USM adds speed versatility to lineup
By By Stan Caldwell / EMG Sports Writer
Feb. 6, 2003
HATTIESBURG Speed and versatility were the focal points Wednesday as the University of Southern Mississippi announced its 2003 football signing class.
USM signed 21 high school players, and all of them should be full qualifiers academically, although Bower cautioned that, "you won't know for sure until they actually graduate."
The new class of signees does in fact cover the spectrum of positions. Included in the class are two quarterbacks, two tight ends, five wide receiver-defensive backs, three offensive linemen, three linebackers, a running back, two defensive linemen and two players listed as athletes, meaning they played a number of positions in high school.
One of the latter is Chuck Ross, a 5-11, 185 pounder from Greene County High. Ross was a running quarterback as a three-year starter for the Wildcats, leading his team to a 12-1 record in 2002 and a berth in the Class 3A South State finals.
For the first time in six years, USM signed a placekicker, landing Darren McCaleb out of d'Iberville High. McCaleb connected on 16 field goals, including a long of 49 yards, in helping the Warriors to the Class 4A state championship.
The last kicker USM signed to a scholarship offer was Tim Hardaway out of Georgia Military Institute in 1997. The last freshman kicker the Eagles signed was Johnny Lomoro in 1992. The kicking game plagued the Golden Eagles in the 2002 season, as two losses were directly attributed to missed field goals.
USM did particularly well in the Jackson area, a place where the Golden Eagles have struggled in years past. Bower landed three players from the metro Jackson area: quarterback Jeremy Young of Provine, running back Larry Thomas of Callaway and linebacker Ken Griffith of Brandon.
The USM coaches were particularly pleased to land Griffith, a preseason Dandy Dozen selection by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. Griffith finished the 2002 season with 130 tackles, three sacks and an interception, and also caught 12 passes for 111 yards and three touchdowns as a tight end.
USM has had a long tradition of excellence at the middle linebacker position, and that may have been a factor in Griffith's decision to come to USM.
USM also did exceptionally well in the New Orleans area, where the Golden Eagles have traditionally snatched great players. The Eagles landed six players from New Orleans and its environs, including Damion Carter, who followed Eli Manning as quarterback at New Orleans Newman High.
Indeed, while USM doesn't have the Southeastern Conference as a selling point, the way some of its competitors do, Bower said USM has a lot of intangibles that attract good players with good character.
