Will RB Frank Gore Jr. return to Southern Miss? He has one year of eligibility remaining
Frank Gore Jr.’s storied career at Southern Miss has reached a crossroads.
The four-year running back from Miami went through Senior Day festivities ahead of Southern Miss’ season-ending 35-17 loss to Troy, but has one year of eligibility remaining.
In his career at USM, Gore Jr. cemented himself as a cultural figurehead off the field, and a legendary ball carrier on it.
The back became just the third Golden Eagle to eclipse 4,000 career rushing yards against the Trojans, has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and holds the NCAA record for most rushing yards in a bowl game with his 329-yard performance against Rice in the LendingTree bowl in 2022.
With a soon-to-be-obtained degree, Gore Jr. has yet to make a decision on whether he’ll return to USM for a fifth season in 2024.
“I’m going to weight all my options, talk to Coach (Will) Hall.” Gore Jr. said following the Troy game. “I’m 50-50 right now, so I’m not going to say I’m ready to leave or I’m going to go pro or I’m going to be back. I would love to be back here. If the situation is best, I will be back.”
Gore Jr., son of former NFL back Frank Gore, said he does not have a timeline for his decision. He did give his reason for remaining at USM to this point, despite the team’s shortcomings and attempts by outsiders to tempt him into the transfer portal.
“We’re a family, you don’t leave family members when things get hard,” Gore Jr said. “As much as I was going through stuff, as much as I was losing, there were 72 other players losing, as well... I felt like we’re a brotherhood. A true family. Everyone has each other’s back. I wouldn’t want to trade that feeling for nothing and go to another school.”
Southern Miss head coach Will Hall did not recruit Gore Jr., but did inherit the player who is responsible for 36 rushing, receiving and passing touchdowns in his career.
According to Gore Jr., Hall’s impact on his life has been profound.
“Coach Hall is like another father to me,” Gore Jr said. “He’s the first one to tell me when I’m right and he’s the first one to tell me when I’m wrong. Having a coach that can be honest with you, both good and bad, that shows that he really cares for you.”
Southern Miss enters the offseason coming off its second 3-9 season of Hall’s three-year tenure. Though Gore Jr. is still undecided on whether he’ll enter the draft, transfer portal or sit tight, he is sure that if he chooses to stay in town, he’ll do his best to keep the current group of Eagles together.
Hall said following the Troy game that the staff came into the season expecting to utilize Gore Jr. one final time.
“We went into this year knowing that’s not probably going to happen,” Hall said on the prospects of Gore Jr. returning. “But that’s up to Frank, I don’t want to speak for him. I know he loves this place, I know he’s played four years here and he’s graduating ... He’ll make the best decision for him No. 1, and everyone else No. 2. And that’s what he should do.”
This story was originally published November 25, 2023 at 3:41 PM.
