For the Southern Miss football team to put together a winning season under first-year head coach Will Hall, a long list of players will have to surpass expectations in 2021.
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)][COLOR=var(--lc)]Hall and his staff brought in transfers[/COLOR], both FBS and junior college players, to bolster the depth for a team coming off a 3-7 campaign, and they will be relied on heavily this season.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]Many of those players will be expected to step in immediately as starters or play key roles. There are also plenty of returning players who will look to take advantage of a fresh start under a new staff.
In this list, I identify five Golden Eagles who are most likely to have breakout seasons in Hall’s first season.
Even though they have a good chance of being improved this season, junior receiver Jason Brownlee and [COLOR=var(--lc)]freshman running back Frank Gore Jr.[/COLOR] are not in this group. They’ve already shown they’re capable of leading the way on offense.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]In the spring, I listed five Golden Eagles who showed during practice that they were ready to make an impact this year. You can subtract one player from that group after defensive end Jacques Turner transferred to Louisville. Also, junior receiver Da’Quan Bailey-Brown’s status for the fall is uncertain after breaking an ankle late in March.
However, Bailey-Brown may contribute this season if videos of his summer workouts are a good indicator of where his health stands. It takes a while to get right following a broken ankle, but his recovery appears to be well ahead of schedule.
A healthy Bailey-Brown at slot receiver would be a lift for the passing game.[/COLOR]
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[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]In alphabetical order, these are five Golden Eagles who appear headed for breakout seasons in 2021:
▪ [COLOR=var(--lc)]DaShawn Crawford, defensive tackle[/COLOR] — The senior transfer from Virginia Tech has all the makings of a player who should be a contender for All-Conference USA honors.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]The Bay Springs native had 27 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks as a junior for the Hokies, earning ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week at one point during the 2019 season. He started 11 games.
In 2020, the 6-foot, 290-pound Crawford battled through injuries and played in only eight games.
Crawford, who also held offers from Troy and Arkansas State out of Jones College, is a little undersized, but he has quickness and he’s already shown that he can play on a high level.
With Turner no longer in the fold, Crawford has a shot to step up as USM’s best lineman.
▪ [COLOR=var(--lc)]Everitt Cunningham, defensive end[/COLOR] — A senior transfer from Memphis, Cunningham will be relied on to get to the quarterback this season.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]After putting up 16 sacks in 10 games last year, the Golden Eagles have to do a better job in Austin Armstrong’s first season as defensive coordinator.
Cunningham had 24 tackles and three sacks in 2019 at Memphis. He appeared briefly in four games in 2020 before deciding to transfer.
While his numbers are Memphis aren’t gaudy, he did have a [COLOR=var(--lc)]whopping 13 sacks as a sophomore[/COLOR] at East Mississippi Community College.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]Cunningham will have to put in the work during fall camp after missing spring practice, but he has a shot to make a significant impact in his one season in Hattiesburg.
▪ [COLOR=var(--lc)]Trey Lowe III, sophomore quarterback[/COLOR] — Lowe has some momentum following a strong game in the season finale against FAU and a spring practice that showed he’s ready to build on that performance.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]Against FAU, he threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns while running 16 times for 70 yards and a TD.
For the first time on the high school or college level, Lowe will have a full year of football after he was preoccupied with baseball in the spring at Bolivar (Tenn.) Central High School and WVU.
There was no doubt in the spring as to who was USM’s best option behind center, and a full year of preparation will be to his benefit.
[COLOR=var(--lc)]Former Taylorsville star Ty Keyes[/COLOR] will try to make a case for playing time once fall camp starts, but it’s difficult to see anyone other than Lowe starting the Sept. 4 season opener at South Alabama.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]Many fans see Keyes as the quarterback of the future, but Lowe has a shot to put that on hold.
Hall could decide to put both quarterbacks on the field this season, but he may be reluctant to do so with not much experience on the depth chart.[/COLOR]
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[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]▪ Eric Scott, cornerback — There remains a lot to be determined at cornerback in fall camp, but no corner’s name was mentioned more than Scott’s during spring practice. Armstrong’s defense will feature more man-to-man coverage, and it seems that Scott has made a nice transition into the new scheme.
The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Scott fits the mold of what college coaches want in a corner these days — good length and speed.
Senior Rachuan Mitchell is expected to be ready to go for fall camp after missing all of the 2020 season, and he brings plenty of experience.
If Mitchell, Scott and Natrone Brooks step it up at corner this season, that will go a long way to resolving USM’s inconsistent play in the secondary over the past couple of seasons.
▪ Khalique Washington, offensive tackle — Hall is convinced that Washington will put himself in position to become an NFL Draft pick this season.
The 6-foot-5, 339-pound Washington has switched from left tackle to right, and the coaches raved about his performance during spring practice.
The left tackle spot is a little more uncertain with Tykeem Doss and Briason Mays expected to battle for that starting job, but Washington should have the right side locked down.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)][COLOR=var(--lc)]Hall and his staff brought in transfers[/COLOR], both FBS and junior college players, to bolster the depth for a team coming off a 3-7 campaign, and they will be relied on heavily this season.[/COLOR]
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[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]Many of those players will be expected to step in immediately as starters or play key roles. There are also plenty of returning players who will look to take advantage of a fresh start under a new staff.
In this list, I identify five Golden Eagles who are most likely to have breakout seasons in Hall’s first season.
Even though they have a good chance of being improved this season, junior receiver Jason Brownlee and [COLOR=var(--lc)]freshman running back Frank Gore Jr.[/COLOR] are not in this group. They’ve already shown they’re capable of leading the way on offense.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]In the spring, I listed five Golden Eagles who showed during practice that they were ready to make an impact this year. You can subtract one player from that group after defensive end Jacques Turner transferred to Louisville. Also, junior receiver Da’Quan Bailey-Brown’s status for the fall is uncertain after breaking an ankle late in March.
However, Bailey-Brown may contribute this season if videos of his summer workouts are a good indicator of where his health stands. It takes a while to get right following a broken ankle, but his recovery appears to be well ahead of schedule.
A healthy Bailey-Brown at slot receiver would be a lift for the passing game.[/COLOR]
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[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)][COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]
[/COLOR]
[/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]In alphabetical order, these are five Golden Eagles who appear headed for breakout seasons in 2021:
▪ [COLOR=var(--lc)]DaShawn Crawford, defensive tackle[/COLOR] — The senior transfer from Virginia Tech has all the makings of a player who should be a contender for All-Conference USA honors.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]The Bay Springs native had 27 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks as a junior for the Hokies, earning ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week at one point during the 2019 season. He started 11 games.
In 2020, the 6-foot, 290-pound Crawford battled through injuries and played in only eight games.
Crawford, who also held offers from Troy and Arkansas State out of Jones College, is a little undersized, but he has quickness and he’s already shown that he can play on a high level.
With Turner no longer in the fold, Crawford has a shot to step up as USM’s best lineman.
▪ [COLOR=var(--lc)]Everitt Cunningham, defensive end[/COLOR] — A senior transfer from Memphis, Cunningham will be relied on to get to the quarterback this season.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]After putting up 16 sacks in 10 games last year, the Golden Eagles have to do a better job in Austin Armstrong’s first season as defensive coordinator.
Cunningham had 24 tackles and three sacks in 2019 at Memphis. He appeared briefly in four games in 2020 before deciding to transfer.
While his numbers are Memphis aren’t gaudy, he did have a [COLOR=var(--lc)]whopping 13 sacks as a sophomore[/COLOR] at East Mississippi Community College.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]Cunningham will have to put in the work during fall camp after missing spring practice, but he has a shot to make a significant impact in his one season in Hattiesburg.
▪ [COLOR=var(--lc)]Trey Lowe III, sophomore quarterback[/COLOR] — Lowe has some momentum following a strong game in the season finale against FAU and a spring practice that showed he’s ready to build on that performance.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]Against FAU, he threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns while running 16 times for 70 yards and a TD.
For the first time on the high school or college level, Lowe will have a full year of football after he was preoccupied with baseball in the spring at Bolivar (Tenn.) Central High School and WVU.
There was no doubt in the spring as to who was USM’s best option behind center, and a full year of preparation will be to his benefit.
[COLOR=var(--lc)]Former Taylorsville star Ty Keyes[/COLOR] will try to make a case for playing time once fall camp starts, but it’s difficult to see anyone other than Lowe starting the Sept. 4 season opener at South Alabama.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]Many fans see Keyes as the quarterback of the future, but Lowe has a shot to put that on hold.
Hall could decide to put both quarterbacks on the field this season, but he may be reluctant to do so with not much experience on the depth chart.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)][COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]READ NEXT
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[COLOR=var(--tc)][COLOR=var(--tc,#222)][COLOR=var(--tc,#222)][COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]UNIVERSITY-OF-SOUTHERN-MISSISSIPPI[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)][COLOR=var(--tc,#222)][COLOR=var(--lc)]A deep dive on the Southern Miss QB situation as 3 players look for their shot in 2021[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#707070)]MARCH 08, 2021 5:30 AM[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--tc,#222)]▪ Eric Scott, cornerback — There remains a lot to be determined at cornerback in fall camp, but no corner’s name was mentioned more than Scott’s during spring practice. Armstrong’s defense will feature more man-to-man coverage, and it seems that Scott has made a nice transition into the new scheme.
The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Scott fits the mold of what college coaches want in a corner these days — good length and speed.
Senior Rachuan Mitchell is expected to be ready to go for fall camp after missing all of the 2020 season, and he brings plenty of experience.
If Mitchell, Scott and Natrone Brooks step it up at corner this season, that will go a long way to resolving USM’s inconsistent play in the secondary over the past couple of seasons.
▪ Khalique Washington, offensive tackle — Hall is convinced that Washington will put himself in position to become an NFL Draft pick this season.
The 6-foot-5, 339-pound Washington has switched from left tackle to right, and the coaches raved about his performance during spring practice.
The left tackle spot is a little more uncertain with Tykeem Doss and Briason Mays expected to battle for that starting job, but Washington should have the right side locked down.[/COLOR]
