The Southern Jaguars start the 2021 season in the spring for the first time in their history. This is a challenge in itself. Still, the expectations remain high to return to the SWAC Championship game and win it for the first time since 2013. Southern beat Jackson St. 34-27 to claim their last SWAC title.
Can Devon Benn Lead Southern to a 2021 SWAC Title?
The 2019 season ended in the SWAC Championship against Alcorn State 39-24. The result probably felt like “Groundhog Day” since the 2018 season ended in the same fashion — against the same team. The ending of the 2020 season is on a “to be continued” for this spring. Alcorn St. has shown its dominance recently, winning four of the last six SWAC titles. Grambling is the only other team to win in that six-year span in 2016 and 2017.
Now, the Southern Jaguars look to take the title this year. And running back Devon Benn has to be part of that. Southern head coach Dawson Odums feels confident about his team heading into the spring. He’s been the head coach since 2012, with a winning record of 58-31. “We have a good culture, a good locker room coming back,” said Odums. “We recruit character. As a staff, we talked about how you can have all the talent in the world, but great coaches find a way to put that talent together and get players to play at a high level.”
Devon Benn Leads the Way
And there’s no doubt Devon Benn is a huge part of bringing the Jaguars back for the third time. Benn was a star running back at John Curtis Christian School in New Orleans — running for 2,734 yards on 346 carries with a 7.9 yard per carry including 36 total touchdowns. His parents keep him in check too. Keeping him focused during the pandemic with a consistent schedule. His father George Benn makes sure of that.
“Eating right, sleeping, keep up with his regular routine of working out. Don’t get lazy. He’s pretty much in the same routine,” said Benn. And make no mistake, coach Odums won’t tolerate any player not putting in 100% every day.
Benn hopes to at least have an opportunity to get a shot in the NFL after the season is over. Right now though, he’s all in for Southern in 2021. Either way, the time for HBCU schools to make a dent in the NFL is way overdue. Playing football in the spring may at first, looked to be an obstacle putting even more of an already challenging process for the HBCU to get respect. In the past, many players came from various HBCU schools to the NFL. Not only was it prevalent — it was highly regarded as a depended pipeline.
HBCU Schools Fight for Recognition
Unfortunately, the struggle to get HBCU players noticed at present is almost non-existent. The college football landscape is currently in a midst of a financial explosion until COVID hit. The virus put an unexpected pause on everything, making the flow of revenue stymied to a certain extent. Obviously, teams like Alabama still came out on top. However, the financial hit and the frustration of teams outside of the Power Five saw the imbalance to becoming a playoff team.
The upstart for the FCS in the spring could be a blessing in disguise. The XFL will not start up again till 2022. Still, the numbers showed fans tuning in for spring ball. This spring beginning is a brand new territory for everyone who’s involved. And make no mistake, the NCAA is curious too. Regardless of what may happen, kickoff is almost a month away. FCS football is the only game in town. Exposure for players in the spring may pay dividends for certain standout players like Devon Benn. Additionally, it’s a chance for HBCU schools to churn in some new viewers and new recruits for 2022 and beyond.
