College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Georgia State Panthers season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Georgia State Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2019 Record: 7-6 overall, 4-4 in Sun Belt
Head Coach: Shawn Elliott, 4th year, 16-21
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 109
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 75
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 118
No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia State Panthers Offense 3 Things To Know
– The offense had a little fun. Former quarterback Dan Ellington was able to engineer some big performances – the O came up with 38 points or more four times in the first eight games – but things slowed down.
The Panthers were 31st in the nation in total offense, was great on third downs, and was 12th in rushing. Now the attack has to replace Ellington, who was the do-it-all star who made it all go.
Redshirt freshman Cornelious Brown is a 6-5, 180-pound option who got in a little bit of work in four games. He’s not the runner Ellington was, but he’s a terrific pro-style passing option. 5-10, 180-pound Kierston Harvey is another interesting candidate who also saw a little bit of time.
CFN in 60 Video: CFN All-SEC Team
– Most of the top targets are back, starting with leading receiver Cornelius McCoy – catching 70 passes for 757 yards and five scores – and 6-4 sophomore Sam Pinckney added five touchdowns. They’re the main men along with All-Sun Belt TEs Aubry Payne and Roger Carter. Kentucky Spencer Gaddis should be a factor, and speedster Terrance Dixon will be back after missing most of last year.
– The offensive line gets back four starters after going young with underclassmen throughout last season. There’s not a ton of size outside of 6-6, 330-pound sophomore Travis Glover at tackle, but Shamarious Gilmore is an all-star guard, and experience isn’t a problem. The one loss, though – left tackle Hunter Atkinson – was the star up front.
Leading rusher Tra Barnett is gone, leaving the junior combination of Destin Coates and Seth Paige to take over – the two combined for close to 1,000 yards with 11 scores, and the each went well over six yards per carry.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia State Panthers Defense 3 Things To Know
4. College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia State Panthers Defense 3 Things To Know
– Only two of the top tacklers are gone, and now the experience has to translate into production for the nation’s 112th-ranked defense that didn’t generate enough of a pass rush and got rocked against the run.
Two of the all-stars – at least honorable mention All-Sun Belt performers – are on the line, with 275-pound tackle Dontae Wilson anchoring things on the nose with 49 tackles,, and 6-3, 244-pound Hardrick Wills the team’s leading pass rusher with 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss as the best end in the 3-4.
– All four starting linebackers return, with 6-1, 230-pound senior Trajan Stephens-McQueen on the inside again after leading the way with 110 stops. There isn’t a lot of bulk – most of the linebackers are safety-sized – but they can all move.
– The defensive backs gave up too many big plays, getting hit for 8.5 yards per throw with just nine interceptions while giving up 27 touchdown passes.
All four starters are back – at least from late in the season – around senior Cedric Stone at one safety spot and with junior Quavian White back after tying for the team lead with two picks. Making a good situation even better, Virginia transfer Chris Moore might be a factor right away at one safety spot.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Top Georgia State Panthers Players
College Football News Preview 2020: Top Georgia State Panthers Players
Best Georgia State Panthers Offensive Player
WR Cornelius McCoy, Jr.
The hope is for a quarterback to rise up until this spot – likely Cornelious Brown – but McCoy is the two-time all-star target who can also return kicks.
He led the team with 70 grabs for 757 yards and five scores, but he wasn’t able to push things deep. That might change a bit this year – he has the speed to stretch the field more.
2. OG Shamarius Gilmore, Sr.
3. TE Aubry Payne, Sr.
4. C Malik Sumter, Jr.
5. TE Roger Carter, Sr.
Best Georgia State Panthers Defensive Player
LB Trajan Stephens-McQueen, Sr.
The 6-1, 230-pound thumper on the inside somehow didn’t receive any All-Sun Belt honors on the field, but he has been a rock star in the classroom earning academic all-star recognition.
He’s the quarterback of the defense with great range and hitting ability, making 110 stops with two sacks, eight tackles for loss, and for a team that didn’t come up with enough interceptions, two picks.
2. DE Hardrick Willis, Jr.
3. CB Quavian White, Jr.
4. DT Dontae Wilson, Sr.
5. LB Victor Hayward, Sr.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia State Panthers Keys To The Season
College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia State Panthers Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Georgia State Panthers Offense
Get the downfield passing game going. The offense ran too well at times with Dan Ellington at quarterback to take too many shots down the field, but the passing game was way, way too inconsistent – it failed to hit half of its passes five times.
Whether it’s Cornelious Brown or Kierston Harvey under center, the Panthers have to utilize their solid receivers and all-star tight ends more after averaging just 6.7 yards per try.
Georgia State was 5-1 when throwing for 200 yards or more with multiple touchdowns.
Biggest Key To The Georgia State Panthers Defense
The run defense has to do a much, much better job of holding up. The Panthers got hammered on way too often, allowing 200 yards or more eight times, 290 yards or more three times, and got punched by Western Michigan for 450 yards and seven scores.
There’s too much experience on the front seven to be this mediocre again, and the secondary can hit, too. Against FBS programs, the Panthers were 1-6 when allowing 200 yards or more.
Key Georgia State Panthers Player To A Successful Season
QB Cornelious Brown, RFr.
Or Kierston Harvey, or any of the quarterbacks on the roster trying to take over for Dan Ellington. With all of the other parts in place, the Georgia State offense might be one good quarterback away from having one of the Sun Belt’s most effective attacks.
The offense had a good group of running backs, some all-star receivers, and a solid line, but it all worked around Ellington, who hit 64% of his passes with 22 touchdowns and eight picks, and ran for 668 yards and six scores.
The 6-5, 180-pound Brown is a tall, thin passer with a live arm and the upside to start pressing the ball down the field more than Ellington did.
Key Game To The Georgia State Panthers Season
Georgia Southern, Nov. 28
It’s not just because it’s the rivalry game, it’s because it’s the rivalry game that Georgia State has lost badly over the last two years.
Even with everything going well last season, the Panthers got rocked by the Eagles 38-10 after losing 35-10 in 2018.
The D didn’t do nearly enough against the option attack in either game, allowing close to seven yards per crack two years ago and was hit for six yards per carry with five scores last season.
This year’s battle is coming off of road games at Appalachian State and South Alabama, and might be needed to get to six wins.
– Georgia State Panthers Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Georgia State Fun Stats
– Fumbles: Opponents 21 (lost 8) – Georgia State 13 (lost 7)
– Onside Kicks: Opponents 0-for-4 – Georgia State 0-for-0
– Average Yards Per Pass: Opponents 8.5 – Georgia State 6.7
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia State Panthers Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
1. College Football News Preview 2020: Georgia State Panthers Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
That’s two winning seasons and two bowl appearances in three seasons under Shawn Elliott – the high-energy head coach who spent most of his career at Appalachian State and South Carolina.
He has figured something out with this program.
It wasn’t consistent enough, and it dropped a few games it shouldn’t have – losing at Texas State wasn’t okay – but it beat Tennessee, took down Army, and it got to the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
But this team can do more.
There’s experience across the board along with plenty of all-star talent. As long as the quarterback play is solid, this should be another winning season with an outside shot at making a run at Appalachian State in the Sun Belt East.
However …
Set The Georgia State Panthers Regular Season Win Total At … 6
Bet at BetMGM Win Total Line: 5.5
Where are the sure wins?
Murray State has to be one, but going to Charlotte and South Alabama hurts – those would likely be put in the win column if they were in Atlanta – and forgetting the loss last year, missing Texas State hurts.
The Panthers might be better than the 2018 version, but road games at Alabama, Arkansas State and Appalachian State should be three losses, and the date on the road against an improved Troy team will be an issue.
It might just be another inconsistent season, but with enough happening on the good side to go bowling again.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
