Southern Miss roster will see plenty of change under new head coach. Keep track of it all here.
Southern Miss is out of spring practice and into the frenzy of the second transfer portal window. Huff has been open and honest about expected turnover for a roster that’s already added 50 players since the early signing period.
A full rundown of roster additions and subtractions will be monitored here.
Spring transfer portal window
In
- TE Kadinn Morris, Western Michigan
The grad transfer is adding depth to the tight end room at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds. Morris caught three passes during his time as a Bronco.
- DL Elijah Kinsler, West Virginia
The New Jersey native took a redshirt in 2024 after appearing in two games for the Mountaineers as a former three star recruit. Kinsler had offers from Miami, Louisville and Pitt out of high school.
- DL Zachariah Keith, West Virginia
Keith medically retired ahead of his redshirt freshman season in 2024 but has changed his mind, announcing his decision to continue his career at USM. Keith has not seen any playing time due to injuries, but was a high three star recruit coming out of Georgia in 2023.
- DL Noah Nelson, Grambling
Nelson hasn’t logged many snaps over two seasons, but he does bring 310 lbs. to the interior of the remodeled defensive line in Hattiesburg. Nelson is an Atlanta native who appeared in five games last season.
- DL Mason Clinton, Mississippi State/Louisiana (signed)
Clinton initially signed with Louisiana out of high school, appeared in one game in 2023 and played the 2024 season at East Mississippi C.C. He signed with Mississippi State in December before entering the transfer portal on April 16. Clinton was the No. 29-ranked JUCO player, according to On3.
Out
- RB Jalen Washington (UCA)
- LB Kolbe Cage (Northwestern State)
- DL Jalen Owens
- DL Armondous Cooley (Tulane)
- WR Ty Mims (Texas State)
- CB Wildrekus Johnson
- LB Dante Kelly
- OL Drew Lawson (12 starts in 2024)
- DB Miles Jones
- OL Klabron Pollard
- OL Kyron Barnes
- OL Kam Barnes
- DL Caleb Moore
- DB Ethan Williams (Northwestern State)
- QB Silas Corder
- P Alec Clark (Tulane)
- WR Larry Simmons (Utah)
- LB Khalid Moore
Tranfer portal
IN
1/15
- RB Matt Jones, Ole Miss (signed)
The Jackson Prep product is staying within the Mississippi borders after four seasons at Ole Miss. Jones began his career as a walk-on and earned playing time as a reserve running back and special teams contributor. Jones has 308 career rushing yards and six touchdowns. He’ll have one season left to play.
- CB Anthony Richard, Marshall/Harding (signed)
More depth arrives in the defensive backfield with the addition of Richard. The Louisiana native began his career at Harding before heading to Marshall. Richard was in a reserve role until the most recent Thundering Herd game, where he made seven tackles in the Sun Belt championship against James Madison.
1/13
- OL Hayes Creel, McNeese State - (signed)
The signature is officially in the bag for the 6-foot-7, 316 lb. tackle. Creel was sought after among Group of Five teams after logging over 1,200 snaps for the Cowboys. He will have two seasons of eligibility.
- QB Landry Lyddy, UAB/Louisiana Tech - (signed)
Southern Miss adds depth to the quarterback room with the addition of Lyddy. The Louisiana native has appeared in 12 games over three seasons, throwing for 888 yards and four touchdowns to seven interceptions. Lyddy will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
- DL J’Mond Tapp, Arizona State/Texas - (signed)
A former four star prospect from Louisiana makes Southern Miss his third career stop. Tapp appeared in nine games for Texas over two years and just three snaps for the Sun Devils in 2024. He will have two seasons to play.
1/11
- AP Micah Davis, Ole Miss/Utah State/Air Force - (signed)
Davis’ journey will continue with a reuniting with his former head coach Blake Anderson. Davis most recently spent a season at Ole Miss where he started the final regular season game at running back against Mississippi State. The Atlanta native caught 36 passes for 628 yards and six touchdowns as a receiver at Utah State in 2023 and recorded 360 rushing and 221 receiving the season before at Air Force.
Davis is also an experienced kick and punt returner. He’s totaled 1,939 all-purpose yards in his career and one season of eligibility remaining. Davis is the son of former NFL player Dexter Davis.
- RB Robert Briggs, Utah State - (signed)
Briggs follows Anderson and brings the Eagles a slippery and experience running back. Briggs has 861 rushing yards over his first three seasons, but received a redshirt in 2024 after suffering a leg fracture in the season-opener against Robert Morris. Briggs will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
- CB Jonathan Pennix, Virginia Tech - (signed)
Southern Miss continues stockpiling defensive backs with the addition of Pennix. The Virginia native redshirted in 2023 and played on special teams this past year. He recorded a fumble recovery in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Minnesota. Pennix has three years remaining.
- OL Aaryn Parks, South Carolina, Oklahoma - (signed)
A graduate transfer, Parks will use his final season of eligibility in Hattiesburg. Parks did not appear in ant games last season for the Gamecocks and played in eight games across four seasons at Oklahoma.
1/7
- S MaLik Caswell, Marshall - (signed)
Caswell follows Huff to Southern Miss five months after enrolling at Marshall as a three star safety out of high school. The Georgia native redshirted in 2024 and will have four years to play.
- RB Moses Gray Jr, Marshall - (signed)
Gray Jr hails from New Orleans and gets a little closer to home after redshirting at Marshall this past season. Gray Jr appeared in one game, picking up 17 rushing yards against Southern Miss. He’ll have four seasons to play.
- LB Mathis Haygood, Marshall - (signed)
A Georgia product, Haygood appeared in four games on special teams across his first two seasons at Marshall. Haygood will have three years of eligibility remaining.
1/4
- OL Jez Janvier, Eastern Michigan - (signed)
Huff brings in a Canadian to beef up the interior. Janvier is a 6-foot-5, 307-lb. graduate who played 535 snaps in 2024, allowing zero sacks in 284 dropbacks. He earned a pass block grade (PFF) of at least 65 in each of the last five games of the season.
Janvier played on the defensive line in 2023 before moving back to his natural position. The Montreal native will have one year of eligibility remaining.
1/3
- CB Guylijah Theodule, Marshall - (signed)
Theodule is the ninth defensive back Huff has signed and eighth by way of four-year transfer. The Miami native appeared in five games as a true freshman in 2024 and recorded his lone tackle against Southern Miss. Theodule has three years of eligibility remaining, but does have a redshirt available to use.
12/28
- WR Grant Page, Utah State/Colorado - (signed)
Offensive coordinator Blake Anderson brings size and experience with him to Hattiesburg. Page is a 6-foot-3 wide out who caught 33 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns in his first season of on-field action in 2024. Page redshirted his first year at Colorado and did not play in 2023. He will have two seasons of eligibility.
12/26
- OL Aloali’i Maui, Utah State - (signed)
New offensive coordinator Blake Anderson brings with him some serious size in the form of an American Samoan offensive lineman.
Maui primarily played guard for the Aggies, but also has experience at center. He’ll have one season of eligibility to use.
- S Josh Battle, Chattanooga - (signed)
An experienced safety is on his way to Hattiesburg. Battle played in 31 games across four seasons for the Mocs, recording 145 tackles, five pass deflections and two interceptions. Battle will have one season left to play.
12/25
- CB Josh Moten, Marshall/Texas A&M - (signed)
Southern Miss lands one of the top cornerbacks in the Sun Belt in Moten. The Maryland native is coming off a season in which he posted 10 pass deflections, five interceptions and a staggering 90.6 Pro Football Focus grade.
His 91 coverage grade was third-best among qualified corners in all of the FBS and the only one of the top three to not be penalized once.
- DT Isaiah Gibson, Marshall/Kentucky - (signed)
Gibson brings over 320 lbs to the Golden Eagle front four. Gibson began his career at Kentucky before transferring to Marshall ahead of the 2022 season. He recorded 40 stops across two seasons and did not play in 2024.
- WR Carl Chester, Marshall/Tulsa - (signed)
Chester will be the first Southern Miss player to officially take advantage of the short term junior college eligibility waiver granted by the NCAA. Chester gets a fifth year back and will use it in Hattiesburg.
The Texas native has 42 catches in his career for 743 yards and four touchdowns.
12/23
- LB Mike Montgomery, Portland State - (signed)
Southern Miss adds a big piece to the middle of its 4-2-5 defense. Montgomery was an FCS Freshman All-American in 2023 and made 80 stops in 11 games this past season. The Seattle native will have two seasons if eligibility remaining.
- OL Broderick Roman, Eastern Michigan - (signed)
Huff reunites Roman with another former Eagle and current USM offensive lineman Zack Conti. Roman played center at EMU where he allowed just one sack in 324 pass block opportunities in 2024. Roman will have one season remaining to play.
12/22
- RB Jeffery Pittman, Mississippi State - (signed)
Pittman was away from the MSU program for reasons head coach Jeff Lebby would not expound upon. Pittman is a Taylorsville product who began his career at Hinds College before spending 2023 with the Bulldogs. He rushed for 268 yards that season and had 369 all-purpose yards.
Pittman’s best game came against Southern Miss, where he rushed for 98 yards and his only running score of the season. Pittman will have one year of eligibility remaining.
- OL Cooper Frazier, Samford - (signed)
The Corinth native is back in Mississippi for one last season after logging over 2,000 career snaps at center for Samford. At 6-foot-4, 305 lbs. Frazier had a career-best 82.3 pass block grade in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. Frazier will have one year left to play.
- OL Christian Anderson, Alabama A&M - (signed)
Southern Miss adds a lot of football experience with the addition of Anderson. The 6-foot-7, 295 lb. offensive tackle has played over 1,200 snaps across the last two seasons. Anderson allowed just one sack in 434 pass block opportunities in 2024.
Anderson is a grad transfer with two years left to play.
- S Corey Myrick, Marshall - (signed)
Myrick follows Huff to Southern Miss one year into his collegiate career. The former three star prospect from Cincinnati will have three years to play, giving Huff one of his first development pieces of the class.
12/21
- CB Ian Foster, Marshall - (signed)
From Alabama, Foster earned significant playing time in 2024 as a redshirt freshman at Marshall both as a corner and as a kick returner. Foster recorded 48 tackles, five tackles for loss and four pass deflections. Foster will have three years to play.
- CB Ahmere Foster, Marshall - (signed)
Foster has been one of Marshall’s top defensive backs each of the last two seasons playing as a true freshman and sophomore. The Miami native has 65 tackles in two seasons with five passes defended, one interception, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. Foster will have two seasons left to play.
- WR Elijah Metcalf, Marshall/Middle Tennessee - (signed)
Metcalf brings over 1,000 career receiving yards to Southern Miss across four seasons. He played his first three years at MTSU where he caught 54 passes as a redshirt sophomore. Metcalf had 20 receptions in 2024, including eight catches against Ohio State. Metcalf has one season to play.
- WR Chuck Montgomery, Marshall - (signed)
One of Marshall’s top targets the last three seasons will be at Southern Miss next year to give its new quarterback a familiar face. Montgomery has 88 receptions for 1,064 yards in three years with seven touchdowns. He was second on the team with 32 catches this past year.
Montgomery has one year of eligibility remaining.
- CB Ishmael Ibraheem, Marshall/Texas - (signed)
Ibraheem arrives at Southern Miss as a former four star prospect who held the full suit of high-end offers out of high school. The Dallas native was suspended on multiple occasions while at Texas and transferred to Marshall after two seasons. Ibraheem appeared in eight games between 2023-24 at Marshall, recording six tackles.
- DL Jabari Ishmael, Marshall/Miami - (signed)
Ishmael is a former four star recruit from South Florida who began his career at Miami. He spent the last two seasons at Marshall. Ishmael is a 6-foot-5, 256 lb. defensive end who registered 20 tackles, four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks this past season.
- WR Tychaun Chapman, Marshall/North Carolina - (signed)
Chapman represents another one of the highest-ranked former high school prospects to suit up in the Black and Gold. Chapman was a four star recruit and the No. 5 wide receiver nationally and began his career at North Carolina.
The Virginia native caught 16 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown this season, including eight catches in the Sun Belt championship game. Chapman will have two years of eligibility remaining.
12/20
- CB Dominick Hill, Liberty/Temple/South Carolina - (signed)
Hill signed during his visit to Hattiesburg and represents the first defensive back of the transfer class. Hill began his career with two seasons at South Carolina followed by two seasons at Temple. He redshirted in 2024 while at Liberty and will play his final season at Southern Miss.
Hill has 82 career tackles and nine passes defended.
- QB Braylon Braxton, Marshall/Tulsa - (signed)
Braxton committed to Southern Miss during Huff’s big recruiting weekend that saw 23 official visitors. Braxton started eight games for the Thundering Herd and was a perfect 8-0 in those starts. He threw for 1,624 yards with 19 touchdowns against only two interceptions. Braxton added 610 rushing yards and four more scores.
Braxton has just under 3,000 passing yards in his career with 41 total touchdowns. He’ll have one more season of eligibility remaining.
- DL JJ Hawkins, Marshall/Colorado/Ole Miss - (signed)
Hawkins was a top-100 defensive line prospect out of high school who began his career at Ole Miss where he redshirted in 2021 and appeared in four games in 2022. Hawkins then transferred to Colorado and played in 10 games in 2023. He made 20 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and three pass deflections this past year for Marshall.
Hawkins has 28 tackles throughout his career and will have one year of eligibility remaining.
- WR Bralon Brown, Marshall/Ole Miss - (signed)
Huff’s second transfer addition followed a similar path as the first from Mississippi to West Virginia and back. Brown was a four star prospect out of Florida and spent three years in Oxford before transferring to Marshall. Brown caught 15 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns this past season.
Brown will have one year of eligibility remaining.
High school signees
Early Signing Day
- S Zach Ruffin, Neshoba Central (Ms.)
- P Jack Richardson, Madison Central (Ms.)
- LB Malachi Henderson, Oak Grove (Ms.)
Post-ESD
- ATH Jaylin Carter, Lowndes (Ga.)
- QB Denzel Gardner, DeMatha Catholic (Md.)
- DB Khalil Foster, Pike County (Al.)
- WR Jermane Hayes, University (Fl.)
- TE Shane King, Gainesville (Ga.)
- TE Connor Gooding, Gilbert (SC)
- QB Hugh Price, Montgomery Bell Academy (Tn.)
Junior College signees
- S Dylan King, East Mississippi/Tennessee State
Tranfer out
- QB Tate Rodemaker
- QB Ethan Crawford
- RB Kenyon Clay (Arkansas State)
- RB JQ Gray (Jones CC)
- WR Keyshawn Buckley
- WR Jack Schwing (Samford)
- WR JJ Butler
- WR Dakota Thomas
- WR Chandler Merrill
- TE Pax Hughes
- TE Justyn Reid
- OL Wil Saxton (Arkansas State)
- OL Joe Cryer (McNeese State)
- OL Tanner Welch (Northwest CC)
- DL Tre’Mon Henry (South Alabama)
- LB Jacob Johnson
- CB Vernorrius Chaney
- CB Braxton Myers (Western Kentucky)
- CB Will James (Houston)
- CB Zay Franks
- CB Michael Caraway (Florida)
- S Damion Miller
- S Sentario Willis (Co-lin)
- S Jordan Johnson
- S Elijah Sabbatini
- S Ques McNeal
- K Jack Tannehill
- K Connor Gibbs (Auburn)
*Two-Deep in 2024
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 2:40 PM.
