Southern Football Gives Jag Fans First Look at Faulk's New Team

Legendary RB Marshall Faulk takes over as head coach, with a new-look squad showing promise in spring scrimmage.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:22am

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In their annual 'Spring Showcase,' the Southern University football team gave fans a glimpse of the program under new head coach Marshall Faulk. The Hall of Fame running back has taken over after a disappointing 2-win season, and his squad displayed a dominant defense and an offense finding its rhythm, led by a quarterback competition between Ashton Strother and JUCO transfer Wyatt McCauley.

Why it matters

Southern is one of the top HBCU football programs, and the hiring of Faulk has generated significant excitement and high expectations for the Jaguars to bounce back after a down year. The spring scrimmage provided an early look at the team's potential under Faulk's leadership.

The details

Despite having only a few returning defensive players, Southern's unit still looked strong, forcing turnovers, breaking up passes, and stopping the run. On offense, quarterback Ashton Strother connected with wide receiver Kobe Brown for a 70-yard touchdown, and later found Matthew Berenji in the red zone. Faulk has yet to name a starting QB between Strother and JUCO transfer Wyatt McCauley, saying they both 'deserve' the chance to earn the job.

  • The 'Spring Showcase' scrimmage took place recently.
  • Faulk's first game as Southern's head coach is scheduled for August 29 against Alabama State in Birmingham, Alabama.

The players

Marshall Faulk

NFL Hall of Fame running back who was hired as the new head coach of the Southern University football team.

Ashton Strother

Southern University quarterback competing for the starting job under new head coach Marshall Faulk.

Wyatt McCauley

JUCO transfer quarterback competing for the starting job at Southern University under new head coach Marshall Faulk.

Kobe Brown

Wide receiver for the Southern University football team who caught a 70-yard touchdown pass in the spring scrimmage.

Matthew Berenji

Wide receiver for the Southern University football team who caught a touchdown pass in the red zone during the spring scrimmage.

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What they’re saying

“It's heated right now. They're really in it. They deserve—and they've earned—the right for us to watch the film and give feedback. I don't think it's fair to speak on one or the other, or even both, without watching the film because they're in the battle.”

— Marshall Faulk, Head Coach, Southern University

The takeaway

The spring scrimmage gave Southern fans an early glimpse of the new-look Jaguars under legendary running back Marshall Faulk, who is tasked with reviving the program after a disappointing 2-win season. While the defense looked strong, the offense showed promise with a quarterback competition brewing between Ashton Strother and Wyatt McCauley, setting the stage for an intriguing season opener against Alabama State.