HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss head football coach Blake Anderson has named redshirt-senior Ethan Hampton the starting quarterback before the Golden Eagles' home opener against Alcorn State at Renasant Stadium in Hattiesburg on Saturday, multiple sources confirmed to Southern Miss Golden Eagles On SI on Friday night.

So far, in his collegiate career, Hampton, a transfer from Northern Illinois and Illinois, has thrown for 2,595 career passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and a 58.2 percent completion rate. In 2024, Hampton was the starting QB when Northern Illinois upset No. 5 Notre Dame in South Bend, 16-14.

Throughout the offseason, Hampton battled against redshirt-senior QB Landry Lyddy and redshirt-sophomore John White. As the competition came to a close, it became evident that Hampton was Anderson's guy. After overcoming a lingering bone bruise injury to his throwing hand, Anderson felt confident in making the announcement.

Stay tuned to Southern Miss Golden Eagles On SI for more Week 1 football coverage throughout the weekend as the Golden Eagles officially kick off the Blake Anderson head-coaching era in Hattiesburg.