By By Tony Krausz
assistant sports editor
HATTIESBURG University of Southern Mississippi's Micky D'Angelo could re-enter the Eagles' quarterback equation this week.
The sophomore from Gulfport, who was the starting quarterback at the beginning of the season, will be re-evaluated today after missing the team's last three games with a concussion. The Eagles are 3-3 overall and 3-0 in Conference USA.
D'Angelo, who suffered his fourth concussion in the last year against Memphis on Sept. 13, had completed 34-of-57 passes for 418 yards and one touchdown before being injured.
Even if D'Angelo is cleared to play, there is no guarantee that the junior will take over the starting quarterback duties against South Florida on Oct. 25.
Freshman quarterback Damion Carter has started the last two games for USM completing 8-of-14 passes for 51 yards and one touchdown in a win over Cincinnati and a loss to Alabama. In his first game, Carter connected on 14-of-17 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown against Nebraska.
Dustin Almond drew the start against Nebraska on Sept. 25, with minimal success. The sophomore quarterback completed just 4-of-24 passes for 68 yards with two interceptions against the Cornhuskers before being pulled in favor of Carter in the fourth quarter.
Almond had produced off the bench replacing Carter in the 22-20 win over the Bearcats, in which he passed for 133 yards. He also completed 16-of-28 passes for 196 yards against the Crimson Tide in last Saturday's loss, after coming into the game early in the second quarter.
With no quarterback separating himself from another, Bower said he work all three quarterbacks during the off week before naming a starter.
No matter who the starting quarterback is, the one thing Bower could address with certainty in the need for the Eagles to improve their running game.
USM only gained 17 yards on the ground in the loss to Alabama, and the Eagles are only averaging 92.7 rushing yards a game this year.
While USM's lack of a running game has hurt the team against opponents outside the C-USA, the Eagles are 0-3 against non-conference foes, it hasn't hurt the team's perfect conference record of 3-0. "It is mid-year, and it is time for guys to step up," Bower said.