University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Defense Under New Leadership for Southern Miss Football This Fall
8/7/2018 3:56:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – As Southern Miss football continues to prepare for its season opener with the continuation of fall camp, the Golden Eagles have new leadership with their defense and the person in charge of the Nasty Bunch is no stranger in getting that job done.
Tim Billings, a veteran coach on the collegiate and high school level and who has made stops at Missouri, Oklahoma, Marshall, Southeast Missouri State, Wake Forest and Memphis, takes over the defense in his third season with the program. Billings, the team's assistant head coach, also oversees the safeties.
When that position came open just before spring practice, Hopson did not have to look far on his staff for a replacement.
"He's an excellent football coach," said Hopson of Billings. "He has been a defensive coordinator and I coached with him at Marshall. I was blessed that we were together there back in the 90s and I believe we finished No. 1 or No. 2 in the country in total scoring defense. The bottom line is that he is an excellent football coach with a lot of knowledge and experience."
One of the challenges for Billings and the Golden Eagles is to replace seven starters on defense heading into this season and two guys are making waves for playing time in the defensive backfield, which includes Rachuan Mitchell and Ty'Ree Evans.
Mitchell saw action in 12 games last season as a freshman and posted 24 tackles for the squad. Evans comes to Southern Miss after a stellar two-year career at East Mississippi Community College.
"We are looking for consistency and making sure we are executing everything with our coverages, playing hard," said Hopson of the defense back corps. "We are talented at that spot, but we just have to make sure we are precise and not blowing any coverages."
One guy who Hopson is expecting big things of this year is sophomore linebacker Racheem Boothe, the Bassfield, Miss., product who finished second on the team in tackles last season with 79.
"Racheem is tough and physical who fights through things," said Hopson. "He is a special talent who had a great freshman year and who is just going to get better and better."
Single-game and season tickets are still available for the 2018 Southern Miss football season. Tickets may be purchased on online at SouthernMissTickets.com, by phone at 1-800-844-TICK (8425) and in person weekdays at the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office during normal business hours.
Tim Billings, a veteran coach on the collegiate and high school level and who has made stops at Missouri, Oklahoma, Marshall, Southeast Missouri State, Wake Forest and Memphis, takes over the defense in his third season with the program. Billings, the team's assistant head coach, also oversees the safeties.
When that position came open just before spring practice, Hopson did not have to look far on his staff for a replacement.
"He's an excellent football coach," said Hopson of Billings. "He has been a defensive coordinator and I coached with him at Marshall. I was blessed that we were together there back in the 90s and I believe we finished No. 1 or No. 2 in the country in total scoring defense. The bottom line is that he is an excellent football coach with a lot of knowledge and experience."
One of the challenges for Billings and the Golden Eagles is to replace seven starters on defense heading into this season and two guys are making waves for playing time in the defensive backfield, which includes Rachuan Mitchell and Ty'Ree Evans.
Mitchell saw action in 12 games last season as a freshman and posted 24 tackles for the squad. Evans comes to Southern Miss after a stellar two-year career at East Mississippi Community College.
"We are looking for consistency and making sure we are executing everything with our coverages, playing hard," said Hopson of the defense back corps. "We are talented at that spot, but we just have to make sure we are precise and not blowing any coverages."
One guy who Hopson is expecting big things of this year is sophomore linebacker Racheem Boothe, the Bassfield, Miss., product who finished second on the team in tackles last season with 79.
"Racheem is tough and physical who fights through things," said Hopson. "He is a special talent who had a great freshman year and who is just going to get better and better."
Single-game and season tickets are still available for the 2018 Southern Miss football season. Tickets may be purchased on online at SouthernMissTickets.com, by phone at 1-800-844-TICK (8425) and in person weekdays at the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office during normal business hours.
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