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Southern Miss football looks to continue its rise in 2020

By Michael Hanich

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 26: Head coach Jay Hopson of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles watches players warm up before the game against the Rice Owls on October 26, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 26: Head coach Jay Hopson of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles watches players warm up before the game against the Rice Owls on October 26, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Jack Abraham, Southern Miss football (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Golden Eagles look to develop more dynamic, explosive offense

The Golden Eagles come into the 2020 season looking to account for more efficiency on the offensive side of the ball.

They have already made sufficient adjustments for the upcoming season with the hiring of former Louisiana-Monroe offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Kubik for the same position. Kubik has coached the Warhawks into one of the most dynamic and high-power offenses in the past couple of seasons. He joins co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Scotty Walden who will be entering his third season with the Golden Eagles.

Southern Miss is looking for more from their star skilled players as last year, the Golden Eagles were ranked 81st in the nation in points per game (26.6) and 63rd in the nation in total yards per game (407). They were one of the worst rushing offenses in the nation last season as they were ranked 121st in the nation (13th in C-USA) in rushing yards per game (117.5).

Long-time starting quarterback in Jack Abraham will be entering into his third full season as the starter. This past season, the Golden Eagles got more productivity out of Abraham than in 2018 as he passed for 3,496 yards, 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions on 275 completions (out of 405 passing attempts). Abraham also accounted for six rushing touchdowns this past season. They need him to be more efficient in games against more established opponents.

In the last three games of the season, Abraham threw five interceptions and only touchdowns. Kubik will look to make Abraham more consistent and attempt to turn him into a dynamic playmaker.

There is a fair amount of competition for the top starting running back spot after the departure of receiver/running back De’Michael Harris. Kevin Perkins and Trivenskey Mosley are the top backs to take over the starter. Perkins rushed for 547 yards and three touchdowns on 103 carries this past season as the backup. Mosley was highly efficient in his true freshman season in 2018 as he rushed for 494 yards on 99 carries.

Both running backs will look to make the Golden Eagles more dynamic to make up for the lack of a rushing game last season.

In 2019, the Golden Eagles benefitted from a receiving corps that was explosive and distinctive with the talents they possessed. They will miss the dynamic playmaking abilities of Quez Watkins, who left early for the 2020 NFL Draft. Southern Miss returns their top outside receivers from last year in Tim Jones and Jaylond Adams. Jones is on the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award watch list as last season he caught 73 receptions for 902 yards and three touchdowns.

Arkansas transfer in Grayson Gunter is projected to start at the tight end position.

The Golden Eagles return four of their five starting offensive linemen from last season. Outside of the wide receiver position, the offensive line was one of the more productive groups on the offensive side of the ball as they only gave up 23 sacks all season. Left guard Arvin Fletcher will start for his fourth year in a row. Fletcher was named to Athlon Sports’ preseason first-team All-C-USA.

Khalique Washington, Trace Clopton and Bryce Foxworth all return as the starting left tackle, center and right guard, respectively.

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