Former Fairhope High School quarterback Caden Creel is making the most of his opportunity at Jacksonville State, starting the past two games and helping the Gamecocks climb to the top of the Conference USA standings.

Since stepping into the starting role in the middle of the Southern Miss game at the end of September, Creel has led Jacksonville State to back-to-back conference victories and a 2-0 record in his starts. The Gamecocks dropped Creel's debut against the Golden Eagles but rebounded with a 29-27 win over Sam Houston State and a 38-25 victory over Delaware.

In his first career start and win, the redshirt sophomore showcased his dual-threat ability against Sam Houston State by driving the Gamecocks into field-goal range in the final 47 seconds, setting up a walk-off winner. Over the past three games, Creel has passed for 354 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 350 yards and another pair of scores.

"It was pretty cool," Creel said in a press conference just a few days removed from his first start and win. "I wish that it didn't have to come down to that (the field goal). I think if we execute a little better it shouldn't have. But it was pretty cool to get that win, in that moment."

Despite being a first-team all-state selection by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 2022, Creel was unranked coming out of high school and held only three scholarship offers — just two from Division I programs. Now, the former Pirate is proving himself on the FBS stage, helping Jacksonville State open 3-0 in Conference USA play and emerge as a contender down the stretch.

Creel left the Delaware game late with an arm injury, but head coach Charles Kelly said he believes he will be back soon. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks are preparing to take on the team right behind them at the top of the standings in the coming weeks, Kennesaw State.