Currently sitting on a record of 2-2, the Jaguars out of Mobile, AL, have found themselves on a bit of a hot streak in 2024 – scoring 135 points in their last two games alone – and it’s due in large part to a combination of talented youth and veteran leadership. Here are four players that every Tiger fan should know ahead of this weekend’s week five matchup of LSU football vs. South Alabama.
LSU football vs. South Alabama: Four players to know on the 2024 Jaguar roster
1. Redshirt Freshman QB Gio Lopez
After scoring 135 total points in their last two games, South Alabama has created quite a name for itself, and it’s almost entirely based on what they’ve been able to do from a scoring perspective.
While the scoring outburst is thanks to an overall group of playmakers, their offensive production can largely been attributed to redshirt freshman quarterback Gio Lopez, who first burst onto the scene as a true freshman in the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl, helping to lead his team to a 59-10 victory over Eastern Michigan.
As it would turn out, this was nowhere near the final version of the Madison, AL, product.
After missing week two with a minor injury, it’s become abundantly clear that this program will only go as far as Lopez will take it. Averaging over 57 points per game with him as the starter, he’s more than secured the lead job as long as he can stay healthy, and he certainly has the stats to back it up.
Amassing 1,014 yards and 11 touchdowns total over just three games, he’s been a star at the group of five level, and up to this point, it looks like he’s only going to get better as the season goes on.
If the LSU defense is looking for any specific aspect of his game that could be taken advantage of, it’s going to need to be his efficiency. Against North Texas in week one, he completed just 26 of his 49 passes, but still managed to throw for 432 yards and three touchdowns.
If the Tiger defensive line can put some pressure on him early in the game, he more than likely can be trusted to throw at least one or two balls into harm’s way. It’s just a matter of whether the purple and gold can make use of those mistakes.
2. Jordan Scruggs
While the Jaguars have come to be known on the national stage primarily for their offense, there’s certainly no shortage of talent on their defense – particularly in the defensive backfield.
Led by a cornerback room that includes redshirt junior transfer Jordan Scruggs and true freshman Amarion Fortenberry, the South Alabama secondary has allowed just three touchdowns through the air in their last three games, and they always seem capable of making a play when their team needs it most.
Having recorded 21 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass defended and an interception for a touchdown, Scruggs is one of the most experienced players on the entire roster, and it’s shown so far through four games in 2024.
The former Washburn, Central Missouri and Hutchinson Community College standout is now making an immediate impact with his latest landing spot, and while quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the LSU passing game will more than likely find their way on Saturday, the 5-foot-11, 176-pound cornerback should at the very least give some form of a challenge throughout the 60 minutes.
3. Fluff Bothwell
It’s not often that you find yourself watching a true freshman dominating at the group of five level, all while standing at an impressive 5-foot-10, 219 pounds, but that’s exactly what we’ve had the pleasure of witnessing in 2024 with South Alabama running back Fluff Bothwell.
In just four total games at the college level, the star freshman out of Oneonta, AL, has already established himself as one of the top running backs in all of college football, amassing 359 yards and six touchdowns on just 37 total carries.
His combination of almost shocking strength and impressive balance has allowed him to catch just about every defense off guard, and for an LSU football team that’s struggled in slowing down opposing running games up to this point in the 2024 season, this could end up being problematic.
Stopping the South Alabama running backs should be priorities number one and two for coach Brian Kelly and his Tigers in this one. Now, it’s just a matter of waiting to find out if that can be enough to at least slow them down.
4. Jaden Voisin
When thinking about the South Alabama defense over the past few years, it’s hard not to at least mention redshirt senior safety Jaden Voisin.
First signing with the program as a part of the class of 2019, the Crestview, FL, product has slowly worked his way up the depth chart and didn’t find his way into a true impact position until his redshirt sophomore season in 2022. As it would turn out, the wait was well worth it, and he’s turned in quite the career as a part of the Jaguars.
With a total of 173 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, 12 passes defended and seven interceptions, he deserves about as much attention as anyone on this Jaguar roster – particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
While the final score in LSU football vs. South Alabama likely won’t be entirely up to the veteran safety, he’s as good as guaranteed to at least make one or two big plays before the final whistle closes things out Saturday evening.
Purple and gold football will return to the field this weekend, as they get set to host high-scoring South Alabama for their final nonconference matchup of the 2024 season. The game will take place at 6:45 p.m. CST in Tiger Stadium and will be available to watch live on SEC Network.
Thank you for reading LSU Glory. For more LSU Glory content, covering all things LSU athletics, follow us on Twitter and Facebook. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at lsuglory.fr@gmail.com or direct message us on our Twitter account. It is thanks to your support that we can continue to grow into one of the fastest-growing and most influential LSU media outlets there is.
