The reigning SWAC West Division champions will travel to Pine Bluff to open November this fall.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will host Southern University on Nov. 1 at Simmons Bank Field.
Southern (8-5, 7-1 SWAC in 2024) leaned on its defense to win the SWAC West Division title last year, an honor it clinched against the Golden Lions when they last met in Baton Rouge.
Jackson State defeated Southern 41-13 in the championship game.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Jaguars allowed 23.3 points per game and 300.3 yards per game, which both ranked third in the SWAC.
A year later, Southern returns five of its top six tacklers in pursuit of another shot at the SWAC championship.
Defensive end Ckelby Givens was named SWAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in tackles for loss with 27.5.
He had the second-most sacks with 12. He forced three fumbles and was the team’s third-leading tackler with 73.
The Jaguars will need to rebuild the defensive line around him after losing several others, including Darrius Harry, who was second on the team in tackles for loss with 11.
At linebacker, leading tackler Vincent Paige Jr. returns after amassing 84 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
The Jaguars lost Derrick Williams, the team’s fifth-leading tackler, and will need others to step up alongside Paige.
The top three tacklers among defensive backs all return this fall.
Horacio Johnson made 74 tackles with two interceptions, while Herman Brister III made 62 tackles with two picks. Elijah West didn’t intercept a pass but led the team with 10 breakups.
UAPB (3-9, 2-6) was shut out the last time the Jaguars came to Pine Bluff.
The Golden Lions haven’t scored a touchdown against Southern since 2021.
Southern’s defense has held UAPB to four field goals in the three games since.
While the defense should remain stout as ever, the offseason departures left the Southern offense with work to do.
The Jaguars lost their top two quarterbacks. Noah Bodden and C’Zavian Teasett shared snaps, combining for 2,160 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Both entered the transfer portal, with Teasett transferring to rival Grambling State.
Jalen Woods now eyes the starting job after completing 38 of 66 passes for 541 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions last year.
Southern also signed Jackson State transfer Cam’Ron McCoy and junior college quarterback Jamari Jones.
Southern brings back leading receiver Darren Morris, who caught 37 passes for 434 yards and three touchdowns, and Dupree Fuller, who caught two touchdowns to go with 370 yards.
Southern must replace Bayou Classic MVP Chandler Whitfield, who led the team with four touchdown receptions. The Jaguars’ fourth-leading receiver, Tyler Kirkwood, transferred to Baylor.
The Jaguars must also replace their top two rushers, Kobe Dillon and Kendric Rhymes, who combined for 1,446 yards and eight touchdowns.
CJ Russell is the top returning running back after taking 75 carries for 334 yards and four touchdowns last year. The only other running back to score was Barry Remo, who also returns.
The Southern offense ranked fourth in the SWAC in yards per game last year with 364 but only turned that into 20.9 points per game, which ranked 10th.