Throughout the season, each Saturday, I will look at the best prospects from the FCS (or lower level) prospects I watched the weekend before. Or, I will look at the 2023 NFL Draft prospects from the Sun Belt schools I watched the prior weekend. During week two I saw one game involving Sun Belt teams.
SUN BELT SATURDAY
SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES
Southern Miss went into Miami this past Saturday and hung around for a bit. Ultimately, they fell 30-7. Unlike the Marshall beating Notre Dame, Appalachian State physically whipping Texas A&M, and Georgia Southern outlasting Nebraska, the Golden Eagles couldn’t finish the job.
The best prospect for Southern Miss coming into the season was 3rd-year RB Frank Gore Jr. The son of a future NFL Hall-of-Fame player, the younger Gore will always be in the massive shadow of his father. FGJ isn’t nearly the bruiser that his dad is. However, he has some nice shakes in the open field and can catch the ball well. Against his dad’s alma mater, Junior didn’t really get established. He only touched the ball nine times for 23 yards.
5th-year wide receiver Jason Brownlee had the spotlight thrust upon him against the Hurricanes. Brownlee showed a great catch radius and has nice speed. He has made himself into a fringe draftable player. Brownlee caught five passes from 1st-year passer (in his first game action) Zach Wilcke. He finished with 102 receiving yards and a TD on 11 targets.
Potential UDFA nickel Camron Harrell was solid during his coverage reps against Miami.
SMALL SCHOOL SATURDAY NOTES
We spoke about him last week but Dane Brugler of the Athletic has an update on South Dakota State TE Tucker Kraft. He will miss at least 8 weeks this season.
I will be on vacation next week. Check back in two weeks for my notes from both weeks 3 & 4.
Check out my other non-Sun Belt notes from Week Two HERE!