July 21, 2006

To mere outsiders, Southern Miss' 7-5 record in 2005 may seem like a sub-par performance. Even to Head Coach Jeff Bower and his Golden Eagles, that record most definitely isn't one they were hoping for when preseason practice began. But to those within the Golden Eagle family, last season's 7-5 record will go down as one of the better performances in school history because of what the program had to go through to do just that.

There were high expectations heading into last season's campaign. Armed with a group that included a three-year starter at quarterback, leadership and a talented defense, a special teams unit that rivaled the best in the country and a bevy of untested but highly talented veterans and newcomers, the 2005 season had the potential to be one of the better seasons in recent memory.

But on August 29, 2005, expectations for the season were considerably changed. On that day, Hurricane Katrina, arguably the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, mangled the Mississippi Gulf Coast and altered life on and off the football field.

"That was the toughest year I have ever had in coaching," Bower said. "It was tough because of the two games that were cancelled and the effect that Hurricane Katrina had on all of our players. There was no routine to the season whatsoever."

The hurricane postponed Southern Miss' scheduled season-opener against Tulane - another school hit hard by the hurricane - prompting school officials to temporarily move the football team, coaches and numerous support staff to Memphis, Tenn. The move not only allowed the team to prepare for the season-opener at Alabama, but also provided the players and staff a much safer, and somewhat more normal, environment to be in.

In addition to the physical destruction that the storm caused to the Gulf Coast and the Hattiesburg campus, the hurricane also wreaked havoc on the minds of many of those involved with the Southern Miss program, who had families afflicted on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in the New Orleans, lower Louisiana area.

"The football team became a much closer group," Bower said of first week after the storm. "We spent a lot of time together that week in Memphis, and we did some team building things. Our players learned a lot from last year and there are a lot of things that we learned that will help us be a better football team."

Then, less than a month later, another storm, Hurricane Rita, caused another shift in the Golden Eagle schedule, postponing the team's scheduled game at the University of Houston.

When it was all said and done, the Golden Eagles played games on four different days of the week, including the first-ever game on a Sunday, played four road games in a row and played three games in 12 days.

"I've never been through a tougher year where the biggest challenge was to try and keep the players mentally fresh with everything that we were dealing with," Bower said. "We were just a mentally tired football team after the Marshall game."

While the team managed its record through what could be insurmountable odds, the outcome could have been even greater. Southern Miss was only a mere nine points away from finishing the regular season with a 9-2 record rather than a 6-5 mark. That close success only goes to prove just what kind of job the coaches and players actually did.

"Last year was a year that could have been really good," Bower said. "I really think it was one of our better coaching jobs. I think our staff did a good job and our players hung in there. They played hard all year long. We didn't win some close games down the stretch. How much some of those other things played a part, I'm not sure, but I felt that our staff did a good job and that our players played hard."

Now, heading into the 2006 season, expectations remain high that the team can build on the positives from a year ago and continue to improve for a successful campaign this season.

"I thought we did a lot of things well," Bower said of 2005. "We were second in the league in scoring offense. We were No. 1 in the league in scoring defense, sacks and turnovers forced per game. But we have to find ways to win games. We weren't a very good second half football team. In past years, we had been a good fourth quarter team, but this season, we just didn't get it done often enough. That is what we really tried to build on during the spring."

Counted among those positives from a season ago was the emergence of an All-American talent in redshirt-sophomore Shawn Nelson. As a redshirt-freshman, Nelson finished with team highs in receptions and receiving yards, and the tight end will be counted on to play well this season.

"Shawn Nelson is a talent at tight end, and we have to continue to find ways to get him the football," Bower said. "With the exception of the quarterback position, we have a lot of experience. We have to be the type of offensive football team where we don't necessarily have to ask the quarterback to win a football game for us. We need to do well around him and take a lot of pressure off him."

"Our leadership on defense will have to come from some underclassmen," Bower added. "When you look at it, we don't have many seniors. We will expect those younger guys to step up, and I think they will do that."

All that success also hinges on one factor that Bower really doesn't have control over - having as much of an injury-free season as possible.

"You can ask the coaches every year how good they were, and they'll most often say that we were fortunate to stay healthy," Bower said. "We weren't a healthy football team last year; we have to stay healthy, because we just don't have the depth."

While the 2005 season was one of the toughest on the Golden Eagles from a mental standpoint, the 2006 season could be one of the toughest from a scheduling standpoint. Southern Miss opens the season at perennial power Florida and also has non-conference games against Virginia Tech and N.C. State, which along with an always-tough Conference USA slate, makes the 2006 schedule one of the hardest in Bower's tenure.

"The schedule is good, because we will get tested and challenged at least early on," Bower said. "I think this is going to be the most difficult non-conference schedule we have played with Florida and Virginia Tech being preseason top 10 teams in my opinion. N.C. State is a good program with a lot of talent. The start is very tough - we get through those non-conference games and then start off the league at UCF and Tulsa, who played in the conference championship last season.

"It's always good to play a tough non-conference schedule because you can assess where you team is at, but we are going to have to stay healthy and get off to a good start."

The Offense
Heading into the 2005 season, the Southern Miss offense, under the direction of first-year coordinator Jay Johnson, had one primary objective among several goals - improvement. The unit sought to improve in every aspect of the game - from making better decisions, to increased physical play, to better execution on the field. While the progression of improvement may not have been what Johnson would have liked, the team did make strides in certain areas over the season, overcoming injuries in key positions and developing an experience level that was lacking with a lot of younger players.

"Obviously, I don't think you are ever satisfied," Johnson said of his team's 2005 performance. "As the year progressed, we were maligned with some injuries, but I felt that in certain areas we continued to improve. That was one of the big things that we tried to focus on - getting better. We were not where we needed to be, but I felt that we did make some improvements at certain times."

Those improvements came in a number of statistical categories for the offense. The unit scored an average of four points per game higher than the previous season, finishing with 29.58 points per game. Strides also were made in passing offense and total offense, with 65 more yards per game in passing and 31 yards more in total offense. The team also improved in passing efficiency, bettering the previous year's ranking from 98th in the nation to 55th.

Even with those improvements, however, Bower and Johnson will be quick to say that there's still a lot of work left to do. While the passing game flourished, consistency with the running game wasn't up to par.

"The disappointing thing is that there were a few games we were unsuccessful," Johnson said. "If we made a few changes or had some better performances, we would have done better. We were nine points away from being 9-2. We felt that we were very close, but it comes back to getting better at what we are doing. We were young, and I felt that as the season went on, we put ourselves in a position to be successful."

In order to achieve that success this year, the offense will have to do it without three-year starting quarterback Dustin Almond, who completed his eligibility last season. While there will be a new player under center this season, he will not be without a solid, and experienced, supporting cast - highlighted by All-American and all-conference talent.

"Anytime you can surround the quarterback with guys who have more experience, that does nothing but help the player," Johnson said. "But in the end, it will come to (the quarterback) making plays. When you look at successful teams, and successful offenses, it's those guys who are successful at that spot."

Among the strengths of the 2006 Golden Eagle offense will be the athleticism and potential in All-American tight end Shawn Nelson; the experience on the offensive front with All-American candidates George Batiste and Travis Cooley and all-league candidates Chris Clark and Robbie D'Angelo; veteran wideouts Josh Barnes, Anthony Perine and Tavarres Williams; and running backs Cody Hull and Larry Thomas.

"Shawn is a big strength for us," Johnson said. "He has the ability with his athleticism to line up different places and stretch defenses. You can couple that with some of the other receiving corps."

Although the production in the running game wasn't where it needed to be last season, Thomas and Hull both saw extensive action in the backfield and return for the 2006 season with higher expectations.

"Coming out of spring, I feel better at this point about where we are in the running game," Johnson said. "Last season, statistically, we were terrible running the ball. But I feel we made a lot of progress, and I am excited. I hope that with the maturation of the running backs and our younger players, we can continue to grow and get even better."

Along with the mindset of being better in all aspects of the offensive scheme, there is an emphasis to be more physical as well - not only where the offensive line is involved, but also with the wide receivers.

"You'll always have an emphasis on being better all around, but there is always an emphasis on physical play," Johnson said. "And that's not just for the offensive line. We have to be more physical with our receivers on blocking, our running backs and how they finish their runs."

One aspect that should help the offensive unit in the fall will be the familiarity with the players and their coaches. For the first time in four seasons, every position on the offensive side of the ball will be coached by their tutor from the previous year. And that continuation is something that Johnson knows will only help the process of getting better.

"It's great," Johnson said. "I think we have a good staff, and we have developed a good understanding of each other after being together for a year. We know what direction we are headed and how every position fits in with that."

That being said, the true measure of success for the Golden Eagle offense will come not by how well the coaches can bring along the players, but how well those players can step up and be productive on the field. For Johnson, the concern is not only on who will line up under center in the fall, but on the depth of experience surrounding that player. While the team does have returning experience with the first-string offense, several players will have to step up to provide the quality depth as backups.

"I am concerned about the quarterback spot, even with our good competition," Johnson said. "But there is also a concern of depth in most positions. We are not very deep at certain spots. We have a fair number of players who have had starting time and playing experience, but then you look at it, and we don't have the depth behind them. It works out differently from year to year, and we are going to have to have some younger players step up for us to do well."

The Quarterbacks
One major area of concern for the 2006 football season lies on which of the quarterbacks will step up and fill the void left by the departure of Dustin Almond - a three-year starter at the position. Almond leaves Southern Miss as one of the best ever to play the position, joining the likes of big name quarterbacks like Brett Favre, Reggie Collier, Lee Roberts and Jeff Kelly. Almond finished the 2005 season with 2,860 yards and 23 touchdowns on 216-of-394 passing. His production accounted for nearly 65 percent of the total offensive output from last season. While statistically Almond's departure will be tough to fill, it may be even harder to replace his determination and leadership on the field.

Although Johnson knows that Almond's loss will be tough, he is very confident that whoever steps into his shoes - redshirt-junior Jeremy Young or redshirt-junior Stephen Reaves - the team will have a quality quarterback on the field.

"We have been spoiled a little bit because we had a player like Dustin," Johnson said. "He did a lot of great things here, and he really finished his career off strong.

"Innately, by the position, these guys need to be leaders. We always work on the little things that will help them be leaders. I think all the quarterbacks are very competitive and can bring that to the table."

Following spring drills, Young, a Jackson, Miss., native, seems to be favorite to be the starter heading into fall practice. Of the quarterbacks on the roster, Young (6-3/210/r-Jr.) has the most experience, albeit not much, after serving as the backup for the past two seasons. Throughout those two years, Young has competed in nine total games, tallying 275 yards on 23-of-55 passing and a rushing touchdown.

"Jeremy has a chance to be a very good player," Johnson said. "He had a solid spring. He is very smart and an outstanding athlete and does a lot of good things. Jeremy is a guy who is very prepared for that spot. He may not have had very many game reps, but he did get a lot of reps on the practice field."

Battling Young for the starting signal caller spot will be Reaves (6-1/206/r-Jr.), who will be in his first season of eligibility at Southern Miss, after sitting out last season to fulfill NCAA transfer requirements following his arrival from Michigan State. Reaves underwent knee surgery last fall, but is expected to be at full strength for the 2006 season.

"Stephen transferred from Michigan State, where he had some game experience there," Johnson said. "He has a great knack for the game, is good mentally and throws a very good ball. (Following his injury) he is probably not where he needs to be physically, but he should be ready for the fall season."

While it will be his first time on the field as a Golden Eagle, Reaves does have some game experience under his belt. As a redshirt-freshman at Michigan State, Reaves finished with 331 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-58 passing in five games. Prior to that, he was a standout quarterback at Plant High School in Tampa, Fla. While at Plant, he threw for nearly 3,600 yards and 30 touchdowns, his last two seasons.

"Both Jeremy and Stephen have been very competitive, and it was a good spring," Johnson said. "We tried to balance the reps out equally to give them each an opportunity."

Behind Young and Reaves, true freshman Martevious Young (6-1, 178, Fr.) and walk-on Todd Wilson (6-3, 200, r-So.) adds depth and will battle for the No. 3 spot.

"Those guys are young and will help us down the road," Johnson said. "They need to keep working hard, learning our offensive system and get more experience."

Regardless of who steps in to fill the void at quarterback, Johnson remains highly optimistic because of the capable athletes vying for the position. And while Young appears to be the front-runner to start next season, it could be any one of those players who will step up and take the position.

"I think it will remain competitive," Johnson said. "They are all doing some good things, but they also have to improve on little things to set themselves apart. When a play presents itself, we want our quarterback to be prepared to make that play. When one of these guys continually does that, then that player will be our quarterback."

The Running Backs
Coming out of spring practice, there is not a starting running back. Instead, there are co-starters, in Larry Thomas and Cody Hull. The fact that one has not established himself as the true starter, according to position coach Derrick Nix, is no reason to sound the alarm.

"They're both going to play a lot," Nix said. "That's why they're co-starters. They compliment each other. Cody is more of a patient runner and lets things develop before exploding through a hole. Larry is more of a downhill runner that attacks more.

"We will be solid with Cody and Larry," Nix said. "Both have competed and improved, but need to continue developing speed and power, while understanding the offense inside and out. They both had a strong season last year, and are ahead of our other running backs, but we do have good competition there."

Thomas (6-0/197/r-Jr.) began 2005 as the starting running back and started the first 10 games there, before Hull took over for the final two games. Thomas finished as the team's leading rusher, with 167 carries for 647 yards and four touchdowns, while Hull posted 130 carries for 542 yards and three scores.

Hull finished the season strong, gaining 161 yards on 37 carries in the New Orleans Bowl, his first 100-yard performance. The 37 carries tied for the fourth most in school history, while his 161 yards were a New Orleans Bowl record and the first time a back had 150 yards or more rushing since Nix gained 196 against Memphis in 2002.

Thomas posted three 100-yard performances in 2005, (115, McNeese State, 129, UAB and 118, Marshall). Both players are versatile as well, as Thomas caught 17 passes for 118 yards, while Hull snagged 10 for 66 yards.

But despite those four strong performances, Nix was a bit disappointed in the total season performance in the running backs, which saw the ground game gain 1,336 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry.

"We didn't have a bad year, but it wasn't great," Nix said. "We want to make big plays, along with the other things, like taking care of the ball, blocking correctly through a play and making a guy miss to get short yardage.

"We want our running backs to be total backs," Nix said. "One that can get third and one and a 30-yard run, pass protect and catch out of the backfield. We want someone that can do everything we ask. That's what we're looking for."

Running the ball is perhaps more of a priority this season, especially with a new quarterback under center. While that could pose problems with handoff exchange, with four returning starters on the offensive line, Nix sees no reason why the running game can't be a success.

"We need to perform," Nix said. "The offensive line is the key as well. The better they are, the better it makes us. The offensive line is solid and understands what we're doing. I don't think we have any added pressure to perform because of the new quarterback. We have enough pressure on ourselves."

Looking to see action in the backfield this season is Conrad Chanove (5-9/185/r-Jr.), a member of the Golden Eagle track team. Chanove had a strong spring and played in all 12 games last season, all on special teams.

"He's a very hard nosed and tough runner," Nix said. "He's very coachable and does everything you ask. He needs more opportunities to play."

CJ Barrows (6-1/201/r-So.) has been plagued by injuries so far in his career as a Golden Eagle, missing last season due to hernia surgery. He has fully recovered, and if he can stay healthy, could challenge for playing time.

"He has been hurt a lot since he's been here," Nix said. "He has a ton of potential and hopefully he can stay healthy to see what he can do."

The fullbacks saw more time last season, especially in short-yardage situations, due to the late season emergence of Cole Mason (6-2/232/r-So.), along with the continued solid play of Bobby Weakley (5-10/241/Sr.).

Weakley played in 11 games last season, making eight starts, as the team only started a fullback in those eight games. He scored his first career touchdown and Southern Miss' first rushing touchdown of 2005 against McNeese State, and finished the year with 12 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown, also catching four passes for 31 yards.

"Bobby had a great spring and has separated himself," Nix said. "He has improved his blocking and running after contact. He needs to work on his pass catching skills out of the backfield. He understands our offensive concepts and I've been pleased with how he ran the ball in the spring."

Mason played in eight games, finishing with 41 carries for 136 yards and four touchdowns.

"Cole has a lot of ability," Nix said. "He is going to be a fine player, but needs to continue to get repetitions until our offense becomes second nature."

Both Mason and Weakley could be used in short-yardage situations, but Nix said that is contingent on "what the game calls for."

Josh Barton (6-0/250/r-Fr.) also adds depth at fullback.

The Wide Receivers
The wide receiver position has perhaps the most experience, at least offensively, on the 2006 Golden Eagle football team. The receiving corps only lost one player, graduated senior Antwon Courington, who missed the last seven games of the season after suffering a season-ending knee injury, from last year's unit, though two players, Ivory Bradshaw and Ed Morgan moved to the defensive backfield.

There are a wealth of receivers vying for playing time this season, and when position coach Courtney Messingham looks at the stable of receivers on the roster, he likes what he sees.

But that only goes so far, and Messingham felt that the unit, which has only three seniors, in Josh Barnes, Damion Carter and Anthony Perine, two of whom, Barnes and Carter, saw extended action for first time in 2005, needed to get a better handle on the offensive schemes.

"We wanted to learn the system and get our young receivers used to what we're doing," Messingham said. "I feel that was accomplished. Joe Singleton is an example, as he has learned all three wide receiver positions. Josh Barnes has also learned all the receiver positions and feels comfortable with them as well."

That experience and continued development of the younger receivers, which Messingham said went well this spring, will be especially important this season, with a new quarterback under center, due to the graduation of three-year starter Dustin Almond.

"Because of that, we need to go out and have mindset of making plays and then make the plays," Messingham said. "We also need to be physical and set a tone to the defensive backs. Our route running and catching the football has all been good, and we've made more plays as a unit this spring. We will be a good receiving corps."

Messingham expects a wide receiver rotation of six or seven players, which will see extended action on the field in 2006.

"When one of those six or seven step on the field, you should feel comfortable with them out there," Messingham said. "Some of them need to get better and grow and that will be important.

Perine (5-11/174/Sr.) was the team's leader in receiving yards by a true wide receiver, with 441, adding 31 catches and two touchdowns. He was slowed by an ankle injury in the spring, but Messingham expects him to be fully recovered in time for fall practice.

"He was a bit banged up in the spring and didn't get as many repetitions as I wanted," Messingham said. "But he's our most experienced receiver. He needs to stay healthy."

Barnes (5-10/191/Sr.) led the receivers with 32 catches, tying for first in touchdowns with five, while finishing second with 421 receiving yards. Barnes was one of five Golden Eagles to post a 100-yard receiving game in 2005, finishing with a career-best 103 yards on seven catches and two touchdowns against Houston.

"He played a lot especially after Antwon Courington got hurt," Messingham said. "He has learned our system and knows all three receiver positions well. He's not afraid to mix it up on offense, but needs to be a little more consistent catching the football."

Carter (6-2/193/Sr.) got more repetitions in the spring, after having a career-best season at wide receiver, since moving to the position full-time in 2005. He finished with 14 catches for 252 yards and two touchdowns, the first of his career.

"He got better and became more consistent this spring," Messingham said. "He will be a better player this season for us. He understands the game, but needs to play hard all the time and be more physical."

Junior Tavarres Williams (6-0/182/Jr.) was slowed by a knee injury midway through the 2005 season, but has fully recovered. Williams finished with 15 catches for 157 yards, scoring his lone touchdown on a 13-yard reverse against East Carolina.

"He has returned strong and showed a lot of burst and the ability to catch the football," Messingham said. "He has good size and excellent ball skills."

Redshirt junior Chris Johnson (6-0/174/r-Jr.) also was slowed by injury at times in 2005, missing two games because of a knee injury. He finished with 20 catches for 303 yards and two touchdowns in 2005. Johnson was one of five Golden Eagles to post a 100-yard receiving game in 2005, finishing with 113 yards against UAB, and scoring two touchdowns against UCF.

"He has a very quick burst down the field and can catch the ball," Messingham said. "He can make plays."

Sophomore Joe Singleton (6-3/195/So.) enjoyed perhaps the strongest spring of any of the wide receivers. Singleton did not play in the first five games in 2005, but then played in the final seven, due to the injured receiving corps. He caught his first career touchdown against Memphis on a 15-yard reception, ending the year with nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.

"His ball skills are unbelievable, along with his hand-eye coordination," Messingham said. "He has the best hands on the team and can catch anything. He's still getting used to the position and will be an excellent player for us."

Others looking to add to the mix this season include Justin Harris (6-2/198/r-Fr.,), Chris Rhoden (6-4/180/r-So.), Lucas Thomas (6-0/185/r-Jr.) and Justin Whiddon (5-10/165/r-So.). Stuart Davidson (6-1/191/r-Fr.) will miss the season after suffering a season-ending knee injury during spring practice.

Making the position potentially more dangerous is the development of tight end Shawn Nelson (6-5/225/r-So.), who led the team with 35 catches for 540 yards, while tying for the most receiving touchdowns with five. He earned New Orleans Bowl MVP, finishing with six catches for a career-high 121 yards.

"He gives us versatility and the personnel to be the fourth and even third wide receiver," Messingham said. "He's athletic enough to run down the field like a receiver and score."

With all the weapons and athleticism of the receiving corps, Messingham believes this could be a strong year for the Golden Eagle receiving corps, even with a new quarterback under center.

The Tight Ends Last year, the tight end position saw the emergence of Shawn Nelson, who enjoyed the best season performance by a Golden Eagle tight end in school history.

Nelson (6-5/225/r-So.) led Southern Miss with 35 receptions, 540 receiving yards and tied for first with five touchdowns, bettering the performance of Marvin Harvey's 28 catches in 1980, Bobby Garner's 374 receiving yards in 2001 and Harvey's three touchdowns in 1980. He earned Conference USA All-Freshman honors, and was selected a Freshman All-American by The Sporting News.

Nelson was also named the New Orleans Bowl MVP, after posting six catches for a career-high 121 yards and two touchdowns, for the second 100-yard receiving game of his career. He posted the highest receiving total of any Golden Eagle in 2005, and his 121-yard performance was the first time a receiver finished with over 120 yards since Todd Pinkston had 125 yards against Northwestern State in 1999.

His New Orleans Bowl performance followed his first 100-yard receiving performance, 113 yards against Tulane, as he became the first Golden Eagle receiver to post back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since Marvin Young finished with 104 yards against USF and 101 yards against Louisiana-Lafayette in 2003.

The question now is what does he need to do to get better, in order to avoid a sophomore slump.

"He had a big year last season," position coach Randy Butler said. "He's a big-time player and is only going to get better in the coming years. We knew he had tons of ability, but I don't think we could've predicted the kind of year he had last season.

"He had a strong spring," Butler said. "He works hard and has improved his blocking skills. We would like to get him a little stronger. He just gives us so many options offensively, with his versatility."

Also returning at tight end is Jonathan Palmer (6-3/248/r-Sr.), who played in 11 games last season. Palmer caught his first career pass in 2005, a nine-yard reception. He is mainly used in blocking situations.

"Jonathan works hard and is probably our best blocking tight end," Butler said. "He does whatever you ask and gives everything he has."

Adding depth at the position is Derek Chapman (6-4/275/r-Jr.) and Bryant Carpenter (6-2/245/r-Fr.).

The Offensive Line
When looking at the Southern Miss offensive line, there are two ways to view the unit. On the one hand, there's a wealth of experience with four starters returning, including two three-year starters, senior right guard George Batiste (6-5/309/r-Sr.), a first-team 2005 All-Conference USA selection and senior left guard Travis Cooley (6-2/285/r-Sr.), a second-team 2005 All-Conference USA selection, along with returning starters at center, senior Robby D'Angelo (6-1/277/r-Sr.) and left tackle, junior Chris Clark (6-4/280/r-Jr.).

Those starters give Offensive Line Coach Mitch Rodrigue much relief and comfort, knowing that he can depend on those four.

But on the other hand, the backups, along with the new starter at right tackle, Ryan McKee (6-5/265/So.), are young and relatively inexperienced.

"Our first group is very talented, has experience and is going to be good," Rodrigue said. "The problem is that our second group has no experience and is very young. Any injury would be devastating to our line, due to lack of depth."

However, the lack of depth is perhaps a bit misleading, as two of the four returning starters, Cooley and D'Angelo, missed time this spring due to injury.

"Yes we have some starters returning," Rodrigue said." Two of them missed the spring, and that's not good, but it did allow us to get some people more snaps."

Cooley missed the final three games of the 2005 season, after sustaining a knee injury in practice prior to the Memphis game. He missed all of spring and will be back to full strength for preseason practice.

"He will be back to 100 percent this summer," Rodrigue said. "I expect him to make a full recovery and pick up right where he left off last season"

During the spring, sophomore Wesley Housley (6-2/283/r-So.), who spent his first two years at left tackle, moved to left guard and gained valuable experience filling the void left by Cooley.

"That experience helps tremendously," Rodrigue said. "He will be a quality backup for us. That's the nice thing about him taking all the snaps in the spring. He's played tackle and guard, and he can play either place."

D'Angelo missed the second half of the spring with a knee injury, which he had scoped following the Black and Gold Spring Game. Rodrigue expects D'Angelo to be fully healthy before preseason practice.

There is one new starter on the offensive line, McKee, who replaces graduated senior Neal Mead at right tackle. McKee saw action in three games last year as a true freshman.

"He is very athletic," Rodrigue said. "He's a big kid who needs to gain some weight and improve his strength. But his athletic ability makes up for some of his shortcomings. He is smart and picks things up quickly. He will be a good player for us."

Along with Housley, other primary backups will be Ryan Hebert (6-6/305/r-Fr.) at guard, Jacquine Wrice (6-5/277/r-Fr.) and Nick Dean (6-3/281/Jr.) at tackle and Rick Thompson (6-0/281/r-Jr.) at center. Rodrigue also expects junior college transfers Ronnie Carter (6-7/330/r-So.) and Gary Jones (6-0/310/Jr.) to add to the mix.

We're young with our backups," Rodrigue said. "I don't expect any of the freshmen we've signed to help us, unless they are phenomenal."

One thing Rodrigue wants to continue, is the lack of sacks allowed by the offensive line. Last season, Southern Miss allowed only nine sacks by the offensive line, which ranked No. 2 in Conference USA. Batiste and D'Angelo did not allow a sack, while Cooley only allowed one. The offensive line posted five games last season without allowing a sack.

That will be especially important this season, as the Golden Eagles will usher in a new quarterback, and Rodrigue knows there will be added pressure to protect the new Golden Eagle signal caller.

"There's no doubt about it," Rodrigue said. "Dustin Almond did a good job of eluding defensive pressure and got rid of the ball. Having a new quarterback is a concern, because he hasn't seen as much live action, and you don't know if he's going to sit in the pocket or scramble, because he's nervous. It is a concern for us. We need to take the pressure off him by being able to run the football. That's one area we need to improve."

Still, the offensive line returns a lot from a unit that helped the offense average 29.6 points per game, ranking No. 3 in Conference USA and No. 41 nationally, while amassing 4,288 yards of total offense (2,952 passing, 1,336 rushing). The passing offense was the most in school history for a season, averaging 246 yards per game, the No. 2 performance in school history.

"We hope we can continue that success offensively into this season," Rodrigue said.

The Defense
Defensive excellence has always been a sense of pride for Southern Miss football. For when it comes to playing physical and tenacious defense, it's a facet of the game for which the Golden Eagle units of the past have been known for.

For second-year coordinator Jay Hopson and his defensive unit the emphasis remains on being physical, while at the same time building on the successes from last season. After all, the Golden Eagles finished tops in the league in overall sacks, scoring defense and turnovers forced per game - all three of which are areas that Southern Miss takes pride in.

"Some positives from last season were that we led the conference is scoring defense, in sacks and turnovers per game," Hopson said. "Anytime you can do that, you should be pretty happy with that."

But those successes were overshadowed by the fact that the Golden Eagles didn't fare very well when it came to total defense - the amount of yardage opposing offenses gain throughout the season. And it is on improving that stat that Hopson and his defensive unit will strive to improve heading into the 2006 season.

"Over the spring, we emphasized on cutting down on our yardage totals and making big plays," Hopson said. "Last season, I thought the kids battled hard, and they did well in points and turnovers, both of which are important for our success."

So to do that, the defense is going back to the foundation for defensive success - being sound fundamentally in all areas of defense, including tackling.

"We have concentrated a lot of our efforts on tackling," Hopson said. "That has been the major emphasis. We struggled with that fundamentally last year.

Despite the sub-par performance in yardage totals, the team did improve on possibly the most important aspect of the game - keeping opponents scoring to a minimum.

"I would like accentuate the positives," Hopson said. "This team made a lot of improvement and did a lot of good things over the season. The bottom line is that we have to keep them out of the end zone, and in that regard, we did well last season. Now, we just have to build on those positives."

Helping the team build on those positives will be a core group of players that gives the team more experience on the defensive side than it had heading into this time last season. While defensive leaders Kevis and Trevis Coley, John Eubanks, Terrance Ford and Tom Johnson all are gone from last season, several players, including defensive backs Caleb Hendrix (5-10/185/Sr.), Jasper Faulk (5-10/188/r-Sr.), Brandon Sumrall (5-11/195/Jr.), linebackers Tokumbo Abanikanda (6-2/210/So.), Wayne Hardy (6-0/230/r-Sr.), James Denley (6-2/242/r-Jr.) and Gerald McRath (6-2/215/r-So.), all return with starting experience.

"We were very young last year," Hopson said. "But we actually have more experience this time than we did at the same time last year. We just have to find a couple of more guys to give us the depth we need to be successful."

Counted among those spots will be at middle linebacker - where newcomer Marcus Raines (6-3/245/r-Jr.) and veteran Mitch Craft (6-1/235/r-So.) both are battling - and along the defensive front. But not only will the team seek to fill voids left by departures at those positions, players also will have to step up from a leadership standpoint.

"We have to have good leadership," Hopson said. "I think we have leadership in our secondary, and we should have a stronger unit with our linebackers, because of our game experience going into the season.

"It's one of those things that happens every year, and you just hope people come in and step up, because it's their time. You hope everyone gels as a unit, and after the spring, I was pleased with the work ethic."

The defense also features several position coaching changes heading into the season - all done with the aim of maximizing each coaches' strengths and giving each defensive position the tutelage it needs to be successful.

In addition to his coordinator duties, Hopson will coach the middle linebackers. Lytrel Pollard, who also doubles as the team's special teams coordinator, will coach the defensive backs. The defensive line will fall in the hands of newcomer Bill Wilt, who has a wealth of experience coaching the defensive line, including a stint as the defensive coordinator at Marshall. Fred Tate will now coach the outside linebackers.

The Defensive Line
The defensive line will be under different leadership as the newest member of the coaching staff, Bill Wilt, brings years of successful defensive line experience to the Golden Eagle sideline this season. He already has made an impact with his position and his players during the spring, challenging them to become better as individuals and collectively as a unit.

He will have to retool the line after losing both starting defensive tackles from last year and another veteran defensive end, who saw plenty of action during his career. An emphasis was placed on increased physical play, an increase in pass rush and stopping the run was placed on the line during the spring and the group responded with tremendous improvement.

"If we are going to have a good defensive line, number one we have to be physical," Wilt said. "In today's game, each player has to play with great leverage and be a student of the game. You have got to study yourself and your opponent.

"We have to reduce the amount of surprises we see on game day during the week with preparation. We also have to be fundamentally sound and each player needs to know what they can and can't do so we can maximize the strengths and stay away from weakness."

All-Conference USA tackle Tom Johnson, three-year starter Terrance Ford at the other tackle and end Akeem Lockett, who also saw time as a part-time starter over his career, are all gone.

Johnson was the team's fourth leading tackler with 54 total tackles, including 26 solo stops, 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups. Ford finished with 30 tackles and assisted on a tackle for loss, and Lockett finished with 34 tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss and recovered a fumble.

Matthew Chatelain (6-2/247/r-Sr.), a former walk-on, returns for his final season and is slated as the starter at the defensive end position heading into the preseason. He looks to provide a solid pass rushing threat from the outside as well as leadership to the defensive line this season. Chatelain has been the starter for the past two years at the defensive end position and has seen a lot of action in big games for the Golden Eagles. He is a tough and physical player who plays with a lot of energy but looks to keep improving his ability to shed blockers more quickly from the point of attack to increase the effectiveness of his pass rush. Last season, he finished with 30 tackles, including 18 solo stops, two sacks, four tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.

Adding depth and battling for playing time is Ken Griffith (6-3/269/r-Jr.), Eric Phillips (6-7/282/r-Jr.) and Don Loehr (6-0/238/r-So.).

Griffith had an early season Achilles injury and was medically redshirted, only seeing action in two games, but came back and had a good spring. He can play both positions on the line, either outside or inside. He is a hard worker, who once he gains playing time within the system and becomes more comfortable, will see plenty of action.

Phillips has a lot of ability and looks to challenge for more playing time this season. He has good size and has worked hard to increase his strength but needs to be gain more experience and keep improving his pass rushing fundamentals. Loehr is a walk-on, who has shown improvement but needs to continue gaining playing experience.

Robert Henderson (6-3/279/r-Jr.) and Shadler Manning (6-3/251/Sr.) are battling for the starting job at the bandit end position. The coaching staff was pleased with both of their performances during the spring and looks for both to make an impact this season.

Henderson showed signs of outstanding play last season but looks to be more consistent and dominating this year. He is a smart player who is tough and plays hard but needs to be more physical and keep improving his quickness when he is rushing the passer. The coaching staff is counting on him to take his game to the next level for the team to achieve success once again. He was the team's sixth-leading tackler last season with 46 total tackles, including tying for the team lead in sacks (5) and had 7.5 tackles for loss and forced two fumbles.

Manning saw action last season, playing in eight games, but had an outstanding spring and showed signs of being a legitimate pass rusher. He is an excellent athlete, is tough and physical and has good speed off the edge. He needs to continue gaining experience and once he does, the coaching staff believes he will have a big year.

At the nose tackle position, Ryan Watson (6-2/293/r-Jr.) and Mam Nyang (6-3/250/r-Fr.) will battle for the starting position.

Watson saw action in eight games last season and showed improvement during the spring. He will look to step up this season and make more of a contribution, especially as a run stopper. He is a smart player who has a great attitude and wants to excel. If he continues working on his footwork and keeps improving his physical play, he will take his play to the next level.

Nyang redshirted last season but was much heralded coming out of high school and looks to make an immediate impact. Even though he missed some of the spring, he showed that he is an explosive player with a bright future. He is quick, has good speed and strength and plays the game hard. If he works hard in the summer and prepares himself for the season, he has a chance to see action in his first year on the field.

Martavius Prince (6-3/288/r-Jr.), one of the most explosive inside tackles, returns for his third season on the defensive line and came out of spring practice as the starter at the tackle position. Last season, he finished with 16 tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss and blocked a kick. Prince has shown a good amount of improvement over the course of last season and during the spring. He is an intelligent player with good physical tools and looks to have a breakout season. Prince is being counted on by the coaching staff to provide leadership on and off the field.

The coaching staff is looking at junior college transfer Sean Merrill (6-3/292/Jr.) to add depth at both inside positions. He transferred to Southern Miss in January from Gulf Coast Community College. He has good size and speed and should add depth. He brings two years of experience and solid credentials from Gulf Coast Community College and looks to battle for playing time right away. He tore a pectoral muscle during offseason workouts and had to sit out for part of the spring. He will be back to full strength for preseason camp and should give immediate help.

The Linebackers
The linebackers will be under new leadership as well this season as Lytrel Pollard will now assume the duties of the secondary. Fred Tate moved from defensive tackles to coach the outside linebackers and defensive coordinator Jay Hopson will coach the middle linebackers.

Gone from last year is Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and All-American middle linebacker Kevis Coley. He led the team with 150 tackles, including 81 solo stops, five sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. He posted double-figure tackles in nine games last season and had a season-high 20 tackles against Memphis.

A pair of players - newcomer Marcus Raines and redshirt-sophomore Mitch Craft - will both battle to fill the void left by Coley's departure. The pair of players have both competed in a tight battle for the spot throughout the spring, with one or the other shining on any given day.

Craft (6-1/224/r-So.) holds a slight advantage in the fact that he has more NCAA Division I experience - even though there is very little of it. Last season, Craft played in four games and registered one assist, while playing primarily on special teams. He would have seen more time last season but suffered a late season hamstring injury before the Tulane game.

Raines (6-3/240/r-Jr.) redshirted last season after transferring from Pasadena Community College. While at Pasadena, Raines earned all-conference honors despite missing three games due to injury. He led the team in sacks and hurries his sophomore season and finished with more than 130 tackles over his two-year career, being named the team's defensive Most Valuable Player as a freshman.

"Marcus brings a lot of raw physical talent, and he is a hitter," Hopson said. "Mitch has very good instincts with the game. It's one of those things that will come down to the middle of August - it's that close of a competition."

Following the two players are Jerome Lyons (6-1/215/r-Jr.), who played at Itawamba Community College and redshirted last year after missing the entire season recovering from a knee injury, and Chaz Richards (5-11/220/r-Jr.), who saw limited time during his first two seasons of eligibility.

At the strong-side and weak-side linebacker positions, veteran players return at both positions to not only give a good starter but quality depth as well. McRath and Tokumbo Abanikanda (6-2/210/So.) will be counted on as the field generals of the front seven and to provide leadership on and off the field as the preseason starters at the strong-side and weak-side linebacker positions. Denley at the strong-side and Hardy at the weak-side linebacker positions will be right there with them and will challenge for the starting jobs.

"We want to get to the point where there isn't any difference between the starters and backups at both outside linebacker positions," Tate said. "We have enough ability with Gerald (McGrath) and James (Denley) at the strong-side and Tokumbo (Abanikanda) and Wayne (Hardy) at the weak-side that we shouldn't have any drop off from one to the other. If we can play the season that way, we should be in excellent shape at the outside positions."

McRath played in two games last season, before a broken fibula in his lower left leg forced him to miss the remainder of the season. He finished with five tackles at Alabama, including four solo stops, forced a fumble and returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown, before sustaining the season-ending injury in game two. He is back at full strength and went through the spring campaign. He will be counted on for leadership on and off the field, as well and the coaching staff is expecting him to be a defensive playmaker. He needs to stay healthy, because he is aggressive, provides speed, strength, can cover well and is very good in blitzing situations.

After McGrath went down last season, Denley was forced into duty and did a good job of filling the spot for the remainder of the season. He showed improvement over the course of last season and again this spring. The coaching staff believes he is a quality player and will see plenty of action. He adds depth at the position and could challenge for the starting job. He finished as the team's seventh-leading tackler with 41 tackles, two sacks, six tackles for loss, blocked a kick and recovered a fumble. He had a season-high seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss at East Carolina.

Abanikanda saw plenty of action as a true freshman last season, showed a lot of potential and eventually worked his way into a starting role at the weak-side linebacker position by the end of the season. He worked hard in the offseason, had a good spring season as well and the coaching staff is counting on him to be a defensive playmaker. He is valuable in blitzing situations and is probably the best linebacker in coverage. His top performance last season was a seven-tackle, one sack and two tackle for loss performance against Arkansas State in the New Orleans Bowl. He finished with 12 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss for the year.

Hardy started 11 of the 12 games last year and was the team's fifth-leading tackler, finishing with 53 tackles, including 27 unassisted tackles, three sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He had a season-high 11 tackles at Houston, assisted on a sack, had a tackle for loss and recovered a fumble.

"I challenged those guys, especially Gerald and Tokumbo to be our leaders and the defensive playmakers on the field," Tate said. "I want them to take charge out on the field, be the leader and be in control. Our biggest concern is to keep those players healthy. If we can do that, they will make a lot of plays."

Also looking to fit into the mix at the weak-side position is Octavius Everett (6-0/229/Fr.) and John McMahan (5-10/211/r-Jr.).

The Defensive Backs
The defensive secondary will undergo changes as well as two-year starters Trevis Coley and John Eubanks both are gone. However, there are plenty of experienced players who will challenge for those starting roles, along with two starters, Brandon Sumrall (5-11/195/Jr.) and Caleb Hendrix (5-10/185/Sr.) retuning from last year's team. Both, along with Jasper Faulk (5-10/188/r-Sr.), who earned the starting job at field cornerback, will be counted on to provide leadership on and off the field in the secondary. The numbers are there at both cornerback and safety positions but depth has to be built.

Eubanks and Coley were two of the top players at their positions in the conference for the past two years. Coley was the team's second leading tackler with 109 total tackles, including 69 solo stops and two interceptions. Eubanks finished with 31 tackles, including 27 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble and tied for the team lead in interceptions with four.

"We have a lot of young guys with a lot of talent in the secondary, only having three seniors, Caleb Hendrix, Jasper Faulk and Howard Overby," Pollard said. "We have a big sophomore class and a few juniors but overall, I feel good about this group. We have to work hard and continue improving during the offseason and come into camp knowing there is a lot of pressure on the defensive backfield. We are looking at 10 defensive backs that can help us this year so we will have depth. We have depth but we need to continue developing experienced depth."

Hendrix, who has been a starting cornerback for the past two seasons, returns for his final year as the starter at the boundary cornerback position. He had a hamstring injury that he fought with for the entire season and had more problems in the spring. If he can stay injury free, he is one of the best cover cornerbacks in the conference. He finished with 21 tackles, including 15 solo stops, 1.5 tackles, an interception and two fumble recoveries. He had a season-high four tackles against UCF, at UAB and at Marshall and had 1.5 sacks at UAB.

Cornelius McGee (5-10/166/So.) saw limited action last year as a true freshman but is a good athlete and saw more playing time in the spring when Hendrix was out and looks for more time this year. He has worked hard and will see more playing time this year at cornerback and as the team's nickel back.

Also looking to add to the mix is Ivory Bradshaw (6-1/183/r-So.), who was moved after playing wide receiver the past two years. He is tall and has a lot of speed, and if he continues to improve his technique will see more time on the field.

At the field cornerback position, Faulk, a senior who has seen plenty of action at both safety and cornerback is slated as the starter. He has good speed and showed a lot of improvement in his cover ability over the course of last season. He finished as the team's eighth-leading tackler with 40 tackles, including 27 unassisted, two sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, a blocked kick, a fumble recovery and two interceptions. He recorded both of his interceptions against Tulsa and returned one 49 yards for a touchdown. He had a season-high seven tackles at Alabama, had a sack at UAB and two tackles for loss against Memphis.

Eddie Willingham (5-1/178/r-So.), who saw plenty of action as a redshirt freshman last season, playing in all 12 games and starting two of them, adds depth at the field cornerback position and should see plenty of action on the field this season. He finished with 21 tackles, an interception, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery last season. He has outstanding speed and was able to gain experience last year but needs to keep improving his coverage skills.

Senior Howard Overby (5-10/193/r-So.) and Ed Morgan (5-9/160/So.) look to add to the mix at cornerback. Overby played in two games last season before a car accident forced him to sit the out the remainder of the season. He received a medical redshirt and will have one more season to play. He played a lot as a junior and gained a lot of experience and has shown a lot of potential in the spring, especially when he was in man-to-man coverage. Morgan played his first season at the wide receiver position and was switched over to the cornerback position during the spring. He has great speed and made a smooth transition to the new position.

Sumrall, one of the team's defensive playmakers, returns as the starter at the rover position. He is the Golden Eagles' leading returning tackler this season, totaling 88 stops, including 59 unassisted, a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and tied with a team-leading four interceptions. He was a second-team All-Conference USA selection and was named to the CollegeFootballNews.com's sophomore All-American team last year.

Ladarius Webb (5-10/168/r-So.) adds depth at the rover position and looks to step up and make more of a contribution as a sophomore. He does a good job against both the run and the pass, and is one of the hardest hitters on the team. He finished with 18 tackles and a pass breakup in his first season, and had a season-high six solo tackles against McNeese State and collected four tackles at Houston.

LeVance Richmond (5-11/205/r-Jr.), who is slated to start at free safety, came to Southern Miss last year as a highly heralded junior college player from Pearl River Community College where he earned All-American honors as a sophomore. At PRCC in 2004, he finished with 46 tackles, 26 pass breakups and led the nation with 13 interceptions. He redshirted last season to learn the defensive system and make the transition to major college football. He is smart and is a very good leader but needs to gain playing experience at the Division I level.

Eddie Hicks (6-1/182/r-Fr.) and Lance Moore (6-0/186/r-So.) will battle for playing time behind Richmond at free safety. Hicks redshirted last season and Moore saw limited action as a redshirt freshman. Both add speed and ability and need more experience but both should see playing time this season. Hicks was a surprise to the coaching staff in the spring and showed a great deal of physical tools but just needs game experience. Moore is a smart player who is going to help the secondary in a number of ways when he gains more experience as well.

"I challenged the players throughout the spring that they can't be afraid of their opponent, and they have to have confidence in their ability," Pollard said. "You can't lack confidence, because if you do, you won't be successful. You are going to give up a play every now and then, because that is the nature of the game but if you are a good player you will shake it off and come up the next play and make sure that doesn't happen again."

The Special Teams
Darren McCaleb (5-11/171/Sr.), a two-time All-American and the school's all-time scoring leader, returns for his final season. He worked hard on his leg strength and looks to add distance on his kicking resume, which already is one of the most consistent kickers in the nation. He finished with 23 field goals made in 28 attempts and hit 38-of-39 extra point attempts for 107 points. He finished as the school's second-leading single-season scorer behind Sammy Winder's 120 points in 1980, but did break the school's all-time career point record of 255 points. He is very confident in his ability and will be counted on to kick field goals with consistency and accuracy once again in his final season.

"Darren has the confidence when he goes on the field that he can make any kick," Pollard said. "He has worked hard to increase his range and knows he has to perform under pressure. He has been a very good kicker for us during his career and needs to finish his career the same way."

Punter Luke Johnson, a first-team All-Conference USA punter and All-American, graduated, so Britt Barefoot (6-0/178/r-So.) will look to replace him. Johnson finished with 53 punts for 2,378 yards, an average of 44.9 yards per punt and had a long of 56 yards. He placed 13 inside the opponent's 20-yard line and kicked 11 punts of 50 yards or more. Barefoot has a strong leg, has good distance on his punts but needs to continue working on his consistency and hang time.

"Britt Barefoot has been working hard since the end of last year, because he knows the pressure is on him to perform," Pollard, who is the special teams coordinator, said. "He is one of the best athletes at the specialist position that I have seen since I have been here. He has a stronger leg than Luke but has to work hard and be consistent. He needs to develop the mindset to be a good punter."

Jasper Faulk (5-10/188/r-Sr.), ranked No. 5 in C-USA in punt return yards per game, was the team's punt returner last year, finishing with 22 returns for 7.5 yards per return and had a long return of 47 yards. The coaching staff worked with the punt return unit during the spring to challenge them to be more productive. Looking to add depth and challenge for playing time at the position will be a pair of speedy receivers, Tavarres Williams (6-0/175/Jr.) and Anthony Perine (5-11/185/Sr.).

All-American kickoff returner John Eubanks is gone so a new returner must step forward and continue in the line of outstanding return men at Southern Miss. Eubanks, ranked No. 3 in C-USA and No. 37 in the nation in kickoff return average, finished with 28 returns as a senior last season for 678 yards, an average of 24.3 yards a return with a long return of 78 yards. Looking to fill the open position this season will be Jasper Faulk and Brandon Sumrall. Both have a lot of speed and look to bolster the special teams once again.

"At the returner positions, we have several players we are going to have a chance to see what they can do," Pollard said. "Last year, we saw flashes of Jasper Faulk being an outstanding returner and Anthony Perine and Tavarres Williams both have the speed and the ability to be good. I believe Brandon Sumrall has the natural ability to be good at the position as well."

Stephen Daigle (6-0/214/Sr.) returns for his final season as the team's long snapper, and Cody Tawater (6-4/239/r-Fr.), a redshirt freshman will add depth at the position.