University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Coach Jay Hopson Media Conference Transcript (Aug. 27, 2018)
8/27/2018 4:54:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss football coach Jay Hopson held his weekly news conference at the Duff Athletic Center, Monday, as the Golden Eagles get set to open the season at home Saturday against Jackson State.
The Golden Eagles and Tigers play at 6 p.m. at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium. The game can be viewed on ESPN+ as well as be heard on one of the affiliates of the Southern Miss IMG Sports Network.
Here are some of things Hopson said during his news conference:
Opening Statement
"It's on us now, the season is here. We're getting ready; it should be a great environment Saturday, we've got an outstanding football team coming to town for the first game of the season so there is a lot of excitement. Getting ready to go."
On the Starting Quarterback
"Right now I'd say Jack (Abraham). He's had a good week, week and a half, so he's a little ahead."
On Jack Abraham
"He's done a good job executing the offense. He's very cerebral, he's done what we've asked him to do. He's thrown the ball extremely well. I do think we have talented quarterbacks; there's a possibility you could see more than one for sure. With where we are right now today, he gets the nod."
On the running backs
"They're getting healthy, it looks to me like everybody is back. Tez (Parks), Trivenskey (Moseley), George (Payne); they're all back and ready to roll. I don't think we'll be without anyone. We're getting healthier and healthier so that's a good thing."
On Jackson State
"It's always tough because offensively, Coach (Hal) Mumme wasn't there last year, so you're looking at both film of their personnel and of the places he's been. You have to study that side of the ball. It's a new year, so there are some new faces on their defense. That first game is kind of a dance into the unknown, but I do see a talented football team, a well-coached football team, and we know we have to bring our A-game.
"We've got to play execution football. We know they are going to be a well-coached football team and we know we have to be ready. You've got to be ready every Saturday."
On J.J. Jones
"He got here a little late, he was playing catch up. We've just seen him getting better and better. He's a really talented young man that is going to be a really good football player. He's proven himself to us and he's earned that second spot."
On the secondary
"We feel good about our unit. You look at Picasso (Nelson), who is a three-year starter, Rachuan (Mitchell) and Ernest (Gunn) have been around here for three years; they've played a lot of football, especially Rachuan. Ty Williams, we are excited about, he's a junior college transfer and I felt like a few years ago he was one of the best corners in Mississippi, so we're excited about him. You look back at guys like Xavier Marion, he'll be a senior next year. There's a lot of similarities to where we were last year at this time. We do have some age back there, but we also have some guys that haven't had as many downs as guys in the past. Last year, Curtis (Mikell) hadn't started a game, Jomez (Applewhite) hadn't really played a lot of football and they did a great job. There is age, I like that, but we're able to mix a little youth in there. Ky'el Hemby is another one that hasn't played a lot of football but he's in the mix; he's an extremely talented player. We've got talent back there. Being an old secondary coach I'm looking forward to watching those guys play."
Linebacker
"We've got four linebackers that deserve to play, so you'll see those guys. Other than that, there are no promises."
On Picasso Nelson, Jr.
"He's had a good camp, he's a really smart football player. He's a guy that gives us real solid play in the backend. He's a three-year starter and that experience, that leadership is certainly critical."
Receivers
"Tim Jones has a lot of talent. He's big, he's fast, he's physical. The receiving corps is a bunch that I'm really excited about. It looks like De'Michael is coming back to being healthy, Tim is getting back to being healthy. Jaylon (Adams), Quez (Watkins) and those guys have had really big camps and are doing some good things. Hopefully, we'll have Trevor back in the mix and Neil McLauren looks like he's healing up.
"The last week we've really executed well in our passing game, and that's something we'll just need to continue to build on. Jack Abraham has thrown the ball really well in the last week of practice. We certainly hope that carries on because that's critical; you've got to have a quarterback with efficiency, and that's something that's going to be huge for our success."
Offensive line
"We're getting a little deeper, but we're almost the same unit we were last year but with a little more experience. Drake (Dorbeck) and Ty (Pollard) have done well, they are juniors, but Arvin (Fletcher) and Woodlyson (Alcius) have been having solid days. Trace (Clopton) is a kid I think that will be outstanding. Our depth, (Bryce) Foxworth, (Paul) Gainer, those guys played and started. We have some numbers we can move around, but we just want to stay healthy on the offensive line. We're deeper than we were."
On Trace Clopton
"I don't think I have had a player like Trace Clopton. Never at center. I've had some freshmen play offensive line, but I've never had a kid as a freshman come in at center. He's a coach's son, he's a smart player and he'll handle it fine. Trace has all the intangibles. He's tough, he's smart, he's football-driven. It means a lot to him. He's been around it since he came out of the womb. Anytime you throw those kids in the locker room at three-years-old it gets in their blood and it's something that they have a passion for. It's an advantage for a kid like Trace; he's grown up around football and it's evident. He's on top of his game. It's pretty amazing, a true freshman, not only winning the job right now but winning it in the spring."
Special teams
"We need a big year from Parker (Shaunfield). As always, special teams will be a critical part of our football team, so we need him to continue and to even get better. Briggs (Bourgeois) is a guy that kicks off for us and we need him to be big each and every Saturday. Zac Everett is a returning starter in our punt game so Zac is a young man that has some competition there with Payton Snyder and Tyler Flathau are kind of battling back there, but Zac will be our punter. Hopefully, with the experience with all our starters back there, we'll be better. We have a lot of depth at linebacker, we have a lot more numbers in our secondary, so I think our special teams should be a little deeper. You hope that leads to more success on special teams."
On entering third year with Southern Miss
"We're about to take the boat out of the harbor, so a lot of nerves as always when you start the season. I like this football team and I can tell you that. I like this teams work ethic, I like the way they attack practice, how they come to work and they're a Southern Miss football team. That's the key to success on game day, but again, this football team has the right mindset and personality to be very successful. Now we've got to just go execute on Saturdays."
On modeling game after Coach Bower's
"You're going to take what you learn from your mentors and Coach Bower taught me a lot. He taught me a lot of football and he taught me a lot of things, so there is no question that I try to take what I learned. I always had two mentors: Coach Bower was one and Bob Pruett was the other. I spent a large period of my coaching career with those guys. I owe those guys a lot, but they gave me my start. Like I said, Jay Hops is not bringing anything Southern Miss, it's just our time to hold the flag. It's a tradition that goes back way beyond than when I was born and I love Southern Miss. We're just trying to uphold the Black and Gold standard. I think our kids understand the tradition and history of Southern Miss because that is something we are trying to uphold each and every day."
On his new four-year contract
"Southern Miss is where I want to be. I'm a Mississippi boy, I'm a south Mississippi boy and I love Southern Miss. You're going to bury me in Vicksburg or Hattiesburg -- one of the two. I'm going under the dirt right there, so I'm blessed to be here. It's in my blood."
On crowd against Jackson State
'I expect a sellout crowd and plus."
The Golden Eagles and Tigers play at 6 p.m. at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium. The game can be viewed on ESPN+ as well as be heard on one of the affiliates of the Southern Miss IMG Sports Network.
Here are some of things Hopson said during his news conference:
Opening Statement
"It's on us now, the season is here. We're getting ready; it should be a great environment Saturday, we've got an outstanding football team coming to town for the first game of the season so there is a lot of excitement. Getting ready to go."
On the Starting Quarterback
"Right now I'd say Jack (Abraham). He's had a good week, week and a half, so he's a little ahead."
On Jack Abraham
"He's done a good job executing the offense. He's very cerebral, he's done what we've asked him to do. He's thrown the ball extremely well. I do think we have talented quarterbacks; there's a possibility you could see more than one for sure. With where we are right now today, he gets the nod."
On the running backs
"They're getting healthy, it looks to me like everybody is back. Tez (Parks), Trivenskey (Moseley), George (Payne); they're all back and ready to roll. I don't think we'll be without anyone. We're getting healthier and healthier so that's a good thing."
On Jackson State
"It's always tough because offensively, Coach (Hal) Mumme wasn't there last year, so you're looking at both film of their personnel and of the places he's been. You have to study that side of the ball. It's a new year, so there are some new faces on their defense. That first game is kind of a dance into the unknown, but I do see a talented football team, a well-coached football team, and we know we have to bring our A-game.
"We've got to play execution football. We know they are going to be a well-coached football team and we know we have to be ready. You've got to be ready every Saturday."
On J.J. Jones
"He got here a little late, he was playing catch up. We've just seen him getting better and better. He's a really talented young man that is going to be a really good football player. He's proven himself to us and he's earned that second spot."
On the secondary
"We feel good about our unit. You look at Picasso (Nelson), who is a three-year starter, Rachuan (Mitchell) and Ernest (Gunn) have been around here for three years; they've played a lot of football, especially Rachuan. Ty Williams, we are excited about, he's a junior college transfer and I felt like a few years ago he was one of the best corners in Mississippi, so we're excited about him. You look back at guys like Xavier Marion, he'll be a senior next year. There's a lot of similarities to where we were last year at this time. We do have some age back there, but we also have some guys that haven't had as many downs as guys in the past. Last year, Curtis (Mikell) hadn't started a game, Jomez (Applewhite) hadn't really played a lot of football and they did a great job. There is age, I like that, but we're able to mix a little youth in there. Ky'el Hemby is another one that hasn't played a lot of football but he's in the mix; he's an extremely talented player. We've got talent back there. Being an old secondary coach I'm looking forward to watching those guys play."
Linebacker
"We've got four linebackers that deserve to play, so you'll see those guys. Other than that, there are no promises."
On Picasso Nelson, Jr.
"He's had a good camp, he's a really smart football player. He's a guy that gives us real solid play in the backend. He's a three-year starter and that experience, that leadership is certainly critical."
Receivers
"Tim Jones has a lot of talent. He's big, he's fast, he's physical. The receiving corps is a bunch that I'm really excited about. It looks like De'Michael is coming back to being healthy, Tim is getting back to being healthy. Jaylon (Adams), Quez (Watkins) and those guys have had really big camps and are doing some good things. Hopefully, we'll have Trevor back in the mix and Neil McLauren looks like he's healing up.
"The last week we've really executed well in our passing game, and that's something we'll just need to continue to build on. Jack Abraham has thrown the ball really well in the last week of practice. We certainly hope that carries on because that's critical; you've got to have a quarterback with efficiency, and that's something that's going to be huge for our success."
Offensive line
"We're getting a little deeper, but we're almost the same unit we were last year but with a little more experience. Drake (Dorbeck) and Ty (Pollard) have done well, they are juniors, but Arvin (Fletcher) and Woodlyson (Alcius) have been having solid days. Trace (Clopton) is a kid I think that will be outstanding. Our depth, (Bryce) Foxworth, (Paul) Gainer, those guys played and started. We have some numbers we can move around, but we just want to stay healthy on the offensive line. We're deeper than we were."
On Trace Clopton
"I don't think I have had a player like Trace Clopton. Never at center. I've had some freshmen play offensive line, but I've never had a kid as a freshman come in at center. He's a coach's son, he's a smart player and he'll handle it fine. Trace has all the intangibles. He's tough, he's smart, he's football-driven. It means a lot to him. He's been around it since he came out of the womb. Anytime you throw those kids in the locker room at three-years-old it gets in their blood and it's something that they have a passion for. It's an advantage for a kid like Trace; he's grown up around football and it's evident. He's on top of his game. It's pretty amazing, a true freshman, not only winning the job right now but winning it in the spring."
Special teams
"We need a big year from Parker (Shaunfield). As always, special teams will be a critical part of our football team, so we need him to continue and to even get better. Briggs (Bourgeois) is a guy that kicks off for us and we need him to be big each and every Saturday. Zac Everett is a returning starter in our punt game so Zac is a young man that has some competition there with Payton Snyder and Tyler Flathau are kind of battling back there, but Zac will be our punter. Hopefully, with the experience with all our starters back there, we'll be better. We have a lot of depth at linebacker, we have a lot more numbers in our secondary, so I think our special teams should be a little deeper. You hope that leads to more success on special teams."
On entering third year with Southern Miss
"We're about to take the boat out of the harbor, so a lot of nerves as always when you start the season. I like this football team and I can tell you that. I like this teams work ethic, I like the way they attack practice, how they come to work and they're a Southern Miss football team. That's the key to success on game day, but again, this football team has the right mindset and personality to be very successful. Now we've got to just go execute on Saturdays."
On modeling game after Coach Bower's
"You're going to take what you learn from your mentors and Coach Bower taught me a lot. He taught me a lot of football and he taught me a lot of things, so there is no question that I try to take what I learned. I always had two mentors: Coach Bower was one and Bob Pruett was the other. I spent a large period of my coaching career with those guys. I owe those guys a lot, but they gave me my start. Like I said, Jay Hops is not bringing anything Southern Miss, it's just our time to hold the flag. It's a tradition that goes back way beyond than when I was born and I love Southern Miss. We're just trying to uphold the Black and Gold standard. I think our kids understand the tradition and history of Southern Miss because that is something we are trying to uphold each and every day."
On his new four-year contract
"Southern Miss is where I want to be. I'm a Mississippi boy, I'm a south Mississippi boy and I love Southern Miss. You're going to bury me in Vicksburg or Hattiesburg -- one of the two. I'm going under the dirt right there, so I'm blessed to be here. It's in my blood."
On crowd against Jackson State
'I expect a sellout crowd and plus."
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
P
/ Football
PK
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballP
/ Football
DB
/ Football2025 Bowl Practice Press Conference
Wednesday, December 10
Charles Huff 2026 Early Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, December 03
South Alabama Tuesday Press
Wednesday, November 19
Southern Miss - Texas State Postgame Presser
Sunday, November 16