HATTIESBURG – Former Northwest walk-on wide receiver Derrell Lovelady, who played the 2012-13 seasons for the Rangers, has earned a walk-on spot for the USM Golden Eagles.

A 5-foot-7, 167-pound product of Tunica, Lovelady played in 18 career games for Northwest, hauling in 25 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns. His most memorable game came against No. 11 Kilgore in a 2012 Brazos Valley Bowl win, hauling in two passes for 63 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown reception.

Lovelady ended his Rosa Fort High School career as the fifth-leading rusher in school history and owns the school record for most rushing yards in a game with 383 against Holly Springs his junior year. As a senior, he rushed 56 times for 303 yards and a touchdown.

Lovelady is the 37th Ranger in the last three seasons to move on to a four-year program and the 12th to join an FBS program. He'll wear No. 86 for the Golden Eagles.