Southern Miss football signed 30 players during the early signing day period. The early signing class consists of 15 true freshman, 10 junior college transfers and five transfer players.
Miles Adams
6-4, 280, DL, Flomaton, Ala. (Flomaton HS)
High School: Prepped at Flomaton High School in Flomaton, Ala.…Lettered in football and track and field for the Hurricanes…As a senior on the gridiron, tallied 45 tackles, 15 for loss…Also brought down the opposing quarterback twice…Forced two fumbles, recovered one…As a junior, posted 35 tackles, nine tackles for loss and six sacks…Also forced two fumbles, recovering one, in eight games…For the Hurricanes’ track and field team, placed sixth in the AHSAA 3A State Championship with a 42-foot, 8-inch shotput toss…Also registered a best on the discus throw, tossing one 122-feet, three inches…Committed to Southern Miss on July 17, 2023, also holding offers from Texas Tech, UAB, Liberty and Troy.
Terron Bedford
TE, 6-3, 265, Bay St. Louis, Miss. (Jones College)
2023 – Jones CC (Sophomore): Played in all nine games for the Bobcats…Regarded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the conference…One reception on the year, going for three yards against Mississippi Gulf Coast (11/02)…Totaled nine rushes for 35 yards on the year … Rushed for 15 yards on eight carries against Mississippi Delta (10/28) and once for 20 yardsa against East Central…2022 – Jones CC (Freshman): Suited up for eight games for Jones as a two-way reserve tight end and defensive lineman…Registered five tackles on the year (one solo)…Career-best two tackles against East Central (9/22) and Southwest Mississippi (10/13)…Named to Jones’ Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Faculty List…High School: Prepped for Jeremy Turcotte at Bay High School…Propelled Tigers to an 8-4 overall record and second round playoff berth in 2021…As a senior, caught 14 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns as a tight end…On the defensive side, tallied 50 tackles and two sacks…Named to Region 8-4A All-District Team as a tight end and as a defensive end…Personal: Born on August 3, to Katia Kilpatrick and Bill Bedford … Has a sister, Olivia.
Hayden Breal
6-2, 280, OL, Mobile, Ala. (UMS Wright)
High School: Prepped at UMS Wright where they earned a regional championship and also collected a Team of the Week award…Reached the second round of the Class 5A AHSAA playoffs during the fall…Enjoyed 60 pancake blocks his senior campaign…Also played lacrosse.
Keyshawn Buckley
5-10, 175, WR, Atlanta, Ga. (Garden City CC)
2023 – Garden City CC (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in 10 games for the Broncobusters…14 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns…Long reception of 57 yards against Independence CC (10/07)…2022 – Garden City CC (Sophomore): Did not see any action, taking a redshirt on the year…2021 – Garden City CC (Freshman): Hauled in 24 passes for 348 yards…Only touchdown reception on the year came against Dodge City CC (11/07)…Career-best 109 yards against Coffeyville CC (10/23)…Also had a career-best 67-yard reception against Coffeyville…High School: Prepped at Chapel Hill High School in Atlanta, Ga.…Three-year starter at CHHS, earning four varsity letters in total…As a senior in 2020, caught 25 passes for 454 yards and five touchdowns…Named to the All-Douglas County Sentinel First Team as a wide receiver.
Hastings Carruth
6-6, 300, OL, Lake Dixie Springs, Miss. (Southwest Mississippi CC)
2023 – Southwest Mississippi CC (Sophomore): Started for the Bears at offensive tackle…2022 – Mississippi State (Freshman): Did not see any action for the Bulldogs…High School: Prepped at Parklane Academy (McComb, Miss.)…Personal: Son of Jeff and Missy Carruth … Has two siblings, Brewer and Carlyle.
Vernorrius Chaney
6-1, 180, DB, Macon, Miss. (Hinds CC)
2023 – Hinds CC (Sophomore): Totaled 41 tackles (33 solos) with four for loss…Forced one fumble and returned it for four yards…Picked off two passes and broke up seven more…Tallied two kick returns for 26 yards and four punt returns for 29 yards…Named to All-MACCC First Team…2022 – Hinds CC (Freshman): Played in four games, making two tackles…Had one pass breakup against Itawamba CC (10/13)…Returned four punts for 27 yards…High School: Prepped at Noxubee County HS (Macon, Miss.) as an all-around athlete for the Tigers…As a senior, played quarterback, running back and wide receiver…Threw 79 passes with 35 completions for 567 yards and six touchdowns…Registered 19 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns…Also caught four passes for 106 yards and a touchdown.
Zack Conti
OL, 6-6, 325,Trenton, Mich., Trenton HS, (Eastern Michigan)
2023 – Eastern Michigan (Senior): Earned a starting position and scholarship…Played in 11 games for the Eagles…2022 – Eastern Michigan (Junior): Appeared in 10 games for the Eagles across the offensive line…2021 – Eastern Michigan (Sophomore): Did not see any action…2020 – Eastern Michigan (Freshman): Joined the Eagles as a walk-on…Did not see any action…High School: Prepped for Bob Czarnecki at Trenton High School…Personal: Born Zachary Conti to Todd and Karen Conti … Has two brothers, Sam and Jorden.
Bart Edmiston Jr.
6-0, 190, P, Ocean Spring, Miss. (Jones College)
Jones College: Regarded as the top punter in the conference, earning MACCC South Special Teams Player of the Year...First Team All-MACCC and NJCAA All-Region 23 punter...Led the nation in punt average (44.6) with 22 inside-the-20...Had 16 punts of 50-plus and three of 60-plus, including a career-best 65-yarder at Pearl River (10/12)...Also kicked for the Bobcats, connecting on 9-of-13 field goals and 29-of-30 point after attempts...Made his first seven FG of the season...Named MACCC and NJCAA Special Teams Player of the Week (10/10) after three punts inside-the-20, a 48-yard field goal, fumble recovery and tackle in a 38-7 win over East Central….High School: Played for head coach Blake Pennock and graduated with honors from Ocean Springs...Greyhounds were 11-1 in his senior season and advanced to the second round of the playoffs...the best kicker in the state in the largest classification of competition, named 6A First Team All-State...Greyhounds went 23-2 over the last two seasons and captured consecutive Region 4-6A titles...as a senior, converted 63-of-70 extra points and was 7-for-10 on field goals...his 84 total points were second only to quarterback Bray Hubbard...averaged 36 yards per punt...as a junior, he finished 60-of-65 on extra points, was 7-for-8 on field goals and averaged 37 yards per punt…Personal: Son of Beth and Bart Edmiston Sr...siblings Brooks and Baylor...father was an All-SEC placekicker at Florida from 1992-96 and was on the 1996 national championship team...grandfather also played at UF...hobbies include being on the water, fishing and hunting...hidden talent is that he is really good at driving a stick shift...born November 18.
Larry Edwards
6-4, 260, OL, Belzoni, Miss. (Humphreys County HS)
High School: Prepped at Humphreys County High School (Belzoni, Miss.), playing football and basketball…Committed to Southern Miss on June 22, 2023.
Trent Howell
5-9, 175, RB, Lucedale, Miss. (Jones College)
Jones College… Rushed for 318 yards and six touchdowns in eight games in 2023...Had a pair of 100-yard rushing games vs. Co-Lin (126) and at East Central (127) to go along with four touchdowns...Added four receptions for 34 yards...Also returned four kicks for 93 yards and had three tackles…As a freshman in 2022, he played in all 10 games...Rushed for 79 yards on 20 carries...had a season-high 32 yards vs. East Central (9/22)...Added two receptions for 15 yards against Southwest (10/13)...Returned 13 kicks for 297 yards with a long of 75 vs. East Mississippi (9/8)...Had two special teams tackles...A two-time member of the school's Faculty List…High School: Played for head coach James Ray at George County...a three-year starter and offensive MVP...scored 20 touchdowns on 90 touches his senior year...Selected for Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game...three-time all-district selection and second team all-state nod as a senior…Personal: Son of Kevin and Natasha Howell...Has two sisters, Serena and Presley...Father played football at MGCCC and uncle played baseball at MGCCC...Hobbies include hunting, fishing and playing the guitar...studying business...born June 20.
Will James
6-0, 185, DB, Grand Bay, Ala. (Mississippi State)
Mississippi State: Made his collegiate debut at Auburn in 2023…Part of the Bulldogs 2023 signing class…High School:
Prepped at Theodore High School under head coach Eric Collier...Three-star prospect by 247Sports and On3…Rated as the state of Alabama’s No. 54-ranked prospect…Participated in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game…Was forced to miss half of his senior season due to injury, but returned to help guide Theodore to a 13-1 record and an appearance in the Class 6A semifinals…In the quarterfinals win over St. Paul’s, he switched to offense due to injuries and finished with five carries for 151 yards and three rushing touchdowns, which all came on runs of 67, 13 and 62…Personal:
Born on June 24…Son of Vernita Easter…Twitter handle is @willjam58379905.
Reed Jesiolowski
6-3, 215, TE, Flowood, Miss. (Hartfield Academy)
High School: Helped lead Hartfield Academy to their first undefeated season and MAIS Class 6A state championship this fall…Enjoyed 2,030 rushing yards and 2,300 all-purpose yards as he collected 28 total touchdowns…Named the WAPT Blitz16 Player of the Year and the MAIS Offensive Player of the Year…Named to the MAIS 4A-5A-6A All-Star game…Averaged 164.1 offensive yards per game during his senior campaign…Finished his four-year career with 3,225 rushing yards and 39 scores on the ground…Named first-team All-Metro at running back by MSScoreboard.com.
Jordan Johnson
6-1, 200, DB, Rolling Fork, Miss. (Mississippi Delta CC)
Mississippi Delta CC: Played the last two seasons at Mississippi Delta Community College…Earned All-MACCC North honorable mention honors on the strength of 47 tackles in nine games, with 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles, one recovery and six pass breakups…Added 25 tackles with two interceptions, a forced fumble and a recovery during his freshman season…High School: Attended South Delta High School…Posted 53 tackles his senior campaign with an interception.
Ryan Johnson
6-3, 255, LB, Starkville, Miss. (Akron)
Akron: Posted four tackles in four games for Akron in 2023…Appeared in all 12 games for Akron, including five starts in 2022...Registered 26 tackles, including 12 solo stops and 14 assisted tackles...Recorded 3.0 tackles for a loss, one sack, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry...Collected a season-best four tackles against Saint Francis and Kent State...Posted 3.0 tackles for a loss on the campaign with one each versus Liberty, Bowling Green and Kent State...Tallied a sack against Liberty...Appeared in all 12 games for the Zips, including one start in 2021...Made 14 tackles, including seven solo stops and seven assisted tackles...Added a pair of quarterback hurries, 1.5 tackles for a loss and one sack...Posted a season-high three tackles at Western Michigan (Nov. 9)...Collected a sack at No. 10 Ohio State (Sept. 25)...Made two tackles and assisted on a tackle for a loss at Toledo (Nov. 27)...Added a pair of tackles against both Temple (Sept. 11) and in Akron’s victory over Bryant (Sept. 18)...Registered a pair of quarterback hurries in the Zips’ win at Bowling Green (Oct. 9)….Junior College: Appeared in seven games in the spring of 2021 registering 14.0 tackles and 4.0 sacks at Iowa Central Community College en route to earning all-region accolades...Played in 10 of 11 contests at Northwest Mississippi Community College in 2019 and totaled 15 tackles, four TFLs, a sack and a hurry...Garnered a season-best three tackles in the season-opener at East Central...High School: Played for coach Chris Jones at Starkville High School...Helped the Yellowjackets to an 11-2 record and the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs as a senior...Netted 33 total tackles, five quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery in his senior season. Personal: Son of Ryan Johnson Sr. and Adrienne Jackson.
Chris Jones
6-0, 220, LB, Byram, Miss. (Hartfield Academy)
High School: Helped lead Hartfield Academy to their first undefeated season and the MAIS Class 6A state championship this fall…Named MAIS Class 6A Defensive Player of the Year…Tallied 112 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, five sacks, four interceptions, four quarterback hurries, and seven touchdowns…Named to the Army All-American Bowl…Named his team’s Defensive MVP in the MAIS Class 4A-5A-6A All-Star game…Earned a spot on the MSScoreboard.com All-Metro first team at linebacker.
TK Keyes
6-1, 185, WR, Taylorsville, Miss. (Taylorsville, Miss.)
High School: A 2022 first-team Class 1A all-state selection as a junior at Taylorsville High School…Caught 56 passes for 1,143 yards to go along with 13 touchdowns that season…Lost in the 1A South State championship game…Missed his senior campaign with an injury.
Jameer Lewis
6-3, 225, LB, McComb, Miss. (Southwest Mississippi CC)
Southwest Miss. CC: Enjoyed 28 tackles (18 solo), which included 10.5 tackles for loss of which 9.5 were sacks…Added a blocked kick, one pass breakup and a forced fumble…Named to the All-Region 23 first team and first-team All-MACCC South…Appeared in all 9 games, finishing tied for fourth on the team in tackles (42), second in sacks (5), first in tackles for loss (9) and second in forced fumbles (2) in 2022…High School: Earned an All-Conference honor during his freshman year and a first-team All-State nod during his senior year at McComb High School…Personal: Parent is Lafoya Carroll…Has three siblings: Jaylon, Keonna and K2…Nickname is Meer.
Jermarius Lewis
5-11, 190, DB, Summit, Miss. (New Mexico)
New Mexico: Played in 12 games, with seven starts, during the 2023 season, in which he posted 45 tackles (27 solo) with 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, three interception, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble…Enjoyed a career-high nine tackles versus Nevada (10/28)…Saw action in all 12 games at safety in 2022, starting four (Wyoming, Fresno State, Air Force and San Diego State)…Recorded 23 tackles (10 solos) on the season with 1.0 TFL and a pass breakup…Turned in a season-high eight tackles against Air Force, with a half-tackle for loss…Had five tackles against Wyoming, along with a pass breakup…Registered four tackles and a half-tackle for loss against Fresno State…Averaged 15.7 yards on three punt returns…Had a huge game against Wyoming as the primary punt returner, returning two punts for 47 yards, including a 36-yard return inside the 10-yard line…High School: Lettered in football at North Pike High School, playing for coach Matt Mock…Named First Team All-State and Team MVP…Earned the Jaguar Award and was named a Bernard Blackwell All-Star…Also named North Pike Student of the Month and Mr. North Pike…Was a member of FCA, Geek Squad and jag2jag…Personal: Full name is Jermarius Keonte’ Lewis… parents are Christopher and Chiquita Lewis … Birthday is April 21…brother Fredarius is a part of the 2024 Southern Miss football signing class…Is the nephew of New Mexico player Glover Quin.
Zay Lowery
6-3, 280, DL, West Point, Miss. (West Point, Miss.)
High School: A first-team 5A all-state defensive player at West Point High School, who captured the 2023 state title with a 35-7 victory over Laurel…Played in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star game…Posted 70 tackles, six sacks, 15 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles during the team’s regular season… Had 101 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss and 5 sacks in his junior year with the Green Wave as the school went 11-3 and earned state runner-up honors.
Damion Miller
6-3, 195, DB, Port Gibson, Miss. (Port Gibson HS)
High School: Prepped at Port Gibson High School, where he was a coaches first-team Class 3A all-state pick…Caught 26 passes for 511 yards and eight touchdowns…Added 11 tackles, with two interceptions and one pass breakup…Played in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star game, which he registered a tackle, and the Bernard Blackwell Football Classic…Also a member of the track and field team.
Caleb Moore
6-2, 270, DL, Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove HS)
High School: Played for Oak Grove High School which captured the 2022 Class 7A football championship, defeating Starkville 33-28 in inaugural 7A game…A coaches first-team All-State selection in 7A and a first-team All-State selection by SBLive.com…Earned All-Region 3-7A honors…Played in the annual Mississippi/Alabama All-Star game which was held at M.M. Roberts Stadium…Posted 70 tackles with 24 for loss, six sacks and two forced fumbles during the year…Made the game-winning tackle in a 45-44 victory over Madison-Ridgeland Academy.
Greg Nunnery
6-3, 310, OL, McComb, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)
Junior College: Played in 17 career games in two seasons for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College…Named to the All-MACCC South first-team as he helped lead the third-leading scoring offense in the country at 38.4 points per game during his sophomore season…As a freshman, played in eight games, starting in seven…High School: Selected to play in Bernard Blackwell North-South All-Star Game following a successful prep career at McComb High School…Played for Coach Willie Brown.
Jalen Owens
6-4, 260, DL, Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove HS)
High School: Played for Oak Grove High School which captured the 2022 Class 7A football championship, defeating Starkville 33-28 in inaugural 7A game…Posted 75 tackles, 12 for loss and 10 sacks…Added nine quarterback hurries, one interception for a touchdown, three pass breakups and a pair of caused fumbles…His interception came in the state championship game in which he jumped in front of a pass and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown.
Tre Pinkney
6-1, 220, LB, Atlanta, Ga. (Coastal Carolina)
Coastal Carolina: Appeared in seven games in 2023, posting 13 tackles (seven solo)…Played in 12 games in 2022, making three starts on defense…Lined up at linebacker and also on special teams…Was fifth on the team with 50 total tackles on the year…Finished with 22 solo tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, and one pass breakup…Tied for a team-high two picks…Had a stretch of double-digit tackles in three-straight games - versus Buffalo (Sept. 17), at Georgia State (Sept. 22), and against Georgia Southern (Oct. 1)…Recorded a career-high 12 tackles, including five solo stops in the home win over the Buffalo Bulls…Finished with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops, 1.0 tackle-for-loss, and one interception and return for eight yards in the blowout road win at Georgia State…Followed that performance up with 10 tackles, a pass breakup, and an interception in the home win over Georgia Southern…Totaled four tackles and 0.5 tackles-for-loss in the 2022 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Conference Football Championship game at Troy (Dec. 3)…Ended the season with three tackles and 0.5 tackles-for-loss in the 2022 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl versus East Carolina (Dec. 27)…Saw action in one game in 2021…Had one solo tackle in the home win over ULM (Oct. 2)…Junior College: A second-team NJCAA All-American…Tabbed an All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) honorable mention selection…Played in eight games for the Blue Dragons and NJCAA Football's National Coach of the year Drew Dallas…A key part in the Blue Dragons winning the program's first NJCAA National Championship and eighth Jayhawk Conference championship title during the 2020-21 season…Helped lead his team to a perfect 8-0 record and the program's third undefeated season…Team was ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA all season long…Totaled a team-high 47 tackles and 14.5 tackles-for-loss on the year…Tallied 9.5 sacks, which lead all of NJCAA nationally…Forced two fumbles and added an interception…His interception came with 1:04 remaining in the national championship game to seal the win for the Blue Dragons…Tallied three pass breakups on the year…Recorded 10.0 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, and 0.5 sacks in the season opener versus Coffeyville Community College (March 26)…Redshirted in 2019 in his first season there…High School: A three-star recruit at inside linebacker in the Class of 2019 by both Rivals and 247Sports Composite…Rated as high as the No. 68-best prospect at inside linebacker in the Class of 2019 by 247Sports Composite…Lettered in football at Pebblebrook High School in Mableton, Ga. for head coach Kevin Saunders…Tabbed the Georgia Sports Writers Association All-State Class AAAAAAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 as a junior…A two-time first-team all-state selection by the Georgia Sports Writers Association and the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association…Named to the 2018 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Georgia Football second team…Named a Class AAAAAAA All-State honorable mention honoree his senior season by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution…Also named the Region 2AAAAAAA Player of the Year his senior year…Earned a spot on the All-Metro Cobb County team as a senior…Tabbed the Marietta Daily Journal All-County Football Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 following his junior season…Was named the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year by the Cobb County TD Club…Named the 2017 Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) Class AAAAAAA South Defensive Player of the Year…Selected to play in the 2018 Georgia Elite Classic…Was a three-time MaxPreps Player of the Game his senior season in 2018…Totaled 122 tackles, including 70 solo stops, and 39.0 tackles-for-loss his senior season…Added 12.5 sacks, 27 hurries, and blocked two punts on special teams as a senior…Recorded 108 tackles, 21.5 sacks, and 12.0 tackles-for-loss his junior season.
Luke Stewart
6-2, 180, PK, Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove HS)
High School: Played for Oak Grove High School which captured the 2022 Class 7A football championship, defeating Starkville 33-28 in the inaugural 7A game…Made a 35 and 21-yard field goal in the game, while hitting all three extra-point attempts…Earned second-team All-State honors by the Mississippi coaches, while also garnering a first-team All-State nod by SBLive.com…Connected on game-winning 51-yard field goal at Wayne County…Earned all-Region 3-7A honors…Played in the Bernard Blackwell Classic.
Londen Taylor
6-0, 215, LS, Gulf Breeze, Fla. (Gulf Breeze HS)
High School: Participated in football, wrestling and baseball while at Gulf Breeze High School…Saw time at both offensive line and long snapper…Also a two-way player, Taylor had 13 tackles (3 solo, 10 assisted) with one quarterback hurry as a defensive player…Rated as a four-star long snapper by Kohl's Professional Camps…Was an all-area second-team pick at pitch by the Pensacola News Journal.
Aaron Travis
6-4, 230, DL, Grenada, Miss. (Grenada High School)
High School: Tallied 62 tackles during his senior season and broke into the backfield for 18 TFLs...Recorded two sacks and one forced fumble...Also had one fumble recovery...Was named a Magnolia Sports Association All-Star...Prepped at Grenada High School.
Jalen Washington
5-8, 195, RB, Houston, Miss. (Houston HS)
High School: Named Second Team All-State as a senior at Houston High School...Rushed for 2,289 yards and scored 34 touchdowns...Averaged 207.8 yards per game during his final high school season...Rushed for 1,990 yards and scored 21 touchdowns as a sophomore...Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.
John White
6-0, 200, QB, West, Miss. (Madison-Ridgeland Academy)
High School: Owns the Mississippi high school all-time passing yards record with 15,259 career passing yards to go along with 177 total touchdowns and 70.2 completion percentage…Ranks No. 2 in Mississippi in all-time passing touchdowns...Threw for 3,557 yards and 42 touchdowns as a senior…Voted MAIS 6A Player of the Year following senior campaign…Named Mississippi Scoreboard first-team All-Metro at quarterback...Tallied 3,175 yards with 28 touchdown passes as a junior and 3,935 yards with 39 touchdowns as a sophomore...Started as an eighth grader at Winona Christian before transferring to Madison-Ridgeland Academy...Was a MAIS 6A State Champion as a sophomore...Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.
Ethan Williams
5-11, 190, DB, Pearl, Miss. (Southwest Mississippi CC)
Southwest Mississippi CC: Played two years at Southwest Mississippi CC...Appeared in nine games as a sophomore and was second on the team in tackles with 49...Grabbed two interceptions and recorded 4.5 TFLs...Appeared in six games as a freshman, finishing with four tackles and one TFL...High School: Was First Team All-MAIS and First Team All-Conference as a senior at Jackson Prep...Was named Mr. Tough at Jackson Prep in 2021…Parents are Jeff and Regina Williams...Has one sibling, Collin.
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