From staff reports.

HATTIESBURG – The Southern Miss football team got a shortened afternoon session to close the 17th preseason practice Friday.

The shortened session was a good thing, Coach Jeff Bower said, as the team will hold its second major scrimmage this morning.

&#8220We needed a little break,” Bower said. &#8220We’re going to have a big one tomorrow. The players have worked hard. It was good to shorten things.”

Bower said several players will be held out of today’s scrimmage, including senior offensive lineman Robby D’Angelo (knee surgery), junior offensive lineman Chris Clark (ankle), senior tight end Jonathan Palmer (hamstring), junior running back Cody Hull (hyper-extended elbow), junior defensive back LeVance Richmond (groin), freshman tight end Thomas Webb (ankle), junior offensive lineman Ronnie Carter (ankle), junior offensive lineman Nick Dean (stinger) and junior defensive lineman Ryan Watson (neck).

Following today’s practice, fans will have be able to &#8220Meet The Eagles.” The team will be available to sign autographs and pose for pictures, following the team’s practice at noon.

Ole Miss LB Willis on Walter Camp list.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Ole Miss senior linebacker Patrick Willis is one of 35 players to watch for The Walter Camp Football Foundation’s prestigious Player of the Year award, the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade, it was announced Friday.

The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November. The 2006 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 119 Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on the ESPN/Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December. The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation’s annual national awards banquet in January. Last year’s recipient was USC running back Reggie Bush.

Walter Camp, known as the father of American football, first selected an All-America team in 1889.