Southern Miss’ Transformative 2025 Offseason (College Football Preview)

The Southern Miss Golden Eagles are coming off a dismal 1-11 season in 2024. It prompted a seismic shift in the program’s trajectory with the hiring of Charles Huff. He was fresh off a Sun Belt Championship with Marshall. This offseason has been a whirlwind of roster turnover, high-profile coaching hires, and strategic transfer portal moves. It sets the stage for a potential resurgence in Hattiesburg. Below, we break down the key elements of Southern Miss’s offseason, evaluate the impact of these changes, and assess whether Huff can return the Golden Eagles to the “promised land” of Sun Belt contention.

Charles Huff’s arrival at Southern Miss was announced on December 8, 2024. It was a statement of intent from athletic director Jeremy McClain. Huff compiled a 32-20 record at Marshall with four consecutive bowl appearances and a 2024 Sun Belt title. He brings a proven track record and a bold vision. At his introductory press conference, Huff declared, “I didn’t come down here to play. I came to win, and we will win.” His hiring is a calculated risk, as he leaves a successful program for a Southern Miss team that hasn’t had a winning season since 2016. However, his ability to develop talent, manage the transfer portal, and instill a winning culture makes him a promising fit.

Huff’s staff is a blend of continuity and fresh faces. He has 21 players and key assistants following him from Marshall. Notably, defensive coordinator Jason Semore led Marshall’s defense to a No. 2 ranking in the Sun Belt for scoring defense in 2024. He joined Huff in Hattiesburg. This loyalty speaks to Huff’s leadership and the trust he inspires. This could be pivotal in turning around a program that has struggled for over a decade. With 39 transfers added overall, including the Marshall contingent, Huff has essentially rebuilt the roster from scratch, signaling a rapid transformation rather than a gradual rebuild.

Can Huff lead Southern Miss back to prominence? His track record suggests he’s capable. Marshall’s 10-3 season in 2024, including a Sun Belt Championship win over Louisiana. It showcased his ability to maximize talent at the Group of Five level. Southern Miss’s recruiting base in Mississippi, combined with Huff’s transfer portal prowess, positions him to flip the script quickly. A return to Conference USA dominance from 2011 may take time. A competitive 2025 season (think 6-6 or 7-5) is within reach, especially with a favorable Sun Belt schedule.

The hiring of Blake Anderson as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach is a home run for Southern Miss. Anderson, who previously served as Southern Miss’s OC from 2008-11. He returns with a wealth of experience. Anderson posted a 74-54 record as a head coach at Arkansas State and Utah State, with nine bowl appearances and three conference titles. His 2011 Southern Miss offense set school records, averaging 461.4 yards per game. He also ranked top 20 nationally in scoring, rushing, and total offense.

What does Anderson mean for the 2025 offense? Expect a high-tempo, balanced attack that leverages both the run and pass. It should be similar to his 2011 unit that averaged over 200 yards in both categories. Anderson’s experience developing quarterbacks bodes well for the Golden Eagles’ signal-callers. His up-tempo scheme will challenge defenses and maximize the skill players acquired via the transfer portal.

For 2025, fans should anticipate a significant offensive improvement from 2024’s 22.2 points per game (111th in FBS). Anderson’s track record suggests Southern Miss could push for 30+ points per game, especially with a talented quarterback and revamped skill positions. The spring game showcased a passing game that drove the ball downfield, with senior wideout Bralon Brown hinting at the explosiveness to come.

Braylon Braxton was the 2024 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and a Second-Team All-Conference selection. He followed Huff from Marshall and was introduced as Southern Miss’s starting quarterback. Braxton went 8-0 as Marshall’s starter in 2024. He threw for 1,624 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just two interceptions while adding 610 rushing yards and four scores. His dual-threat ability makes him a perfect fit for Anderson’s offense.

Will Braxton be the top quarterback in the Sun Belt? He’s a strong contender. His efficiency (19:2 TD-to-INT ratio) and mobility give him an edge over most Sun Belt signal-callers. Competitors like Louisiana’s Ben Wooldridge or App State’s Joey Aguilar are talented. But Braxton’s 2024 performance and fit in Anderson’s system make him a frontrunner for First-Team All-Sun Belt honors. The backup battle between UAB transfer Landry Lyddy and sophomore John White adds depth. His ability to avoid mistakes and make plays with his legs could elevate Southern Miss’s offense to top-25 status nationally.

Southern Miss’s offensive line returns three starters—Kyirion Heath, Lawson, and Frazier—providing a foundation for the ground game. Huff and Anderson bolstered this unit with transfers like Maui (an All-Mountain West guard from Utah State) and Anderson (a SWAC standout from Alabama A&M), both bringing size and experience. The running back room features holdover Drekevius Washington and transfers like Jalen Briggs, Micah Davis, and Davon Pittman, all with FBS experience.

What will the ground game look like? Expect a robust, versatile attack. Anderson’s offenses historically balance rushing and passing. Braxton’s 600+ rushing yards from 2024, the quarterback run game will be a factor. The running backs, led by Pittman (a former No. 1 JUCO prospect), bring physicality and depth. The offensive line’s experience should improve on 2024’s 3.8 yards per carry. This could potentially push Southern Miss toward 150-200 rushing yards per game. The spring game highlighted this potential, with transfer Moses Gray (from Marshall) carrying 10 times for 60 yards.

The wide receiver room has been overhauled with transfers like Bralon Brown (Marshall), Micah Davis (Ole Miss), and Davis Dalton, alongside returners Ti Mims and Kyirin Heath. Brown’s six catches in the spring game and Heath’s one-handed grab signal a group with playmaking potential. Anderson’s 2011 offense featured dynamic receivers, and his return suggests this unit could be the strongest since that era.

Will this be the best wideout room in years? Likely, yes. The combination of Heath’s route-running, Mims’s speed, and the transfers’ experience creates a versatile group. Davis, with 1,300 all-purpose yards in his career, adds a big-play threat. While not yet at the level of Southern Miss’s 2011 corps (which included NFL talent), this group could rank among the Sun Belt’s best, especially with Braxton’s accuracy and Anderson’s play-calling.

Southern Miss’s 2024 defense was a disaster. It ranked 129th in scoring defense (37.2 points allowed per game) and 124th in total defense (437.8 yards per game). The loss of defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong after 2022 crippled the unit. The 2024 roster lacked playmakers. Huff and Semore face a tall task, but the transfer portal has brought reinforcements.

Semore’s Marshall defense ranked top-25 nationally in sacks and third-down defense. He’ll aim to replicate that in Hattiesburg. The spring game showed promise, with Chris Jones emerging as the top linebacker and Jameer Lewis recording a sack. However, depth issues persist, particularly at linebacker. The defense should improve significantly, potentially allowing 25-28 points per game, but reaching Marshall’s 2024 level (17.8 points allowed) may take another year.

Yes. While Lewis and Cooley return at defensive tackle, and transfer Gibson adds 320 pounds to the front, the edge positions lack proven depth. The line’s ability to generate pressure (Marshall had 35 sacks in 2024) will determine whether the defense can support the offense’s expected leap.

Absolutely. Moten is an All-Sun Belt honorable mention from Marshall. He had five interceptions and a 90.6 PFF coverage grade in 2024, ranking third among FBS corners. His arrival, alongside transfers like Ahmere Foster and Myrick, transforms the secondary into a strength. Moten’s ability to lock down receivers could make him the offseason’s most impactful addition, rivaling Braxton’s signing.

Southern Miss was a net winner in the transfer portal, adding 39 players while losing 26 from the 2024 roster. Key additions like Braxton, Moten, Maui, and Davis address critical needs at quarterback, secondary, and offensive line. Outgoing players, such as quarterback Tate Rodemaker (985 yards, 7 TDs, 7 INTs) and linebacker Jalil Pinkney (74 tackles), were significant but replaceable given the incoming talent.

The sheer volume of transfers ranks among the highest in the FBS. The quality (e.g., Braxton’s Sun Belt awards, Moten’s elite coverage) gives Southern Miss an edge. The To The Top Collective, led by Peter Boehme, played a key role in securing talent without relying solely on NIL money. They emphasized fit and relationships. Southern Miss decisively won the portal. It set up a roster capable of competing immediately.

Charles Huff’s arrival, paired with Blake Anderson’s offensive expertise, has injected new life into Southern Miss football. With 21 players and key coaches following Huff from Marshall, the program has a cohesive core to build around. Braylon Braxton has the tools to be the Sun Belt’s top quarterback. The offensive line and running back additions should fuel a dynamic ground game. The wideout room, bolstered by transfers and returners, could be the best since 2011. Defensively, Josh Moten’s addition addresses a critical need, but the defensive line remains a question mark. The transfer portal haul positions Southern Miss for a dramatic turnaround.

Grade for the offseason: A-. The hires of Huff and Anderson, combined with a transfer class headlined by Braxton and Moten, make this one of the most ambitious rebuilds in the Group of Five. If Huff can foster chemistry among the 40+ new players, Southern Miss could surprise with a bowl berth in 2025. The journey back to the “promised land” starts now. The pieces are in place for Hattiesburg to be happy on Saturdays again.