MOBILE, Alabama - Joey Jones never tires of the sight of seeing one of his South Alabama players wearing the No. 5 jersey. And he never fails to acknowledge why that particular number holds such importance to the Jaguars' program.

The Oneonta native, who played for Jones at Birmingham Southern College, then followed Jones to Mobile when Jones was named South Alabama's head coach, was "like a son'' to Jones. To his teammates on the Jags' first-ever football team in 2009, Mostella was the ultimate teammate and leader, a player they respected, not just for his play on the field, but for his character.

When Mostella died in a motorcycle accident on June 13, 2010, just a few weeks before he was to join his teammates for the Jags' second season, what would have been Mostella's senior season, it was a loss felt deeply by the South Alabama program and most deeply by Jones.

To honor Mostella and his impact in the short time he was part of the program, Jones announced prior to the start of the 2010 season that a senior would be selected each season to wear jersey No. 5. The player selected for the honor would be someone who was an unquestioned leader, a player who lived his life and played the game by the highest of standards; someone who lives their lives and plays the game the way Mostella did.

Wednesday night, when the Jags complete their first fall practice in preparation for the 2014 season, Jones will announce the senior selected to wear jersey No. 5 this year, the player who will take on the honor, and equally the responsibility, of what that selection represents.

"I just felt like we needed to remember him in the years going forward,'' Jones said of why the tradition was put in place. "Anthony was a team captain in the very first game. He was a good guy that exemplifies the type of player we need here to be successful at South Alabama. I knew that it would move forward into a really honored award by our players. It has. I'd say it's almost more revered than being captain.''

Linebacker Justin Dunn was selected to wear the jersey number in 2010, with tight end Paul Bennett selected in 2011, running back Brandon Ross in 2012 and receiver Bryant Lavender last season.

"I'm not looking for the most valuable player on the team to win this award,'' Jones said. "That's not what it's about. It's about the inside. Anthony was very competitive and he always had a passion to be great. He always had a smile on his face. I like those qualities. The guy who gets this award every year possesses those qualities.''

If anyone needs a history lesson on Mostella and why continuing to honor his memory is important, they need only ask Jones.

"It started with Anthony and his character and they type of person he was and trying to remember his character and having all of our players trying to strive to be like him, to have those qualities,'' he said. "He was like a son to me. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life is speak at his funeral, because I felt like I had lost a son. But I was very honored to do it for such a great person. He was every bit as advertised. Some people are maybe not quite what they seem, but Anthony was a great person, probably one of the top three or four people I've ever known in my life.''

So when a South Alabama player wearing the No. 5 comes into Jones' field of vision, it stirs a lot of emotions for Jones. Those emotions are felt elsewhere as well.

"I think about his parents,'' Jones said. "By honoring Anthony we're also honoring his parents and his family. When they come back to a game, they know his name and number will be forever remembered. I think it means more for them and to remember the mark that Anthony left on all of us.''