Southern Miss Aims for Defensive Turnaround in 2025 Under New Coordinator Jason Semore
After a disastrous 1-11 season and a historically poor defensive showing, Southern Miss is looking for a fresh start in 2025. The hiring of head coach Charles Huff brought along a new defensive coordinator — the fourth in as many years — as Jason Semore joins the Golden Eagles, following Huff from Marshall. Semore brings with him a 4-2-5 defensive scheme that proved dominant during Marshall’s recent conference title run. 
Interestingly, Southern Miss ran a similar 4-2-5 setup last season under Clay Bignell, but the results were night and day. The Eagles gave up over 5,300 yards in under 12 games, including a game against Kentucky that ended early but still skewed the numbers: 117.2 yards and 9.8 points allowed per quarter. By contrast, Marshall’s defense allowed two fewer touchdowns per game on average — and would’ve needed six more games to match Southern Miss’ points allowed total.
Why the Same Scheme Failed So Badly in Hattiesburg
Linebacker Chris Jones summed up a key difference between last year and now: “Actually learning football.” He said the level of teaching and understanding under Semore has already far exceeded what he’d experienced in high school and college so far. His freshman-year coordinator had just one year of experience at Eastern Illinois. Semore enters with nearly a decade of experience, and the difference shows.
Jones highlighted that it’s not just about playing — it’s about reading formations, anticipating plays, and processing the game faster. Semore’s version of the 4-2-5 is complex, relying on disguise and disruption to neutralize spread offenses, requiring both speed and smarts, especially in the secondary.
Last year, Southern Miss’ defensive backs were routinely out of position, as reflected in a “DB Havoc” rate of just 4.7% — second-worst in the Sun Belt. Marshall’s, in contrast, ranked second-best at 7.2%. Poor tackling was another glaring issue. For example, Ryan Johnson, a pass-rushing end, earned a dismal 29.1 tackling grade. Mike linebacker Ja’Len Sims graded just 44.4 over 368 snaps. Compare that to Marshall’s similar players, who averaged tackling grades in the 70s.
Huff alluded to these issues when he jokingly dubbed a returning defender “Superman” — a nod to the poor tackling technique of launching without leverage. That player? Chris Jones, who despite having elite athletic traits, graded just 54 in tackling last year.
Who Can Make This System Work
Semore’s defense hinges on two key roles: the nickel and the boundary edge rusher. The nickel — or “star” — is a hybrid defender responsible for coverage, run support, and blitzing. Last season, USM’s nickel tandem combined for 70 tackles and zero sacks. By comparison, Marshall’s duo had 86 tackles, multiple TFLs, a sack, an interception, and seven pass breakups.
This year, Semore is turning to a familiar face: Ian Foster. Foster impressed in his last game in Hattiesburg — as an opponent — and is now expected to take over the nickel role. “The 4-2-5 only works if you have a nickel,” Semore emphasized. “It’s the hardest position for us to find. We have a really good one in Ian Foster.”
At edge, Semore is counting on Jabari Ishmael, a former four-star Miami recruit who battled injuries last season but is now healthy and up to 270 pounds. Ishmael will be tasked with pressuring quarterbacks and occasionally dropping into coverage — a key element of the scheme.
Semore is also reshaping the linebacker corps. Chris Jones will move from Mike to Will linebacker, where his speed and instincts can be better used in space. Taking over the Mike role is Mike Montgomery, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound transfer from Portland State. Montgomery was once recruited by top programs like Oregon and South Carolina before a high school injury rerouted his career. Semore, who recruited him during his time at Georgia Tech, says Montgomery’s character and football IQ were just as important as his size and athleticism.
“I knew what kind of player he was… but more importantly, I knew who Mike was as a person,” Semore said. “That’s what we need out of a Mike linebacker.”
A Crucial Test Looms
Success or failure for Semore’s defense will largely depend on how well these key roles — nickel, edge rusher, and linebacker — perform. The Golden Eagles will find out quickly, as they open the season against SEC opponent Mississippi State at home on August 30. The game, airing at 11 a.m. on ESPN, will be Southern Miss’ first ESPN home broadcast since 2010.
With improved preparation, scheme familiarity, and targeted personnel upgrades, Southern Miss is hoping to turn one of the worst defenses in college football into a disruptive force under Semore’s guidance.
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