UAB Fall Camp SNAPSHOT: Day SEven
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - August 9, 2025
UAB Fall Camp Snapshot
One of the biggest UAB football question marks this upcoming season centers on an offensive line that returns just one starter. JonDarius Morgan, who started 12 games last season, is the lone returning starter. Trent Dilfer and the coaching staff also had to create depth through the spring portal.
How much has the offensive line come together in the first two weeks of fall camp? UAB offensive line coach Matt McCants stopped by after practice this week to talk about where his group stands at this point.
On JonDarius Morgan: “Obviously, it starts with him wanting to be good. JD is one of those guys, who maybe he's not the most vocal, but everything is by example. He's the guy that he wants to be good, and it's infectious in the group. He's that type of leader. I would say, when he is the guy that's out there pushing, he's the guy that's out there leading, everybody else follows. He's that guy.
Man, his flexibility is huge. Throughout the course of a game, throughout the course of a season, things can happen that you don't expect and to be able to get a guy who's been on both sides, who can play left and right guard, left and right tackle, is huge. A guy that, you know wherever you put him in, you feel comfortable. It helps you sleep better at night.”
On his overall thoughts about the offensive line thus far: “Encouraged (but) nowhere near where we need to be at. Obviously I think we're trending in the right direction. Every day is a chase for perfection and trying to get these guys to understand that as an offensive lineman, doing the most mundane things over and over again, you have to find joy in it. It's coming together. The biggest thing that I've been proud of our guys is the jelling and the coming together. You think, you go from seven or eight guys in the portal who left or graduated. Now, you have a whole new group to come in, it's hard to get those guys to jell and come together with each other and to play hard for each other. So to be able to see that and see the room come together that's been that's been wonderful to see.”
On coaching a position that is wide open: “I'm thankful because the best part of is to see guys step up and say I want to be that guy, I want to be a part of that five-man rotation. When you got everybody with that mindset, who wants to be that guy, now that competition happens naturally and it just naturally pushes each other to want to do their best. Like I said, I’m still trying to get some people to push their best, fighting for a competition spot, but also still jelling together. That’s the formula that's been really cool to see to come together. Guys are pushing each other while also working together.”
On the spring additions: “I'm so encouraged because those guys are hungry. They have a thirst for knowledge and a thirst to want to be their best. It's been evident since they've been here, it just continues into camp. I just continue to push those guys to be that person every day because obviously, as success happens, a setback happens, motivations change. I try to keep their mindset on what's the most important thing and that's trying to be the best version of yourself and ultimately being a professional at whatever they decide to do. Obviously for us, we pride ourselves on development, on and off the field. Seeing these guys be the best version of themselves, it translates to success on the field.”
On the difference in development in transfer portal players, JUCO players and high school players: “I always go back to myself and me coming from high school, only playing of high school football. Everybody has a different journey and a different path. But once you get here, getting those guys to understand how we do things, how we learn, how we operate, getting those guys to buy into that mindset. That's when the flourish happens. Because if you don't buy in, if you try to do the same things you've always done, and you're not receptive to new things to help you grow, I'm a believer that it cuts off your growth. So getting guys to stay hungry, stay receptive. I think that's been the most important thing. That's why I feel like those guys are gonna be successful.”
On changing lineups in camp: “That goes back to trust, getting those guys to jell with each other and trust the person to your left and to your right. Those combinations, it takes togetherness, it takes want-to, it takes intention. If we're not together on the same page, then accomplishing the things that we want is not gonna happen. So keeping guys understanding like, hey, this guy might be different, I may not agree with this person off the field, but hey, on the field we’ve got to come together because we got a job to do. I think getting guys to work with each, it exposes the things that needs to be exposed so now you can go and work for success the right way in that sense.”