There was a buzz Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama.
Every coach and player representing a Southwestern Athletic Conference football team shared optimism for the upcoming season at the 2025 SWAC media day inside the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel ballroom.
No games have been played. New rosters forged in the transfer portal still have their luster. Coaching staffs are fresh and ready to enact plans for preseason camp.
Southern football is no different.
The Jaguars, led by second-year coach Terrence Graves, believe they have a championship-quality team. So do their competitors, as Southern was predicted to win the SWAC West and had the most first-place votes (17) in both divisions in the preseason poll.
Here are four takeaways on Southern from SWAC media day.
Lingering sting
The hope Graves has for 2025 is accompanied by lingering pain left from last season's SWAC championship game against Jackson State.
Southern fell 41-13 to the Tigers after turning the ball over four times.
“We just got to finish,” Graves said. “You know the thing that really sticks in my craw, for the most part, is the four turnovers in the championship game. The ball game completely changed.”
Star defensive end Ckelby Givens, who is the preseason SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, said the result gnaws at him, too.
“I know I could’ve played better,” the senior said. “As a defense, we felt we could play better.”
The last game of 2024 is now extra motivation for the team, Givens said.
Breakout for Morris?
While Givens is an exciting returner on defense, the same can be said about wide receiver Darren Morris. The redshirt junior was the leading receiver for the Jaguars with 37 catches for 434 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games.
Morris and Graves both agreed he still hadn't reached his full potential.
“He was banged-up a little bit last year, and we sat down with him and we had a meeting, a heart-to-heart, and told him what he needed to do to, you know, help eliminate those nagging injuries,” Graves said.
The words from Graves and wide receivers coach Quentin Burrell resonated with Morris, who dominated during the spring game and wants to do the same in the regular season.
“I’m ready to go out and just make a name for myself and have that (breakout) year,” Morris said.
His impact also will be determined by his growth as a leader.
“I try to embrace (leadership), but I don’t try to be too hard on the guys,” Morris said. “I just try to hold everybody accountable for their actions and how they approach day-to-day practice."
Wild-card transfer
Southern's transfer portal philosophy is to target needs first and foremost, Graves said.
This offseason, the team had more needs on the defensive line. Rebuilding that position group around Givens was a necessity. One player capable of being an impact player is De'Myrion Johnson.
The redshirt freshman defensive tackle transferred from LSU. The Louisiana product is someone Graves and Southern recruited in high school. They still believe in his talent.
"He's gonna play. Now, how much he plays, he determines that," Graves said.
Challenging home schedule
Southern will open the season a week earlier than the rest of the conference when it plays North Carolina Central in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge in Atlanta on Aug. 23.
Southern's home slate features five games against Alabama State, Jackson State, Prairie View, Florida A&M and Texas Southern.
Four of those teams had .500 or better conference records the previous season. Jackson State, the reigning SWAC champion, was 8-0 last season in conference play and is predicted to finish first in the SWAC East. Florida A&M, which was 5-3 last season, is expected to finish second in the SWAC East.
This is the kind of challenge Graves seeks.
“It reminds me of when I was here back in the 90s,” Graves said. “The stands should be packed and running over every week, having a schedule like that.”
Morris welcomes the strong competition, saying it will make wins even sweeter.
“I love it. I love it,” Morris said. "It’s gonna be a great year.”