University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Continues to Get Ready for Nationally Ranked Marshall
11/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss football team returned to the practice fields here Wednesday afternoon to continue to get ready for No. 23 Marshall this Saturday for the school's annual homecoming affair. Game time is set for 6 p.m., at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Roberts Stadium.
The Golden Eagles went through their two and a half hour practice at the Joe P. Park Practice Facility in shoulder pads and shorts.
Part of the emphasis on the day's practice was to continue to build on its defensive showing last weekend, which limited UTEP to 234 total offensive yards - the least Southern Miss has surrendered all season.
That success started up front with the defense line and junior Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who notched a career-high 11 tackles against the Miners which included a pair of sacks as well as a blocked field goal.
"Rakeem is playing really well," said Southern Miss coach Todd Monken. "Rakeem missed all of last year and the spring, so it took a while to get going again. He has, throughout the year, progressively gotten better and better. He has a better motor and doesn't ever quit."
Nunez-Roches highlights a defensive line group that has improved as the season has progressed.
`We have a number of our other guys up front have gotten better," said Monken. "When you have one really good player there it helps everyone else play better. Having Dylan Bradley and Michael (Smith) back, it gives us a chance and Adam Williams is feeling better with his foot.
"It all starts up front. You want to be good on defense, so you have to be good up front. The other guys have to be able to run. You have to have guys up front who play in the backfield and other guys who can run."
On the offensive side, Southern Miss sophomore quarterback Nick Mullens did not practice but did put in some work on the side on Wednesday.
"(Nick) wasn't able to go today," said Monken. "He was able to throw today. Whether or not we will be able to put him out there and put him at risk (yet), I don't know."
The Golden Eagles return to the practice fields on Thursday as they continue to get closer to their annual homecoming contest. The following is a list of events taking place on the Golden Eagle campus this weekend running from Thursday, Nov. 6 - Sunday, Nov. 9: http://www.southernmiss.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110414aab.html.
