Southern Miss coach Todd Monken said Saturday was a much better practice day than Friday’s opening session at Joe P. Park Park Practice Field.
“We were a lot better, the mental toughness was better,” Monken said. “It was hot. It’s going to be hot. It’s just the way it is. So, you better learn.”
While the practices are crucial for players learning about expectations and responsibilities, Monken said the coaches also have to make sure they not only learn everything they can about players, and teach them what they need to know.
As an example, he used the offensive line, where senior tackle Vincent Brown returned to the starting lineup, joining four sophomores.
“We don’t lack talent there, we just lack experience,” Monken said. “We’ve got a number of guys who are sophomores or freshmen, or like a Frederick Moore, a junior college transfer, who we’re trying to get some work in there. But it’s hard.
“If you’re not careful, you’ll go through a practice day, where you won’t get reps. You’ll just play the guys who know what to do, and we’re not going to do that. We’ve got to do a better job as a staff of playing guys who have the talent to help us win, and we have to determine that quickly, so we can give ‘em reps. They’ll only be as good as the reps that you give them.”
Receivers running wild
USM wideout Dominique Sullivan said he easily could envision a receiver rotation that would go at least two-deep at both outside and both slot positions.
“Oh yeah, eight or nine deep, every game,” Sullivan said. “Help you stay fresh on the field.
Sullivan was asked whether there would be enough footballs to share.
“No problem at all,” Sullivan said. “There’s plenty of balls to go around.”
Back and forth
Senior cornerback Deron Wilson said he had heard what he called all the rumors this summer, about allegedly how he was pursuing a transfer to a higher-profile program to further fortify any potential National Football League draft stock.
“I just decided I was going to a little working out at home (in New Orleans) and things like that, and they had some rumors that came out while I was at home and actually working out,” Wilson said.
So, no exploring other options?
“No. no, that’s all rumors,” Wilson said. “I was getting phone calls like crazy, and I was like, ‘No, I’m working out at home and I’m back and forth between Hattiesburg and (New Orleans),’” Wilson said.
So, what was up with the shuttle offseason?
“Just trying to learn different things from different cornerbacks working out in New Orleans,” Wilson said. “But I was also down here working out, so I was getting the best of both worlds.”
After graduating this past May with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, Wilson was not in school this summer.
“I’m going to pursue another undergrad,” Wilson said. “Communication studies.”
Wilson said while he heard all the talk, he decided just to hold his tongue.
“As long as I know the truth,” Wilson said.
Present and accounted for
Monken said that all of USM’s signing class had been OK’d academically by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
“Yes, as far as I know,” Monken said. “I hope so.”
