Know Your Enemy: UAB

<p>Each week, BullsInsider.com catches up with the beat writer who covers the Bulls’ next opponent. This week, we touched base with <a href="https://www.al.com/staff/tony-tsoukalas/">AL.com</a> sports writer Tony Tsoukalas to find out what USF fans should know about UAB. Coming off a loss at Navy, the Bulls are on the road again, at Protective Stadium to take on the Blazers at 3 pm ET Saturday. The game will be televised by ESPN-Plus.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-being-intentionally-vague-here-how-would-you-characterize-or-summarize-uab-s-season">1) Being intentionally vague here, how would you characterize or summarize UAB’s season?</h2> <p><strong><em>TSOUKALAS:</em></strong> Being intentionally blunt here — horrible. Memphis win aside, nothing has gone right for UAB. The Blazers had to sweat out their other two wins against teams that should have been pushovers. UAB had to fire its head coach. In the eyes of most people, that’s a positive highlight of the season. Nevertheless, the program is left without a direction moving forward. The floor is Hell, and UAB has just about reached it. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-what-s-the-status-of-the-blazers-coaching-search-any-chance-alex-mortensen-stays">2) What’s the status of the Blazers’ coaching search? Any chance Alex Mortensen stays?</h2> <p><strong><em>TSOUKALAS:</em></strong> I wouldn’t rule out any head-scratching outcome when it comes to UAB football. That being said, Mortensen seems to be in over his head as a head coach. He’s done an admirable job in his interim role, but his handling of the quarterback position is as good an indication as any that he’s not ready for the full-time role — at least at this level. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="711" src="https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2025/11/18200010/USATSI_27473928-1024x711.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3953174" srcset="https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2025/11/18200010/USATSI_27473928-1024x711.jpg 1024w, https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2025/11/18200010/USATSI_27473928-300x208.jpg 300w, https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2025/11/18200010/USATSI_27473928-768x533.jpg 768w, https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2025/11/18200010/USATSI_27473928-1536x1066.jpg 1536w, https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2025/11/18200010/USATSI_27473928-2048x1422.jpg 2048w, https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2025/11/18200010/USATSI_27473928-50x35.jpg 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nov 1, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UAB Blazers interim head coach Alex Mortensen watches from the sideline as they take on the UConn Huskies at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-how-would-you-describe-quarterback-jalen-kitna-s-game-how-would-you-grade-him-this-season">3) How would you describe quarterback Jalen Kitna’s game? How would you grade him this season?</h2> <p><strong><em>TSOUKALAS:</em></strong> He’s a decent pocket passer. At times this season, I even thought he could be a sneaky candidate to make an NFL team as an undrafted free agent with a few strong showings in front of scouts. That being said, he doesn’t seem to have that clutch gene to get things done when it really matters. </p> <p>Kitna was solid against North Texas in his first full game back from suffering injuries to both shoulders against Florida Atlantic on Oct. 11. He should be able to make some plays against what has been a pretty porous South Florida pass defense. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-who-or-what-else-stands-out-about-uab-s-offense">4) Who or what else stands out about UAB’s offense?</h2> <p><strong><em>TSOUKALAS:</em></strong> UAB has a pair of talented receivers in Iverson Hooks and Brandon Hawkins Jr. Hooks leads the team with 57 receptions for 735 yards and six touchdowns. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound redshirt sophomore should be playing for a Power 4 team next season. Hawkins, a redshirt senior, has been on a recent tear, recording 12 catches for 245 yards and three touchdowns over his last three games. </p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <iframe loading="lazy" title="UAB Football News Conference 11-17-25" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Och9nyECB10?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-who-or-what-stands-out-about-the-blazers-defense">5) Who or what stands out about the Blazers’ defense?</h2> <p><strong><em>TSOUKALAS:</em></strong> Man, this is like picking your favorite dental procedure. Give me Devin Hightower. The Rhode Island transfer leads UAB with 70 tackles. He also has a stop for a loss, an interception and two quarterback hurries. UAB’s defense has been pretty rough, but Hightower has at least provided a measure of reliabilty on a weekly basis. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tsoukalas-bold-prediction-of-how-the-game-will-go">Tsoukalas’ bold prediction of how the game will go:</h2> <p>I’ll go with <em>52-27 South Florida</em>. The Blazers will make some plays on offense, but they won’t come close to keeping up with Alex Golesh’s high-flying offense. </p>