Signing Day Wild Cards
Newly hired Southern Miss head coach Jay Hopson hit the ground running meeting and greeting as many Southern Miss recruits as possible over the weekend. He met with players and the current coaching staff as well.
During the six days between former head coach Todd Monken leaving for Tampa Bay and Hopson being named head coach the Southern Miss coaching staff led by David Duggan, John Wozniak and Jon Williams did an amazing job of holding Southern Miss' recruiting class together.
In fact they may have helped Southern Miss gain ground on a couple off prospects.
Signing Day Wild Cards:
Keon Howard – Laurel (MS) High
Howard was an early target for Southern Miss for the '16 signing class, but about the same time that Southern Miss committed Jared Sparks, Howard pledged his services to Memphis. Nothing changed for months. However in December Memphis made a coaching change and shortly thereafter Sparks flipped his commitment to Purdue.
Circumstances and a change in coordinator at Southern Miss quickly made Howard the No. 1 priority for the Golden Eagles. Then Monken left for Tampa Bay. That didn't stop the Southern Miss assistants from continuing to pursue Howard.
Howard now appears to be off the board for Memphis. He's not talking but don't be shocked to see this local star in the Black and Gold come signing day.
Jeffery Simmons – Noxubee County (MS) High
Simmons had Southern Miss in his final three or four right up to the very end. With Monken leaving it is probably a longer shot than before for the Eagles, but with an older brother in Hattiesburg and a familiar name like Hopson taking over to lead the program the Eagles still have a glimmer of hope to sign one of the nations best defensive players.
Gentle Williams – Florance (MS) High
Williams took an official visit to Southern Miss two weeks ago an reportedly had a great time. He has remained committed to Cal during the two weeks since. But, some believe that the Eagles still have a shot to flip him last minute.
Didravious Henry – West Marion (Foxworth, MS) High
Henry, a super sleeper and Jackson State commit, could be a big steal for the Eagles on signing day. If Kadarrian Mason makes a move after taking a visit to Kentucky this weekend Henry could get the call from Southern Miss.
We believe that Henry has at least as much long term upside as Mason and has a bigger frame, thus allowing him to move inside on the defensive line easily. Henry could follow in his uncle Bobby Hamilton's footsteps into the Black and Gold and then to the NFL.
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