University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Names Billy Wiles Starting QB to Begin 2023 Season
8/22/2023 11:47:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Third-year Southern Miss football coach Will Hall announced Tuesday morning following practice that redshirt sophomore Billy Wiles (Ashburn, Va.) has been named starting quarterback to open the 2023 season.
Wiles, a transfer from Clemson, will become the fourth-straight different starter at quarterback to open a season when the Golden Eagles line up with Alcorn State, Saturday, Sept. 2, at The Rock. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
"Two things have been evident to me throughout this fall camp," said Hall of both quarterbacks, Wiles and redshirt junior Holman Edwards, who were battling for the starting job. "One, Holman and Billy both are really good players and good leaders, and we can win with both of them; two, Billy's been just a little bit better (in practice)."
With fall camp behind them as well as the start of the fall semester classes, the Golden Eagles now change their focus on its opening opponent, Alcorn State.
"(We) started introducing Alcorn today," said Hall. "They're obviously a proud program and over the last several years they've won a lot of conference championships. It's going to be a tremendous challenge. We expect The Rock to be packed and it should be a fun first game. We've got to be ready for that and all that entails and we've transitioned over to kind of doing that."
Hall also said that the return of competition Tuesday happens tomorrow, even though it will be a Wednesday.
"We'll have what is normally a Competition Tuesday tomorrow, even though it's a Wednesday and then we'll go to (working with) scouts at the end," said Hall. "The rest of the week, it'll be like what is a normal Wednesday for us. The first half (or practice), we'll do some keeping our blade sharp stuff, while the second half we'll do mostly scouts getting ready for Alcorn."
Tickets are still available for that game as well as the final five home games this fall. Fans can contact purchase home season or single game tickets at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or visit the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office on campus weekdays during normal business hours.
Wiles, a transfer from Clemson, will become the fourth-straight different starter at quarterback to open a season when the Golden Eagles line up with Alcorn State, Saturday, Sept. 2, at The Rock. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
"Two things have been evident to me throughout this fall camp," said Hall of both quarterbacks, Wiles and redshirt junior Holman Edwards, who were battling for the starting job. "One, Holman and Billy both are really good players and good leaders, and we can win with both of them; two, Billy's been just a little bit better (in practice)."
With fall camp behind them as well as the start of the fall semester classes, the Golden Eagles now change their focus on its opening opponent, Alcorn State.
"(We) started introducing Alcorn today," said Hall. "They're obviously a proud program and over the last several years they've won a lot of conference championships. It's going to be a tremendous challenge. We expect The Rock to be packed and it should be a fun first game. We've got to be ready for that and all that entails and we've transitioned over to kind of doing that."
Hall also said that the return of competition Tuesday happens tomorrow, even though it will be a Wednesday.
"We'll have what is normally a Competition Tuesday tomorrow, even though it's a Wednesday and then we'll go to (working with) scouts at the end," said Hall. "The rest of the week, it'll be like what is a normal Wednesday for us. The first half (or practice), we'll do some keeping our blade sharp stuff, while the second half we'll do mostly scouts getting ready for Alcorn."
Tickets are still available for that game as well as the final five home games this fall. Fans can contact purchase home season or single game tickets at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or visit the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office on campus weekdays during normal business hours.
Players Mentioned
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