The Golden Eagles are still searching for clarity at the quarterback position. However, Head Coach Will Hall believes his team is more robust and deeper overall.
With two weeks to go before their SEC season opener, Hall is keeping the starting quarterback under wraps for Southern Miss.
It’s important to note that not revealing a decision is not the same as being uncertain.
Following Saturday’s scrimmage, the second of their training camp, Hall addressed the quarterbacks as a group and didn’t provide much insight individually about Florida State transfer Tate Rodemaker, sophomore Ethan Crawford, or freshman John White.
While there are reasons for Hall to want the competition to persist, prior reports from Hattiesburg suggested that Rodemaker, a fourth-year junior, might be starting to gain an advantage.
“I thought they looked really good. I thought they were accurate. We had a few misses, but they functioned well,” Hall told local media afterward.
He was understanding about a pick-six thrown by Crawford toward the end of the practice, noting that it was the correct decision but a result of an impressive play by the defensive back who intercepted it.
However, Hall will soon need to be stricter. Unfortunate turnovers are still turnovers, and Crawford also threw an interception during the Golden Eagles’ initial scrimmage.
In contrast, Rodemaker has done a better job of protecting the football. He has been receiving the first-team reps and has shown a consistent performance overall.
Not the Giant Killers of Old
Southern Miss, which finished 3-9 last year, once had a reputation as a giant killer. After securing 11 victories against SEC teams in the 1980s and five in the 1990s, the Golden Eagles now have a dismal record of 2-22 against the league in the 21st Century.
A 44-35 victory in Lexington during Jay Hopson’s inaugural season in 2016 ended a 16-year winless streak against SEC opponents.
On August 31, they will struggle to secure a win if they continue to make turnovers against a Kentucky team that ranked tied for second in the conference with 18 turnovers gained and placed in the NCAA top 20 with an average of 2.69 sacks per game last year.
Hall is expected to soon name a starting quarterback and designate someone for the first-team reps during the game week.
Rodemaker may join the ranks of transfer quarterbacks at Kroger Field on August 31, while Kentucky has already confirmed its QB1 as former five-star recruit Brock Vandagriff from Georgia.
Aside from the quarterbacks, Hall believes his team is stronger and deeper this season. He anticipates playmakers will emerge on both sides of the ball.
To meet program expectations, the Golden Eagles need a quarterback who can be a playmaker, not just a distributor. However, a solid supporting cast is equally vital for a quarterback’s success.
Watch for wide receiver Larry Simmons, a transfer from Ole Miss who hails from Moss Point.
Additionally, keep an eye on the Golden Eagles’ defense under new coordinator Clay Bignell. Hall commended the unit’s physical play during Saturday’s scrimmage.
When transfer linebacker Des Baker from Western Kentucky blitzed and collided with guard Klabron Pollard, Hall humorously remarked that it felt like dove season had commenced.
“It sounded like a shotgun going off out there. It felt like real college football,” he said.
Throughout much of the scrimmage, the defense demonstrated a true college football mentality. They weren’t necessarily dominant, but they played efficiently, generally keeping the ball in front and preventing the offense from reaching the end zone.
“There were four drives where the defense forced the offense to settle for field goals,” Hall noted. “That’s 16 points saved. We call those four-point plays. If you do that four times in a game, rather than a 30-30 score, it’s 30-14.”
This is a significant accomplishment for a unit that has faced challenges, including the transition to a new coordinator and the loss of a teammate. Cornerback MJ Daniels, an Ole Miss signee who recorded three interceptions during his first season at Southern Miss, tragically lost his life in a shooting at a Hattiesburg apartment complex in June.
Defense Coming Together Under New DC
According to Hall, the players have a clear grasp of Bignell’s expectations.
“We’re focused on chasing the ball, getting our hands on it, and creating disruptions,” he stated.
Hall is confident that the front seven will prove to be a strong asset.
Each time the secondary effectively prevents the ball from getting past them, it gives outside linebacker Jalil Clemons and defensive tackle Armondous Cooley another opportunity to gain the advantage.
“If they snap the ball again, it’s another chance for those guys to excel up front and put us ahead in the game,” Hall added.
Leave a Reply