Southern Miss fans are hoping for some big arrivals via the transfer portal – possibly Will Rogers? – but they’re also hoping some current players will decide to return to Hattiesburg for another season.
One of those players Will Hall and company are looking to bring back is star running back Frank Gore, Jr. Gore, who has accumulated over 5,000 yards of offense in four years, said on Tuesday’s episode of SportsTalk Mississippi that he’s leaning towards staying for one more go-round.
“I hope so,” Gore said when asked about returning for a fifth year. “If the situation is right, I’ll be back for sure. I just want to take things slowly. My next step is graduating. I haven’t thought about football whether I’ll play next year or not. My next step is graduating and that’s the biggest thing for me right now. After that, I’ll be able to sit down and weigh all my options.”
Of those options, Gore could either transfer or declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. With the former virtually shut down by the Miami native, the latter would be the main option if he decided not to return to Southern Miss.
“I have no reason to leave,” Gore said regarding previous opportunities to transfer. “What’s my reason? I didn’t see a reason. Yeah, there’s bigger schools, but I helped build this place. I wouldn’t want to leave just to join someone else’s wave…I love Mississippi. I love Southern Miss. I love it all, man. I’m just taking it all in.”
According to Pro Football Focus’ annual big board, Gore would be the No. 166 overall player if he declared for the draft by the Jan. 15 deadline. That would project him as a fifth-round or later pick, but with one more year in Hattiesburg and a weaker running back class projected for 2025, another season could prove beneficial.
Gore finished the 2023 campaign with 1,131 rushing yards, 221 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns. He has accounted for 38 touchdowns over the course of his career at Southern Miss.
