On a humid August afternoon in Baton Rouge, Southern University opened its doors to the public for the first scrimmage of the season, drawing a modest crowd to A.W. Mumford Stadium. The event, which ran for roughly 80 minutes, was kept under wraps as coaches experimented with formations and evaluated depth chart candidates.
Quarterback Christian Johnson, a Hutchinson Community College transfer, emerged as the most likely starter, delivering a crisp 17‑yard pass to Daejawn Smith and a 20‑yard scramble that illustrated his dual‑threat capability. Alongside him, fellow signal‑callers Ashton Strother and Wyatt McCauley saw limited snaps, while the offense also featured a rare two‑running‑back set that saw McCauley fake a handoff before breaking for 10 yards.
Key Performances
Freshman running back Deandre Mansfield, a standout from Ouachita High School, capped the scrimmage with a 75‑yard touchdown run that left spectators cheering. At the wide receiver position, junior Malachi Jackson snagged Johnson’s best throw, a 27‑yard pass from the 35‑yard line that highlighted his deep‑ball instincts.
Defensively, the Jaguars showed moments of growth. Freshman linebacker Hunter Schnakenberg generated buzz by deflecting a pass over the middle, while the secondary recorded several pressures. However, the unit was marred by a series of penalties, echoing last year’s discipline issues and leaving coaches with work to do before the opener.
The scrimmage also served as a laboratory for new offensive concepts, including the aforementioned two‑back formation that blended rushing and passing threats. Coach Damien Henderson Jr. praised the team’s effort but warned that consistency would be essential as the schedule progresses.
Looking Ahead
With the season opener looming on August 29, Southern University will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to face Alabama State at 2 p.m. The Jaguars hope the early scrimmage insights — particularly the emergence of Johnson, Mansfield, and Schnakenberg — will translate into a stronger performance on the road.