Southern Miss mailbag: Who starts at quarterback in 2024 and the latest on Andre Curbelo
The Southern Miss football season ended Nov. 25, but there is still plenty happening around the program.
Four assistant coaches were let go, Chip Long was hired as the new offensive coordinator and Clay Bignell was hired as the new defensive coordinator. The transfer portal is open as well, with two additions made so far. The Golden Eagles are also putting the finishing touches on their 2024 recruiting class before the first signing period starts Dec. 20. Their class is currently ranked as the second-best in the Sun Belt Conference, according to 247Sports.
Plus, both the men's and women's basketball seasons are a month complete as they both defend their Sun Belt regular-season championships.
Here, we answer some of your submitted Southern Miss questions.
Who will be our starting QB in the fall? - Mark Cvitanovic in the Eaglepost Facebook group
I don't think coach Will Hall knows the answer.
At this point, there really is no purpose in naming who the starting quarterback will be — especially when Southern Miss doesn't have an obvious answer. You might as well let them compete through the spring and fall practices and whoever looks the best will be the starter.
But if I were to pick a favorite right now to win the job, it'd be Ethan Crawford, who demonstrated a high ceiling in the last month of the season. Don't count out Billy Wiles though, who will be a redshirt junior and could still improve. Incoming freshman John White probably deserves a shot to compete as well.
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When are we gonna play Ole Miss? - Robert Pearson in the Eaglepost Facebook group
There is nothing scheduled between Southern Miss and Ole Miss in football.
Besides, wouldn't you rather play teams from Louisiana anyway? Hall is 8-1 against teams from Louisiana and 5-23 against everyone else. Southern Miss plays nonconference games against Southeastern Louisiana in 2024, Louisiana Tech in 2025 and 2026 and Tulane in 2027.
Southern Miss does, however, host Mississippi State in 2025.
Has anyone asked Ladner if they have a deadline for Alvarez/Curbelo if they are going to play this year? - @filice_r on X
Men's basketball coach Jay Ladner actually mentioned this after Saturday's win against Northwestern State.
He first had a positive report on the injured Neftali Alvarez, saying he's "scheduled to be back between the week of Christmas and New Year's." That means he probably won't be ready to play against Ole Miss on Dec. 23 in Biloxi.
But Ladner also said there is a possibility that they hold Alvarez out for the season if they receive good news on Andre Curbelo's pending eligibility waiver.
"Let's just say, against all odds, we are able to get good news on Curbelo, then of course we would definitely sit Nefta out because there is no reason for us to take a chance on it," Ladner said. "He's such a dynamic player and to look forward and have him next year would be awesome for those guys to play together.
"... We're not gonna ever do something that is gonna put the young man in any kind of bad situation for his health. That is first and foremost. What we are gonna do is lookout for his health and safety. But then again, you have to ask yourself, do we rush him back too fast and only have him for half a year or he gets hurt again. Whereas, he could have the entire offseason to get healed up and again, hopefully play a full season next season."
It's also worth keeping an eye on the recently filed multi-state lawsuit that challenges the NCAA's transfer eligibility rules. If an injunction were to be granted, it could result in a jailbreak of all athletes with pending waivers, including Curbelo.
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: Who starts at quarterback for Southern Miss football in 2024?
