Surprisingly, even though Southern Miss only lost one key wide receiver from its 2016 team, the position is wide open after senior Allenzae Staggers assumes his role as the top target for whichever quarterback takes the snaps.
So, why can’t redshirt sophomore and former Oak Grove product Jordan Mitchell push his way into the starting lineup? Well, he can.
D.J. Thompson graduated, and what’s left of the returning production is a running back, two receivers and a tight end who join Staggers as the top six returners in receiving yards. The battle at receiver has been an interesting one all offseason, and for Mitchell, he’s loving the competition.
“Really, we’re just all working together and trying to push each other, because we all have a lot of talent in the receiving corps,” he said. “It’s just a matter of trying to be better than the next guy, and that just makes us all better. It’s all about competition right now.”
Senior Isaiah Jones, redshirt junior Chase Whitehead and red shirt junior Korey Robertson are all expected to make a big impact at receiver.
As a freshman, Mitchell played in 10 games, recording seven catches for 105 yards. He missed last season due to a back injury, but he said he’s completely healthy and ready to go in 2017.
“I feel 100 percent, so it’s just a matter of getting stronger this offseason and just learning the plays so they just come on command,” Mitchell said. “After I did that, it’s just a matter of moving fast and helping my teammates out.”
His back injury didn’t allow him to workout, so the biggest improvement he’s made since returning to the field and the weight room is his strength. He added, he’s gotten stronger mentally and physically.
Another obstacle Mitchell and the other receivers have to deal with is the uncertainty at quarterback. Both sophomore Keon Howard and redshirt junior Kwadra Griggs are locked into a battle to see who starts behind center.
“I think it’s a very type of race,” Mitchell said. “They both have their pros and cons, but they both make up for it in the field. They’re fast, they’re quick and they’re smart, so I feel like whoever we put in there, whether it is Keon or Kwadra, I feel like both of them can get the job done.”
Sometimes it’s difficult for a receiver to be apart of a quarterback battle. Each quarterback throws the ball differently, and it can be tough for a receiver to get 100 percent comfortable. However, Mitchell strikes down notation saying they’ve put in the work to prevent unfamiliarity.
“We’ve been working all spring and summer, so we’ve kind of gotten used to it,” Mitchell said. “They both have a different kind of touch and stuff, so we kind of know what’s coming with whichever quarterback is in there.”
