he 2024 M-Club Hall of Fame class at Southern Miss includes five athletes and one coach from various sports. The athletes are former football player Luke Johnson, men’s basketball player Berlin Ladner, track and field high jumper Cedrin Norman, volleyball player Kelsea Seymour Weldon, and baseball player Kent Willis. Former men’s basketball assistant coach Robert McInnis is this year’s honorary inductee. The announcement was made by the school on Wednesday morning.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for November 8 at Southern Oaks. Additionally, former women’s basketball player Kendra Reed will be honored that night after missing last year’s event.
Here’s what you need to know about this year’s inductees.
Luke Johnson (Football, 2002-05)
Luke Johnson ranks third all-time at Southern Miss for yards per punt, averaging 42.7 yards. His 76-yard punt against South Florida in 2003 is the fourth-longest in the school’s history and tied for the longest at M. M. Roberts Stadium. In 2005, Sports Illustrated recognized him as a third-team All-American.
Berlin Ladner (Men’s Basketball, 1965-68)
Berlin Ladner, the brother of fellow M-Club Hall of Famer Wendell Ladner, holds the single-game scoring record at Southern Miss with 45 points, achieved in 1968. He is also one of only 40 Golden Eagles in the 1,000-point club.
Cedric Norman (Track and Field, 2001-04)
Cedric Norman achieved All-American status in the high jump three times at Southern Miss. His outdoor jump of 7 feet, 6 inches in March 2004 set a program record. Additionally, he held the indoor record of 7 feet, 3 inches for 15 years until it was surpassed in 2019.
Kelsea Seymour Weldon (Volleyball, 2008-11)
Kelsea Seymour Weldon, known as Kelsea Seymour during her time at Southern Miss, is the only player in the program’s history to earn All-Conference first-team honors in three consecutive seasons. Notably, she had a standout sophomore year when she was named the Conference USA Co-Setter of the Year. Her total of 4,635 assists ranks third all-time in the program.
Kent Willis (Baseball, 1986)
Kent Willis played just one season for Southern Miss but was a pivotal pitcher during coach Hill Denson’s first winning season. He set a program record with 11 complete games and maintained a 2.89 ERA over 140⅓ innings. Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 12th round of the 1986 MLB draft, he played six seasons professionally, later becoming a minor league coach and serving as the first pitching coach for the Mississippi Braves in 2005. Currently, he is the head baseball coach at Vicksburg High School.
Robert McInnis (Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach, 1981-96)
Robert McInnis served as an assistant coach under M. K. Turk for 15 years. During his tenure, Southern Miss made two NCAA tournament appearances and participated in five NITs, including winning the NIT championship in 1987 and achieving its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in 1990.
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