Draft Scout Southern Miss Player News, College Football: Southern Miss

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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Southern Miss

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10/22/22 - Chandler Pittman, Sr/2025, Southern Miss + More +

Chandler Pittman caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from Zach Wilcke with 32 seconds remaining and Southern Mississippi defeated Texas State 20-14 on Saturday night to ruin homecoming for the Bobcats. Texas State had taken a 14-13 lead with 1:21 to go when Layne Hatcher connected with Ashtyn Hawkins who outran the defense for a 74-yard touchdown pass. Wilcke completed 18 of 25 passes for 187 yards for the Golden Eagles (4-3, 2-1 Sun Belt). Frank Gore Jr. added 91 yards rushing. Hatcher was 25 of 42 passing for 254 yards but the Bobcats (3-5, 1-3) were held to minus-6 net rushing yards for 249 yards of total offense. Calvin Hill and Lincoln Pare were their leading rushers with 3 yards each. - Southern Mississippi/AP College Football

Sr/2025

RB Chandler Pittman, Southern Miss
News Source: Southern Mississippi/AP College Football
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10/15/22 - Frank Gore Jr., rJr/2024, Southern Miss + More +

Frank Gore Jr. and James Dean had fourth-quarter touchdown runs and Southern Mississippi rallied to beat Arkansas State 20-19 on Saturday night. Arkansas State used James Blackman's 9-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Foreman and a safety to take a 19-7 lead after three quarters. Southern Miss (3-3, 1-1 Sun Belt Conference) pulled within five points on Gore's 30-yard scoring run to finish off a nine-play, 95-yard drive with 9:20 remaining in the game.

The Golden Eagles' defense forced a three-and-out and and Natrone Brooks' 30-yard punt return set Southern Miss up at the Red Wolves' 45-yard line. Zach Wilcke directed a 12-play drive with Dean giving the Golden Eagles the lead on a 3-yard run with 2:12 left to play. Arkansas State (2-5, 1-3) turned the ball over on downs after two false-start penalties and a sack by the Golden Eagles' Jalil Clemons left the Red Wolves in a fourth-and-27 hole. Wilcke completed 11 of 20 passes for 132 yards with two interceptions for Southern Miss. His 23-yard scoring strike to Jason Brownlee late in the second quarter left USM trailing 10-7 at halftime. Gore totaled 96 yards on 19 carries. Blackman completed 25 of 34 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns for Arkansas State. The Red Wolves managed just 50 yards on the ground on 31 rushes. - Southern Mississippi/AP College Football

rJr/2024

RB Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss
News Source: Southern Mississippi/AP College Football
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09/24/22 - Zach Wilcke, Jr/2026, Southern Miss + More +

Zach Wilcke threw a pair of touchdown passes, Eric Scott returned an interception for a score and Southern Mississippi collected its first win of the season, beating previously unbeaten Tulane 27-24 on Saturday night. Wilcke's 37-yard touchdown pass to Jakarius Caston tied it at 17 late in the third quarter. Scott's pick-6 stretched the Southern Miss lead to 27-17 with 7:07 remaining. Wilcke was 17-of-25 passing for 194 yards. Caston had eight receptions for 91 yards. Michael Pratt's 25-yard touchdown pass to Jha'Quan Jackson for Tulane capped the scoring with 19 seconds left.

Tyjae Spears ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns for Tulane (3-1). Spears also made five catches for 74 yards. Spears' 8-yard TD run and his 34-yard scoring run gave Tulane a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. Southern Miss (1-3) ended a two-game skid in the series, a 30-13 loss in the 2020 Armed Forces Bowl and a 66-24 defeat at home during the 2020 regular season. It was the 33rd meeting in the series dating to 1979, but the first in New Orleans since 2010, a 46-10 Southern Miss win at the Louisiana Superdome. It was also the first time the teams met in Yulman Stadium. - Southern Mississippi/AP College Football

Jr/2026

QB Zach Wilcke, Southern Miss
News Source: Southern Mississippi/AP College Football
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09/19/22 - Natrone Brooks, rSr/2023, Southern Miss + More +

SEPT 19 SUN BELT FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Natrone Brooks, Southern Miss, (Sr., RS - Starkville, Miss.),...Golden Eagles senior return specialist Natrone Brooks tied the program record for most punt returns in a game with seven, while his 145 return yards were the second-most in school history. Each of the Starkville, Miss., native's returns were at least 10 yards-with three going for at least 25 yards (27, 31 and 33). Brooks currently ranks ninth in the nation, averaging 18.4 yards per return and sits second nationally with 147 return yards, trailing only Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry. - Sun Belt Football

rSr/2023

CB Natrone Brooks, Southern Miss
News Source: Sun Belt Football
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09/17/22 - Ty Keyes, rSo/2026, Southern Miss + More +

Ty Keyes completed six passes - three going for touchdowns - and Southern Mississippi beat FCS-level Northwestern State 64-10 on Saturday. Keyes went 6-for-9 for 192 yards and backup Zach Wilcke threw for a touchdown. Keyes also scored a touchdown on a 7-yard run midway through the third quarter. A 28-point second quarter put the Golden Eagles (1-2) in front 41-0 at intermission. Zachary Clement threw for 188 yards and a touchdown and an interception for the Demons (0-3). - Southern Mississippi/AP College Football

rSo/2026

QB Ty Keyes, Southern Miss
News Source: Southern Mississippi/AP College Football
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09/01/22 - Swayze Bozeman, rSr/2024, Southern Miss + More +

2022 PRESEASON WUERFFEL TROPHY (COMMUNITY SERVICE) WATCHLIST: Swayze Bozeman, Southern Miss, Sr., LB,...Bozeman returns this season after missing much of last year due to injury. In only four games, he collected 20 tackles, including nine versus North Texas in his final game of the year. He also added four stops versus both UTEP and UAB (10/16) and three versus Rice. He was named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team, as well as earned the Golden Standard at the Talon Awards last May, a Southern Miss student-run event, as the best representative for his respective sport. Last spring, Bozeman earned a C-USA Academic Medal and was a member the league's Commissioner's Honor Roll. The Flora, Miss., native also is incredibly active in the community working with local churches as well as his one back in his hometown and he also serves as the President of the campus' Fellowship of Christian Athletes. - Southern Miss Football

rSr/2024

OLB Swayze Bozeman, Southern Miss
News Source: Southern Miss Football
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08/18/22 - Daylen Gill, rSr/2023, Southern Miss + More +

Linebacker Daylen Gill has routinely impressed throughout the preseason, and flashed the most out of the 10 transfer additions during Tuesday's scrimmage. The headline play came in a short-yardage situation, when Gill exploded through the line of scrimmage to blow up a fullback dive. "I'm glad he's on our team," Hall said. The Ole Miss transfer showcased a tremendous engine, and earned additional praise from Hall for the physicality he showed while taking reps with the first-team defense. It should be noted, though, that Santrell Latham sat out the scrimmage with a slight injury, so it remains to be seen exactly how that room will shake out. "I think Daylen has had a really good camp," Armstrong said. "Daylen's very, very fluid in the hips. He can finish plays...He can be locked into a blocker and engage and play. "He's got thousands of fewer reps than these other guys, but he's doing a good job." - Clarion Ledger

rSr/2023

ILB Daylen Gill, Southern Miss
News Source: Clarion Ledger
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08/10/22 - Daylen Gill, rSr/2023, Southern Miss + More +

Here is how LB Daylen Gill and his "desperate man mentality" will help Southern Miss football. Gill (5-11, 225) spent his first four preseason practices with the Golden Eagles flying around the field like a player who knows he's got one more shot at college football. Gill, a Jones College product and Ole Miss transfer, spent two seasons with the Rebels and played sparingly before making the move to Hattiesburg for his final collegiate season. "He's really had that last opportunity - almost like a desperate man mentality," USM defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong said. "He had an experience where it wasn't working out for him. He wasn't planning on being here. And, for whatever reason, his life turned him here." - Hattiesburg American

rSr/2023

ILB Daylen Gill, Southern Miss
News Source: Hattiesburg American
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08/01/22 - Mason Hunt, rSr/2023, Southern Miss + More +

2022 PRESEASON RAY GUY WATCHLIST: Mason Hunt - Southern Miss,...To be clear, Hunt attends Ray Guy's alma mater where before he was a great Oakland Raider he was a college punter, placekicker (had a 93-yard punt and 61-yard field goal in snowstorm). He also played safety and as a senior set a school record with eight interceptions and was named an All-American defensive back. OK, now back to the present time. As a redshirt junior last season, Hunt (6-2, 217) punted 73 times for the Golden Eagles and averaged 43.6 yards over 71 punts (two were blocked) … His punting total included a career-best 63 yarder against UTEP (10/9) … Total included 40 fair catches, 18 inside the opponent's 20-yardline and 15 of 50 or more yards …In 2020 he played in the opener against South Alabama and averaged 32.2 yards on four punts. Before transferring to Southern Miss, Hunt played nine games at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, making 8 of 12 field goals with a long of 40 yards and punted 39 times for a 37-yard average. As a senior at Stone High School in Wiggins, Miss., he 4 of 8 FG with a long of 50 yards, and 54 of 56 PATs ... Had 57 touchbacks on 70 kickoffs . - Southern Miss Football

rSr/2023

P Mason Hunt, Southern Miss
News Source: Southern Miss Football
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08/01/22 - Swayze Bozeman, rSr/2024, Southern Miss + More +

Southern Miss football will be without veteran linebacker Hayes Maples for the 2022 season, Will Hall confirmed at Sun Belt Media Days on Wednesday. In his absence, the Golden Eagles will lose one of their most productive defenders. But they may have added an extra coach. "We keep a positive outlook on him," fellow linebacker Swayze Bozeman said. "We check on him every day. We're gonna go through this camp together, and he's basically gonna coach us the whole time." Maples was a preseason All-Sun Belt third-team selection by Phil Steele, and received All-Conference USA recognition in each of the last two seasons.

Hall touted the depth that he can call on to help fill Maples' role, noting that linebacker is one position where the Golden Eagles are truly deep. Bozeman has started 17 games over the last three seasons for the Golden Eagles, and he's one of the more established names Hall mentioned when discussing players who could step up in Maples' absence. Already a vital piece, veteran linebacker Santrell Latham will become even more important. Ole Miss transfer Daylen Gill and redshirt sophomore TQ Newsome warranted a mention from Hall as players who could see their workloads grow. "We've got some depth right there," Hall said. "We feel like we can overcome that with how we've recruited, but we certainly hate it for Hayes." - Clarion Ledger

rSr/2024

OLB Swayze Bozeman, Southern Miss
News Source: Clarion Ledger
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07/28/22 - Hayes Maples, rSr/2024, Southern Miss + More +

The Southern Miss football defense has been dealt a significant blow, losing linebacker Hayes Maples for the season, a person with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Hattiesburg American. The person requested anonymity because no official announcement has been made. Maples suffered a lower extremity injury last week, according to the source. The loss of Hayes is a significant one for the Golden Eagles. But USM has a relatively deep linebacker room to choose from as the Southern Miss staff looks to sort out a replacement. Maples was a second-team All-Conference USA selection in 2020 and 2021 and appeared on the conference's All-Freshman team in 2019. The Oak Grove product was second among Golden Eagles defenders last season with 60 tackles, and tied for fifth with 4.5 tackles for loss. In 2020, Maples led Southern Miss with 91 tackles. - Clarion Ledger

rSr/2024

ILB Hayes Maples, Southern Miss
News Source: Clarion Ledger
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07/23/22 - Frank Gore Jr., rJr/2024, Southern Miss + More +

2022 PRESEASON DOAK WALKER AWARD CANDIDATE: Frank Gore, Jr. (So.), Southern Miss,...Yes, this is the son of the 16-year NFL veteran who retired June 2, 2022 as the league's No. 3 all-time rusher. But this is about jr., who is 5-8, 195 and led the Golden Eagles in rushing for the second-straight season in 2021, collecting 801 yards on 149 carries with a 4.5 per rush average to go along with five rushing scores. Late last season, Gore, Jr., was asked to increase his role in captaining the offense by helping the Golden Eagles run the wildcat offense, that many Southern Miss faithful dubbed the "Superback Offense" over the final three contests of the season. After almost leading the team to an upset of nationally ranked UTSA in San Antonio, Gore, Jr., helped Southern Miss win their final two games of the year. Over those final three games, Gore, Jr., also completed 10-fo-16 passes for 189 yards and four touchdowns. - Southern Miss Football

rJr/2024

RB Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss
News Source: Southern Miss Football
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04/30/22 - JaLen Sims, rSr/2025, Southern Miss + More +

Memphis linebacker Ja'Len Sims confirmed to The Commercial Appeal that he's entered the transfer portal. Sims wasn't listed on the Tigers' roster prior to spring practice. Last year as a sophomore, he appeared in all 12 games, mostly on special teams, with just one tackle. He played in 16 games over three seasons. Sims, a former three-star recruit from Fultondale, Alabama, was the Tigers' third-highest ranked player in their 2019 class, the last signed under former coach Mike Norvell. Interestingly, the four highest-ranked players from that class are no longer at Memphis. Linebacker Cole Mashburn, the top-ranked 2019 signee, announced before the spring that he had to medically retire. Defensive end Jalil Clemons transferred to Southern Miss after this season and defensive end Joseph Honeysucker transferred to Middle Tennessee State in 2020. - Memphis Commercial Appeal

rSr/2025

ILB JaLen Sims, Southern Miss
News Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal
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12/15/21 - Janari Dean, rJr/2025, Southern Miss + More +

Mississippi State football safety Janari Dean has entered the transfer portal after seeing limited time in nine games this season.Dean redshirted the 2020 season before making his debut against LSU this year, playing four snaps. The Batesville native played 81 snaps the entire season, with his main contributions coming on special teams. The 5-foot-11 safety recorded three tackles, with two coming against Vanderbilt. In a statement posted to Twitter, Dean said he plans to pursue opportunities as a running back. - The Clarion Ledger

rJr/2025

RB Janari Dean, Southern Miss
News Source: The Clarion Ledger
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11/27/21 - Frank Gore Jr., rJr/2024, Southern Miss + More +

Frank Gore Jr. threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores and Southern Miss started fast in a 37-17 victory over Florida International on Saturday. Dajon Richards scored on a 29-yard run to finish off the first drive for the Golden Eagles (3-9, 2-6 Conference USA). Max Bortenschlager threw a pick on first down for the Panthers (1-11, 0-8) and Gore needed one play to fire a 34-yard scoring strike to Jason Brownlee - one of his two TD catches - for a 14-0 lead. Southern Miss forced a three-and-out and Natrone Brooks returned the punt 77 yards to the Panthers' 2-yard line. Gore ran it in on the next play for a 21-0 lead and the Panthers never got closer than seven points from there. Bortenschlager got FIU on the scoreboard with a 91-yard TD pass to Tyrese Chambers with 58 seconds left in the first quarter. It was the longest TD pass in FIU history - topping an 87-yarder from Josh Padrick to tight end Samuel Smith in a 14-10 loss to Maryland in 2004. FIU lost 10 straight games to close out the season after beating FCS-member Long Island University 48-10 in the opener. - Southern Miss/AP College Football

rJr/2024