2008 Southern Miss Football Predictions & Season Preview


August 19, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

Larry Fedora takes over for Jeff Bower, who led the Golden Eagles to bowl trips in 10 of the last 11 seasons.  Fedora, the former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator, was brought in to bring a passing game to this offense as he is a master of the spread.  He’s got big shoes to fill and only 13 returning starters to work with, so this appears to be a rebuilding year for Fedora.  Let’s see how this team will fair as the Info Plays team releases their 2008 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football predictions below.

Offense:

It’s hard to believe Southern Miss is going to be running a spread offense after 17 straight years of being one of the nation’s top rushing programs.  But Larry Fedora won’t have it any other way.  It will take time for the Golden Eagles to become adept running the sprad, but the offense can be built around junior running back Damion Fletcher.  He’s already rushed for 2,974 career yards, and needs 622 this fall to become the Golden Eagles’ career leader.  Fletcher should be even more of a threat in the spread offense this year, being able to operate more in open space and become a bigger factor in the passing game.  Backups Tory Harrison and Antwain Easterling are serving team suspensions, so junior college transfer Bubba Kirsey could become Fletcher’s backup.

Fedora’s QB situation was unresolved in the spring, although Austin Davis seemed to have a slight edge.  He’s learning the spread a little quicker than Martevious Young, who has a strong arm and is a running threat.  The Eagles expect to get more production from the tight end position this season.  All-America candidate Shawn Nelson should improve on last year’s 33 catches for 451 yards and five scores.  Fedora has stressed that the staff needs to find more ways to get the ball to Nelson, who has 104 career grabs for nearly 1,500 yards.  Torris Magee emerged last season to lead the team with 44 catches for 632 yards.  If the Eagles can get heralded recruit DeAndre Brown academically eligible, Southern Miss becomes even more dangerous.  Brown, at 6-6, 215 pounds, was considered the top recruit in talent-rich Mississippi.

Defense:

The Golden Eagles return C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Gerald McRath, who had 139 tackles and 14 of them came for a loss.  The standout junior will be joined by Tokumbo Abanikanda, who had eight tackles for a loss and will be starting for a third straight year.  The defensive line lost its entire frount four, but it appears the Golden Eagles should be able to recover there.  Noseguard Anthony Gray missed the first six games of last season with a foot injury, but he’s a quick study.

Right tackle Eric Phillips should be a factor, providing junior college transfer Rolando Barragan doesn’t move past him on the depth chart.  Eddie Hicks and C.J. Bailey are back in the secondary.  Hicks was the third-leading tackler on the team last year at free safety.  Bailey moved into the starting cornerback spot last year as a freshman and made an impression with two interceptions and a team-high 10 pass breakups.

Southern Miss Football Predictions at Info Plays:  4th Conference USA East

Fedora has made offenses productive at each of his stops.  He should be able to overcome a lack of experience at quarterback to put the Golden Eagles in position to at least contend for the East Division crown.  The Golden Eagles have one of the easiest schedules in the conference, which will only help them contend.  Even if it struggles in transition, Southern Miss has the talent to earn an 11th bowl trip in 12 seasons.  Fans are excited about this new offense.

Season Ticket Sales are expected to be through the roof with the hire of offensive mastermind Larry Fedora.

Conference USA Wins Expected in ‘08:  MARSHALL, UTEP, at Rice, UAB, at SMU

Potential Scares/Losses:  at Memphis, at UCF, EAST CAROLINA

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