Five Southern Miss football, Will Hall questions we want answered at Sun Belt Media Days

Sun Belt Football Media Days are here, signaling the unofficial start to the 2024 season.

Soon, Southern Miss football will open fall practice. And before you know it, the Golden Eagles will be kicking off the season Aug. 31 at Kentucky.

There is still a lot to decipher until Week 1.

Sun Belt Media Days are Tuesday and Wednesday in New Orleans. ESPN+ will be streaming it both days, with Southern Miss coach Will Hall scheduled to be on the main stage at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Wide receiver Ti Mims and linebacker Jalil Clemons are Southern Miss’ player representatives.

Here are five questions we have for Hall and the Golden Eagles.

Who is Southern Miss football's starting quarterback?

Southern Miss enters the 2024 season in a starting quarterback competition once again.

At least, that was the status of the position at the end of spring practice. Hall said he hopes to make a decision a week before the Kentucky game, so it would be a bit of a surprise if he has a starter named with plenty of practices remaining.

The race is down to three candidates — Tate Rodemaker, Ethan Crawford and John White – after Billy Wiles transferred to Appalachian State.

Did Southern Miss improve at wide receiver?

Hall noted at the end of spring practice that they wanted to upgrade at wide receiver in the transfer portal . They added one receiver in Dannis Jackson, though what he can bring is a bit of a mystery.

He’s a class of 2019 four-star from Sumrall who went to Ole Miss but caught just 19 passes in three seasons. Then, he didn't play football in 2022 before landing at Missouri. Jackson didn’t catch a pass last season.

Southern Miss also has Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Dakota Thomas, who missed spring practice while rehabbing an injury. TK Keyes is a freshman who didn’t early enroll.

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Will transfer Dontae Lucas start on the offensive line?

Perhaps one of Southern Miss’ biggest acquisitions in the spring transfer window was South Alabama offensive lineman Dontae Lucas, who has logged over 2,500 snaps in his career.

He played three seasons at Florida State before joining South Alabama in 2022. Lucas has played at least 700 snaps at guard in each of the last two seasons.

Southern Miss has Eastern Michigan transfer Zack Conti penciled in at left guard, so it’s possible Lucas could compete for the starting right guard spot.

What is the injury status at defensive back?

Four defensive backs – Elijah Sabbatini, Brendan Toles, Sentario Willis and Ques McNeal – all sat out spring practice as they rehabbed from fall knee surgeries. It will be important to see if they can all be ready for Week 1.

Where will other spring transfers slot in the depth chart?

Southern Miss brought in five other transfers in the spring: Caleb Bryant, Jo Cryer, Dante Kelly, Khalid Moore and Avery Sledge.

Cryer, a class of 2024 three-star offensive lineman, enrolled at LSU for the spring before jumping to Southern Miss.

The other four transfers all play defense.

Bryant, Moore and Sledge all come from Mississippi State. Sledge, a linebacker, recorded three tackles in 14 appearances in two seasons. Moore was a linebacker for his two seasons with the Bulldogs but will transition to defensive end. Bryant redshirted at defensive line last season.

Kelly, a Vanderbilt transfer, will be tried out first at nickel but was a linebacker last season.

Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at ssklar@hattiesb.gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Five Southern Miss football, Will Hall questions we want answered at Sun Belt Media Days