Jacksonville, AL — Jacksonville State head coach Charles Kelly addressed the media this week following the Gamecocks’ homecoming victory over Murray State, reflecting on areas of improvement and previewing this week’s matchup against Southern Miss.
Kelly credited the support of fans, students, and alumni for creating a growing home-field advantage, while emphasizing that his team’s focus remains on consistent improvement rather than just results. “Our focus was on becoming a better team,” he said, noting strides in passing efficiency, defensive tackling, and reducing explosive plays.
The coach acknowledged that penalties remain a concern, calling self-inflicted fouls an area the team must control.
Looking ahead, Kelly described Southern Miss as “by far the best football team we’ve probably seen,” citing the talent they bring from last season’s Sun Belt Championship team at Marshall. He highlighted their strong quarterback, offensive weapons, and an experienced defense with seven returning starters.
Despite the challenge, Kelly said his team’s focus remains internal: “It’s not about the other team. It’s about what we do. We’ve got to get better ourselves.”
The coach also praised the offensive line, which has allowed only three sacks in four games and ranks eighth nationally in rushing yards. He credited offensive line coach Rick Trickett’s leadership and the team’s balanced offensive approach.
On injuries, Kelly confirmed that wide receiver Jeremiah Orr will likely miss the remainder of the season, while AP and Thaxton are nearing returns depending on practice performance.
Quarterback Gavin Woullard’s continued development and transfer wide receiver Caleb Coombs’ impact were also discussed. Both Coombs and linebacker Mac Sanders spoke about the energy of playing in front of Jacksonville State’s home crowd and the importance of details in carrying that success on the road.
Kelly closed by addressing roster building in the transfer portal era, stressing the importance of evaluating character and fit alongside athletic ability.
Jacksonville State will face Southern Miss in its final non-conference test before returning to conference play.
