What is Southern Miss football's outlook at running back without Frank Gore Jr. in 2024?
Southern Miss football will be without a major piece at running back in 2024.
Frank Gore Jr. declared for the NFL Draft after four seasons with the Golden Eagles. That leaves 231 carries in 2023 needing to be distributed and 4,202 career rushing yards – third most in Southern Miss history – no longer on the team.
Expecting someone to replicate Gore’s production is unfair, but Southern Miss will search for its next game-changing running back.
The Golden Eagles have five running backs on their roster. That could change at any moment with the transfer portal now open. Southern Miss also has a high school commitment from Houston running back Jalen Washington, a three-star prospect according to 247Sports.
But for now, here are the running backs slated to be on Southern Miss’ roster next season.
Dreke Clark
Clark proved himself early in the season as a valuable addition from the transfer portal after beginning his career at Memphis.
In fact, he actually led Southern Miss in rushing through the first five games of the season.
He offered a change of pace to Gore’s running style. Clark relied more on his speed – even though they both measured exactly the same at 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds – while Gore was a more physical runner.
Clark leads Southern Miss in rushing yards among returning players (451) and was also the only player besides Gore to score multiple rushing touchdowns in the season (two). He only caught three passes, but also missed two games with a hand injury and played with a cast on that hand for the final three games of the season.
The big question will be whether or not Clark, entering his redshirt senior season, is capable of taking on a role as a workhorse running back. He led Memphis with 136 carries in 2020 despite missing two games. That’s the only collegiate season that he’s been a No. 1 running back.
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Chandler Pittman
Pittman is listed as a running back, but plays a unique role as the team’s starting superback.
The 2023 season was Pittman’s second season in a row where he had more receiving yards than rushing yards. He caught a career high 16 passes for 130 yards, while his rushing attempts dipped to nine for 26 yards.
It’s difficult to see Pittman suddenly carving out a large role as a running back, but his versatility will still be needed across the field – especially with Southern Miss' top two wide receivers graduating.
Kenyon Clay
Coach Will Hall mentioned Clay numerous times throughout the season as an improving player. There were glimpses of that throughout the season.
He looked particularly talented against South Alabama and Appalachian State when he ran 10 and 12 times for 60 and 52 yards respectively. Clay also broke a 28-yard touchdown run against Louisiana for his longest rush and only touchdown of the season.
He will be a redshirt sophomore in 2024 and could be primed to make a big leap.
J.Q. Gray
Gray, a freshman, had three carries for six yards in the opener against Alcorn State and redshirted the rest of the season. A three-star prospect from Oak Grove, Gray could have a similar role next season to what Clay had in 2023.
Zahn Diaz
Diaz dressed in two games in 2023. The redshirt sophomore did not record a touch.
Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at ssklar@hattiesb.gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Southern Miss football running back outlook without Frank Gore Jr
