Southern Miss players: We’re working harder, learning more than ever before
The first spring under new Southern Miss head coach Charles Huff came to a close Saturday with a brief spring game, signaling another step toward a new dawn for the Golden Eagles program.
The game itself ended in a 7-7 tie after just 20 minutes of action, but it represented both a reflection point and a milestone crossed.
Huff called the spring period an evaluation and building phase for the individual rosters to develop players and determine fit. He was not shy about flipping a portion of the roster in the upcoming transfer portal window during Thursday’s Sun Belt coaches call.
“You see some guys who have some measurables and have some talent, but maybe they just don’t fit,” Huff said then. “We’ll probably have some real conversations at the end of the spring next week with what roster size may look like and how that affects some players on this team.”
While the roster has been packed with over 40 new players already and more on the way, there are a number of Golden Eagles who have kept themselves in key roles through the spring. Wide receivers Ti Mims and Davis Dalton were both heavily involved in the offenses with the latter catching the first touchdown of the game.
Tight end Kyirin Heath made a one-handed catch with the first-team offense. Chris Jones has solidified himself as the top linebacker while defensive lineman Jameer Lewis recorded a sack with the first team defense.
Even John White, who worked at quarterback behind already-named starter Braylon Braxton, was unofficially a perfect 7-for-7 for 74 yards with a touchdown pass to Marshall transfer Braylon Brown.
Brown would catch six passes for 59 yards. Another Marshall transfer, running back Moses Gray, was featured heavily with 10 carries for 60 yards.
“We’re ahead of places I’ve been because we have such a veteran presence on the offensive side,” Huff said after the game. “There’s probably one or two pieces we need to add on the offensive side that will create some depth and some continuity with our guys to be able to move some guys around, but I feel really good about where we are.”
What has changed?
Turning around a 1-11 football team was a three-to-four year process in a different era, but not anymore. It takes more than digging through the portal, however.
Those that are back after playing under former coach Will Hall have been quick to point out the difference in preparation, training and coaching they’re receiving.
“I would say we have worked harder this spring than the past couple ones,” Dalton said. The 6-foot-3 receiver has been at USM since 2022. “The fourth quarter program that coach (Huff) does ... that’s one of the toughest things I’ve done since I’ve been in college football and I feel like it’s paid off.”
Dalton said the nutritional aspect has also improved, with more food and healthier options available to them post-practice.
The result, according to Dalton, has been more competitive practices with more physical longevity.
Schematics and teaching has also been a welcome change for Dalton. Offensive coordinator and former Utah State head coach Blake Anderson has an offense that Dalton feels more comfortable in thanks to a level of flexibility that wasn’t offered by Hall’s offense.
“I like the offense a lot more than what we have done because we have a lot more choice and option routes that just depends on what the defensive back does,” Dalton said.
Jones has a similar opinion of his experience with new defensive coordinator Jason Semore. Though the scheme is still 4-2-5, Jones points to the teaching of it that has elevated his game.
“This is probably the best defense I have been a part of as far as knowing what’s going on,” Jones said. “I’ve learned a lot of football throughout my lifetime, this is the most I’ve learned football. Actual football. How to predict plays, how to know what’s going to go on before the play and things of that nature. I have learned so much out of this defense, man, it’s perfect for me.”
Semore spent the last two seasons holding the same position at Marshall, where the Thundering Herd were second in the Sun Belt in scoring defense in 2024 and top-25 nationally in third down defense and sacks each of the last two years.
Jones said the added element of facing Anderson’s up-tempo offense has further strengthened the unit.
“You got to get used to playing a down, get right back up and get back on the field,” Jones said. “That’s something we just got used to, so it’s not really a problem anymore. Now, if you had asked me if our defense last year could’ve done that, eh, it would’ve been a little harder because we didn’t practice against a tempo team.”
What’s next?
The spring portal window officially opens April 16. Huff fully expects the current roster to take attrition, but wouldn’t put a number on it due to the uncertainty of the process.
But what is certain is the coaching staff will be in the mix and on the hunt for more Golden Eagles on a particular side of the ball.
“I don’t know how many of those guys may walk in and say. ‘hey, coach, I think there’s a better opportunity for me somewhere else,” Huff said. “And we’ll support them. I want volunteers, not prisoners. We’re probably going to attack the defensive line and the defensive side of the ball really, really hard because we attacked the offensive side of the ball really hard in December. It will balance up.”
Another point of uncertainty is the looming House vs NCAA case, which could bring the total roster limit to 105 and introduce partial scholarships to the sport as soon as the 2025-26 academic year.
But once the roster is clear heading into the summer, the next phase of Huff’s build begins. That involves building the team as a whole with an emphasis on chemistry and cohesion.
“We came over here as Marshall, Utah State and Southern Miss,” Braxton said. “In this summertime process we’re all going to become Southern Miss. One football team.”
Southern Miss will open the 2025 season at home against Mississippi State on Aug. 30.
This story was originally published April 12, 2025 at 6:28 PM.
