Southern Miss recruiting class called conference’s best, and Eagles say they’re not done

Will Hall’s fourth total and third complete signing class at Southern Miss will be a key one.

Southern Miss began putting its 2024 class together on Wednesday as pen hit paper across the staff’s Mississippi-centric footprint.

The Golden Eagles signed 30 athletes as part of the first cycle without any signing limits from the NCAA.

“It’s been the most productive 25 days of my life with this recruiting class,” Hall said during a press conference. “There’s a lot of work to be done, but I’m proud of what we’ve done from a foundational standpoint. We got to win. We know that, and it’s time to do that.”

Hall has also replaced his defensive coordinator and hired a full-time offensive coordinator and says he’s expecting to name a defensive line in the coming days as part of an ongoing staff shakeup ahead of a make-or-break fourth year at the helm of the program.

Southern Miss is hitting the trenches heavily with this cycle, adding high school talents along the defensive line and attacking post-high school bodies on the offensive front.

Defensive back was also an area of need with five scholarship additions. According to Hall, all five will be early enrollees.

Beyond Wednesday and ahead of February’s signing day, Hall said his staff will be on the hunt for wide receivers and “older” linebackers and quarterbacks.

As of noon Wednesday, USM’s class ranks at the top of the Sun Belt on 247sports composite. The Golden Eagles had the third-ranked class in the league during the ‘23 cycle.

“To sign a class like this again, under the circumstances we were under, just speaks volumes of our coaching staff and also how we’ve built this place up.”

Class of 2024 signings

WR Keyshawn Buckley, Garden City C.C.

The first signature of the day comes from the junior college ranks in a Georgia-native wide receiver. Buckley spent his first two seasons of eligibility in Kansas as a slot receiver. A product of Chapel Hill in Douglasville, Buckley was also a track star in high school.

DL Miles Adams, Flomaton (Al.)

Adams is the first high schooler to put pen to paper for USM. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound Alabama native is ranked a high-three star, according to 247sports composite, and chose the Eagles over offers from Texas Tech and Troy.

Quote: “Unbelievable talent,” Hall said. “Size, length and dominated camp.”

RB Jalen Washington, Houston (Ms.)

The first in-state signee will be one of the flashier names to travel across Hall’s desk today. Washington is a three-star back who just turned in a 2,289-yard season with 34 touchdowns. Washington chose USM over South Alabama, Navy, Air Force and others.

DL Zay Lowery, West Point (Ms.)

Southern Miss dips into the tried and true West Point talent pool for a 280-pound lineman who racked up 30 tackles for loss over his last two high school seasons. Another three star recruit, Lowery had offers from Memphis and UAB.

OL Larry Edwards, Belzoni (Ms.)

The first offensive lineman of the day comes from the River Delta. Edwards is light at 260 pounds, but fills a constant area of need for the staff as an athletic offensive tackle.

Quote: “Larry Edwards, you talk about a guy who is 6-foot-4 and a half and whose wingspan would’ve put him third in the NFL combine last year. We think he’s another one of those developmental guys who has a bright, bright future.”

OL Hastings Carruth, Southwest Mississippi C.C.

Carruth hails from Lake Dixie Springs and serves as a ready-made tackle at 300 pounds. Carruth will have three years to play after starting his career at Mississippi State before starting every game for the SMCC Bears this past season.

OL Zack Conti, Eastern Michigan

The first four-year transfer of the day fills a key need for USM. Conti spent his first three years at EMU where he earned a scholarship and a starting position this past season. Conti arrives at 325 pounds and will have two seasons left to play.

DL Aaron Travis, Grenada (Ms.)

The lineman continue to roll in, this one a 280-pound in-state product. Travis will be one of the more coveted commits to land in Hattiesburg as a high-three star with offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech and others.

OL Greg Nunnery, Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.

Another post-grad offensive lineman has a signature filed. From McComb, Nunnery played 17 games across two seasons for MGCCC and was named an All-MACCC player for his efforts this past season. The 310-pounder had offers from Troy, Purdue and others.

Quote: “We thought Greg Nunnery was the best O-lineman in the Mississippi JUCOs. To be able to hold on to him and keep him through a lot of highly recruited contest on him was big.”

QB John White, Madison (Ms.)

Southern Miss has its high school quarterback for the class and he’s a record-breaking signing. His 15,259 career passing yards are most in the history of the state. Was named the 6A MAIS Player of the Year and chose USM over offers from Syracuse, Liberty and others.

TE Terron Bedford, Jones C.C.

Bedford is a Bay St. Louis that will two seasons to play for the Golden Eagles. At 265-pounds, Bedford is a blocking tight end with experience on the defensive line.

LB Chris Jones, Flowood (Ms.)

Jones was one of the USM’s higher priorities and the staff is able to pull him through signing day despite a late push by Arkansas State. Jones was recently named the 6A MAIS Defensive Player of the Year after a 112-tackle season with 20 tackles for loss.

WR T.K. Keys, Taylorsville (Ms.)

Keys signs as a three-star product with good size on the outside. Keys committed to USM two days after receiving his offer in June.

DB Vernorrius Chaney, Hinds C.C.

Another in-state product, Chaney adds numbers to a corner back room that is beginning to need it. He has two years to play after earning First Team All-MACCC honors this past season.

DB Will James, Mississippi State

James was hotly recruited by USM during the last cycle, but ended up spending his first year in Starkville. James played just one game this past season and will have the full four years as an Eagle.

DL Caleb Moore, Hattiesburg (Ms.)

Moore was an All-State selection this year out of Oak Grove and has decided to keep his talents inside the city over a range of Power Five offers from Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, LSU and others.

Quote: “We’re excited about Caleb (Moore). Caleb is an older kid, he’s already 19. Really mature young man on the D-line. Mid-year enrollee that comes in seasoned. Dynamic player”

PK Luke Stewart, Hattiesburg (Ms.)

Also from Oak Grove, Stewart will follow Moore down the road to USM. Stewart was a Second Team All-State choice in 2023.

Quote: “Luke (Stewart) was without question the best kicker in the state of Mississippi. Everyone knew that. All of his kickoffs went out of the end zone. His extra points went over the net. He’s also got great punting ability. We just think he’s a dynamic talent.”

DB Damion Miller, Port Gibson (Ms.)

Another All-State pick, Miller earned a spot on the Mississippi-Alabama All Star team. Listed as an athletic safety with a track background, Miller held offers from Ole Miss and Tulane.

TE Reed Jesiolowski, Flowood (Ms.)

Jesiolowski makes it a clean sweep in the MAIS awards with his signature. Jesiolowski was named the Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for over 2,000 yards as a senior. He also held an offer from UAB.

Quote: “He will start of in more of a skill-type role as a tight end and progress into being a complete tight end. We think he can be a Group of Five Brock Bowers type. We really do... He was the most dynamic player in the state of Mississippi this year, probably.”

LB Jameer Lewis, Southwest Mississippi C.C.

Lewis adds post-grad depth in the edge of the defense with two years left to play. Lewis racked up 9.5 sacks in 2023 and was an All-MACCC choice.

DL Jalen Owens, Hattiesburg (Ms.)

The Golden Eagles keep another Oak Grove product home with the signing of Owens. The 260-pound lineman had offers from Arkansas State and Jackson State.

Quote: “Jalen Owens is younger, he’s 17, so he’s not done growing. He’s got a lot of size in his family and in his genes. We think he’s not a finished product and the sky’s the limit for him.”

OL Hayden Breal, Mobile (Al.)

Breal signs as a preferred walk-on out of UMS-Wright. The 280-pounder also played lacrosse.

RB Trent Howell, Jones College

The former George County back ran for 318 yards and adds depth to a running back that will be the epicenter for plenty of competition this spring.

LB Trey Pinkney, Coastal Carolina

Southern Miss lands a four-year transfer from a fellow Sun Belt school in Pinkney, who should have one year of eligibility left. Pinkney had 49 tackles and two interceptions in 2022.

DB Jordan Johnson, Mississippi Delta C.C.

Johnson hails from Rolling Fork and will be joining USM’s roster with two seasons left to play. Johnson was an Honorable Mention All-MACCC pick after recording 47 tackles and six pass breakups this past season.

LS Londen Taylor, Gulf Breeze (Fl.)

The Eagles dive into Florida to find their long snapper. Taylor is rated a four-star prospect by Kohl’s Kicking Camps and was a three-sport athlete in high school who played on all three phases for the football team.

P Bart Edmiston, Jones College

The Ocean Springs product was a First Team All-MACCC punter after averaging 44.6 yards per punt and 22 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Edmiston will compete immediately for the starting role at USM.

Quote: “Excited about Bart, great kicker out of Ocean Springs... Highly recruited kid, man. (Special teams coordinator) Greg Meyer battled to get Bart here. I think he’s got a chance to be a really good player as a punter, as well as a kicker.

DB Jermarius Lewis, New Mexico

Another surprise transfer, USM brings home the McComb native for his last two seasons of eligibility. Lewis was a sought-after name out of the portal as an experienced safety. He’s played in 24 games over two seasons and is coming off a season that saw him post 45 tackles and pick off three passes.

DB Ethan Williams, Southwest Mississippi C.C.

Williams was an honorable mention select out of the MACCC and will be another depth piece for the Golden Eagle secondary this spring as a preferred walk-on.

LB Ryan Johnson, Akron

Johnson committed to USM out of the portal and carried his commitment to signing day. Johnson has 26 games of FBS experience and will likely be utilized at outside linebacker for the Golden Eagles.