Here are Wilson's highlights from Monday's media session. Players to follow.
Wilson
Wilson
- Bye week was good, much needed. Gave us an opportunity to heal up and get healthy and figure out how we improve.
- Southern Miss leads conference in scoring. They're a well-rounded, well-coached football team. I think they're very talented. As talented at QB position of any team we will face. Receivers are good, lead conference in rushing. They're also good on defense.
- We try to approach every game the same. We'll be prepared to play.
- They have a four-year starter at QB and returned a lot of veteran players at a lot of positions. The transition has been smooth under coach Hopson.
- Talked about importance of being on Southern Miss staff under Larry Fedora. Always had respect for university.
- We were fresh at practice. It was good for the guys to freshen up and be eager to go. It's time to focus the mental aspect of the game. Week off was good for them. They needed it a quarter way through the season. It gave us time to self reflect and gather ourselves.
- Expect nearly everyone to back from injury, including Egwuagu.
- A challenge to eliminate the big plays in the passing game by blitzing or giving extra safety help.
- USM within five-hour radius of some of the best JUCO football in the country, so the opportunity to recruit there is proving successful. I've recruited that area and it has a lot of talent.
- Saw Josiah starting to take the next step before spring football and then became our defensive MVP in spring. He's being consistent and we anticipate that continuing.
- Continue to encourage Dalton and prepare him for the next game. He'll learn. He's a smart young man.
- Important to cross-train the OL so the best five guys can always be on the field even with injury. Most of them cross-train. Building depth helps us win football games because it forces starters to produce or get replaced.
- Try to live in the now. Don't try to look at record right now and judge it based on expectations entering season. All of this is part of the process and it'll work its way out and we'll adjust accordingly.
- We practice early so not worried about the early kickoff. Wants and needs fan support. Attendance and recruiting can be hurt with early kickoffs because it is hard to get those guys Friday night into town Saturday and we like to use our stadium as a recruiting tool.
