The Southern Miss Golden Eagles have a number of intriguing 2024 NFL Draft prospects. Could they exceed their 2023 total with their upcoming class, and are there any future NFL contributors in the mix?
Southern Miss Golden Eagles NFL Draft Prospects
As is often the case for bowl teams from the Group of Five ranks, Southern Miss said farewell to several impact players in the 2023 offseason. Cornerback Eric Scott Jr. was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in Round 6, and defenders like Dominic Quewon, Daylen Gill, Santrell Latham, Natrone Brooks, Camron Harrell, and Malik Shorts all left as well.
On offense, the Golden Eagles saw less turnover, but they did lose their top wideout in Jason Brownlee — who later emerged as a training camp star for the New York Jets. What returns for Southern Miss is a still-murky QB situation and a mostly intact offensive line. But whatever uncertainty the Golden Eagles have on offense, they can rely on Frank Gore Jr. to smoothen troubled waters.
Frank Gore Jr., RB
It’s easy to get carried away with the hype because of a recognizable name, but Gore Jr. — the son of the famed NFL RB of the same name — is legitimately an intriguing 2024 NFL Draft prospect in his own right.
He doesn’t quite have the mass and physicality his father had, but the younger Gore has snappy lower-body flexibility, sharp intelligence as a space runner, and the burst to capitalize on tight creases at 5’8″, 195 pounds. He could eventually be drafted.
Jakarius Caston, WR
Having lost Jason Brownlee, the Golden Eagles will need a new top target at wide receiver. Jakarius Caston best projects into that role. He might not be the contested threat that Brownlee was, but at 6’0″, 204 pounds, Caston — a former high school running back — has an exciting run-after-catch profile.
In 2022 — his second year at Southern Miss after transferring from the JUCO ranks — he compiled 446 yards and five scores on 31 receptions.
Armondous Cooley, DT
Some of the brightest flashes on Southern Miss’ defensive line come from Mississippi State transfer Armondous Cooley. Cooley saw his first on-field action as a redshirt sophomore for the Golden Eagles in 2022 and rewarded them with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Cooley is a dense, compact defender at 6’3″, 305 pounds, with good burst off the line. Even more impressive, however, are the glimpses of stack-and-shed torque and power at the point.
Quentin Bivens, DT
Cooley isn’t the only SEC transfer worth keeping tabs on within Southern Miss’ interior defensive line group. There’s also Quentin Bivens — a 6’3″, 305-pound lineman who transferred from Ole Miss in 2022 and achieved career-high numbers in Sun Belt play.
In 2022, Bivens logged 32 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks. He’s a bit less dense than Cooley, but he’s longer-limbed and can use his proportional reach to drive power and finish in pursuit.
Averie Habas, LB
Avarie Habas’ production in 2022 scored him a spot on the honorable mention All-Sun Belt team, and it also earned him recognition here as a potential 2024 NFL Draft sleeper.
Listed at 6’3″, 242 pounds, Habas serves as the versatile JACK linebacker for the Golden Eagles. In 2022, he contributed 48 tackles, three sacks, and two pass deflections and amassed an impressive 12 TFLs with his hyperactive twitch and urgent pursuit energy.
MJ Daniels, DB
Following Power Five talent to Group of Five teams can be a fruitful exercise. One particular Power Five transfer to watch on Southern Miss’ roster is defensive back MJ Daniels. At 6’2″, 190 pounds, Daniels was a four-star recruit who was lauded for his combination of length and fluidity.
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In 2022, though he played sparingly, he was able to flash his versatile upside with a half-sack. He could emerge as the Golden Eagles’ nickel defender in 2023.
Jay Stanley, S
Like several others on Southern Miss’ roster, Jay Stanley is a transfer from Ole Miss. He immediately became a starter for the Golden Eagles after transferring in 2021 but morphed into a star on the back end in 2022, amassing 60 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, five interceptions, seven pass breakups, and three forced fumbles.
At 6’2″, 215 pounds, Stanley has it all — size, length, range, and high-level playmaking ability.
Other Notable Names
- Latreal Jones, WR
- Cole Cavallo, TE
- Briason Mays, OL
- Gerquan Scott, G
- John Bolding, G
- Jalen Williams, DL
- Kristin Booth, EDGE
- Hayes Maples, LB
- Micheal Caraway Jr., CB
- Jay Jones, S
Southern Miss Golden Eagles Schedule
- Week 1
BYE - Week 2
Sept. 2: vs. Alcorn State Braves - Week 3
Sept. 9: at Florida State Seminoles - Week 4
Sept. 16: vs. Tulane Green Wave - Week 5
Sept. 23: at Arkansas State Red Wolves - Week 6
Sept. 30: vs. Texas State Bobcats - Week 7
Oct. 7: vs. Old Dominion Monarchs - Week 8
BYE - Week 9
Oct. 17: at South Alabama Jaguars - Week 10
Oct. 28: at Appalachian State Mountaineers - Week 11
Nov. 4: vs. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks - Week 12
Nov. 9: at Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns - Week 13
Nov. 18: at Mississippi State Bulldogs - Week 14
Nov. 25: vs. Troy Trojans - Week 15
BYE
