Conference: Sun Belt
Coach Stats
Why should this nominee be considered for the Broyles Award?
Corey has led a defensive unit that is one of the best in the country this season despite losing two starters – one in camp and another just two games into 2022. As a position coach, he had to replace both starters at safety this season including one just two weeks before the season started due to injury. They have responded and are two of the top tacklers on the team this season. As a unit, he has the Jags at or near the top of the conference and in some cases the nation in statistical categories including being in the top five nationally in third down conversion defense and rushing defense. The Jags have held seven opponents to under 100 yards rushing in a game this season including a school record -19 by Arkansas State, while also holding back-to-back opponents to negative rushing yards in a half – Georgia Southern (second half) and Texas State (first half). The team has also held five different opponents to 20 points or less so far this season, including Nicholls (seven), Troy (six), and Arkansas State (three) which were all held to under 10 points. The team is also in the top 50 in passing yards allowed and 18th in scoring defense while replacing several starters on the defensive side of the ball. The team’s two losses have been by a combined five points (one at UCLA, four against Troy).
Coach's Past Performance
Last season the Jags gave up an average of 26.4 points per game and finished 5-7 on the year, while also giving up an average of 146.3 yards rushing (just over 60 yards more than this season). They also gave up an average of 208.4 yards passing the football during the 2021 season, while placing two defensive backs – Keith Gallmon, Jr. and Darrell Luter, Jr. – on the all-conference team and another – Wy’Kevious Thomas – on the honorable mention list. He was named a 2021 Broyles Award nominee after the team allowed the fewest rushing and total offensive yards since the program moved to FBS in 2012 (which will be broken this year). They also matched school records for interceptions with 15 and 25 total takeaways while recording the second-highest sack total in program history in his first season as the defensive coordinator. Prior to joining South Alabama, he coached at Liberty where he helped lead the Flames to a 10-1 record and a top 20 ranking while coaching safeties. Batoon has stops at Hawai’I (2018-19), Florida Atlantic (2017), Ole Miss (2012-16, various roles), Arkansas State (2009-11), Northern Arizona (1998-2008, assistant head coach), Montana (1997), and Central Missouri State (1996).
Team Record and Standings
South Alabama (8-2, 5-1 Sun Belt) West Division Troy (8-2, 5-1) South Alabama (8-2, 5-1) Southern Miss (5-5, 3-3) ULM (4-6, 3-3) Louisiana (5-5, 3-4) Texas State (3-7, 1-5) Arkansas State (3-7, 1-5) East Division Coastal Carolina (9-1, 6-1) James Madison (6-3, 4-2) Marshall (6-4, 3-3) Georgia State (4-6, 3-3) App State (5-5, 2-4) Georgia Southern (5-5, 2-4) Old Dominion (3-7, 2-4) Receiving Votes in AP and Coaches Poll
Team/Unit Stats
3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense (5 / 2 / 0.271) 4th Down Conversion Pct Defense (98 / 11 / 0.800) Defensive TDs (17 / 2 / 2) First Downs Defense (23 / 3 / 174) Fumbles Recovered (41 / 8 / 7) Passes Intercepted (21 / 5 / 11) Passing Yards Allowed (45 / 4 / 210.4) Red Zone Defense (18 / 3 / 0.759) Rushing Defense (5 / 3 / 85.5) Scoring Defense (18 / 3 / 19.3) Team Passing Efficiency Defense (19 / 3 / 116.74) Team Sacks (58 / 10 / 2.30) Team Tackles for Loss (31 / 6 / 6.6) Total Defense (12 / 2 / 295.9) Turnover Margin (13 / 2 / 0.80) Turnovers Gained (26 / 7 / 18)
Individual Player Stats
James Miller (linebacker) – 35-23-58 (tkls), 6.5 tfl, 2.5 sacks Trey Kiser (linebacker) – 43-14-57 (tkls), 9.0 tfl, 2.0 sacks, 1 FR Jaden Voisin (safety) – 31-20-51 (tkls), 4.0 tfl, 1 int, 3 pbu, 1 FF, 1 FR Jalen Jordan (safety) – 27-18-45 (tkls), 1 qbh Ke’Shun Brown (linebacker) – 21-13-34 (tkls), 2 int, 1 pbu, 2 FF Yam Banks (defensive back) – 25-8-33 (tkls), 4.5 tfl, 5 int (leads country), 6 pbu, 1 FR CJ Rias (linebacker) – 21-9-30 (tkls), 9 tfl, 4 sacks Darrell Luter, Jr. (cornerback) – 20-9-29 (tkls), 0.5 tfl, 1 int
