2009 Southern Miss Golden Eagles Football Preview
2009 Southern Miss Golden Eagles season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Southern Miss Golden Eagles football preview as well as the 2009 Southern Miss Golden Eagles Football Schedule. Before leaving be sure and bookmaker our live college football odds page which offers up to the minute point spreads for this weeks games.
Coach: Larry Fedora (2nd year at Southern Miss)
Team Name: Golden Eagles
2008 Overall Record: 7-6
Returning Starters: 19
Last season, the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (7- 6 overall, 4- 4 Conference USA) finished tied for second in the East Division of Conference USA, earning an invite to the New Orleans Bowl. It was the team’s third New Orleans Bowl appearance in five years and the 30- 27 win over Troy marked their third win in that venue. This season, along with garnering another bowl bid, the Golden Eagles may have the stuff to win their division.
The 31st rated Golden Eagles offense scored 30.6 PPG in 2008. The strong point on offense was the running game, which was led by RB Damion Fletcher (219 ATT, 1,313 YDs, 10 TDs). QB Austin Davis (155 ATT, 508 YDs, 9 TDs) was also a major factor on the ground. As a passer, Davis threw for 3,128 yards and 23 touchdowns. He tossed just eight picks. DeAndre Brown (67 REC, 1,117 YDs, 12 TDs) leads the receiving group. The offensive line is experienced and skilled. They will be difference makers.
The defense held opponents to 24.1 PPG (54th nationally). Junior nose tackle Anthony Gray (29 TKLs, 6 SKs, 1.5 TFL) led the team in sacks. He also forced two fumbles last season. C-USA All-freshmen Deddrick Jones and Terrance Pope will both vie for a defensive end position. Junior DE Roshaad Byrd (29 TKLs, 0 SKs, 3.5 TFL) needs to lend a hand in the sack department. Junior LB Martez Smith (59 TKLs, 6 TFL 1 INT) leads that unit. Smith is the hardest hitter on the defensive squad. More depth would help this group. The secondary is seasoned and deep. Senior corner Andre Watson (32 TKLs, 3 INTs) and junior cornerback C.J. Bailey (36 TKLs, 2 INTs) offer fine coverage. Senior free safety Eddie Hicks (64 TKLs, 3.5 TFL, 4 INTs) is a major pick artist and the heart and soul of the secondary. He was second-team All-Conference USA. Junior strong safety Chico Hunter (68 TKLs) returns as the team’s leading tackler.
Britt Barefoot is gone and that means that the Golden Eagles must replace both their kicker and punter. Freshman Bret Jefcoat, a high school All-American, will get a chance to punt and either sophomore transfer Daniel Hrapmann or junior Justin Estes will handle kickoffs, PATs and field goals. The return game features two able talents— Freddie Parham (28 Kick RET, 620 YDs, 22.1 YPR) on kick run backs and Andre Watson (22 Punt RET, 170 YDs, 7.7 YPR) on punts.
Last season, head coach Larry Fedora (7- 6 in one year at Southern Mississippi) hung his hat at Southern Miss with fine results. This season, the Eagles, who have the best incoming class in the conference, could do even better. With eight starters returning on both defense and offense, Southern Miss will contend for the title. The Eagles have a tough non-conference game on the docket when they visit the Big 12’s Kansas Jayhawks on September 26. The final game of the season with East Carolina on November 28 could take this team to the conference championship game. Southern Mississippi should get an invite to a lower tier bowl.
Southern Miss Golden Eagles Football Schedule
| Date | Team | Opponent | Site | Line | Total | Points | Opp Points |
| 9/5/2009 | Southern Miss | Alcorn St. | home | ||||
| 9/12/2009 | Southern Miss | UCF | home | ||||
| 9/19/2009 | Southern Miss | Virginia | home | ||||
| 9/26/2009 | Southern Miss | Kansas | away | ||||
| 10/1/2009 | Southern Miss | UAB | away | ||||
| 10/10/2009 | Southern Miss | Louisville | away | ||||
| 10/17/2009 | Southern Miss | Memphis | home | ||||
| 10/24/2009 | Southern Miss | Tulane | home | ||||
| 10/31/2009 | Southern Miss | Houston | away | ||||
| 11/14/2009 | Southern Miss | Marshall | away | ||||
| 11/21/2009 | Southern Miss | Tulsa | home | ||||
| 11/28/2009 | Southern Miss | East Carolina | away |
For more info on the 2009 Southern Miss football program, view the Eagles website or read up on the rest of the non BCS ncaa football teams below.
