First Honest Test: Bolden's Rebuilt Defense Ready to Show What It Has
- Southern Miss's defense improved dramatically from spring to game week as several former starters were pushed down the depth chart and players began executing Joe Bolden's calls without post-snap hesitation.
- Blake Anderson promoted first-time coordinator Joe Bolden because of his preparation, organization and teaching, while continuing to advise him on how opposing offenses may attack the scheme.
- Zachariah Keith added roughly 40 pounds during rehabilitation from a neck injury and climbed from missing spring practice to a starting defensive-end role.
- The return of veteran edge Jameer Lewis gives Southern Miss enough depth to use speed packages with an end sliding inside and four faster rushers attacking without an extra blitzer.
- Junior-college transfer Wesley Edison won the starting WILL linebacker job and Tyler Lassiter returned from concussion protocol at MIKE, improving a group responsible for communication, box play and coverage across multiple alignments.
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