After Southern started 1-2, Marshall Faulk made a notable change.
He gave senior adviser and longtime HBCU coach Fred McNair offensive play-calling duties after offensive coordinator Ken Merchant initially had that responsibility. After the Jaguars allowed an average of 55.7 yards on kick returns in their 41-10 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Faulk inserted multiple defensive starters to cover kickoffs and punts.
As Southern (3-5, 1-3) continued to fail stringing wins together after a 24-21 road loss to Texas Southern, Faulk was asked whether any more adjustments were made.
“No, we are still the same team,” he said. “The guys that played this Saturday were the same guys that played two Saturdays ago when we beat Prairie View.”
The only adjustment Faulk is looking for now is better execution against Florida A&M (2-6, 1-3) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
Southern is continuously evaluating players who deserve on-field chances. This applies to freshmen, too, as wide receiver Damien Henderson led the team in receiving yards in two consecutive games — 52 yards last game and 115 against Prairie View.
“We’re in the business of playing the best players available,” Faulk said. “When they show in their reps that they get it, that they’re ready to take that step forward, as you see on offense, we’re not afraid to play young guys here. We’re gonna play the best talent. I don’t care if you’re a senior, junior, freshman. I don’t care what that is. That doesn’t mean anything to us.”
One of the players that Southern has entrusted with more playing time is freshman linebacker Hunter Schnakenberg. He’s been inserted as a starter next to junior Tay James, who is fourth in the SWAC with 59 tackles, for the last three games. Faulk said Schnakenberg fills the role Herman Brister held earlier in the season after defensive coordinator Toddy Lyght moved Brister back to his natural position of safety.
Schnakenberg was a logical decision because he not only impressed in games but also has played for Lyght, who was his defensive coordinator at Orange Lutheran High School in California.
“Hunter played in the same defense in high school,” Faulk said Schnakenberg recorded seven tackles against Texas Southern. “There’s some familiarity with it. He has a level of comfort with the defense, and I think that’s helped him to accelerate and to make plays and to be better than, let’s say, most freshmen would in a defense.”
In the latest loss, Southern wasn’t able to force any turnovers after having four takeaways in the 28-14 win over Prairie View.
The team has placed a greater emphasis on defenders trying to dislodge the football from ball carriers during practice. Schnakenberg said it has already led to some results.
“We’ve been doing drills where we punch the ball out,” Schnakenberg said. “I’ve seen it translate into our competition periods, where I’ve seen a whole bunch of our teammates going for the ball and getting it out.”
Southern is last in the SWAC with just two forced fumbles.
The Jaguars also reviewed film of its last defensive possession against Texas Southern. The Tigers marched down the field with a 10-play, 53-yard drive that set up a 46-yard game-winning field goal. Faulk said there were moments Southern could have regained possession to at least force overtime.
“We were like, ‘Here’s where you’re supposed to be,’ ” Faulk said. “You could see it in their face. It hurts them, but also we wanted to make sure that it hardens them to do the right thing.”
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