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
Conference	Southwestern Athletic Conference
Division	West Division
Ranking
FCS Coaches	No. 19
Record	5–1 (4–1 SWAC)
Head coach	Dawson Odums (8th season)
Home stadium	Ace W. Mumford Stadium
Seasons ← 2019 2021 →

2020 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	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

Recruiting class

Reference:^[2][3]

College recruiting information (2020)
Name	Hometown	School	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
	Recruit 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
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Luke Rose Free Safety	Citra, FL	North Marion HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Ethan Howard Tight End	Cecilia, LA	Cecilia HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Carline Davis Free Safety	Marrero, LA	Higgins HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Tikey Reese Defensive Tackle	Monroe, LA	Neville HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	270 lb (120 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Marquis Martin Defensive End	New Orleans, LA	John Curtis HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	240 lb (110 kg)	-	Feb 5, 2020
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
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
	Recruit 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
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Shamar Zaragoza Wide Receiver	Miami, FL	Miami Central HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	-	Dec 19, 2019
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Derrick Williams Linebacker	Miami, FL	Miami Central HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	-	Dec 19, 2019
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
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
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Dakota Masters Long Snapper	Seminary, MS	Seminary HS Jones CC	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	196 lb (89 kg)	-	Dec 19, 2019
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
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
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Rahem Shorter Linebacker	Pattison, MS	Port Gibson HS Jones CC	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	196 lb (89 kg)	-	Dec 19, 2019
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Jadyn Landrum Linebacker	Grand Prairie, TX	Bowie HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	-	Dec 19, 2019
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:

Preseason polls

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

Offense

Defense

Schedule

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.

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
February 26	6:00 p.m.	at Alabama State	New ASU Stadium Montgomery, AL	ESPN3	W 24–21	5,654
March 6	1:30 p.m.	Arkansas–Pine Bluff	A. W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	ESPN3	L 30–33	0
March 20	7:30 p.m.	at Texas Southern	BBVA Stadium Houston, TX	AT&TSN	W 51–23	0
March 27		Alcorn State	A. W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA		W 2–0 (forfeit)
April 3	4:00 p.m.	at Jackson State	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS (Boombox Classic)	ESPN	W 34–14	22,000
April 17	1:30 p.m.	vs. Grambling State	Independence Stadium Shreveport, LA (Bayou Classic)	NBCSN	W 49–7	11,312
Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Schedule Source:^[8]

Game summaries

At Alabama State

Southern at Alabama State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Jaguars	7	0	7	10	24
Hornets	0	7	14	0	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

   

Scoring summary

1	11:17	SOU	Chase Foster 14-yard interception returned (Cesar Barajas kick) (3 plays, 0 yards, 1:26)	SOU 7–0
2	01:08	ALST	Jeremiah Hixon 32-yard pass from Ryan Nettles (Hunter Hanson kick) (8 plays, 60 yards, 3:48)	TIE 7–7
3	11:45	SOU	Ladarius Skelton 8-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick)br/>(7 play, 45 yards, 3:15)	SOU 14–7
	08:21	ALST	Michael Jefferson 14-yard pass from Ryan Nettles (Hunter Hanson kick) (8 plays, 70 yards, 3:24)	TIE 14–14
	00:15	ALST	Jacory Merritt 1-yard rush (Hunter Hanson kick) (3 plays, 5 yards, 1:22)	ALST 21–14
4	14:20	SOU	Gregory Perkins 59-yard pass from Ladarius Skelton (Cesar Barajas kick) (3 plays, 74 yards, 0:55)	TIE 21–21
	12:20	SOU	Cesar Barajas 41-yard field goal (4 plays, 1 yard, 0:52)	SOU 24–21

See also: 2020 Alabama State Hornets football team

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

Arkansas–Pine Bluff at Southern

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Golden Lions	3	23	7	0	33
Jaguars	7	7	3	13	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

       

Scoring summary

1	12:20	UAPB	Zach Piwniczka 35-yard field goal (8 plays, 37 yards, 2:30)	UAPB 3–0
	01:07	SOU	Jarod Sims 23-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (15 plays, 98 yards, 6:53)	SOU 7–3
2	12:42	UAPB	Skyler Perry 31-yard rush (Zach Piwniczka kick)br/>(3 play, 46 yards, 0:43)	UAPB 10–7
	08:02	SOU	Marquis McClain 13-yard pass from John Lampley (Cesar Barajas kick) (10 plays, 75 yards, 4:40)	SOU 14–10
	05:19	UAPB	Team Safety (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00)	SOU 14–12
	02:38	UAPB	Josh Wilkes 14-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (7 plays, 60 yards, 2:41)	UAPB 19–14
	00:02	UAPB	Harry Ballard III 2-yard pass from Skyler Perry (Zach Piwniczka kick) (8 plays, 76 yards, 1:50)	UAPB 26–14
3	07:08	UABP	Skyler Perry 2-yard rush (Zach Piwniczka kick) (12 play, 70 yards, 5:19)	UAPB 33–14
	00:56	SOU	Cesar Barajas 36-yard field goal (4 plays, 4 yards, 1:26)	UAPB 33–17
4	14:09	SOU	Jamel Byrd 17-yard punt returned (two-point conversion pass attempt failed) (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00)	UAPB 33–23
	07:12	SOU	Jarod Sims 9-yard pass from John Lampley (Cesar Barajas kick) (9 plays, 80 yards, 3:03)	UAPB 33–30

See also: 2020 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team

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

Southern at Texas Southern

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Jaguars	9	14	14	14	51
Tigers	7	7	0	9	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

        

Scoring summary

1	09:14	SOU	Ethan Howard 38-yard pass from Ladarius Skelton (Cesar Barajas kick) (8 plays, 70 yards, 3:21)	SOU 7–0
	08:00	SOU	Team Safety (3 plays, -19 yards, 1:08)	SOU 9–0
	00:26	TXSO	Jacorey Howard 3-yard rush (Richard Garcia III kick)br/>(14 play, 87 yards, 4:57)	SOU 9–7
2	13:32	SOU	Jerodd Sims 22-yard pass from John Lampley (Cesar Barajas kick) (5 plays, 73 yards, 1:43)	SOU 16–7
	02:28	TXSO	Ke'Lenn Davis 54-yard pass from Jalen Brown (Richard Garcia III kick) (5 plays, 76 yards, 1:02)	SOU 16–14
	02:13	SOU	Shykee Thomas 98-yard kickoff returned (Cesar Barajas kick) (0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00)	SOU 23–14
3	10:44	SOU	Jerodd Sims 14-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (7 plays, 73 yards, 4:13)	SOU 30–14
	03:51	SOU	Ethan Howard 18-yard pass from Ladarius Skelton (Cesar Barajas kick) (6 plays, 71 yards, 3:12)	SOU 37–14
4	12:41	TXSO	LaDarius Owens 5-yard rush (two-point conversion pass attempt failed) (7 plays, 76 yards, 2:12)	SOU 37–20
	10:16	SOU	Jerodd Sims 5-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (5 plays, 54 yards, 2:17)	SOU 44–20
	07:01	SOU	Brandon Hinton 6-yard pass from John Lampley (Cesar Barajas kick) (4 plays, 28 yards, 2:11)	SOU 51–20
	04:18	TXSO	Richard Garcia III 34-yard field goal (9 plays, 42 yards, 2:39)	SOU 51–23

See also: 2020 Texas Southern Tigers football team

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

Southern at Jackson State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Jaguars	7	10	10	7	34
Tigers	0	7	0	7	14

• Date: April 3, 2021
• Location: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
  Jackson, MS
• Game start: 4:00 p.m. CDT
• Elapsed time: 3 hours and 7 minutes
• Game attendance: 22,000
• Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: 3 MPH
• Television network: ESPN

    

Scoring summary

1	10:01	SOU	Devon Benn 1-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (11 plays, 70 yards, 4:59)	SOU 7–0
2	12:43	SOU	Cesar Barajas 30-yard field goal (11 plays, 51 yards, 4:54)	SOU 10–0
	06:48	JSU	Daylen Baldwin 75-yard pass from Jalon Jones (Glenn Misiak kick)br/>(1 play, 75 yards, 0:11)	SOU 10–7
	00:08	SOU	Corey Williams 20-yard pass from John Lampley (Cesar Barajas kick) (5 plays, 54 yards, 0:37)	SOU 17–7
3	11:07	SOU	Cesar Barajas 49-yard field goal (7 plays, 28 yards, 3:00)	SOU 20–7
	04:21	SOU	Devon Benn 20-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (9 plays, 93 yards, 4:09)	SOU 27–7
4	14:55	JSU	Corey Reed Jr. 18-yard pass from Jalon Jones (Glenn Misiak kick) (13 plays, 82 yards, 4:26)	SOU 27–14
	11:35	SOU	Ladarius Skelton 2-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (1 play, 2 yards, 0:04)	SOU 34–14

See also: 2020 Jackson State Tigers football team and Boombox Classic

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

Grambling State vs. Southern

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	0	7	0	7
• Jaguars	14	14	14	7	49

• Date: April 17, 2021
• Location: Independence Stadium
  Shreveport, LA
• Game start: 1:30 p.m. CDT
• Elapsed time: 3 hours and 24 minutes
• Game attendance: 11,312
• Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: NNW 11 MPH
• Referee: Y. N. Meyers
• Television network: NBC Sports Network

    

Scoring summary

1	08:48	SOU	Ladarius Skelton 3-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (12 plays, 75 yards, 4:46)	SOU 7–0
	03:01	SOU	Craig Nelson 4-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (10 plays, 57 yards, 4:55)	SOU 14–0
2	11:24	SOU	Travis Tucker 22-yard pass from John Lampley (Cesar Barajas kick)br/>(8 plays, 82 yards, 3:29)	SOU 21–0
	00:11	SOU	Jerodd Sims 1-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (5 plays, 78 yards, 3:11)	SOU 28–0
3	11:40	SOU	Ladarius Skelton 3-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (6 plays, 69 yards, 3:11)	SOU 35–0
	09:01	GRAM	Raylon Richardson 13-yard pass from Elijah Walker (Garrett Urban kick) (7 plays, 75 yards, 2:39)	SOU 35–7
	03:22	SOU	Marquis McClain 5-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (9 plays, 68 yards, 5:33)	SOU 42–7
4	13:46	SOU	Glendon McDaniels 5-yard rush (Cesar Barajas kick) (3 plays, 50 yards, 1:01)	SOU 49–7

See also: 2020 Grambling State Tigers football team and Bayou Classic

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