BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Ckelby Givens’ first practice as a player this offseason was 10 days ago.
Up until then, the Southern star defensive end was serving as a graduate assistant, primarily assisting defensive line coach Kyle Kramer. Less than two weeks later, Givens was back to what he’s accustomed to at Southern: pressing opposing backfields.
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound edge rusher had a strong season debut in the Jaguars’ 30-17 loss to Alabama State at Legion Field on Saturday. He ended the game with four total tackles and the Jaguars’ only sack.
“I felt great,” he said. “Sadly we didn’t have the outcome that we wanted, but I was just happy to be out there, honestly. Hopefully, next week it’ll end with a (win).”
Givens’ return to Southern for a fifth year was fully set Thursday after being officially added as a plaintiff in the ongoing Louisiana eligibility lawsuit that granted more than 30 athletes a temporary restraining order. His return was monumental for the Jaguars’ ceiling, as he led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in tackles for loss and sacks in 2024 and 2025.
His first appearance Saturday came on third and 10 during Alabama State’s first drive. His next appearance was a third-and-6 play on the next drive, and he showcased the dominance opposing coaches usually game-plan to limit. Givens wrestled around the opposing lineman tasked with blocking him. Before Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body could step into the pocket, Givens tackled his hips.
When asked whether that moment took some weight off him, Givens said he didn’t need it to.
“It really wasn’t any pressure,” the Shreveport native said. “I was just happy to be playing, honestly. And so you know, I had limited reps this week, and so hopefully my reps will go up as I get in more and more shape since I didn’t go too far. Count, but I mean, I don’t think I felt much pressure.”
He said he didn’t feel any rust, and coach Marshall Faulk was pleased with Givens’ performance despite the Jaguars overusing him.
“He played too many plays for me,” Faulk said with a chuckle. “The game started, it started to flow, and things happen, and you watch him make plays. I believe we should have had him on more of a pitch count. I would have liked to have charted that and kind of paid attention to it, but they tempoed us a bit, and it’s hard to get guys in and out when you have that.
“But listen, man, Ckelby is Ckelby. He’s gonna make plays. It only gets better from here.”
When asked how good of football shape he is in, Givens said he feels “good.”
“I mean, he just adds (so) much to the defense,” Southern starting quarterback Christian Johnson said. “In the second half, they started running the ball to his side because he’s a very big pass threat. But you know, there’s a bunch of guys around him too, so it’s great to have him back.”
The Southern defense was stout in the first half when it took a 17-13 lead into the break. In the second half, Alabama State was able to break tackles and hit on some chunk plays on the ground.
Givens expressed confidence in what he and his team will be able to accomplish this season.
“My expectations for myself is just being me, just being Ckelby,” he said. “Just doing what Ckelby does. And for the team, I want to win the championship, of course.”
