|
TE
Shawn Nelson |
|
|
2005
Statistics |
Coach:
Jeff Bower
103-72-1,
16 years |
2005
Record:7-5 |
|
at
Alabama |
LOST
21-30 |
MCNEESE
STATE |
WON
48-20 |
at
East Carolina |
WON
33-7 |
TULSA |
LOST
17-34 |
UCF |
WON
52-31 |
at
UAB |
WON
37-28 |
at
NC State |
LOST
17-21 |
at
Marshall |
WON
27-24 (OT) |
at
Houston |
LOST
24-27 |
MEMPHIS |
LOST
22-24 |
TULANE |
WON
26-7 |
NEW
ORLEANS BOWL |
vs.
Arkansas State |
WON
31-19 |
|
2004 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2006
Outlook |
Winning
with smash-mouth results no matter
what the level of opposition is the
trademark of Southern Miss football,
and head coach (and alum) Jeff Bower
will produce no less in his 16th season
at the helm. The former-star QB here
has now produced 12 straight winning
campaigns. He knows how to get the
most out of his players, often overcoming
marginal statistical rankings for
the win as they hang in with even
BCS-aligned teams for a full 60 minutes.
This present campaign will see some
major changes that should prove to
be challenging, but nothing within
which Bower & Co. cannot again
achieve optimal results.
After
so-so results in spring ball, the
offense will need to further adjust
to a new style of quarterbacking with
Jeremy Young, who has the foot-speed
Dustin Almond never did. With a strong
line and corps of WRs to go with an
all-American-level TE, Young (or backup
Michigan State-transfer Stephen Reaves)
should find production through the
air easily achievable. The running
game is of concern after struggling
even through this year’s spring
sessions, but Young’s speed
will add that extra variable that,
through the clever play-calling of
coordinator Jay Johnson, should open
up the entire offense. Johnson is
in just his second year as OC, so
all are hoping his potential is realized
at the same time as the offense’s
full ability. Marginal results in
their total offensive effort (ranked
70th) still meant almost 30 points
per game (40th), so Johnson knows
how to produce even when they struggle
somewhat.
Defense
is where USM has usually been at its
best, and 2006 should return them
to being the most feared D in the
conference and one of the most respected
in the country. Marginal run-stopping
(73rd ranked) is the main focus, and
the new line along with an approach
at LB to create parity amongst the
two-deep should get the front seven
back on its usual track. The LBs are
also exceptional in coverage, so seeing
the starting DBs return with experience
will round out well the stopping efforts.
DC Jay Hopson probably never should
have left in 2004, for he had Southern
Miss in a real defensive groove before
putting a year in at Ole Miss. Still,
similar to the character on offense,
even when the Golden Eagles were allowing
yards in ’05 (73rd also in total
D), Hopson had their scoring allowed
stay strong, only giving up 22 points
per game to rank 33rd in that category.
4+3+4 always equals more than 11 under
Hopson’s guidance.
As
you can see, Bower knows how to get
both sides of the ball make the most
of their opportunities. Just think
of how good they can be when these
team numbers get better.
Southern
Miss continues to slate tough non-cons
in hopes of having the competition
take his players to their top performance
levels. This campaign sees a challenging
trip to Gainesville, Florida to start
things off, and the N.C. State Wolfpack
come into Hattiesburg two weeks later
for a battle that lovers of defense
should not miss. Another rough road
game, this time with Virginia Tech,
is injected into the middle of a tough
Conference USA run. USM is one of
those teams you know will be a headache
for the bigger opponents, and winning
even two against those big three they
will face is never out of the question.
But then the Golden Eagles will also
struggle against conference teams
it seems they are definitely better
than, so it is hard to either vault
them very high in the polls or promise
they will win their division half
knowing this track record. But if
Bower can produce like he did in ’05
after hurricane Katrina affected the
team’s scheduling, think of
how much that adversity should pay
off in the character of this year’s
squad.
Projected
2006 record: 9-3
|
|
|
K
Darren McCaleb |
SOUTHERN
MISS
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3 |
DL
- 2 |
RB
- 3.5 |
LB
- 2.5 |
WR
- 3 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Jeremy Young, 9-5-0, 0 TD
Rushing: Larry Thomas, 167
att., 647 yds., 4 TD
Receiving: Shawn Nelson, 35
rec., 540 yds., 5 TD
Scoring: Darren McCaleb, 23-28
FG, 38-39 PAT, 107 pts.
Punting: none
Kicking: Darren McCaleb, 23-28
FG, 38-39 PAT, 107 pts.
Tackles: Brandon Sumrall, 88
tot., 59 solo
Sacks: Robert Henderson, 5
sacks
Interceptions: Brandon Sumrall,
4 for 43 yds.
Kickoff Returns: Jasper Faulk,
7 ret., 15.1 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Jasper Faulk,
22 ret., 7.5 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
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SOUTHERN
MISS
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 9 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Dustin Almond-QB, Pedi Causey-TE, Neal
Mead-OT, Ricardo Clark-C, Antwon Courington-WR |
DEFENSE:
Tom
Johnson-NT, Terrance Ford-DT, Akeem
Lockett-BAN, Kevis Coley-MLB, Trevis
Coley-FS, John Eubanks-CB. Luke Johnson-P |
|
|
2006
OFFENSE |
Quarterback
Jeremy
Young has the lead in the race to replace
three-year starter Dustin Almond (now a
Cleveland Brown). This locally-based junior
(Provine) changes the offensive scheme with
speed (4.6 in the 40) to go with his strong
arm, stature (6’4”) and improvising
skills. But with only mop-up duty to prove
his worth, Young entering the fall as the
starter makes no promises for USM’s
offense. Michigan State-transfer Stephen
Reaves had knee surgery last fall, but his
health and eligibility have him primed to
see reps in 2006. Another junior, Reaves
is a drop-back passer who has picked his
game back up after a strong spring showing,
though he still has to build himself further
physically. Young will help foster the Golden
Eagles’ abysmal ground game (as Almond
never could), so all he has to do is continue
his trend of improvement so the entire offense
can take the next step.
Running
Back
Junior
Cody Hull, after a great spring, has spring-boarded
past classmate Larry Thomas for the start
at TB (though they are listed as “co-starters”).
Both are around six-foot and just under
200lbs, but Hull has proven to be both more
physical and more explosive, though Thomas
is a bigger factor in the passing game.
Like last year, expect both to average over
10 carries per game, so fresh legs will
be churning out of the USM backfield for
the entire game. QB Young, with his speedy
presence, should help both have better showings.
Senior FB Bobby Weakly needs to improve
two dimensions – his lead blocking
and his amount of carries. Weakly getting
the rock more would add that third ground
dimension if developed, though the development
of smaller backup Cole Mason late last season
proved to be just that (lost only four yards
on his 41 carries). Southern Miss averaged
only 3.3 yards per carry in ’05 while
ranking 93rd nationally and gaining a modest
111 yards per game, but these numbers should
improve for this team if they continue to
mix up the run with the same amount of passing,
which will keep foes guessing.
Receiver
Three
seniors anchor the receiving corps well
so that whichever new QB is hurling the
rock can likely find a few of them open
as needed. Anthony Perine and Josh Barnes
are both sub-6’, but are proven commodities
and will be go-to guys right away, especially
underneath with Nelson clearing LBs out.
Damion Carter is a deep threat with his
size advantage, and makes the WRs formidable
when all three are lined up. Junior Tavarres
Williams tore his MCL in ’05, but
has returned strong, and the guy who took
his place in many situations, Joe Singleton,
had the most improved spring of any WR (many
on the coaching staff feel sophomore Singleton
has the best hands on the team). Even more
experienced depth exists, so consider this
area, along with the line, their offenses’
strongest unit.
Tight
End
Sophomore
Shawn Nelson was the team’s top receiver
in ’05, and his prowess over the deep
middle (15.4 yards per catch) opens up so
much for the other snarlers. He set basically
every record in the school’s books
for TE production, and did such as a freshman,
so expectations are high. A bit small to
handle big DLmen, they have senior Jonathan
Palmer for blocking downs, though foes can
likely see which of them is in and know
what kind of play it will be. Coaches need
to get Palmer more involved as a pass catcher,
for the Dean’s Lister has the hands
to expand his role, and also because little
of the depth here can do what Nelson does
to break down opposing coverage schemes.
Offensive
Line
Four
returning starters in this group give hope
to the running game, though two of the three
seniors inside were still banged up after
spring and have to return in full force
before the chemistry here leads to improvements.
Travis Cooley’s knee problem kept
him out of the last three ’05 tilts,
but he expected back by fall. Cooley is
a second-team all-conference player at left
guard, so his return is needed. Center Robby
DeAngelo’s knee went out half way
through spring ball, but the prognosis looks
good for him to also be back at 100% by
fall. Classmate George Batiste garnered
first team all-Conference USA as he, like
DeAngelo, didn’t allow a sack in ’05
from his right guard slot (Cooley let in
just one). Left tackle Chris Clark led the
way for a line that allowed only 15 sacks
last year, and they had five games in which
none were seen. The only new starter is
sophomore right tackle Ryan McKee, but he
saw some action as a true frosh and looks
good so far. McKee uses his smarts and athleticism
well to make up for size/strength issues,
shortcomings that should go away as he bulks
up. The only problem here is depth –
further injuries would really impact what
the OL can deliver.
OFFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
Last
campaign was marginally better for the offensive
efforts than was 2004 (went from ranking
95th to 70th), but the unpredictability
of what new QB Jeremy Young brings to the
table is just what the doctor ordered for
real improvements to take place. With a
strong line in place to up production from
the ground game, Young’s speed here
will keep LBs honest to then soften up underneath
coverage(s) and running lanes for optimal
effect. The receivers go three-deep with
experience, and the presence of TE Shawn
Nelson will just make everything work better.
Concerns could arise if the depth (on the
OL and at RBs) is tested, and a switch to
drop-back QB Reaves would change/limit the
play-calling significantly. This is the
second year as coordinator for Jay Johnson
(fourth total here), and his expertise with
QBs and RBs should pay off to vault the
offense in its needed direction(s).
|
|
OG
George Batiste
|
|
|
SOUTHERN
MISS 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Jeremy
Young-Jr (6-3, 210) |
Stephen
Reaves-Jr (6-1, 206) |
FB |
Bobby
Weakley-Sr (5-10, 241) |
Cole
Mason-So (6-2, 232) |
RB |
Cody
Hull-Jr (5-11, 195) |
Larry
Thomas-Jr (6-0, 197) |
WR |
Anthony
Perine-Sr (5-11, 174) |
Damion
Carter-Sr (6-2, 193) |
WR |
Tavarres
Williams-Jr (6-0, 182) |
Chris
Johnson-Jr (6-0, 172) |
TE |
Shawn
Nelson-So (6-5, 230) |
Jonathan
Palmer-Sr (6-3, 248) |
OT |
Chris
Clark-Jr (6-4, 280) |
Jacquine
Wrice-Fr (6-5, 277) |
OG |
Travis
Cooley-Sr (6-2, 285) |
Wesley
Housley-So (6-2, 283) |
C |
Robby
D'Angelo-Sr (6-1, 277) |
Rick
Thompson-Jr (6-0, 281) |
OG |
George
Batiste-Sr (6-5, 309) |
Jimmy
Driskell-So (6-2, 306) |
OT |
Ryan
McKee-So (6-5, 265) |
Ryan
Hebert-Fr (6-6, 305) |
K |
Darren
McCaleb-Sr (5-11, 165) |
Britt
Barefoot-So (6-0, 174) |
|
|
2006
DEFENSE |
Defensive
Line
New
line coach Bill Wilt has a situation that
could be seen as having his glass either
half-empty or half-full. After allowing
much by way of ground gains from a DL that
has lost three starters, he can rebuild
things and make improvements simultaneously.
Senior Matt Chatelain is the only returning
starter, and he moves to “bandit end”.
Extremely mobile, this former walk-on has
been a factor in all facets of line play.
He will anchor his end while new starter
Ken Griffith will prove worthy from his
side. Griffith, a junior, has little experience,
but if his statistical line can continue
(after fighting injury in ’05, his
one tackle last year was for loss), this
quick-footed end’s promise means good
things. USC-transfer Ryan Watson looks strong
in the nose tackle slot to make the most
of his two years now left. Coming out of
Louisiana originally (powerhouse John Curtis
HS), Watson’s upside looks huge with
his nose for the ball. Classmate Martavius
Prince has more experience than Watson (proven
his wares as a backup) and is now their
other inside starter. Both tackles are small
for inside play and rely on athleticism
to overcome such, but that factor should
prove tough to overcome against their major
opponents like Florida and Virginia Tech.
For being somewhat rebuilt, this line has
depth and potential to do what USM traditionally
does so well – rotate fresh guys in
early and often so as to capitalize on a
gelled chemistry that allows them to play
extremely well as a unit.
Linebacker
There
are many changes here, even with two returning
starters back, though they seem to be relegated
to backup status heading into the fall.
But, more specifically, “We want to
get to the point where there isn’t
any difference between the starters and
backups at both outside linebacker positions”,
says OLB coach Fred Tate. James Denley has
been displaced by the guy who he replaced
– soph Gerald McRath broke his leg
in the second game of ’05, and junior
Denley held down the strongside position
the rest of the way out. McRath is back
and looking like his same speedy self. Wayne
Hardy was great on the weakside, but the
senior lost his job to then-true frosh Tokumbo
Abanikanda. Hardy, USM’s fifth leading
tackler in ’05, seems faster and is
over 20 pounds bigger, but Abanikanda is
considered the team’s best LB in coverage.
It all bodes well for optimal results, but
replacing all-American Kevis Coley in the
middle will mean a step back from his stellar
results. Marcus Raines is a junior JUCO-transfer
who gives the corps needed girth and strong
run-stopping skills, whereas sophomore ex-QB
Mitch Craft has more experience and a sharp
nose for reading where/how a play develops.
Southern Miss has a reputation for producing
the conferences’ best LBs, and the
new-look set we have listed here is sure
to play better as a unit than many will
expect.
Defensive
Back
Like
the DL, results here can improve just due
to the turnover providing a boost to last
year’s marginal results (ranked 78th
and 75th for pass efficiency and overall
pass defense, respectively). Calib Hendrix
provides senior leadership from his “boundary”
corner. A starter for the past two years,
Hendrix has the size and intuition needed
to be effective. Jasper Faulk has started
at both corner and safety (tied Hendrix
for team lead in passes broken up with six),
and the senior is also really strong in
the box. Experienced depth on the outside
is there, too (Willingham and McGee). Ex-RB
Brandon Sumrall returns as the starter at
“rover” safety after finishing
third on the team for tackles and tied for
the lead in INTs. Just as much of a ball-hawk
is free safety LeVance Richmond, a junior
former-JUCO all-American who is the fastest
of the DB starters, but still unproven at
the I-A level. Less depth in the deep middle
means injuries there would be impacting.
Early chemistry in this group will be lacking,
but once they learn to work together, this
unit should improve on what the secondary
delivered in ’05.
DEFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
With
only five starters back (two of them not
even slated as such any longer), there is
much that has to develop for the Golden
Eagles to reclaim their traditional ball-stopping
prowess that seems to have been lost over
the past few years. The LBs and secondary
look to be a bit stronger and more experienced
than the new-look line, but talent across
the board is there for all areas of this
D to have strong showings. Areas where this
year’s defense can improve from last
year’s efforts are on third-downs
(allowed foes a 39% conversion rate) and
in allowing less points as games progress.
Whereas USM let in a mere 24 points combined
in all the first quarters added together,
then allowing 75, 73 and 100 in the 2nd,
3rd and 4th quarters, respectively, lost
them quite a few games in ’05 that
they should have won (three of their last
five regular season contests were losses,
and by a grand total of nine points –
these tilts cost them their division half).
The last two recruiting classes have been
heavily weighted with quality defenders,
so it looks like old times and having a
bad-ass D can again be true in Hattiesburg.
|
|
DB
Brandon Sumrall
|
|
|
SOUTHERN
MISS 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Ken
Griffith-Jr (6-3, 275) |
Don
Loehr-Jr (6-0, 227) |
NT |
Ryan
Watson-Jr (6-2, 271) |
Man
Nyang-Fr (6-3, 260) |
DT |
Martavius
Prince-Jr (6-3, 278) |
Eric
Phillips-So (6-7, 271) |
BAN |
Matthew
Chatelain-Sr (6-2, 245) |
Shadler
Manning-Sr (6-3, 251)
Robert Henderson-Jr (6-3, 266) |
SLB |
Gerald
McRath-So (6-2, 212) |
James
Denley-Jr (6-2, 223) |
MLB |
Mitch
Craft-So (6-1, 224) |
Marcus
Raines-Jr (6-3, 240) |
WLB |
Tokumbo
Abanikanda-So (6-2, 200) |
Wayne
Hardy-Sr (6-0, 223) |
CB |
Jasper
Faulk-Sr (5-10, 183) |
Eddie
Willingham-So (5-10, 172) |
CB |
Caleb
Hendrix-Sr (5-10, 185) |
Cornelus
McGee-So (5-10, 165) |
ROV |
Brandon
Sumrall-Jr (5-11, 185) |
Ladarius
Webb-So (5-10, 164) |
FS |
LeVance
Richmond-Jr (5-11, 193) |
Eddie
Hicks-Fr (6-1, 170) |
P |
Britt
Barefoot-So (6-0, 174) |
.. |
|
|
|
2006
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Kicker
Senior
Darren McCaleb, fourth in the nation in FGs per
game in ’05, will continue to be gold from
inside the 40 and rather consistent even from
longer range (10-for-15 from beyond the 40 in
’05). He set the school’s record for
most FGs in a season (23) and in a career (53),
and he will again be maxed out for production
in all situations. Return coverage needs to be
stepped up on KOs, and new blood in the defensive
back seven looking to prove itself will surely
help.
Punter
Appropriately named sophomore Britt Barefoot (though
he does wear shoes to perform) has the booming
leg needed as he takes over for all-conference
Luke Johnson (also inherits the KO duties, where
his average as a freshman was better than Johnson’s).
Barefoot has to work on his consistency, but “…is
one of the best athletes at the specialist position
that I have seen since I have been here”
according to special teams coordinator Lytrel
Pollard. Net results should continue to be strong
after ranking 15th nationally in ’05.
Return
Game
Senior Jasper Faulk has the trust of coaches to
handle both return jobs. Not spectacular yet at
either (though competent), the staff thinks other
speedsters Tavarres Williams and Anthony Perine
can be given chances on PRs and Brandon Sumrall
a few KOs to see if someone can break out to show
more natural ability for field position gains.
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