2021 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team

The 2021 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Eagles played their home games at the M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (CUSA). They were led by first-year head coach Will Hall.

2021 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionWest Division
Record3–9 (2–6 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorSam Gregg (1st season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorAustin Armstrong (1st season)
Base defense3–3–5
Home stadiumM. M. Roberts Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Conference USA football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Western Kentucky xy   7 1     9 5  
Marshall   5 3     7 6  
Old Dominion   5 3     6 7  
Middle Tennessee   4 4     7 6  
Florida Atlantic   3 5     5 7  
Charlotte   3 5     5 7  
FIU   0 8     1 11  
West Division
UTSA xy$   7 1     12 2  
UAB   6 2     9 4  
North Texas   5 3     6 7  
UTEP   4 4     7 6  
Rice   3 5     4 8  
Southern Miss   2 6     3 9  
Louisiana Tech   2 6     3 9  
Championship: UTSA 49, Western Kentucky 41
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

On October 28, 2021, Southern Miss announced that this will be the last season for the team in the C-USA and will join the Sun Belt Conference on July 1, 2022.[1]

Preseason

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C-USA media days

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The Golden Eagles were predicted to finish in fourth place in the West Division in the Conference USA preseason poll.[2]

Media poll (West Division)
Predicted finish Team
1 UAB
2 UTSA
3 Louisiana Tech
4 Southern Miss
5 Rice
6 North Texas
7 UTEP

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 4 7:00 p.m. at South Alabama* ESPN+ L 7–31 20,156
September 11 6:00 p.m. Grambling State* ESPN3 W 37–0 25,235
September 18 6:00 p.m. Troy*
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS
ESPN+ L 9–21 24,242
September 25 6:30 p.m. at No. 1 Alabama* SECN L 14–63 100,077
October 2 5:30 p.m. at Rice ESPN3 L 19–24 16,031
October 9 6:00 p.m. UTEP 
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS
ESPN3 L 13–26 26,049
October 16 2:30 p.m. UAB
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS
Stadium L 0–34 21,514
October 30 2:30 p.m. at Middle Tennessee ESPN+ L 10–35 10,721
November 6 2:00 p.m. North Texas
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS
ESPN+ L 14–38 22,478
November 13 2:30 p.m. at No. 23 UTSA ESPN+ L 17–27 30,105
November 19 7:00 p.m. at Louisiana Tech CBSSN W 35–19 10,410
November 27 2:00 p.m. FIU
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS
ESPN+ W 37–17 20,041

[3]

Personnel

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2021 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 0 Demarcus Jones   Jr
WR 1 Jason Brownlee Jr
WR 2 Da'Quan Bailey-Brown Jr
RB 3 Frank Gore Jr. Fr
QB 5 Ty Keyes Fr
RB 6 Dajon Richard   Fr
RB 7 Darius Maberry   Jr
QB 8 Trey Lowe   So
QB 9 Tee Webb Fr
QB 11 Jake Smithhart Sr
RB 12 Chandler Pittman Fr
QB 14 Jack Walker   Jr
WR 15 Jakarius Caston So
WR 16 Brandon Hayes Fr
WR 17 Zay Franks Fr
QB 18 Jason Goldstein   So
WR 19 Richard Mays Jr. Fr
RB 21 Zahn Diaz Fr
RB 23 Dee Baker   Fr
QB 24 Jake Lange Fr
RB 28 Jimmie Haywood   Fr
TE 33 Cole Cavallo   So
OL 79 Tykeem Doss Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 0 Michael Pleas Jr. Fr
DB 1 Rachuan Mitchell   Sr
DL 2 Eriq Kitchen Sr
DL 3 Tahj Sykes   Jr
DL 5 Everitt Cunningham   Sr
LB 6 Santrell Latham   Jr
DL 7 Dominic Quewon Jr
LB 8 Josh Perry   Sr
DB 9 Malik Shorts   So
DB 11 Antavious Willis   Fr
DB 12 Eric Scott Jr.   Jr
DB 13 Tyrek Moody   Jr
DB 15 Vinson Brown Fr
DB 17 Brendan Toles Fr
DB 18 Natrone Brooks Jr
DB 19 Kendrick Abney Jr
DB 20 Lakevias Daniel Jr
DB 21 Jay Stanley So
DB 22 Rube Scott Rhea Fr
LB 23 Arian Gregory Fr
LB 24 Tyrese Hopkins Fr
DB 26 Jay Jones Fr
LB 28 Swayze Bozeman Sr
DB 29 Camron Harrell Jr
DB 31 J.D. Rutherford Jr
LB 32 Hayes Maples   So
DB 34 Jeremiah McDonald   So
LB 35 TQ Newsome   Fr
DL 36 Dashawn Crawford Sr
DB 39 Hayes Puckett Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 16 Mason Hunt   Jr
P 20 Griffin Fleming So
K 29 Dalton Melancon   So
K 30 Jack Tannehill Fr
K 40 Briggs Bourgeois   Jr
LS 56 T. J. Harvey   So
LS 59 Justin Hulett   Sr
LS 62 Seth Roberson   Fr
P 92 Payton Snyder   So
K 97 Trey Herbert Fr
K 98 Andrew Stein So
K 99 Tucker Barefoot Fr


Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Reed Stringer
    Assistant head coach/General manager
  • Sam Gregg
    Offensive coordinator/Offensive line
  • Austin Armstrong
    Defensive coordinator/Inside linebackers
  • Cayden Cochran
    Tight ends
  • Mark Criner
    Outside linebackers
  • Jordy Joseph
    Running backs
  • Brandon Lacy
    Defensive line
  • Desmond Lindsey
    Wide receivers/Passing game coordinator
  • Dan O'Brien
    Safeties
  • Greg Meyer
    Special teams coordinator
  • Chad Williams
    Cornerbacks

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster

Game summaries

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At South Alabama

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1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Eagles 7 0 0 0 7
Jaguars 0 14 10 7 31
Statistics USM USA
First downs 19 13
Total yards 258 300
Rushing yards 125 31
Passing yards 133 269
Turnovers 4 1
Time of possession 31:27 28:33
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Miss Passing Trey Lowe 13/29, 133 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 19 rushes, 81 yards
Receiving Jakarius Caston 3 receptions, 38 yards
South Alabama Passing Jake Bentley 17/22, 269 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Kareem Walker 18 rushes, 26 yards
Receiving Jalen Tolbert 5 receptions, 168 yards

Grambling State

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1 2 3 4 Total
Tigers 0 0 0 0 0
Golden Eagles 7 3 10 17 37
Statistics GRAM USM
First downs 9 22
Total yards 141 439
Rushing yards 51 290
Passing yards 90 149
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 28:00 32:10
Team Category Player Statistics
Grambling State Passing Aldon Clark 8/19, 60 yards, INT
Rushing Darqueze Brutton 8 rushes, 35 yards
Receiving Donald Johnson III 3 receptions, 26 yards
Southern Miss Passing Trey Lowe 10/13, 99 yards, TD
Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 21 rushes, 162 yards, TD
Receiving Jakarius Caston 4 receptions, 50 yards, TD

Troy

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1 2 3 4 Total
Trojans 0 0 14 7 21
Golden Eagles 3 0 0 6 9
Statistics TROY USM
First downs 17 14
Total yards 304 156
Rushing yards 49 -1
Passing yards 255 157
Turnovers 2 2
Time of possession 30:54 29:06
Team Category Player Statistics
Troy Passing Taylor Powell 27/39, 255 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Kimani Vidal 17 rushes, 45 yards, TD
Receiving Tez Johnson 10 receptions, 106 yards
Southern Miss Passing Ty Keyes 16/27, 157 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 15 rushes, 31 yards
Receiving Antoine Robinson 3 receptions, 49 yards

At No. 1 Alabama

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1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Eagles 0 7 0 7 14
No. 1 Crimson Tide 21 21 7 14 63
Statistics USM ALA
First downs 11 22
Total yards 213 606
Rushing yards 82 211
Passing yards 131 395
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 31:18 28:42
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Miss Passing Ty Keyes 11/24, 131 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Ty Keyes 12 rushes, 41 yards
Receiving Grayson Gunter 3 receptions, 61 yards
Alabama Passing Bryce Young 20/22, 313 yards, 5 TD, INT
Rushing Roydell Williams 11 rushes, 110 yards, TD
Receiving Jahleel Billingsley 5 receptions, 105 yards, TD

At Rice

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1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Eagles 7 0 7 5 19
Owls 7 3 14 0 24
Statistics USM RICE
First downs 21 15
Total yards 378 315
Rushing yards 57 108
Passing yards 321 207
Turnovers 4 0
Time of possession 28:22 31:38
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Miss Passing Jake Lange 23/37, 304 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 17 rushes, 79 yards
Receiving Jason Brownlee 8 receptions, 127 yards
Rice Passing Jake Constantine 16/22, 192 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Cedric Patterson III 1 rush, 38 yards, TD
Receiving Jake Bailey 5 receptions, 83 yards, TD

UTEP

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1 2 3 4 Total
Miners 7 7 7 5 26
Golden Eagles 7 0 0 6 13
Pregame line Over/under
UTEP –2 44.5[4]
Statistics UTEP USM
First downs 16 17
Total yards 392 254
Rushing yards 265 15
Passing yards 127 239
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 30:48 29:12
Team Category Player Statistics
UTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 7/17, 127 yards, INT
Rushing Ronald Awatt 18 rushes, 159 yards, TD
Receiving Tyrin Smith 1 reception, 55 yards
Southern Miss Passing Jake Lange 20/31, 239 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 16 rushes, 43 yards
Receiving Jakarius Caston 4 receptions, 94 yards
1 2 3 4 Total
Blazers 3 28 3 0 34
Golden Eagles 0 0 0 0 0
Statistics UAB USM
First downs 20 9
Total yards 388 107
Rushing yards 223 75
Passing yards 165 32
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 34:08 25:52
Team Category Player Statistics
UAB Passing Dylan Hopkins 8/13, 147 yards, TD
Rushing DeWayne McBride 17 rushes, 137 yards, TD
Receiving Jermaine Brown Jr. 4 receptions, 48 yards
Southern Miss Passing Jake Lange 3/10, 18 yards
Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 13 rushes, 40 yards
Receiving Jason Brownlee 1 reception, 14 yards

At Middle Tennessee

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1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Eagles 7 0 3 0 10
Blue Raiders 14 7 14 0 35
Statistics USM MTSU
First downs 22 15
Total yards 234 287
Rushing yards 50 145
Passing yards 184 142
Turnovers 5 4
Time of possession 33:00 27:00
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Miss Passing Jake Lange 16/34, 166 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 20 rushes, 83 yards
Receiving Jason Brownlee 9 receptions, 120 yards, TD
Middle Tennessee Passing Mike DiLiello 8/12, 78 yards
Rushing Mike DiLiello 11 rushes, 77 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Jarrin Pierce 3 receptions, 75 yards

North Texas

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1 2 3 4 Total
Mean Green 0 7 21 10 38
Golden Eagles 14 0 0 0 14
Statistics UNT USM
First downs 25 11
Total yards 537 229
Rushing yards 321 113
Passing yards 216 116
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 34:14 25:46
Team Category Player Statistics
North Texas Passing Austin Aune 16/30, 216 yards, INT
Rushing Isaiah Johnson 17 rushes, 119 yards, TD
Receiving Detraveon Brown 4 receptions, 85 yards
Southern Miss Passing Jake Lange 17/25, 116 yards, TD
Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 12 rushes, 82 yards
Receiving Jason Brownlee 4 receptions, 53 yards, TD

At No. 23 UTSA

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1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Eagles 0 10 7 0 17
No. 23 Roadrunners 0 10 7 10 27
Statistics USM UTSA
First downs 10 16
Total yards 189 370
Rushing yards 137 143
Passing yards 52 227
Turnovers 3 2
Time of possession 37:14 22:46
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Miss Passing Frank Gore Jr. 2/3, 33 yards
Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 20 rushes, 123 yards, TD
Receiving Jason Brownlee 3 receptions, 51 yards
UTSA Passing Frank Harris 17/30, 227 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Sincere McCormick 19 rushes, 90 yards, TD
Receiving Joshua Cephus 8 receptions, 106 yards, TD

At Louisiana Tech

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1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Eagles 7 14 0 14 35
Bulldogs 3 6 0 10 19
Statistics USM LT
First downs 17 14
Total yards 294 250
Rushing yards 184 150
Passing yards 110 100
Turnovers 3 5
Time of possession 35:06 24:54
Team Category Player Statistics
Southern Miss Passing Frank Gore Jr. 4/8, 75 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Dajon Richard 22 rushes, 120 yards
Receiving Jason Brownlee 5 receptions, 67 yards, 2 TD
Louisiana Tech Passing Aaron Allen 11/26, 100 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Marcus Williams Jr. 17 rushes, 76 yards
Receiving Smoke Harris 4 receptions, 48 yards
1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 7 7 3 0 17
Golden Eagles 21 0 3 13 37
Statistics FIU USM
First downs 14 18
Total yards 391 444
Rushing yards 160 322
Passing yards 231 122
Turnovers 4 3
Time of possession 28:04 31:56
Team Category Player Statistics
FIU Passing Max Bortenschlager 13/24, 231 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing Lexington Joseph 16 rushes, 105 yards, TD
Receiving Tyrese Chambers 5 receptions, 155 yards, TD
Southern Miss Passing Frank Gore Jr. 4/5, 81 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Dajon Richard 16 rushes, 107 yards, TD
Receiving Jason Brownlee 5 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TD

References

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  1. ^ Jeyarajah, Shehan (March 29, 2022). "Southern Miss, Marshall, Old Dominion headed for Sun Belt in 2022 after resolution with Conference USA". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "C-USA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish For 2021". Conference USA. July 19, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  3. ^ "2021 Southern Miss Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  4. ^ "UTEP Miners vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 5, 2021.