As anticipated, the end of Southern Miss’ 1-11 season has already resulted in players entering the transfer portal.
With the hiring of incoming coach Charles Huff, the Golden Eagles’ roster moves from the portal is expected to be busy this offseason.
This story will be updated with both incoming and outgoing players.
WHO IS IN?
Ole Miss/Utah State WR Micah Davis:
Davis has over 1,300 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns in his career. At Ole Miss this past season, he recorded five catches for 57 and ran for 45 yards. His best season was in 2023 when he hauled in 36 catches for 628 yards and six touchdowns.
Portland State LB Michael Montgomery:
The junior was named a FCS All-American his freshman year. This past season, he recorded 80 tackles, four pass breakups 2.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks.
Eastern Michigan OL Jez Janvier:
Janvier saw action on both the offensive and defensive line. As an o-lineman he played in nine games, while appearing in seven on defense.
UAB/Louisiana Tech QB Landry Lyddy:
In three seasons, Lyddy has thrown for 888 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.
Arizona State/Texas DE J'mond Tapp:
This past season, Tapp recorded eight tackles in five games at ASU.
Virginia Tech CB Jonathan Pennix:
As a freshman, Pennix recorded two tackles and a fumble recovery this past year.
South Carolina/Oklahoma OT Aaryn Parks:
Parks spent four years as a backup at Oklahoma before transferring to South Carolina. Parks was rated a four-star recruit out of high school.
Marshall S MaLik Caswell:
Casell redshirted and appeared in one game on special teams for Marshall this past year.
Utah State/Colorado WR Grant Page
In 2024, Page hauled in 33 catches for 281 yards and two touchdowns.
Chattanooga S Josh Battle
Battle was a first-team All-Southern Conference selection at defensive back in 2024. The redshirt senior recorded 58 tackles (35 solos) with 3.5 tackles for loss, an interception a forced fumble and three pass breakups.
Marshall/Tulsa WR Carl Chester
Chester played in all 13 games in 2024 and started nine of them. This past year, he caught 20 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns.
Marshall CB Josh Moten
Moten was a two-year starter at Marshall. In that span, he record 68 tackles, 11 pass deflections and six interceptions.
Utah State OL Aloalii Mauii
Mauii was a first-team all conference selection in the Mountain West this past year. He also started nine games in 2023.
Marshall/Kentucky DL Isaiah Gibson
He did not play in 2024, but in 2023 he recorded 29 tackles, three TFLs and a pass break up. In three years at Kentucky, Gibson appeared in 11 games.
Marshall QB Braylon Braxton
Braxton appeared in 11 games, taking over as the starting quarterback against App State. He finished the season 124 of 206 for 1,624 yards and 19 touchdowns with just two interceptions while also rushing for 610 yards and four touchdowns. Braxton was named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and was named to the SBC's All-Conference second team.
Marshall WR Chuck Montgomery
In three years with the Thundering Herd, Montgomery has over 1,000 career receiving yards. This past season, Montgomery recorded 32 catches for 393 yards and three touchdowns.
Liberty/Temple/South Carolina CB Dominick Hill
In his first three seasons, Hill has recorded 82 career tackles, one forced fumble and eight pass deflections. At Liberty this past year, Hill redshirted.
Tychaun Chapman WR Marshall/North Carolina
Chapman is another one of several incoming Marshall transfers. Chapman began his career at North Carolina before joining the Thundering Herd. This past year, he hauled in 16 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.
DL Jabari Ishmael, Marshall/Miami
Ishmael began his career at Miami before spending the last two seasons at Marshall. He recorded 20 tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles this past year.
Marshall DL J.J. Hawkins
The redshirt sophomore appeared in 11 games for the Thundering Herd this past year. This season he recorded 22 tackles, three pass deflections, two TFLs and one sack.
Marshall CB Ian Foster
As a redshirt freshman Foster recorded 48 tackles and four pass deflections. Foster also handed kick return duties as he accumulated 516 return yards.
Marshall CB Ahmere Foster
This past year, Foster recorded 37 tackles, one sack and two pass deflections.
Marshall/Middle Tennessee WR Elijah Metcalf
In four years, Metcalf has 1,000 career receiving yards. This past season at Marshall, he hauled in 20 catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns.
Marshall P Alec Clark
Clark was Marshall's starting punter where he averaged 42.4 yards. He also down 11 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Marshall WR Bralon Brown
Brown was a four-star recruit and signed with Ole Miss out of high school. After three seasons in Oxford, Brown transferred to Marshall where he caught 15 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns this past year.
Marshall/Texas CB Ishmael Ibraheem
Ibraheem spent his first year at Texas before heading to Marshall. In his one year, he recorded six tackles.
Eastern Michigan OL Broderick Roman
In five years, Roman appeared in 19 games including in four games this past season.
Mississippi State RB Jeffery Pittman
Pittman spent two years at Hinds CC before landing at MSU. This past season, the Taylorsville High product ran for 268 yards and a touchdown on 54 carries.
Alabama A&M OL Christian Anderson
Anderson appeared in 19 games in three years including 11 this past season.
Marshall S Corey Myrick
Myrick appeared in seven games and made two tackles this year.
Samford OL Cooper Frazier
Frazier started the last two years for the Bulldogs as he appeared in 22 games.
East Mississippi S Dylan King
In nine games, King recorded 42 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble.
Marshall RB Moses Gray
As a true freshman, the 6-foo-t-1, 181-pound running back saw limited action as he ran for 25 yards on seven carries.
Marshall LB Mathis Haygood
Did not see any action as a true freshman.
WHO IS OUT?
CB Ques McNeal
McNeal was a starter in the secondary this past year. In the last two seasons, he accumulated 33 tackles, six pass deflections and one forced fumble.
QB Ethan Crawford
In the last two years, Crawford started five games this past season, and two games last year. Crawford threw for 849 yards and seven interceptions while completing 41.7% of his passes. He also ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns.
DB Will James
The Mississippi State transfer was a starter in Southern Miss' secondary this past year. James recorded 35 tackles, two TFLs and seven pass break ups.
K Connor Gibbs
Gibbs was one of the highlights of the 2024 season as he emerged as the team’s starting kicker. The sophomore went 10-for-13 in field goals with a long of 59 yards while going 7-for-10 in PATs. He also handled kickoff duties during his freshman year.
RB Kenyon Clay
Clay was a productive offensive player in the 2024 season, as he led the team with eight touchdowns. He ran for 387 yards and seven touchdowns and had 21 catches for 225 yards and a touchdown.
QB Tate Rodemaker
Rodemaker transferred in from Florida State and was initially named the starting quarterback at the start of the season. However, Rodemaker passed for 985 yards, seven touchdowns, seven interceptions and completed 59% of his passes.
OL Will Saxton
Saxton played 27 games moving between tackle, guard and center. He started nine games in the 2024 season. He’ll have two years of eligibility.
DB Braxton Meyers
Meyers will be looking to attend his fourth school in four years, with his previous stops prior to Southern Miss being Ole Miss and Purdue. Meyers was a four-star recruit out of high school. Meyers recorded 31 tackles, two TFLs, two pass break ups and one interception.
DB Zay Franks
Franks missed this past year due to a neck injury. In 2023, he started the year at wide receiver before being converted into a defensive back during the season. He played in all 12 games and made five starts, all coming at cornerback.
LB Tre Pinkney
Pinkney, a transfer from Coastal Carolina, led the Golden Eagles with 74 tackles this past year along with five TFLs.
LB Desmyn Baker
Baker, a trasnfer from Western Kentucky, put up 42 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season.
CB Michael Caraway Jr.
In three seasons at USM, Caraway recorded 70 tackles and seven pass deflections.
LB Ja'Len Sims
In two years, Sims totaled 76 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery.
DB Elijah Sabbatini
The Ole Miss transfer dealt with his fair share of injuries, but became a regular starter in the secondary this past year. In two years, he recorded 36 tackles, two pass deflections and an interception.
TE Justyn Reid
Reid became a starter this past year as the sophomore recorded seven catches for 145 yards.
DB Jordan Johnson - Did not register any stats.
WR Dakota Thomas - Did not register any stats.
WR J.J. Butler - The sophomore had two catches for 22 yards in 2024.
DE Ryan Johnson - The Akron transfer recorded 23 tackles and four TFLs.
LB Tre'Mon Henry - Recorded nine tackles and 1.5 TFLs in 11 games.
OL Tanner Welch - Started one game and appeared in nine games.
WR Jack Schwing - Did not see any action.
WR Chandler Merrill - Did not see any action.
WR Keyshawn Buckley - Did not see any action.
K Jack Tannehill - Did not see any action.
LB Jacob Johnson - Recorded two tackles in four games.
DB Vernorrius Chaney - Recorded one tackle against Southeastern Louisiana.
DB Damion Miller - Did not see any action as a true freshman.
OL Joseph Cryer - Cryer transferred in from LSU, but did not see any action.
TE Pax Hughes - Did not see any action.
WHO IS STAYING?
LB Jameer Lewis - Lewis withrew his name from the portal. He recorded 24 tackles, five TFLs and two sacks.
TE Reed Jesiolowski
The true freshman swapped between starting at fullback and tight end for the Golden Eagles. He recorded eight catches for 93 yards.
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