Southern Miss football went heavy on junior college signees. Jay Hopson explains why.
With plenty of standouts expected back in the fold for 2020, the Southern Miss football staff looked to junior colleges to fill in the gaps during the early signing period.
USM announced 13 new signees on Wednesday — 11 from the junior college ranks.
Hopson admitted that this year’s haul of junior college signees will be the biggest of his five signing classes at USM.
“We had some needs, especially in the defensive backfield,” he said. “Three years ago, we graduated nine in the same class. We had to go to junior college to fill the void. Two years has come back around. That’s what we have to do. That’s just part of it. We lost a few guys up front defensively and we had to address that. Those was our big needs, and we’re excited about the guys we got.”
In Antoine Robinson and Jason Brownlee, Hopson believes he landed two of the best junior college receivers in the state.
Brownlee was a late addition to the early class of signees, committing to Charlotte on Monday before flipping to USM on Tuesday night. He also held offers from Liberty, Louisiana-Monroe and UMass. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound receiver was named the MVP of the MACJC North Division after leading the nation in receptions with 75 for 1,055 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Robinson chose the Golden Eagles over New Mexico, South Alabama and Western Kentucky after catching 37 passes for 721 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore.
“I went up and watched (Brownlee) play midseason and I thought he was a special, special football player,” Hopson said. “It’s the same thing with (Antoine). I think we got two guys who are big-time playmakers. We’ll graduate quite a few guys at the receiver position so those are big gets for us.”
On defense, a big focus for the USM staff was to add depth in the secondary and three junior college defensive backs inked with the Golden Eagles on Wednesday — Eric Scott Jr. of Butler (Kansas), Copiah-Lincoln’s Natrone Brooks and Jones College cornerback Fred Smith.
The lone running back to sign with USM on Wednesday was Don Ragsdale of Hinds Community College. He picked the Golden Eagles over offers from Tennessee, Arkansas State and South Alabama.
After putting up huge numbers at Pisgah High School, he ran 203 times for 971 yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games as a sophomore at Hinds.
The three high school signees announced on Wednesday were 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker Mike Pleas Jr. of Tallahassee, Florida, and Oak Grove receiver Brandon Hayes.
“(Pleas) reminds me of a young Michael Boley,” Hopson said. “He’s 6-3, 6-4 with a long, tall athletic frame.”
Hayes, who is listed at 6-foot-2, 188 pounds, caught 53 passes for 820 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior.
“He’s a great looking receiver with a 10.5, 10.6 100-meter,” Hopson said. “He has great NFL potential down the road. He’ll be a great player here. We signed three wideouts who are dynamic players. We’re excited.”
USM appears to be in the mix for one other high school prospect in Miami (Florida) Killian running back Frank Gore Jr. — son of the star running back for the Buffalo Bills. He plans to announce his decision on Thursday with his other option being FAU. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound running back rushed for 1,111 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior.
Also signing with USM on Wednesday:
▪ Iowa Western Community College DL Dominic Quewon (6-3, 260).
▪ East Mississippi CC DL Terence Cherry (6-2, 250).
▪ East Mississippi CC DL Austin Todd (6-5, 310).
▪ East Central CC OL Tykeem Doss (6-5, 348).
▪ Iowa Western LB Averie Habas (6-3, 225).
Several Coast products signed with Division I programs on Wednesday, including:
▪ Jaden Walley, D’Iberville athlete — The speedy senior will play receiver at Mississippi State.
▪ Ryan Spiers, Biloxi offensive lineman — He followed through with his commitment and signed with Georgia Tech, choosing the Yellow Jackets over UAB and South Alabama.
▪ Christian Sapp, Hancock offensive lineman — The 6-foot-2, 320-senior signed with South Alabama
▪ Andrew McMillan, Long Beach offensive lineman — Signed with South Alabama over Southeastern Louisiana.
▪ Austin Bolton, Mississippi Gulf Coast RB — Poplarville product signed with Alcorn State, choosing the Braves over Delta State.
▪ D.J. Travis, Jones College DB — Former Poplarville standout signed with Louisiana-Monroe.
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 3:47 PM.
