After a 1-11 season and an offseason of sweeping change, Southern Miss has rebuilt nearly every corner of the football program. First-year head coach Charles Huff brought in more than 80 new players, restructured the coaching staff and introduced a new physical identity.
With fall camp underway, media members have caught glimpses of this new-look team. While transfer quarterback Braylon Braxton draws attention, the depth and talent added at several key position rooms may be the biggest storyline of camp.
Offensive line
Under former coach Will Hall, Southern Miss struggled to establish consistency on the offensive line.
This year appears different. Though the early days of fall camp are in shorts and helmets, one thing is clear: this offensive line is bigger, stronger and deeper than before.
The group looks lean and athletic, carrying little bad weight, and has developed a legitimate two-deep. The first line working with Braxton includes left tackle Aaryn Parks (6-4, 300 pounds), left guard Jez Janvier (6-5, 305), center Broderick Roman (6-1, 300), right guard Aloali’i Maui (6-1, 310) and right tackle Hayes Creel (6-7, 320).
One key battle to watch is at right tackle.
Creel, a transfer from McNeese State, is competing with Carlos Slayden (6-3, 300), a Troy transfer who has been one of the more athletic guards in the Sun Belt. Creel is a physical run blocker but hasn’t faced the kind of speed he’ll see in Week 1 against Mississippi State.
The second group features left tackle RJ Whitehead (6-5, 320), left guard Greg Nunnery (6-4, 320), center Cooper Frazier (6-3, 300), right guard Luke Rodgers (6-3, 290) and Slayden.
To be clear, this is not an official depth chart — just the current rotation in early practice. Huff has made it clear that all positions on the offensive line are open for competition.
“This group is going to be as good as they let us be,” offensive coordinator Blake Anderson said. “We can have skill all over the place, but if we can’t get it to them — if we can’t run the ball effectively — it makes for a really long day.”
The unit appears significantly improved from 2024 in terms of physicality and will need to prove itself early against the Bulldogs in Week 1.
Wide receivers
The wide receiver room is likely the most improved unit from last season. In 2024, the group lacked experience. Now, it includes five transfers from Marshall and one from Ole Miss.
Among the newcomers, Bralon Brown brings size and physicality on the outside at 6-2, 205 pounds. Carl Chester (6-3, 200) has worked at both outside and slot receiver during open practice sessions.
Micah Davis, a transfer from Ole Miss, brings speed and agility that Golden Eagle fans haven’t seen since Jason Brownlee.
The group also benefits from familiarity with Braxton, as several of the new receivers played with him at Marshall.
“That room is conditioned already because they were at the other place with us,” Huff said. “They do a really good job of teaching the other guys who have joined. They hold themselves accountable. That group is a little bit like the returners, if that makes sense.”
Defensive line
The defensive line might be the biggest storyline of camp, with a near-complete overhaul in personnel. Defensive coordinator Jason Semore is installing a 4-2-5 scheme, and the defensive front is a critical piece.
“It’s the most depth that we’ve had in a long, long time,” Semore said. “I feel really good about it right now from a depth standpoint. A lot of the faces are new. They don’t have cumulative reps with the tactics that we ask guys to play with, so we have a lot of work to do in camp in terms of fundamentals and technique. But from a numbers and talent standpoint, we’re in a really good spot.”
The clearest difference is size. The group added 11 transfers and returned key contributors like Brodarius Lewis, now down to 295 pounds from 310 and Jameer Lewis.
At nose tackle, Isaiah Gibson stands out at 6-4, 325 pounds. The former Kentucky and Marshall transfer is in a no-contact jersey during camp but could be one of the top defensive linemen in the Sun Belt if he stays healthy.
The other tackle spot is up for grabs among Lewis, Mason Clinton (6-5, 300) and Kyle Davis (6-4, 295).
At defensive end, Arizona State transfer J’Mond Tapp (6-3, 275) appears to have locked down one side. The other end spot remains a two-man competition between newcomers Jabari Ishmael (6-6, 270) and JJ Hawkins (6-2, 285).
More will become clear in the coming days of camp, but the early takeaway compared to past years is the sheer size difference across the roster.
