Previewing UAB Football’s Spring Season

UAB tight end Bryce Damous (48) during a game against Georgia on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (photo by Rob Davis)

Photo by: Rob Davis

Previewing UAB Football’s Spring Season

3/18/2024 4:28:00 PM | Football

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team opens year two under the direction of Head Coach Trent Dilfer on Tuesday, March 19, for its first day of spring practice, which culminates on April 6 with the Spring Showcase.

WHAT TO KNOW:

UAB enters spring ball with 81 returners from last year and have added 20 new players who are either transfers or freshmen midyear enrollees (13 transfers, seven freshmen enrollees).
Unlike last season, UAB's offensive line enters the 2024 season with a great deal of returning experience as four of five starters are back, highlighted by center Brady Wilson, tackle Will Parker, tackle/guard Quez Yates and guard Luke Jones. Additionally, Adam Lepkowski and Trey Bedosky return after each started five games last season.
The offensive line has also added depth in the offseason with key transfers JonDarius Morgan (South Carolina) and DJ Jones (Murray State), while expectations are high for a pair of redshirt freshmen in Jordan Hall and Logan Moore.
The Blazers enter spring ball with seven quarterbacks on the roster, led by record-setter Jacob Zeno. Zeno threw for 3,126 yards and 20 touchdowns last year while completing a school record 73.6 percent of his passes which ranked him second nationally in that category.
The quarterback room also includes Landry Lyddy, Harrison Barker, Trace Campbell and Carter Putt, along with newcomers Jalen Kitna and Adrian Posse.
Amare Thomas headlines the returning receivers after setting a freshman school record with 53 receptions in 2023. With Tejhaun Palmer gone to graduation, the coaching staff will be looking for additional players to step up and produce alongside Thomas. At the tight end position, Bryce Damous and Dallas Payne have All-Conference potential and are both back for their senior seasons.
Lee Beebe is UAB's returning leading rusher. With the departure of Jermaine Brown Jr. and with Isaiah Jacobs being sidelined this spring, Beebe looks to seize the lead role, while Lee Witherspoon is another veteran with experience. LSU transfer Armoni Goodwin and redshirt freshman Dylan Peterson will also get carries this spring.
Defensively, UAB looks to make a jump in year two and has built the defense around a bunch of young talent who gained valuable playing experience in 2023. UAB saw 15 true freshmen play in 2023 and 10 of which were on the defensive side of the ball.
On the defensive line, redshirt senior tackle Kevin Penn was a staple in the middle of the lineup last year and will be surrounded by younger players including sophomores Miquon Merriweather and Emmanual Waller, along with redshirt freshmen Eamon Smalls, Jonathan Allen, Tyler Thomas and Guerlens Milfort. Graduate transfer LeDarrius Cox (Ole Miss/Indiana) should also make major contributions in his one and season with the Blazers.
Senior Michael Moore moved from edge rusher to middle linebacker midway through the 2023 and was thriving before a missing the final two games of the season with an injury. He could greatly benefit from a full spring of training and middle linebacker and is poised for a breakout season at linebacker in 2024.
Everett Roussaw Jr. is another player who saw significant playing time as a freshman in 2023 by appearing in every game and starting eight. He had 50 tackles and the sky is the limit for him, making the linebacker unit a potential strength for UAB in 2024.
Seniors Mac McWilliams and Colby Dempsey will enter the spring at the top of the depth chart for the cornerback position and both have been instrumental members of the defense for a few years now. Ricky Lee III, Trey Miles and Jaylyn Ferguson will also be in the mix at CB, while Lee III also played safety for the Blazers down the stretch of 2023 and provides versatility that could be beneficial in 2024.
Senior Ray Thornton III, junior Ike Rowell and sophomore Chris Bracy were three productive players last year at the safety position and UAB has added transfer Sirad Bryant (Georgia Tech) and Adrian Maddox (Alabama State) to help bolster the back of the defense.
Punter Patrick Foley, kicker Jonah Delange and long snapper Caleb Moser are the three specialists on the spring roster.

Season ticket packages for 2024 are on sale now and start as low as $99 in the Family Zone season ticket. The public season ticket remains $180, and Blaze's Corner season tickets are also available for an affordable $120 per seat. Premium seating is available on the West and East side of Protective Stadium, and a limited number of Stadium Club seats remain for $1,100 per seat.

Learn more about football season tickets, parking, and tailgating by clicking here or by contacting the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1. Click here to renew or purchase new season tickets for the 2024 UAB Football season at Protective Stadium.

There are exactly two weeks remaining until the priority seat deadline so fans are encouraged to purchase season tickets by the April 1 deadline to make sure you have the best seats possible at Protective Stadium in 2024.

For more information on the UAB football team, be sure to follow @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.