Will Southern Miss football soar under first-year head coach Will Hall?

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 16: Offensive coordinator Will Hall of the Tulane Green Wave looks on against the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 16: Offensive coordinator Will Hall of the Tulane Green Wave looks on against the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Southern Miss linebacker Santrell Latham tackles Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt during their football game in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020.Usmtl6
Southern Miss linebacker Santrell Latham tackles Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt during their football game in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020.Usmtl6 /

Experience key for Eagles’ defense

The 2020 season was unusual for everybody, but it hit the Southern Miss defense especially hard. Racheem Booth, Shannon Showers, and Jacques Turner all opted out of the season. Luckily for the Golden Eagles, they’re back for the 2021 campaign.

The defensive line got a boost from the transfer portal with the additions of DaShawn Crawford (Virginia Tech) and Everett Cunningham (Memphis). Throw Turner, Terence Cherry, and Eriq Kitchen into the rotation and the Eagles have a deep and talented front.

Couple the defensive line with the experience of the linebackers and the Golden Eagles’ defense is shaping up nicely. Maples led the team in tackles (91) last season, but he’ll be re-joined by Booth on the second level. Santrell Latham is a player to watch, though, as he’s back after recording 49 tackles, 6.5 tackles-for-loss, and four sacks from his linebacker slot.

The secondary loses safety Ky’el Hemby, but the return of Showers and Rachaun Mitchell should help fill that void. Natrone Brooks is joining the position group this season, too, along with two Ole Miss transfers, Lakevias Daniel and Jay Stanley. That’s two more Power-5 additions to the Golden Eagles’ defense.

What more can I say? Southern Miss has a ton of talent on this side of the ball. And with players unexpectedly playing big roles last season, they’ve got the talent – and the depth – to make every game an interesting one in 2021.