Alabama
Voisin twins playing together for final time at South Alabama in Salute to Veterans Bowl
For as long as they can remember, Jaden and Devin Voisin have been not only teammates, but roommates.
That’s soon to change for the twin brothers on the South Alabama football team, which faces Western Michigan in Saturday’s IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl in Montgomery. Jaden — a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference safety — will suit up for the Jaguars for the final time as a sixth-year senior, while Devin — a starting wide receiver — has one year of eligibility remaining thanks to a knee injury that led to a medical redshirt in 2023.
“Not everyone in this world can do that stuff, and I was blessed to do that for all my years here, so it’s awesome,” Jaden said. “… My parents come to every game, have not have to go to different games. We both grew as men and as football players here, and it’s just a blessing to be here.”
The Voisin twins starred in multiple sports at Crestview High School, winning a state championship in basketball and playing for one in football. They signed with South Alabama in the 2019 recruiting class, and were joined their first two years on the team by older brother Keon, who eventually transferred away and finished his career at West Florida.
Both had fits and starts in their early years at South Alabama, including a knee injury in fall camp that cost Jaden the entire 2020 season. But both blossomed during the 2022 season, with Jaden becoming a starter at safety and Devin one of the team’s top receivers.
Devin caught 64 passes for 867 yards and five touchdowns that season, but had his career sidetracked when he tore his ACL in Week 2 the following year. Following a grueling rehab, he has returned this season to catch 31 passes for 365 yards in 12 games.
Because he missed virtually the entire 2023 season, Devin was able to secure a rare seventh season of eligibility. Asked if he’ll spend that final season at South Alabama, Voisin said that’s the most likely outcome.
“We’re still talking about that,” he said, “but that’s the plan right now, to come back here.”
Jaden Voisin also had a breakout season in 2022, when he 79 tackles, five pass breakups and two interceptions in his first year as a starter. He followed that up with 71 tackles, seven PBUs and a team-high four interceptions in 2023, earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors.
After briefly entering the NCAA transfer portal during the offseason, Jaden has been even better in 2024, totaling 74 tackles, five PBUs and five interceptions. His 11 career interceptions are a South Alabama program record, and he’s on a very short list of Jaguars players to twice earn first-team All-Sun Belt recognition.
“It’s all a salute to my teammates, honestly, and my coaches,” Jaden said. “I could have been somewhere else and my career could have been something different. So it’s honestly a blessing that I was here, and I’m just going to say it’s a salute to them, honestly.”
Assuming he returns to South Alabama, Devin Voisin will be leaned on even more as part of an offense that loses four senior receivers — including All-Sun Belt pick Jamaal Pritchett. Quarterback Gio Lopez did announce Wednesday that he’s planning to return in 2025 rather than explore a possible transfer.
But for the first time in six years, the South Alabama program won’t have multiple Voisins on the roster. Jaden is likely to be in an NFL camp somewhere, while Devin will be preparing for his final college season.
There’s one more game to go, however, as the Jaguars (6-6) take on the Broncos (6-6) at 8 p.m. Saturday at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl. The game will air live via ESPN.
“It’s bittersweet, because I know he (Jaden) will have a chance at the next level which is good thing,” Devin said “But it’s just different because I’m losing my roommate. And then, me and Jaden have been together forever, from all the way through elementary (school) to college. We haven’t really been apart, so it’s gonna be new to both of us.
“It’s gonna be cool. I guess I won’t be known as ‘Twin’ anymore. It’s more like, that’s Devin.”
Alabama
Alabama elections 2026: Who is running for U.S. Senate and House?
Alabama residents will make their choice for U.S. Congress during the May 19 primary, and officials are urging people to vote despite an ever-evolving situation surrounding the state’s congressional maps.
Currently, there are legal disputes surrounding the Congressional districts map in use in Alabama. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in late April on a redistricting case in Louisiana, Alabama asked for the preliminary injunction which barred them from redrawing their maps until 2030 to be lifted, which the courts have granted as of May 11.
Though there’s been some confusion in the face of ongoing legal motions regarding the maps, what is certain is that primary elections will go on as planned despite Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey calling for a special election in August for the affected congressional districts — Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7.
The Northern District Court of Alabama, which originally issued the injunction, still has to reconsider the case. The court asked state officials in a May 12 order to explain the plan for the 2026 elections and to explain how they plan to “ensure that all Alabamians may timely and efficaciously exercise their constitutional right to vote.”
There are two more elections after the primaries this month. On June 16, the state will hold primary runoff elections, and on Nov. 3, the state will host the general election. Additional candidates could come up after the primaries conclude, so once the names are finalized, the ballots may appear differently in November.
The special election in races affected by new congressional maps is currently planned for Aug. 11, though officials — including Ivey — have encouraged all voters to cast their ballots in the regular May 19 primary.
Who’s running for U.S. Senate?
The seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is up for election. Tuberville, who has thrown his hat in the governor’s race, will not be returning to the position, so all candidates listed would be new to the Senate. The other seat is held by U.S. Sen. Katie Britt and won’t be open until her term expires in 2028.
Republican candidates
- Seth Burton
- Dale Shelton Deas Jr.
- Jared Hudson
- Steve Marshall
- Barry Moore
- Rodney Walker
Some names on this list are already serving in federal and Alabama state government positions, with Marshall currently serving as the state’s Attorney General, and Moore currently representing Alabama’s 1st District in the House of Representatives and previously representing the 2nd District. Of the candidates, President Donald Trump has endorsed only one, which is Moore.
Hudson is the only candidate who has attempted to run for another position, albeit unsuccessfully — he ran for sheriff of Jefferson County in 2022, but lost to incumbent Sheriff Mark Pettway.
Democratic candidates
- Dakarai Larriett
- Kyle Sweetser
- Everett Wess
- Mark S. Wheeler II
Who’s running for House of Representatives?
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell is running unopposed in District 7. Voters in every district have candidates from both sides of the aisle to consider.
Considering the special election that is now on the horizon, candidate names may appear differently on ballots in August if different maps are approved. For the May 19 primaries, the following is how candidate names will appear.
District 1 Republican Candidates
- Jerry Carl
- James (Jimmy) Dees
- Rhett Marques
- Joshua McKee
- John Mills
- James Richardson
- Austin Sidwell
District 1 Democratic Candidates
Senate candidate Moore currently holds the District 1 position, so no candidates are incumbents. A few of the candidates in this race have previous political experience. Carl is a former member of the U.S. House and used to represent District 1, with his tenure in office lasting from 2021-25. Marques is a current Alabama State House representative.
District 2 Republican Candidates
District 2 Democratic Candidates
U.S. Rep. Figures currently holds the District 2 position.
District 3 Republican Candidates
District 3 Democratic Candidates
U.S. Rep. Rogers currently holds the District 3 position.
District 4 Republican Candidates
- Robert B. Aderholt
- Tommy Barnes
District 4 Democratic Candidates
- Amanda N. Pusczek
- Shane Weaver
U.S. Rep. Aderholt currently holds the District 4 position. His one Republican opponent, Barnes, has a history in public service, serving as a Colbert County Commissioner.
District 5 Republican Candidates
District 5 Democratic Candidates
- Jeremy Devito
- Candice Dollar Duvieilh
- Andrew Sneed
U.S. Rep. Strong currently holds the District 5 position.
District 6 Republican candidates
District 6 Democratic candidates
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer currently holds the District 6 position.
How do I check my voter registration status?
To vote in the primary election, voters need to have been registered to vote in Alabama for 15 days before the election is scheduled to happen.
To check your registration status, visit vote.gov.
Sarah Clifton covers business for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can reach her at sclifton@montgome.gannett.com or follow her on X @sarahgclifton and TikTok @sarahgclifton. To support her work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
Alabama
‘Maverick Act’ aims to preserve three F-14 Tomcats with restoration in Alabama
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A bipartisan bill is making its way through Washington that would preserve and possibly restore a famous piece of naval aviation history.
The F-14 Tomcat was in service with the Navy for more than 30 years and was famously used in the original “Top Gun” movie.
But when the aircraft retired in 2005, the U.S. government destroyed a majority of the airplanes that were here in the U.S. This made the prospects of the jet returning to the skies next to impossible.
The “Maverick Act” hopes to bring a jet that inspired a generation back to life.
“The Maverick Act got a lot of support,” “It passed the Senate unanimously. It now heads to Congress for a final vote.”
Pensacola Navy veteran Dan McCort can still feel the raw power the F-14 Tomcat brought to naval aviation.
“It was a blast to fly. I gotta tell you I got it,” McCort said. “I love the airplane. I love the missions because it came with a huge mission set.”
The only country in the world flying the jet was Iran. The jets were given to Iran in 1979. But when the government was overthrown, the jets fell into the hands of an anti-American government.
Because of that, when the jet retired in 2006, the U.S. ordered most of the aircraft and its parts be destroyed.
During Operation Epic Fury, American and Israeli pilots destroyed Iran’s entire Air Force, including all the remaining flyable F-14s.
“We had to take them out, but boy that was hard for me to watch,” McCort said.
A bill dubbed the “Maverick Act” was introduced through a bipartisan effort. The legislation would preserve and restore three F-14s sitting in our nation’s boneyard.
“That airplane inspired an entire nation, partly because of the movie, partly because of the times it was hard Cold War, and it represented frankly American air power,” said McCort.
“A fantastic piece of equipment that served our country well,” Congressman Jimmy Patronis said. “But I can’t help but poke fun at it simply because of what Tom Cruise has done with the most recent ‘Top Gun’ movies.”
The bill calls for the Navy to donate the Tomcats to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where they will be restored. If there’s enough spare parts, the bill calls for one of them to be restored to flight status to be flown at airshows across the country.
All of this would be funded by private donors, and not American taxpayers.
“If there’s no taxpayer dollars being used to restore these things then put it on the table,” said Patronis.
McCort says restoring the airplane will cost millions of dollars.
“A foundation that could generate some donations to defer the costs of making this thing fly because it will not be inexpensive,” said McCort. “I believe we’ll pay dividends down the road, both for the museum as well as a recruiting opportunity… as well as a recruiting opportunity for the country in general, and for the Navy frankly.”
Alabama
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