Made in Mississippi: Local players feel at home at Southern Miss

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – From the primary day Will Corridor stepped on Southern Miss’ campus, he wished to make sure his soccer workforce mirrored the title of the College.

Seventy-three gamers on USM’s roster are Mississippi born and bred, together with 19 from the Pine Belt.

Lots of them rivals in highschool are actually teaming up as Golden Eagles.

“Chandler Pittman, me and him had been massive rivals in highschool,” stated sophomore defensive finish Jordyn Mahaffey, a West Marion grad. “You realize he went to Magee, I went West Marion. I tackled him a couple of instances after we performed. That was a enjoyable recreation, actually bodily.”

“I can discuss crap to those guys about us beating them in highschool,” stated freshman placekicker Jack Tannehill, an Oxford grad. “Brendan Toles, he went to Lafayette and I made a recreation winner in opposition to them in highschool so I get to select at them. However it’s actually particular figuring out the place these guys are from.”

Southern Miss practices nowadays form of really feel like a household reunion.

Reminiscing on the great ole days – only a 12 months or two in the past – when this workforce beat that workforce, our guys crushed your guys.

“I really feel like Hattiesburg is my metropolis,” stated freshman extensive receiver Brandon Hayes, an Oak Grove grad. “I really like that we’ve got plenty of guys from Mississippi – West Level, Bassfield, throughout. And it’s nice as a result of it’s household, that’s how everyone is from Mississippi.”

As soon as bitter rivals in highschool, now brothers at Southern Miss.

Up and down USM’s roster are family names like Keyes and McLaurin, and on the sector acquainted faces.

“You realize it form of offers you perception of man I see how he performed again in highschool, I like how he performed.” stated senior security Tylan Knight, a Pearl grad. “So we’re out right here in school and you recognize it’s solely going to get higher as time goes alongside so figuring out you bought a canine beside you, which means so much.”

“Taking part in with these guys and seeing what they’re doing again from Friday night time lights and being on the identical discipline as them now – alright that is form of an excellent workforce,” stated junior defensive again Malik Shorts, a Jefferson Davis County grad.

In fact, it’s no coincidence 73 guys from Mississippi ended up on the identical school soccer workforce.

Corridor is aware of to seek out gifted, gritty gamers, he doesn’t need to stray too removed from the home.

The group of Golden Eagles he assembled got here to Hattiesburg with a typical purpose – win for the house workforce.

“So many households from this space, Southern Miss issues to ‘em,” Corridor stated. “You realize man I’m from Amory, Mississippi, teaching at Southern Miss issues. If I might’ve grown up in Bassfield or Calhoun Metropolis or Waynesboro, enjoying at Southern Miss would’ve mattered.”

“We’re all at residence,” Shorts stated. “It’s a house now for us. That’s what we would like, that’s what we like. That’s what coach Corridor has been attempting to do for the longest, get Mississippi gamers in right here. Household don’t need to go all the way in which out to California to see them boys play. They will come proper right here to The Rock.”

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