Avery Sledge brings old-school linebacker toughness to Southern Miss
A redshirt senior at Southern Miss in 2026, Avery Sledge is a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker from Hattiesburg who gives the Golden Eagles local grit and a physical, experienced presence in the middle of the defense. He logged 13 total tackles in the 2024 season for Southern Miss after earlier special-teams work at Mississippi State, where he even scored on a blocked-punt touchdown in 2023. The appeal here is upside plus edge: he’s battle-tested, close to home, and the kind of tone-setting defender who can help a roster with toughness and maturity.
