(Photo Credit: Robert McDuffie/USA TODAY Sports)
Key Players Returning:
RB Frank Gore Jr., WR Jakarius Caston, WR Tiaquelin Mims, TE Cole Cavallo, OG John Bolding, OG Gerquan Scott, DE Kristin Booth, DT Quentin Bivens, NT Josh Ratcliff, NT Jalen Williams, LB Swayze Bozeman, LB Averie Habas, LB TQ Newsome, CB Brendan Toles and FS Jay Stanley.
Key Players Departing:
WR Jason Brownlee, OC Briason Mays, OT Paul Gainer Jr., DE Dominic Quewon, LB Daylen Gill, LB Santrell Latham, CB/PR Natrone Brooks, CB Eric Scott, NB Camron Harrell, SS Malik Shorts, PR Natrone Brooks, PK Briggs Bourgeois, and PT Mason Hunt.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: DS MJ Daniels (Ole Miss transfer), WR TyQuan Henderson (Wesson, Mississippi), CB Wildrekus Johnson (Tylertown, Mississippi), DS Sentario Willis (Hazlehurst, Mississippi), WR Javieon Butler (Forest, Mississippi), RB Rodrigues Clark (Memphis transfer), LB Ja’Len Sims (Wesson, Mississippi), DL Elijah Douglas (Pensacola, Florida), EDGE Eric Thomas (Arkansas transfer) and OT Gabe Cavazos (Mississippi State transfer).
2022 Results:
G01 LIBERTY L | 4OT 27-29
G02 @ #15 Miami L 7-30
G03 NORTHWESTERN STATE W 64-10
G04 @ Tulane W 27-24
G05 @ Troy L 10-27
G06 ARKANSAS STATE W 20-19
G07 @ Texas State W 20-14
G08 LOUISIANA W 39-24
G09 GEORGIA STATE L 14-42
G10 @ Coastal Carolina L 23-26
G11 SOUTH ALABAMA L 20-27
G12 @ UL-Monroe W 20-10
BOWL vs. Rice W 38-24
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 7-6 (3rd in SBC East)
Home: 3-3
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 1-0
CUSA: 4-4
Non-CUSA: 3-2
Head Coach: Will Hall
Southern Miss: 10-15
Career: 66-35
Bowls: 1-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Frank Gore Jr. (228 car., 1382 yards, 6.1 avg., 9 TD)
Receiving: Jakarius Caston (31 ret., 446 yards, 14.4 avg., 5 TD)
TD’s Scored: Frank Gore Jr. (9)
Sacks: Quentin Bivens (4.5)
Tackles: Jay Stanley (60)
Interceptions: Jay Stanley (5)
Pass Deflections: Jay Stanley (7)
Tackles For Loss: Averie Habas (12)
Forced Fumbles: Jay Stanley (3)
Kick Returns: Tiaquelin Mims (11 ret., 256 yards, 23.3avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Tiaquelin Mims (5 ret., 54 yards, 10.8 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 8 Billy Wiles (RS SO/TR)
RB: 3 Frank Gore Jr. (JR)
WR: 6 Latreal Jones (SR/TR)
WR: 16 Brandon Hayes (RS SO)
WR: 1 Jakarius Caston (SR/TR)
TE: 33 Cole Cavallo (RS SR)
LT: 51 Briason Mays (RS SR/TR)
LG: 65 Gerquan Scott (RS JR)
OC: 55 Bryce Ramsey (RS JR/TR)
RG: 77 John Bolding (SO)
RT: 64 Kyron Barnes (SO)
KR: 21 Tiaquelin Mims (SO)
PK: 98 Andrew Stein (RS JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 94 Kristin Booth (JR)
NT: 96 Jalen Williams (SR/TR)
DT: 95 Quentin Bivens (SR/TR)
DE: 8 Jalil Clemons (RS JR/TR)
LB: 32 Hayes Maples (RS SR)
LB: 28 Swayze Bozeman (RS SR/TR)
NB: 1 Markel McLaurin (RS JR/TR)
CB: 12 Ques McNeal (JR/TR)
CB: 11 MJ Daniels (JR/TR)
FS: 7 Jay Stanley (SR/TR)
WS: 6 Dylan Lawrence (RS JR/TR)
PR: 21 Tiaquelin Mims (SO)
PT: 30 Bryce Lofton (RS SO/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense:
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/02 ALCORN STATE BRAVES | Southern Miss leads the series 3-0. Golden Eagles won (38-10) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/09 @ Florida State Seminoles | Southern Miss trails the series 8-14-1. The Golden Eagles lost (13-42) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
09/16 TULANE GREEN WAVE | Southern Miss leads the series 24-9. The Golden Eagles won (27-24) last season’s meeting between schools and their last series loss (24-66) was in 2020.
09/23 @ Arkansas State Red Wolves | Southern Miss leads the series 10-2. Last season’s 20-19 win was the first meeting between schools since 2008.
09/30 TEXAS STATE BOBCATS | Southern Miss leads the series 2-1. Last season’s 20-14 win was the first meeting between schools since 2015.
10/07 OLD DOMINION MONARCHS | The series is tied 1-1. The Golden Eagles lost (35-51) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
10/17 @ South Alabama Jaguars | Southern Miss trails the series 0-3. The Golden Eagles lost (20-27) last season’s meeting between schools.
10/28 @ Appalachian State Mountaineers | Southern Miss leads the series 2-0. The Golden Eagles won (21-20) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
11/04 UL-MONROE WARHAWKS | Southern Miss leads the series 5-2. Last season’s 20-10 win was the first meeting between schools since 2018.
11/09 @ Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns | Southern Miss leads the series 41-11-1. Last season’s 39-24 win was the first meeting between schools since 2016.
11/18 @ Mississippi State Bulldogs | Southern Miss trails the series 12-17-1. The Golden Eagles lost (15-38) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/25 TROY TROJANS | Southern Miss leads the series 8-4. The Golden Eagles lost (10-27) last season’s meeting between schools and their last series win (47-42) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 6-2
Non-CUSA: 0-4
Overall: 6-6 (2nd in SBC West)
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