All the feel-good vibes of the spring and summer collide with the reality of a muggy
start to fall camp Friday morning in Hattiesburg for the Southern Miss football team.
While
new coach Will Hall has kept it positive as he spoke to fans this summer, this is still a team coming off a 3-7 campaign — one of the four worst seasons for USM in the last 30 years.
There are pieces in place that allow Southern Miss to put a competitive product on the field, but the Golden Eagles have to stay healthy and prove they can be consistent on a weekly basis. The Jay Hopson era featured teams that looked great one week and very mediocre the next.
Hall has delivered a spark in the locker room, backing up his often repeated mantra, “Attitude is everything.” Whether an improved attitude delivers more consistency on the field remains to be seen.
There will be plenty of positions up for grabs in August as the Golden Eagles get ready for the Sept. 4 season opener at South Alabama.
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Left tackle competition at Southern Miss: Hall and
offensive line coach Jeremy Darveau decided to move Tykeem Doss from guard to left tackle in the spring. At first, it seemed like an odd move after Doss played such a key role in paving the way for the ground game.
Hall had good things to say about Doss during the spring, but
West Virginia transfer Briason Mays was brought in to compete at the position.
Mays is a versatile lineman who saw time at center for the Mountaineers, and he will be an experienced option there on the left side. Mays is a 6-foot-3, 300-pounder, while Doss is USM’s largest lineman at 6-5, 379.
Senior Arvin Fletcher has been moved to center, and Hall is confident that Khalique Washington will be a standout at right tackle. At left tackle, we should see an open competition.
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Who is No. 2 at running back for USM?: Frank Gore Jr. showed he can carry the load at running back last season with 121 carries for 708 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games while battling through turf toe.
He’s packed on about 9 pounds to bulk up to 190 pounds on his 5-8 frame, but Gore will need help down the depth chart if Southern Miss is to have a consistent ground game. Dajon Richard, a former South Alabama signee who transferred in from Hinds Community College this summer, may be the guy they look to as the No. 2. Like Gore, he’s bulked up, now standing 5-11, 205 as a complete back who can contribute on all downs.
Darius Maberry showed glimpses in 2020 of the promise he showed out of Clinton High School. He’s a redshirt junior who can do most of what’s needed at running back.
Antavious Willis and Dee Baker are a pair of scatbacks who are hoping to make an impact in some way.
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Slot receiver competition: Da’Quan Bailey-Brown appears to be on schedule to contribute this season after breaking an ankle during the spring, but there are a handful of options that Hall can work with.
Another Hinds transfer, Jakarius Caston, will have a shot to show what he can do this summer, and junior
Demarcus Jones brings some experience to the position after catching 29 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown in 2020.
This also may be a spot where a freshman can take the field early with Chandler Pittman, a very good athlete out of Magee High School, in contention.
Among all the receiver positions, this may the one where the most players have a shot to see playing time.
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Nickleback battle: On defense, the nickel, or “star” as
defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong calls it, may be the most uncertain position to start fall camp.
Senior Tyler Barnes and redshirt junior Tyrek Moody have plenty of experience at the nickel, but former cornerback Cam Harrell is an interesting option at the position.
Harrell has cornerback cover skills, and he’s a strong, physical player.
At this point, any of the three could start the season opener at South Alabama.
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In the running at Jack: The defensive end/linebacker hybrid spot goes by the name of “Jack” in Armstrong’s defense.
Sophomore Averie Habas has experience to his advantage to start fall camp, but Memphis transfer Everitt Cunningham is expected to give him a push and possibly get on the field in pass-rush situations. Redshirt junior Devin Thomas and redshirt freshman Avery White, who will be aiming for a breakout in fall camp, will look to earn snaps in the weeks to come. Freshman Michael Pleas Jr. is a versatile player who also has a shot to factor in here.
Again, at least Armstrong has options to work with. It appears that Hall and his staff have done enough to upgrade depth across the board and give this team a chance to compete in 2021.
Nothing is guaranteed for any of these players in August, and Hall has to hope injuries stay at a minimum.
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