The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers knocked off the South Alabama Jaguars, in overtime, 27-21.
Let’s look at what the top prospects did in this game.
SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS
This was my third time during the 2021 season watching South Alabama in person. That also means that it was my third time seeing their stud wide receiver Jalen Tolbert this season. He didn’t disappoint. Tolbert went over 1000 yards on the season for the third straight year during this game. He made tough catches over the middle and on other plays he made several CCU defenders look silly. Tolbert is great at judging underthrown passes and then making a play on them. He caught 10 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown in this one.
6th-year senior QB Jake Bentley returning to the Jags starting lineup after missing games with a torn MCL. He is still dealing with the injury but is toughing it out. I have never once questioned Bentley’s toughness. As always, Bentley was a fundamental disaster. While you get the occasional glimpse of talent, most of the time you see the same mistakes he has made in college since 2016. Bentley threw two red-zone interceptions and took a near sack on the last play in OT. He finished the game 28/41 for 354 yards passing with 2 TDs and three INTs.
COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS
Redshirt sophomore QB Grayson McCall had an up and down game against South Alabama. The Chants QB was hesitant in the pocket in the first half. Late in the half, McCall got smoked by two South Alabama defenders and had to leave the field. McCall looked much more poised in the second half. He has a big arm and can make the tough throws to the sideline. I love how McCall gets through his reads quickly. McCall finished the game with 235 yards of total offense, two touchdowns, and one interception. If he enters the draft (I don’t think he will), he could be selected on day two, with the potential for more.
Senior wide receiver Jaivon Heiligh was the top receiving target for McCall on the day. The Shrine Bowl commit caught a beautiful ball down the sideline and then ran a beautiful route for a TD catch. Heiligh finished the game with six receptions for 87 yards.
Senior Bowl commitment, TE Isaiah Likely had a quiet day for the Chanticleers. Well, quiet by his standards. Likely caught three passes for 21 yards. I expect he will make a much bigger impact for himself the next time he plays in this stadium.
For the first time this season, I focused on Coastal Carolina guard Trey Carter. The 6’1″ 295-pound senior plays with a nastiness about him. He plays past the whistle and finishes guys. Carter is probably an UDFA type with upside.
Another Shrine Bowl commit, edge rusher Jeffrey Gunter certainly looks the part. He is a physical specimen on the field. Gunter didn’t make much of an impact on the field but he definitely looks the part.
I want to note a player, not on our watchlist. Coastal Carolina senior RB Shermari Jones. The Pensacola, FL ran for 211 yards on 23 carries, including a 75-yard TD run. Jones has good size and showed off some nice bursts in this game. I will go back to the tape on him.