Southern Miss Receiver AJ Little Embraces Underdog Mentality Ahead of Season

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — AJ Little considers himself an underdog in his football career but is determined to make a significant contribution for Southern Miss this fall, according to sources familiar with the team.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound redshirt junior transferred to Southern Miss after three seasons at the University of Chattanooga. Despite missing spring drills due to injury, Little impressed during preseason camp and secured a spot on the team’s depth chart for the season opener against Alcorn State.

Little was named as one of four potential starters at receiver, alongside Jaylen Himes, Mario Sanders, and Grant Page. He also earned consideration as the team’s punt returner. “I feel like I’m going to get a lot of snaps, a lot of reps,” Little said. “But we have great guys competing, and we all will get opportunities to make plays this season.”

He has worked both outside and inside in the offense, preferring outside for the one-on-one matchups. Little played high school football at Noxubee County High School, where he earned first-team all-state honors as a senior after catching 62 passes for 1,168 yards and 20 touchdowns. He helped lead his team to three consecutive playoff appearances and reached the state championship game in 2022.

After high school, Little initially committed to junior college programs in Mississippi before accepting a late offer from Chattanooga. During his time there, he scored his first college touchdown on a 57-yard reception as a true freshman and became a key return man as a redshirt sophomore, returning nine punts for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

Little expressed a desire to return to Mississippi and compete at the NCAA Division I level. “I always wanted to play D-I since I was a kid,” he said. “Coming from a smaller school, I felt overlooked, which fuels my hunger and that ‘dawg’ mentality. I will never quit because I believe in myself.”

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