On September 10, 2022, the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles football team faced off against the University of Miami Hurricanes at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. During the game, a Southern Mississippi helmet was spotted on the sidelines by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. However, tragedy struck just hours later when defensive back Marcus “MJ” Daniels Jr. was killed in an off-campus shooting in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Daniels, a 21-year-old athlete who had transferred from Ole Miss the previous season, was a starting cornerback for Southern Mississippi and recorded 29 tackles and three interceptions in his first and only season with the team. His body was sent to a medical examiner following the incident.
Southern Miss coach Will Hall and other officials were present at the scene of the shooting on the night of September 9th with police and emergency responders. The school released a statement expressing their condolences to Marcus Daniels’ family, friends, and teammates on September 10th. However, no specific details about Daniels’ death were provided in the statement.
The school also made counseling services available to members of its football program and others close to the university following Daniels’ tragic passing. Despite his loss of life, Daniels had been transitioning into playing safety for Southern Mississippi’s 2024 season and was expected to be a starter once again. The loss of such an talented athlete has undoubtedly left a void in both Southern Mississippi football program and wider university community that may be difficult to fill.
