HATTIESBURG, Miss. - After a successful first (and only) season with Charles Huff at the helm in 2025, his departure left first-year Golden Eagles head coach Blake Anderson with one of the biggest roster turnovers in the entire country.Since Anderson was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach in December of last year, he's filled the 2026 roster with players from all different backgrounds. While some people believe the best approach is stacking P4 conference transfers in this ever-evolving transfer portal era, finding a way to develop players from the G5 and JUCO levels can be just as valuable. Anderson seemed to take both approaches this offseason.With fall camp less than a week away and opening night at The Rock right around the corner after that, there's no better time to do a 2026 Golden Eagles' roster breakdown.QuarterbacksSouthern Miss Golden Eagles quarterback Landry Lyddy (18) looks to pass against the Texas State Bobcats at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss, on Nov. 15, 2025. | Matt Bush/Special to the Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesRETURNING:Landry Lyddy (R-Sr.) - 406 YDS, 2 TD, 3 INT, 65 CMP%, 6 GP - '25 Season StatsLyddy will be the first to tell you that 2025 was a mixed bag for him. He had some great moments and some not-so-great moments, but he says that experience has made him a better leader going into his redshirt-senior year. According to Coach Anderson, Lyddy is very much in the race to be the Golden Eagles' opening-night starting QB as fall camp nears.John White (R-So.) - 1 YDS, 100 CMP%, 1 GP - '25 Season StatsWhite hasn't gotten enough playing time yet for his lack of stats to mean anything, but the redshirt-sophomore has fought his way up from fourth-string QB to competing in a "neck-and-neck" three-man competition for the starting job after making major improvements this offseason.ADDITION(S):Ethan Hampton (R-Sr.) - 27 YDS, 1 INT, 75 CMP%, 4 GP - '25 Season Stats at IllinoisDespite not getting much playing time at Illinois in 2025, Hampton has the most "big stage" experience of all the quarterbacks on the Golden Eagles' roster due to his time at Northern Illinois. That could give him an advantage while competing for the starting position in fall camp. Hampton helped the Huskies finish off No. 5 Notre Dame on the road for a major upset in 2024.Hampton knows that nothing is guaranteed, but one big reason he came to Southern Miss was the opportunity to compete for the starting QB spot. We'll see if he ends up being the guy when the dust settles.Hugh Price (Fr.) - 6-6, 204lbs from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, TNMaddox McCrory (Fr.) - 6-1, 185lbs from Cabot HS in Cabot, ARRunning BacksRETURNING:Southern Miss Golden Eagles running back Robert Briggs (14) breaks into the open in a game between Southern Miss Golden Eagles and Troy Trojans and in the NCAA Men’s Basketball game. November 29, 2025 (Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com) | Robert Briggs | Joe Harper PhotographyRobert Briggs (R-Sr.) - 62 CAR, 304 YDS, 1 TD, 4.9 AVG, 11 GP - '25 Season StatsJosiah Basten (R-Jr.) - 1 CAR, 5 YDS, 2 GP - '25 Season StatsRobert Henderson (R-Fr.) - Redshirted '25 SeasonADDITION(S):Jamarice Wilder (R-Fr.) - Redshirted '25 Season at LouisvilleSteven Robinson (R-Jr.) - 127 CAR, 598 YDS, 6 TD, 4.7 AVG - '25 Season Stats at Coffeyville CCJaylen Foster (R-Jr.) - 542 YDS, 3 TD, 9 GP - '25 Season Stats at Itawamba CCBrandon Hood (R-So.) - 98 CAR, 368 YDS, 2 TD, 3.8 AVG, 12 GP - '25 Season Stats at UMassWide Receiverssouthernmiss.com / Joe HarperRETURNING:Davis Dalton (R-Sr.) - 4 REC, 82 YDS, 1 TD, 13.9 AVG/C, 12 GP - '25 Season StatsDalton brings a lot of valuable experience to the Golden Eagles' receivers room. He openly pushed for Coach Anderson to be the next head coach at Southern Miss, and he's looking to end his Golden Eagles career "on the right note."Grant Page (R-Sr.) - 10 GP - '25 Season StatsCace Reed (R-So.) - 1 REC, -1 YDS, 2 GP - '25 Season StatsTrey Horne (R-Jr.) - 1 BLK, 8 GP - '25 Season StatsDillon Rowley (R-Fr.) - Redshirted '25 SeasonADDITION(S):Kaden Saunders (R-Jr.) - Redshirted '25 Season at Penn StateJaylen Himes (So.) - 66 REC, 1,174 YDS, 11 TD, 12 GP - '25 Season Stats at WingateMario Sanders (R-Sr.) - 2 REC, 32 YDS, 3 GP - '25 Season Stats at IllinoisAJ Little (R-Jr.) - 27 REC, 345 YDS, 1 TD, 12 GP - '25 Season Stats at ChattanoogaEelijah Singleton (R-Jr.) - 61 REC, 618 YDS, 2 TD, 9 GP - '25 Season Stats at East Central CCMJ Johnson (R-Jr.) - 38 REC, 497 YDS, 6 TD, 12 GP - '25 Season Stats at Northwest Mississippi CCNehemiah Taylor (So.) - 15 REC, 198 YDS, 1 TD, 9 GP - '25 Season Stats at Hines CCKing David Aboya (Fr.) - 6-3, 195lbs from Milton HS in Milton, FLAboya is an intriguing talent with an impressive frame and top-notch work ethic. The Southern Miss coaching staff believes that Aboya could get meaningful playing time as a true freshman. They also believe he could become a great player overall over the next few years if he keeps up his current pace."I chose Southern Miss because it felt like the right place to develop as both a player and a person," Aboya said. "The coaching staff believed in me, and I wanted to be part of building something special. I want the fans to know they’re getting someone who’s going to work hard every day, stay humble, and do whatever it takes to help this team win."Israel Leamon (Fr.) - 5-11, 180lbs from Riverside HS in Greer, SCTight Ends@beckjj23RETURNING:Connor Gooding (R-Fr.) -Redshirted '25 SeasonCaston Brown (R-So.) - No Action in '25 SeasonADDITION(S):Javery Mayberry (R-So.) - 26 REC, 346 YDS, 7 TD - '25 Season Stats at Pasadena City CCJeremiah Beck Jr. (R-Jr.) - Redshirted '25 Season at ArkansasPreston Kilgore (R-Jr.) - 7 REC, 48 YDS, 10 GP - '25 Season Stats at East Texas A&MBroderick Peters (Fr.) - 6-4, 245lbs from McComb HS in McComb, MSDrew Bilderback (Fr.) - 6-3, 235lbs from Columbia HS in Columbia, MSOffensive LinemenRETURNING:Broderick Roman | Southern Miss FootballBroderick Roman (Graduate) - 13 GP, 13 GS - '25 Season StatsLuke Rogers (R-Jr.) - 12 GP, 1 GS - '25 Season StatsLiam Cassidy (Jr.) - 12 GP - '25 Season StatsLarry Edwards (Jr.) - 8 GP - '25 Season StatsHayden Breal (R-So.) - 2 GP - '25 Season StatsJahmir Davis (R-Fr.) - Redshirted '25 SeasonChase Malamala (R-So.) - No Action in '25 SeasonCamden Myers (R-So.) - No Action in '25 SeasonADDITION(S):Christian Young (R-Sr.) - 10 GP - '25 Season Stats at Emory & HenryBrayden Warner (Jr.) - 9 GP, 9 GS - '25 Season Stats at Jones CollegeBraden Cain (R-So.) - 7 GP - '25 Season Stats at Texas Southern Toby Mealer (R-Fr.) - 6-5, 335lb, Redshirted '25 Season at Louisiana TechJoe Rounds (R-Sr.) - 6-0, 315lbs who was a 2x CIAA Champion at Virginia UnionCasey Jean-Baptiste (Jr.) - 6-5, 320lbs from Butler CCDante Devine (Jr.) - 6-7, 325lbs from Coffeyville CCKendrick Watkins (Sr.) - 6-2, 310lbs from Arkansas-Monticello Zerian Hudson (R-Sr.) - 6-2, 334lbs from TroyWill Burgess (So.) - 6-6, 275lbs from PRCC Grant Kitchens (Fr.) - 6-7, 329lbs from Nanih Waiya HS in Louisiville, MSDefensive Backs@247SportsPortalRETURNING:Malakai Murphy (R-So.) - 2 SOLO, 3 AST, 5 TOT, 13 GP - '25 Season StatsMaLik Caswell (R-So.) - 1 INT, 4 AST, 1 SOLO, 5 TOT, 1 PD, 11 GP - '25 Season Stats Ishmael Ibraheem (R-Sr.) - 1 SOLO, 1 TOT, 2 PD, 1 GP - '25 Season StatsCannon McClain (R-Jr.) - 1 SOLO 1 TOT, 2 GP - '25 Season StatsADDITION(S):Jordan Pride (R-So.) - 1 AST, 1 TOT, 1 GP - '25 Season Stats at Texas A&MLaquan Robinson (R-Sr.) - 4 TOT, 1 FF, 8 GP - '25 Season Stats at KansasKelby Hampton (So.) - 2 INT, 10 AST, 16 SOLO, 26 TOT, 7 PD, 9 GP - '25 Season Stats at New HampshireJyaire Brown (R-Sr.) - 6 SOLO, 1 AST, 7 TOT, 1 PD, 5 GP, 1 GS - '25 Season Stats at UCFHiroshi Carr (R-Jr.) - 2 INT, 1 FF, 33 AST, 46 TOT, 4 PD - '25 Season Stats at Morgan StateLandon Sylvie (Jr.) - 1 INT, 21 AST, 43 SOLO, 64 TOT, 2 PD, 9 GP, 9 GS - '25 Season Stats at SEMOBaron Taylor (Jr.) - 1 INT, 1 FF, 1.5 TFL, 28 SOLO, 52 TOT, 11 GP - '25 Season Stats at Southern UtahKolby Peavy (R-Jr.) - 1 AST, 2 SOLO, 3 TOT, 1 GP - '25 Season Stats at AlabamaChamp Lewis (R-Jr.) - 9 SOLO, 16 TOT, 1 PD, 12 GP - '25 Season Stats at TulsaKobi Albert (R-Jr.) - 2 GP - '25 Season Stats at UConnMichael Robinson III (R-Jr.) - 2 GP - '25 Season Stats at UConnKolby Peavy (R-Jr.) - 1 AST, 2 SOLO, 3 TOT, 1 GP - '25 Season Stats at AlabamaJeremiah Dillon (Graduate) - No Action in '25 Season at VanderbiltJonah Martinez (R-Jr.) - Redshirted '25 Season at TCUJohnnie Evans (Jr.) - No Action in '25 Season at Alcorn StateSammy Anderson Jr. (Sr.) - No Action in '25 Season at Austin PeayTrevor Winton (Fr.) - 5'11", 170lbs from Center Hill HS in Olive Branch, MSChauncey Davis Jr (Fr.) - 6'1", 195lbs from North Gwinnett HS in Suwanee, GAAidan Horne (Fr.) - 6'3", 187lbs from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Rabun County, GALinebackersRETURNING:Southern Miss linebacker Mathis Haygood celebrates a tackle during the Golden Eagles' home game against Troy on Nov. 29, 2025. | Joe Harper / bgnphoto.comMathis Haygood (R-Jr.) - 1 INT, 1 SK, 4 TFL, 17 SOLO, 44 TOT, 1 PD, 13 GP - '25 Season StatsHaygood is expected to be one of the top leaders on the Southern Miss defense for this upcoming season, as he is one of the few returning players from last season with experience. He says the team is looking forward to playing with a chip on its shoulder and proving the doubters wrong.Avery Sledge (R-Sr.) - 1 FR, 0.5 TFL, 6 SOLO, 15 TOT, 12 GP - '25 Season StatsAndrew Martin (Sr.) - 1 INT, 1 SK, 4 TFL, 17 SOLO, 44 TOT, 1 PD, 13 GP - '25 Season StatsADDITION(S):Melvin Spriggs (R-Jr.) - 2.5 SK, 5 TFL, 51 TOT, 1 PD, 12 GP - '25 Season Stats at AkronRicky Harding (Jr.) - 3 INT, 1.5 SK, 4.5 TFL, 42 TOT, 9 GP - '25 Season Stats at New Mexico Military InstituteMarrio Williams Jr. (So.) - 1 INT, 2 PD, 3.5 SK, 12 TFL, 67 TOT, 10 GP - '25 Season Stats at Snow CollegeWesley Edison (So.) - 1 FR, 1 SK, 3 TFL, 27 TOT, 7 GP - '25 Season Stats at Coffeyville CCBJ Mitchell (Jr.) - 1 PD, 0.5 TFL, 46 TOT, 6 GP - '25 Season Stats at Southwest Mississippi CCWesley Edison - 1 FR, 1 SK, 11 TFL, 27 TOT, 7 GP - '25 Season Stats at Coffeyville CCTyler Lassiter (R-So.) - 0.5 TFL, 4 TOT, 3 GP - '25 Season Stats at Hutchinson CCCaleb Triplett (Fr.) - 6'0", 219lbs from D'Iberville HS in D'Iberville, MSDefensive LinemenRETURNING:@southernmissathleticsJeramie Posey (R-Jr.) - 1 GP - '25 Season Stats David Griffin (R-Jr.) - No Action in '25 SeasonZachariah Keith (R-Jr.) - No Action in '25 SeasonADDITION(S):Josh Johnson (R-Jr.) - 0.5 SK, 13 SOLO, 36 TOT, 10 GP - '25 Season Stats at NichollsRamon Pernas (R-So.) - 3.5 TFL, 5 SK, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 BK, 14 SOLO, 37 TOT, 8 GP - '25 Season Stats at Navarro CollegeJeffery Rush Jr. (R-So.) - 4 GP - '25 Season Stats at Ole MissNasim Cairo (R-Sr.) - 1 FR, 1 SOLO, 10 TOT, 4 GP - '25 Season Stats at SEMOJR Stegall (Jr.) - 1 SK, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 BK, 8 SOLO, 23 TOT, 11 GP - '25 Season Stats at TowsonXavier Mclver (R-Sr.) - 1.5 TFL, 1 SK, 6 TOT, 1 GP - '25 Season Stats at East CarolinaKameron Cyprien (Jr.) - 7.5 TFL, 4 SK, 1 FF, 13 SOLO, 31 TOT, 9 GP - '25 Season Stats at Coffeyville CCDarrell Gross (Jr.) - 6 TFL, 2 SK, 11 SOLO, 20 TOT - '25 Season Stats at East Mississippi CCA'mari Wilson (R-Jr.) - 2 TFL, 1.5 SK, 7 SOLO, 30 TOT, 12 GP - '25 Season Stats at CampbellKei'shaun Mashburn (Jr.) - 0.5 TFL, 0.5 SK, 5 SOLO, 10 TOT, 11 GP - '25 Season Stats at AllenTravis Bendolph (Jr.) - 1 FR, 1 TOT, 1 GP - '25 Season Stats at PRCCWill Smith (R-So.) - 6-2, 230lbs, Redshirted '25 Season at North TexasKam'ron Hoyte (Jr.) - 6-4, 295lbs from Texas CollegeTalik Parkman (Fr.) - 6-3, 295lbs from Sumrall HS in Sumrall, MSKJ Washington (Fr.) - 6-3, 235lbs from D'Iberville HS in D'Iberville, MSAri Slocum (Fr.) - 6-3, 305lbs from Union Parish HS in Farmerville, LAKickers / Punters@creighton_w17RETURNING:Creighton Wilbanks - Kicker (So.) - 9/14, 33/33 PAT - '25 Season StatsWillbanks showed some flashes in 2025, including a season-best 52-yard FG in a 22-10 road win against the Ragin' Cajuns, and tying the program's bowl record for attempts and makes by going 3-of-4 in the New Orleans Bowl.Willbanks was picked to win the Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Year award in our Southern Miss Golden Eagles On SI Sun Belt Football Preseason Poll.Reed Harradine - Kicker / Punter (R-Jr.) - 5/8 FG, 13/13 PAT, and averaged 40.5 yards per punt with a season-best of 60-yard punt vs. Louisiana - '25 Season StatsADDITION(S):Dusty Zimmer - Punter (So.) - 6-3, 230lbs from Gold Coast, Queensland, AustraliaLong Snappers@lukebeard_6RETURNING:Luke Beard (R-Jr.) - 13 GP - '25 Season StatsAndrew Tate (Sr.) - 2 GP - '25 Season StatsColin Kapilovic (R-Fr.) - Redshirted '25 SeasonWith a massive roster turnover, what are the realistic expectations for this team? Can they compete for the SBC West Title? Only time will tell with football season knocking on the door. Stay tuned to Southern Miss Golden Eagles on SI for offseason preparation for the upcoming football season.Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow