USM QB Kwadra Griggs leaving program

The Golden Eagles are losing a quarterback they just got back with Kwadra Griggs choosing to step away from the program this week.

His decision comes in the wake of a 20-17 loss at Charlotte in which he didn’t see the field, even after an injury to starting QB Jack Abraham.

A red shirt senior, Griggs is less than a month removed from the passing of his mother and head coach Jay Hopson says he probably won’t return to the team. “I don’t know if his heart is in football right now, and so I think he’s just kind of decided that football is not something that he wants to do right now. So we’re going to let him go and he’s had some adversity, so we’re going to let him go off and concentrate on school and do those things.”

Following the pre-season transfer of Keon Howard, Griggs was in line to be the starter this season. Those plans were derailed when he was suspended for a student conduct matter and missed USM’s first two games. He led Southern Miss to an 8-5 record in seven starts last year.