University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagles Prep for Final Fall Camp Scrimmage
8/19/2022 3:04:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. --Â The Southern Miss football team went through its final prep day Friday morning as it gets ready for the second scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday. The Golden Eagles once again dodged thunderstorms hammering the Hub City to get a full practice in.Â
Second-year coach Will Hall put the Golden Eagles through a two-hour practice at The Rock with the focus being on taking mental reps in the kick return and kick coverage game.Â
"There's been a lot of thunderstorms the last two days and the good lord provided windows for us the last two days," Hall said. "We got a lot of special teams work in with punt return, kickoff coverage and a lot of situational work. I saw some good things mentally putting in some schemes that are a little more conducive to just helmets and require getting out on the perimeter."
Hall also listed a handful of names that he said might be new to Southern Miss fans, but also highlighted Frank Gore, Jr. on the offensive side of the ball and Brendan Toles on the defensive side. Both played integral roles on last year's team and are expected to be big contributors again this fall.Â
"Brendan Toles has been a guy at corner that has really taken a step," said Hall of his sophomore cornerback. "He played a lot as a true freshman as a highly recruited kid by a bunch of SEC schools. We ended up getting him in our first class here and he's really progressed. He's gotten bigger and stronger while having a great camp."
As for Gore, his biggest jump has been off the field and inside the classroom. Hall was quick to note that he thinks the success in the classroom will carry over his production on the field.Â
"I think he has a tremendous smile. Kinda like Magic Johnson did -- it's just infectious," Hall said. "He understands that he's Frank Gore, and he takes that responsibility very seriously. The other day -- my dad and my uncle -- we had a bunch of older men out here in the end zone and he came by to high five and hug every one of them and had no idea who they were.Â
"He's just that kind of guy, he knows his impact. He's become very intentional in all the other things outside of showing up for practice. He had his best semester he's ever had academically, having over a 3.0."
Season tickets for the 2022 home schedule are available by visiting SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or by visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office, weekdays, during normal business hours.
Second-year coach Will Hall put the Golden Eagles through a two-hour practice at The Rock with the focus being on taking mental reps in the kick return and kick coverage game.Â
"There's been a lot of thunderstorms the last two days and the good lord provided windows for us the last two days," Hall said. "We got a lot of special teams work in with punt return, kickoff coverage and a lot of situational work. I saw some good things mentally putting in some schemes that are a little more conducive to just helmets and require getting out on the perimeter."
Hall also listed a handful of names that he said might be new to Southern Miss fans, but also highlighted Frank Gore, Jr. on the offensive side of the ball and Brendan Toles on the defensive side. Both played integral roles on last year's team and are expected to be big contributors again this fall.Â
"Brendan Toles has been a guy at corner that has really taken a step," said Hall of his sophomore cornerback. "He played a lot as a true freshman as a highly recruited kid by a bunch of SEC schools. We ended up getting him in our first class here and he's really progressed. He's gotten bigger and stronger while having a great camp."
As for Gore, his biggest jump has been off the field and inside the classroom. Hall was quick to note that he thinks the success in the classroom will carry over his production on the field.Â
"I think he has a tremendous smile. Kinda like Magic Johnson did -- it's just infectious," Hall said. "He understands that he's Frank Gore, and he takes that responsibility very seriously. The other day -- my dad and my uncle -- we had a bunch of older men out here in the end zone and he came by to high five and hug every one of them and had no idea who they were.Â
"He's just that kind of guy, he knows his impact. He's become very intentional in all the other things outside of showing up for practice. He had his best semester he's ever had academically, having over a 3.0."
Season tickets for the 2022 home schedule are available by visiting SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or by visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office, weekdays, during normal business hours.
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