Southern Mississippi’s football program has put its 2026 depth chart on public display ahead of the season‑opening showdown with Alcorn State, giving fans a first look at how the Golden Eagles will line up on both sides of the ball.
Quarterback competition
The most watched battle centers on Ethan Hampton and Landry Lyddy. While Hampton entered spring practice as the coach’s choice, a bone bruise has left him sidelined, opening the door for Lyddy to push for the starting role.
Along the offensive line, three positions remain unsettled. Joe Rounds and Aloali'i Maui have locked down the center and right‑guard spots, but left tackle will be decided between Braden Cain and Larry Edwards, left guard between Zerian Hudson and Greg Nunnery Jr., and right tackle between Dante Devine and Christian Young.
At receiver, the top two slots are set for Jaylen Himes and Mario Sanders, with the third spot contested by AJ Little and Grant Page. In the backfield, Robert Briggs is slated to start at running back, though Steven Robinson is also in the mix, adding depth to the rushing attack.
The tight end position is a three‑way race among Preston Kilgore, Jeremiah Beck and Broderick Peters, each looking to earn the coach’s trust in the passing game.
Defensive front and secondary
Senior Nasim Cairo and junior Darrell Gross are locked in as starting defensive tackles and nose tackle, providing interior stability. On the edge, Zachariah Keith and Ramon Pernas are vying for the defensive end role, while the JACK spot will be contested between Kameron Cyprien and Jameer Lewis.
Linebacker and safety battles
Four candidates — Mathis Haygood, Tyler Lassiter, Wesley Edison and Avery Sledge — are competing for two linebacker spots, a competition that will likely shape the unit’s speed and versatility. In the secondary, junior Landon Sylvie, Champ Lewis and Kobi Albert are confirmed starters at cornerback and field safety, while boundary safety remains undecided between Laquan Robinson and Michael Robinson III.
Special teams are fully staffed, with Dusty Zimmer handling punting duties, Creighton Wilbanks kicking, Reed Harradine on kickoff, Luke Beard snapping on longs, AJ Little returning punts and MJ Johnson fielding kickoffs. Robert Briggs also sees time as a kick returner, adding another dimension to the special‑teams equation.