For the fourth time in as many years, Southern Miss will have a new starter at quarterback in the season opener.
Under Hall, eight different quarterbacks have started games for the Golden Eagles, with 15 total players taking snaps and attempting a pass as the field general. Hall’s first three years were marked by manifold injuries, transfers that weren’t up to snuff, and game one starters who only lasted a handful of contests.
In that stretch, the cornucopia of names included running back Frank Gore, Jr., who attempted 28 passes, walk on Jason Goldstein, and student coaching assistant Jake Smithhart, who donned pads and took snaps after a particularly intense rash of injuries. Power Five transfers such as Trey Lowe III (West Virginia), Billy Wiles (Clemson), Holman Edwards (Houston), and Tee Webb (Louisville) never caught on as the everyday man.
As fall camp wore on in Hattiesburg, it was clear that Hall and his staff were encouraged by the options available at quarterback. For the first time since they arrived in Hattiesburg, Southern Miss has multiple players who enter a season with previous in-game experience.
“We got to a situation last year where we had some guys that – you know, if you can’t run you better be able to throw it. If you can’t throw it, you better be able to run,” offensive line coach Sam Gregg said during fall camp. “I think we got into a situation last year where we didn’t have either of those. So, that makes it tough on everybody. Makes it tough on whoever’s calling the plays. I think we’re in a situation where we’re really excited what we got there at quarterback and what they can do.”
While rumors swirled on social media last week that Florida State transfer Tate Rodemaker had been named the starter, no word has officially come from Southern Miss. Will Hall noted in a text to SuperTalk Mississippi News that he has not made the call — at least not publicly. Reports throughout fall camp in Hattiesburg said that Rodemaker was taking the bulk of first-string snaps at QB.
The Florida State product played in 23 games for Mike Norvell’s Seminoles, serving primarily as the backup to 2023 Heisman finalist Jordan Travis. In the final of his four years in Tallahassee, Rodemaker threw for 510 yards, five touchdowns, and, in his lone start for the season, beat Florida to put FSU in the ACC Championship Game.
“I think we’re really good in that spot,” Hall said last week. “I think we’re dynamic. I think we’re different. I think all of them bring something different and I think we know what we need to do to win this football game this week. I feel good about it. I like these guys.”
Beyond the Valdosta, Ga. product and former four-star high school recruit, sophomore Ethan Crawford and true freshman John White make the quarterback room arguably the deepest and most talented it’s been since Hall was hired in 2020. Crawford started a pair of games and played in six as a freshman a season ago, exhibiting a rocket arm and ability to hurt opposing defenses with his legs.
On the other hand, John White, the Mississippi high school career passing yards record holder, has held his own in preseason fall camp practice, though the Madison native is expected to redshirt behind Rodemaker and Crawford.
“I’ve been impressed with all three of them. They can all do different things,” first-year offensive coordinator Chip Long said during fall camp. “Age is kind of the separator right now. But we’re gonna have packages for all of them and I’ve been very impressed with that entire group.”
With a combined record of 13-24 in the Hall era, dissatisfaction among the Southern Miss fanbase has bubbled up. To Hall, it’s no secret that the time to win is now. In what could be a “make or break” year, the coalescence of a deeper, more talented, and more experienced quarterback room couldn’t come at a better time.
Southern Miss was picked to finish second-to-last in the West Division of the Sun Belt in the preseason media poll, but Hall has higher expectations for his group. The collection and retention of three consecutive high-quality recruiting classes, which all ranked in the top three of the Sun Belt, along with the 2023 class ranking No. 1 in the league, should finally bear fruit on the winning tree.
“I think we’ve got a good football team. I believe in our kids,” Hall told media in July. “I’m really confident about the product we’re gonna put out there this year.”
