS Hattiesburg HS
Southwest Mississippi CC
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 290 lb (130 kg) - Dec 19, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Dakota Masters
Long Snapper
Seminary, MS Seminary HS
Jones CC
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 196 lb (89 kg) - Dec 19, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Ronell Burbank
Defensive Tackle
New Orleans, LA Edna Karr HS
McNeese State
Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) - Dec 19, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPNN/A
Rahem Shorter
Linebacker
Pattison, MS Port Gibson HS
Jones CC
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 196 lb (89 kg) - Dec 19, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Jadyn Landrum
Linebacker
Grand Prairie, TX Bowie HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 220 lb (100 kg) - Dec 19, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A

Preseason polls edit

The SWAC will release their polls in July 2020.

West Division
Predicted finish Team Votes
1
2
3
4
5
East Division
Predicted finish Team Votes
1
2
3
4
5

Preseason all–SWAC teams edit

Schedule edit

The 2020 schedule originally consisted of 5 home, 3 away, and 3 neutral site games in the regular season. The Tigers will travel to SWAC foes Alabama A&M, Alabama State, and Prairie View A&M. The Tigers will play host to SWAC foes Jackson State, Alcorn State, and Arkansas–Pine Bluff. The Tigers will play two neutral site conference games—the Dallas State Fair Showdown against Texas Southern at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX and the Bayou Classic against Grambling State at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA.

Due to the SWAC's postponement of the 2020 football season to spring 2021, games against Florida A&M, Florida Memorial, Morehouse, and Tennessee State were canceled.[4][5][6]

Southern's revised schedule, released by the conference on August 17,[7] will feature six games; 2 home, 3 away, and 1 at a neutral site.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
February 266:00 p.m.at Alabama StateESPN3W 24–215,654
March 61:30 p.m.Arkansas–Pine BluffESPN3L 30–330
March 207:30 p.m.at Texas SouthernAT&TSNW 51–230
March 27Alcorn State
  • A. W. Mumford Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
W 2–0 (forfeit)
April 34:00 p.m.at Jackson StateESPNW 34–1422,000
April 171:30 p.m.vs. Grambling StateNBCSNW 49–711,312
Schedule Source:[8]

Game summaries edit

At Alabama State edit

Southern at Alabama State
1 234Total
Jaguars 7 0710 24
Hornets 0 7140 21
  • Date: February 26, 2021
  • Location: New ASU Stadium
    Montgomery, AL
  • Game start: 6:04 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 26 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,654
  • Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C) • Weather: Mostly Cloudy • Wind: N 8 MPH
  • Referee: Gary Leeper
  • Television network: ESPN3
   
Pregame line Over/under
SOU −7.0 52
Statistics Southern Alabama State
First downs 12 22
Total yards 274 274
Rushing yards 139 125
Passing yards 135 149
Turnovers 3 3
Time of possession 23:44 36:16
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Passing Ladarius Skelton 10/22, 135 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Ladarius Skelton 10 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Gregory Perkins 1 reception, 59 yards, 1 TD
Alabama State Passing Ryan Nettles 16/27, 149 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Ezra Gray 14 carries, 73 yards
Receiving Michael Jefferson 5 receptions, 47 yards, 1 TD

Arkansas–Pine Bluff edit

Arkansas–Pine Bluff at Southern
1 234Total
Golden Lions 3 2370 33
Jaguars 7 7313 30
  • Date: March 6, 2021
  • Location: Ace W. Mumford Stadium
    Baton Rouge, LA
  • Game start: 1:36 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 33 minutes
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: N 12 MPH
  • Referee: Y. N. Meyers
  • Television network: ESPN3
       
Pregame line Over/under
SOU −11.0 56
Statistics Arkansas–Pine Bluff Southern
First downs 20 23
Total yards 411 426
Rushing yards 188 134
Passing yards 223 292
Turnovers 0 4
Time of possession 30:26 29:34
Team Category Player Statistics
Arkansas–Pine Bluff Passing Skyler Perry 22/37, 223 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Skyler Perry 8 carries, 58 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Tyrin Ralph 7 receptions, 86 yards
Southern Passing John Lampley 20/33, 238 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing Jarod Sims 11 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Brandon Hinton 3 receptions, 60 yards

At Texas Southern edit

Southern at Texas Southern
1 234Total
Jaguars 9 141414 51
Tigers 7 709 23
  • Date: March 20, 2021
  • Location: BBVA Stadium
    Houston, TX
  • Game start: 7:30 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 15 minutes
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: ENE 11 MPH
  • Referee: Scott Johnson
  • Television network: AT&T SportsNet
        
Pregame line Over/under
SOU −11.5 57
Statistics Southern Texas Southern
First downs 24 22
Total yards 460 383
Rushing yards 258 102
Passing yards 202 281
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 32:51 27:09
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Passing Ladarius Skelton 11/18, 174 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Ladarius Skelton 14 carries, 71 yards
Receiving Ethan Howard 2 receptions, 56 yards, 2 TDs
Texas Southern Passing Jalen Brown 21/37, 281 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Jacorey Howard 14 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Ke'Lenn Davis 3 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD

At Jackson State edit

Southern at Jackson State
1 234Total
Jaguars 7 10107 34
Tigers 0 707 14
    
Pregame line Over/under
SOU −1.5 59
Statistics Southern Jackson State
First downs 26 16
Total yards 474 309
Rushing yards 294 66
Passing yards 180 243
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 42:49 17:11
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Passing John Lampley 9/14, 116 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Jerodd Sims 17 carries, 79 yards
Receiving Ethan Howard 4 receptions, 54 yards
Jackson State Passing Jalon Jones 17/29, 243 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Tyson Alexander 8 carries, 38 yards
Receiving Daylen Baldwin 3 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD

Vs. Grambling State edit

Grambling State vs. Southern
1 234Total
Tigers 0 070 7
Jaguars 14 14147 49
    
Pregame line Over/under
SOU −14.0 55
Statistics Grambling State Southern
First downs 13 19
Total yards 208 520
Rushing yards 143 232
Passing yards 65 288
Turnovers 0 0
Time of possession 25:51 34:09
Team Category Player Statistics
Grambling State Passing Elijah Walker 9/14, 65 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Lyndemian Brooks 9 carries, 71 yards
Receiving Raylon Richardson 3 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD
Southern Passing John Lampley 8/11, 143 yards, 1 TDs
Rushing Ladarius Skelton 7 carries, 76 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Ethan Howard 5 receptions, 80 yards

References edit

  1. ^ Stephenson, Creg (July 20, 2020). "SWAC becomes latest FCS conference to postpone 2020 football season to spring". AL.com. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  2. ^ "Southern Football adds Nine on Early Signing Day". Southern University. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "Southern Lands Seven New Players to add to 2020 Signing Class". Southern University. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  4. ^ Visser, David (July 21, 2020). "SWAC Suspends Fall Football Season". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Witz, Billy (June 17, 2020). "First Cancellations Emerge for Major College Football". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  6. ^ Kelley, Kevin (June 20, 2020). "Southern to host Florida Memorial in 2020 and 2021". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  7. ^ "SWAC Releases 2021 Spring Football Schedule". swac.org. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "2020 Southern Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved April 10, 2020.