After a 3-9 season that featured a seven-game losing skid, Southern Miss head coach Will Hall is likely coaching for his job heading into his fourth season in Hattiesburg.
With a 6-16 record in three years in charge of the Eagles, Hall will need to lean on reliable returners if he wants to be back next year.
Who are the Southern Miss Eagles top 10 returners for 2024?
Southern Miss Eagles Top 10 Returning Players
10) Andrew Stein, K
Connecting on 5-of-7 field goals and going 10-of-10 on extra points lands kicker Andrew Stein among the Eagles’ top 10 returners. The sixth-year senior is 19-for-23 (79.3%) on field goals for his career while manning kickoff duties on a part-time basis.
9) Gabe Cavazos, OL
After spending his first two seasons (2021-22) at Mississippi State, Gabe Cavazos stayed in-state for playing time.
The 6’6″, 303-pounder made 11 appearances with seven starts last season, returning in 2024 for a redshirt junior season with a year of on-field experience now under his belt.
8) Michael Caraway Jr., CB
Michael Caraway Jr. has been a serviceable rotational piece since arriving in Hattiesburg from junior college before the 2022 season, but this season he will be called upon for a full-time role in the starter’s spot as a senior.
In four starts last season, Caraway registered 15 tackles and two pass defenses.
7) Kristin Booth, DE
A fifth-year senior, Kristin Booth has 48 career tackles, 4.5 for a loss, and three sacks in 30 games. While far from staggering numbers, the 6’3″, 260-pound edge rusher will be called upon for a leadership role as a senior on the Eagles’ defensive line.
6) Brodarius Lewis, DL
Another senior defensive lineman, Brodarius Lewis, hasn’t blown away the competition — 31 career tackles with one sack — but the 6’2″, 320-pounder eats up a lot of space and frees up the linebackers to make plays.
Similar to Booth, his senior leadership is paramount for a defense with so many moving parts.
5) Dylan Lawrence, S
Dylan Lawrence transferred in from Mississippi State before last season and went on to lead the team in tackles with 78. Listed at 6’4″, his size gives the Eagles a wall on the back end of the defense, while his experience and production make him one of many senior leaders on this defense.
Another Southern Miss defensive back, MJ Daniels, who had three interceptions and seven pass defenses playing safety and corner last year, would have made this list if not for his tragic passing in June.
4) Jalen Willams, DL
An All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention in 2022, Williams was held to just five games in 2023, registering 11 tackles. Despite the low production, the 6’4″, 305-pound senior is another space-eating nose tackle who will be relied upon as a stalwart in 2024.
3) Rorigues Clark, RB
With Frank Gore Jr. now on the Buffalo Bills, there will be a lot more opportunities for Rodrigues Clark to tote the rock in 2024.
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Clark finished second on the team in rushing yards last season with 451, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Now a senior, Clark has 1,462 career rushing yards after spending his first three years at Memphis (2019-2021).
2) Tiaquelin Mims, WR/PR/KR
A dynamic play-maker on offense and special teams, Tiaquelin Mims led Southern Miss in receptions (39 catches for 445 yards and two scores) while manning the team’s primary punt return duties, averaging 11.1 yards on 15 returns with a touchdown.
A Swiss Army Knife that can even run the ball, Mims is going to be one of the main benefactors from the transfer of FSU quarterback Tate Rodemaker.
1) Jalil Clemons, LB
A sixth-year senior entering his third season in Hattiesburg, Jalil Clemons heads into his final year as a leader in the clubhouse.
Listed at 6’3″, 240 pounds, Clemons led the team with 11 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, 31 tackles and two forced fumbles.
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