2023 UAB Blazers football team

The 2023 UAB Blazers football team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Trent Dilfer, the Blazers compiled an overall record of 4–8 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for eighth in the AAC. UAB played home games at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.

2023 UAB Blazers football
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record4–8 (3–5 AAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorAlex Mortensen (1st season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorSione Ta'ufo'ou (1st season)
Base defenseMultiple 3–4
Home stadiumProtective Stadium
Uniform
2023 American Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 22 SMU y$  8 –0   11 –3  
Tulane y  8 –0   11 –3  
UTSA  7 –1   9 –4  
Memphis  6 –2   10 –3  
South Florida  4 –4   7 –6  
Rice  4 –4   6 –7  
Navy  4 –4   5 –7  
North Texas  3 –5   5 –7  
UAB  3 –5   4 –8  
Florida Atlantic  3 –5   4 –8  
Charlotte  2 –6   3 –9  
Tulsa  2 –6   4 –8  
Temple  1 –7   3 –9  
East Carolina  1 –7   2 –10  
Championship: SMU 26, Tulane 14
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Offseason

NFL Departures
Main article: 2023 NFL draft

One Blazer was selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Player Position Team Round Pick
DeWayne McBride RB Minnesota Vikings 7 222

Outgoing Transfers
Player Position Destination
Antwan Massie CB Unknown
Maleak Bryant TE LIU
Mike York TE Valparaiso
Dylan Hopkins QB New Mexico
Dylan Mehrota QB Southern
Quincy McGee IOL Ole Miss
Tyetus Smith-Lindsey RB Nicholls
Brody Dalton TE Troy
Damon Stewart QB Alabama State
Codey Martin CB Lamar
Charles Daniels LB Unknown
Xavier Lanier CB Tulsa
Jordan Palmer WR Unknown
Jaylen Key S Alabama
A.J. Gates RB Alabama State
Kybo Jamerson LB Lamar

Incoming Transfers
Player Position Previous Team
Armani Diamond CB Auburn
Brian Mayes CB Incarnate Word
Landry Lyddy QB Louisiana Tech
Dazalin Worsham WR Auburn
Malachi Holt-Bennett WR Indiana
James Smyre LB Marshall
Will Parker OT Tennessee
Brandon Buckhaulter WR Ole Miss
Antavious Woody IOL Florida State
Andrew Ogletree DL Alabama State

[1][2]

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 317:00 p.m. North Carolina A&T*
ESPN+W 35–6 25,363
September 95:00 p.m.at Georgia Southern*
  • Allen E. Paulson Stadium
  • Statesboro, GA
ESPN+L 35–4920,103
September 166:00 p.m.Louisiana*
  • Protective Stadium
  • Birmingham, AL
ESPN+L 21–4121,673
September 236:30 p.m.at No. 1 Georgia*
ESPN2L 21–4992,746
September 3011:00 a.m.at Tulane
 ESPN2 L 23–35 20,102
October 73:00 p.m.South Florida
  • Protective Stadium
  • Birmingham, AL
ESPN2 W 56–35 23,792
October 147:00 p.m.at UTSA
ESPNUL 20–41 23,582
October 2111:00 a.m.Memphis
  • Protective Stadium
  • Birmingham, AL
 ESPN2 L 21–45 20,269
November 42:00 p.m.Florida Atlantic
  • Protective Stadium
  • Birmingham, AL
ESPN+W 45–42 20,676
November 112:30 p.m.at Navy
CBSSNL 6–31 29,078
November 182:00 p.m.Temple
  • Protective Stadium
  • Birmingham, AL
ESPN+W 34–24 17,486
November 251:00 p.m.at North Texas
ESPN+ L 42–45 14,628

[3]

Game summaries

Louisiana
See also: 2023 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team
Pregame lineOver/under
UAB –259.5
Game Three – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (1–1) at UAB Blazers (1–1) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Louisiana 0 24 10741
UAB 0 0 31821

at Protective Stadium • Birmingham, Alabama

  • Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Wind: W 3 MPH
  • Game attendance: 21,673
  • Referee: Trennis Livingston
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): James Westling (play-by-play) and Doc Holiday (analyst)
Game information
First quarter

No scoring plays

Second quarter
  • (9:11) LA – Jacob Kibodi 30-yard rush (Kenneth Almendares kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 59 yards, 1:05; Louisiana 7–0)
  • (5:35) LA – Zeon Chriss 80-yard rush (Kenneth Almendares kick) (Drive: 1 play, 80 yards, 0:16; Louisiana 14–0)
  • (1:06) LA – Zeon Chriss 6-yard rush (Kenneth Almendares kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:02; Louisiana 21–0)
  • (0:00) LA – Kenneth Almendares 46-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, -7 yards, 0:47; Louisiana 24–0)
Third quarter
  • (5:46) LA – Kenneth Almendares 37-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 3:56; Louisiana 27–0)
  • (2:09) UAB – Matt Quinn 41-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards, 3:32; Louisiana 27–3)
  • (1:02) LA – Terrance Carter 11-yard pass from Zeon Chriss (Kenneth Almendares kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:07; Louisiana 34–3)
Fourth quarter
  • (7:11) LA – Elijah Davis 2-yard rush (Kenneth Almendares kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 7:39; Louisiana 41–3)
  • (4:10) UAB – Jacob Zeno 2-yard rush (two-point pass conversion attempt failed) (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:01; Louisiana 41–9)
  • (1:33) UAB – Lee Beebe 1-yard rush (two-point pass conversion attempt failed) (Drive: 2 plays, 4 yards, 0:49; Louisiana 41–15)
  • (0:10) UAB – Samario Rudolph 17-yard pass from Jacob Zeno (two-point pass conversion attempt failed) (Drive: 7 plays, 28 yards, 1:14; Louisiana 41–21)
StatisticsULLUAB
First downs2221
Total yards64–51373–396
Rushing yards40–30535–116
Passing yards208280
Passing: Comp–Att–Int16–24–127–38–2
Time of possession29:0530:55
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LouisianaPassingZeon Chriss14/20, 174 yards, TD
RushingJacob Kibodi7 carries, 108 yards, TD
ReceivingHarvey Broussard3 receptions, 65 yards
UABPassingJacob Zeno27/38, 280 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingJacob Zeno17 carries, 52 yards, TD
ReceivingSemario Rudolph8 receptions, 66 yards, TD

at No. 1 Georgia
See also: 2023 Georgia Bulldogs football team
Game Four – UAB Blazers (1–2) at No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (3–0) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
UAB 0 14 0721
No. 1 Georgia 7 21 14749

at Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia

Game information
First quarter
  • (12:04) UGA – Arian Smith 12-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:51; Georgia 7–0)
Second quarter
  • (14:09) UAB – Bryce Damous 16-yard pass from Jacob Zeno (Matt Quinn kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 36 yards, 0:52; Tied 7–7)
  • (10:00) UGA – Daijun Edwards 4-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 4:04; Georgia 14–7)
  • (2:40) UGA – Brock Bowers 41-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 92 yards, 2:32; Georgia 21–7)
  • (1:46) UAB – Daijun Edwards 3-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 25 yards, 1:02; Georgia 28–7)
  • (0:08) UAB – Amare Thomas 2-yard pass from Jacob Zeno (Matt Quinn kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 70 yards, 1:12; Georgia 28–14)
Third quarter
  • (9:06) UGA – Carson Beck 1-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 59 yards, 4:38; Georgia 35-14)
  • (5:38) UGA – Brock Bowers 10-yard pass from Carson Beck (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 61 yards, 2:14; Georgia 42–14)
Fourth quarter
  • (9:05) UGA – Sevaughn Clark 7-yard run (Peyton Woodring kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:44; Georgia 49–14)
  • (6:08) UAB – Jacob Zeno 3-yard run (Matt Quinn kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:57; Georgia 49–21)
StatisticsUABUGA
First downs2031
Total yards77–33676–582
Rushing yards26–8636–188
Passing yards250394
Passing: Comp–Att–Int32–51–128–40–1
Time of possession25:3534:25
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UABPassingJacob Zeno32/51, 250 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingIsaiah Jacobs10 carries, 27 yards
ReceivingAmare Thomas9 receptions, 60 yards, TD
GeorgiaPassingCarson Beck22/32, 338 yards, 3 TD
RushingDaijun Edwards12 carries, 66 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingBrock Bowers9 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TD

at Tulane
See also: 2023 Tulane Green Wave football team
Game Five – UAB Blazers (1–3) at Tulane Green Wave (3–1) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Blazers 3 17 0323
Green Wave 7 7 14735

at Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, LA

  • Date: September 30, 2023
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 85 °F (29 °C) • Wind: NE 14 mph
  • Game attendance: 20,102
  • Referee: Luke Richmond
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (color), Alex Chappell (sideline)
Game information
StatisticsUABTUL
First downs2524
Total yards434448
Rushing yards170264
Passing yards264184
Turnovers12
Time of possession30:0529:55
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UABPassingJacob Zeno27/35, 236 yards
RushingIsaiah Jacobs18 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingAmare Thomas8 receptions, 99 yards
TulanePassingMichael Pratt14/23, 184 yards, 2 TD
RushingMakhi Hughes22 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingLawrence Keys III3 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD

at Navy
See also: 2023 Navy Midshipmen football team
Game Ten – UAB Blazers (3–6) at Navy Midshipmen (3–5) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Blazers 3 3 006
Midshipmen 7 0 32131

at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland

  • Date: November 11th
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 54 °F (12 °C) • Wind: SW at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Clear
  • Game attendance: 29,078
  • Referee: Kevin Randell
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): John Sadack (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst) & Sheehan Stanwick Burch (sideline reporter)
Game information
First quarter
  • (2:49) NAVY – Regis Velez 45-yard pass from Xavier Arline, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 2:34; Navy 7-0)
  • (0:30) UAB – Matt Quinn 37-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 51 yards, 2:19; Navy 7-3)
Second quarter
  • (6:22) UAB – Matt Quinn 29-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 59 yards, 6:25; Navy 7-6)
Third quarter
  • (9:13) NAVY – Nathan Kirkwood 31-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 17 yards, 2:46; Navy 10-6)
Fourth quarter
  • (10:08) NAVY – Daba Fofana 2-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 20 plays, 80 yards, 12:44; Navy 17-6)
  • (4:12) NAVY – Xavier Arline 50-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 5 plays, 86 yards, 2:34; Navy 24-6)
  • (2:03) NAVY – Rayuan Lane 97-yard interception, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 2:09; Navy 31-6)
Statistics UAB Navy
First downs1916
Plays–yards66–32157–363
Rushes–yards30–11547–269
Passing yards20694
Passing: comp–att–int25–36–27–10–1
Time of possession26:4533:15
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UAB PassingJacob Zeno25/36, 206 yards, 2 INT
RushingJermaine Brown, Jr.15 carries, 55 yards
ReceivingBryce Damous1 reception, 42 yards
Navy PassingXavier Arline7/10, 94 yards, TD, INT
RushingXavier Arline19 carries, 109 yards, TD
ReceivingRegis Velez1 reception, 45 yards, TD

References
  1. "2023 UAB Blazers Football Transfers". on3.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  2. "2023 UAB Blazers Football Transfers". 247sports.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  3. "2023 Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved April 26, 2023.


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