University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Goes Through First Preseason Scrimmage Saturday Afternoon
8/15/2026 4:07:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss football team battled through a steamy, 125-play preseason scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
It gave first-year coach Blake Anderson a chance to evaluate a team that includes 74 newcomers on the roster.
"Our goals were pretty simple," said Anderson. "It was to come ready to go today and I thought they did. It was really hot. We knew it was going to be hot and we needed it to be hot. At one point, it was 126-degrees on the turf and I really felt like for the day they tried to play hard.
"I am sure some of that is going to be ugly and sloppy on tape, but no one griped, no one complained and I thought guys tried to give us what we wanted. We didn't have a lot of undisciplined penalties…some really good teaching moments and enough positives on both sides to be excited about the ability to create some stuff and we just have to clean up the rest."
The Golden Eagles saw good things on both sides of the football in the scrimmage that took just over two hours to complete.
While transfer quarterback Ethan Hampton was limited to the first series with a contusion on his throwing hand after hitting a helmet on a pass follow-through, fellow Golden Eagle quarterbacks Landry Lyddy and John White took up the slack and excelled with some strong throws.
Lyddy spread the ball around and hit Kaden Saunders, Steven Robinson and Jeremiah Beck on some big yardage receptions, while White hooked up with Eelijah Singleton for pass plays of 65 and 49 yards, as well as a big passing gain to Mario Sanders.
The offense was spread around a talented group of receivers.
"We are playing a lot of guys (at that position)," said Anderson. "There is maybe seven, eight or maybe even nine guys when everyone is healthy that can contribute. We have played eight, nine guys before and played fresh guys and stayed fast (before). We've played three guys (at times). I feel like this is going to be a collective group both there and in the running back room and, honestly, tight end as well. I don't think that is a bad thing at all."
On the defensive side, Laquan Robinson had an interception of 56 yards that he returned for a touchdown and another pass breakup, while Tyler Lassiter added a pick of his own that he returned for 35 yards. He also added a pass breakup as well.
"I loved the way everyone came out to play," said Anderson regarding the defense's intensity. "As hot as it is and as sore and tired as everyone are, the fact that they showed up and got the energy that we wanted that is probably the biggest takeaway."
Anderson also announces that graduate offensive lineman Broderick Roman has retired due for medical reasons.
The Golden Eagles will take off Sunday before returning to the practice fields on Monday for their final week of fall camp.
Tickets for the 2026 Golden Eagle home schedule, including season, flex plan and single game seats are still available by going online at SouthernMiss.com/Tickets. The season opens Saturday, Sept. 5, at home against Alcorn State. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
It gave first-year coach Blake Anderson a chance to evaluate a team that includes 74 newcomers on the roster.
"Our goals were pretty simple," said Anderson. "It was to come ready to go today and I thought they did. It was really hot. We knew it was going to be hot and we needed it to be hot. At one point, it was 126-degrees on the turf and I really felt like for the day they tried to play hard.
"I am sure some of that is going to be ugly and sloppy on tape, but no one griped, no one complained and I thought guys tried to give us what we wanted. We didn't have a lot of undisciplined penalties…some really good teaching moments and enough positives on both sides to be excited about the ability to create some stuff and we just have to clean up the rest."
The Golden Eagles saw good things on both sides of the football in the scrimmage that took just over two hours to complete.
While transfer quarterback Ethan Hampton was limited to the first series with a contusion on his throwing hand after hitting a helmet on a pass follow-through, fellow Golden Eagle quarterbacks Landry Lyddy and John White took up the slack and excelled with some strong throws.
Lyddy spread the ball around and hit Kaden Saunders, Steven Robinson and Jeremiah Beck on some big yardage receptions, while White hooked up with Eelijah Singleton for pass plays of 65 and 49 yards, as well as a big passing gain to Mario Sanders.
The offense was spread around a talented group of receivers.
"We are playing a lot of guys (at that position)," said Anderson. "There is maybe seven, eight or maybe even nine guys when everyone is healthy that can contribute. We have played eight, nine guys before and played fresh guys and stayed fast (before). We've played three guys (at times). I feel like this is going to be a collective group both there and in the running back room and, honestly, tight end as well. I don't think that is a bad thing at all."
On the defensive side, Laquan Robinson had an interception of 56 yards that he returned for a touchdown and another pass breakup, while Tyler Lassiter added a pick of his own that he returned for 35 yards. He also added a pass breakup as well.
"I loved the way everyone came out to play," said Anderson regarding the defense's intensity. "As hot as it is and as sore and tired as everyone are, the fact that they showed up and got the energy that we wanted that is probably the biggest takeaway."
Anderson also announces that graduate offensive lineman Broderick Roman has retired due for medical reasons.
The Golden Eagles will take off Sunday before returning to the practice fields on Monday for their final week of fall camp.
Tickets for the 2026 Golden Eagle home schedule, including season, flex plan and single game seats are still available by going online at SouthernMiss.com/Tickets. The season opens Saturday, Sept. 5, at home against Alcorn State. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
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