Cam Jefferson’s exuberance at Southwestern Athletic Conference media day belied his experience.
The Southern redshirt junior is grounded, especially by modern standards in the transfer portal era.
His first college football season was under former coach Eric Dooley in 2023. Jefferson became a starting wide receiver under Dooley’s replacement, Terrence Graves. Jefferson is now expected to be a significant contributor for first-year coach Marshall Faulk.
While frequent coaching turnover wasn’t Jefferson’s college dream, he enters the 2026 season with optimism. The Bossier City native and his teammates approach this new season with a renewed joy ahead of the opener against Alabama State on Aug. 29 in Birmingham, Alabama.
“We can’t wait till Aug. 29,” Jefferson said, smiling at SWAC media day on July 15. “We can’t wait till fall camp. Even when we came back for summer, we were excited because it’s a new season. We get to keep playing football. I mean, what’s there not to be excited about?”
The excitement from individual workouts and competitive weight-room sessions will carry over to preseason camp when players report Tuesday. The daily rigor Southern players await won’t start at full throttle on Day 1.
Faulk said at SWAC media day that the early portion of camp will mimic aspects he’s familiar with from his NFL playing days. The first couple of days for players will be unorthodox.
“It sounds crazy, like we’re gonna put them in the pool,” Faulk said. “We’re gonna have them do yoga, make sure that their bodies are ready, excuse my French, to take an ass whooping.”
After those exercises, players will go on the football field with the intent to get in playing shape.
“There’s a conditioning test when they get back,” Faulk said. “You’ve got to run, got to pass that conditioning test every morning. Conditioning is a huge part of this game, especially with where we play. The heat, it wears on you, and that then wears on your mental toughness.”
Faulk also wants to make a decision on his starting quarterback as early as possible. While Faulk said he hates entering camp with a quarterback competition, his hope is to name a starter after the first week of camp.
Southern head coach Marshall Faulk walks up the field during the spring showcase on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Staff photo by Michael Johnson
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
One of the seven signal-callers on the roster who is in strong consideration for the job is Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College transfer Christian Johnson, who joined the program in early June.
The 6-foot, 206-pound junior from Montgomery, Alabama, played in back‑to‑back NJCAA Division I championship games at Hutchinson. As a freshman, he shared quarterback duties and helped the Blue Dragons win the 2024 national title, completing 65 of 112 passes (53.3%) for 983 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions.
Johnson will most likely have to beat out returning senior Ashton Strother, who had the lead in the quarterback battle after spring practice.
In 10 games for Southern last season, the 6-3, 225-pounder from Memphis, Tennessee, completed 89 of 171 passes for 1,111 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. He rushed for 94 yards and four touchdowns on 50 attempts.
While Faulk previously said Strother “looked the part” in the spring, Johnson also possesses valuable traits.
“He’s a kid that not only has the skill set, but he has the confidence and the ability to lead,” Faulk said of Johnson. “You’ve got to have that guy on the field that could lead others and get more out of them than they thought they could.”
Jefferson said he trusts whoever is under center. Presently, returning players are basking in the excitement emanating from the fan base over hiring Faulk.
It’s a byproduct of an almost entirely new coaching staff under Faulk except for Fred McNair, who is a senior adviser after serving as the interim head coach after Graves was fired in the middle of the 2025 season. Faulk brought along other former NFL players and coaches who have seen and done everything Southern players hope to accomplish.
Wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson is already showing Jefferson and the rest of the position group NFL film from his time coaching wide receivers such as Michael Thomas and Devery Henderson when he was the New Orleans Saints wide receivers coach.
Preseason All-SWAC first-team safety Herman Brister is picking the brain of Southern defensive coordinator Todd Lyght, a former Pro Bowler during his 12-year NFL career as a defensive back.
Their resumes not only demand respect but also inspire players entering camp, Brister said.
“For them to come to take their time, to take pay cuts because they all could be doing something else,” Brister said, “but take time to come work with us, to come better us, it means a lot. And you can tell that all the guys have bought in from the time the coaching staff has come in to now.”