Preview 2019: Previewing 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 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 2-10 overall, 1-7 in Sun Belt
Head Coach: Shawn Elliott, 3rd year, 9-15
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GEORGIA STATE OFFENSE
– Despite averaging just 378 yards and 24 points per game, it was the best offensive performance overall since 2015. The passing game was okay – at least compared to the rest of the Sun Belt – the ground attack had a few nice moments, and the pass protection was solid. And now almost everyone is back.
– Veteran Dan Ellington returns at quarterback after completing 60% of his throws for 2,119 yards and 12 touchdowns with five picks, and he ran for 625 yards and five touchdowns. He’s got the skills to push the ball deep, but he has to be more consistent and more accurate.
– There’s no instantly replacing the playmaking ability of Penny Hart, but the next ten top wideouts are back, starting with the speedy Cornelius McCoy and veteran Devin Gentry. There’s not a whole lot of size and there isn’t a sure-thing volume catcher in the bunch, but this corps can move.
– It’s not a big line, but it’s full of experience with four starter returning including 6-5, 295-pound OT Hunter Atkinson and 6-3, 295-pound all-star Shamarious Gilmore. The backups were almost all freshmen, and now there’s depth developing at all five spots. Now the running backs have to come through – Ellington was the leading rusher.
Senior Tra Barnett averaged five yards per carry and ran for seven scores, but he didn’t get enough work. Sophomore Seth Paige is another 5-10, 180ish quick back who’ll get in the mix more.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GEORGIA STATE DEFENSE
– In a “the food was awful, but the portions were huge” way of looking at the Georgia State defense, nine of the top 11 tacklers and seven starters return after finishing dead last in the Sun Belt in total D, allowing 490 yards and 37 points per game. There was no pass rush, few big plays, and not enough key stops.
– The defensive front in the 3-4 generated just 13 sacks and 43 tackles for loss, and now it has to replace the one guy who made much of anything happen in DE Marterious Allen. 6-3, 270-pound Terry Thomas is more of a tackle than a pass rusher, even as a 3-4 end, and a steady option has to emerge on the other side. Back in the middle are 299-pound sophomore Akeem Smith and 275-pound junior Donate Wilson. They’re big, but they won’t get into the backfield.
– Leading tackler Ed Curney returns to the inside of the linebacking corps along with junior Trajan Stephens-McQueen. They’re not big, but they can move. Victor Heyward, Jontrey Hunter and Jordan Strachan have to grow into pass rushers on the outside.
– The Panthers only came up with six picks and no one generated more than one, but the veterans are there to do a whole lot more. The corner combination of Jaylon Jones and Quavian Whitereturn after taking their lumps as freshmen, but Jones will likely move to safety next to second-leading tackler Remy Lazarus.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP GEORGIA STATE PLAYERS
Best Georgia State Offensive Player
QB Dan Ellington, Sr.
A reasonable case could be made that Atkinson is really the team’s best offensive player, but it’s Ellington who appears to be ready to take his game to another level and be a star. He completed 60% of his passes for 2,119 yards with 12 touchdowns and five scores, and he led the team with 625 rushing yards and five scores. The talent is there grow into more of a passer and not take off so much, but he’s too dangerous on the move to keep him in the pocket.
2. OT Hunter Atkinson, Sr.
3. OG Shamarious Gilmore, Jr.
4. WR Cornelius McCoy, Soph.
5. RB Tra Barnett, Sr.
Best Georgia State Defensive Player
LB Ed Curney, Sr.
Whether or not he plays inside or out, the 5-11, 220-pound senior is going to be among the team’s leading tacklers with the potential to be a better all-around playmaker. He finished with a team-high 81 tackles led by an 11-stop day against Troy, but he only came up with one sack and 4.5 tackles for loss. An academic all-star as well as a star on the field, he’s got the instincts and the burst to do far more.
2. DE Terry Thomas, Sr.
3. S Remy Lazarus, Sr.
4. P Brandon Wright, Jr.
5. DT Dontae Wilson, Jr.
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The Georgia State Offense
The passing game has to be more consistent. The Panthers went bowling in 2015 after completing 62% of their passes and averaged close to nine yards per throw. They went bowling in 2017 after hitting 64% of their passes and averaging close to eight yards per throw.
In the other four years since moving up to the FBS world, the passing attack failed to get to the 60% completion mark and averaged well under eight yards per pass – and they didn’t go bowling in any of those seasons. QB Dan Ellington and the receivers are good enough to change that.
Biggest Key To The Georgia State Defense
Generate more pressure in the backfield, and hope that leads to more takeaways. The Panthers managed a mere 13 sacks on the season with eight of them coming in three games. With that lack of pressure, there wasn’t a whole lot happening to force takeaways with just ten on the year.
The Panthers came up with two in the opener against Kennesaw State, and won. they generated four against ULM, and won. Those were the only two victories of the season, with a mere one takeaway in the final six games.
Key Player To A Successful Season
WR Cornelius McCoy, Soph.
Penny Hart might have had a wee bit of a down year, but he was still good enough to earn All-Sun Belt honors. He was the dangerous go-to guy, and now it’ll be up to the 5-11, 180-pound McCoy to try turning into the No. 1 target.
He was good enough to be an honorable mention All-Sun Belt performance with 495 yards and a score on 35 catches, but he was only good for around three grabs per game. Now he has to be more dangerous.
Key Game To The Georgia State Season
Troy, Oct. 26
If the Panthers want to dream big and have any hopes of coming up with something special in the East, they have to beat Troy for just the second time in seven tries at the FBS level. They fought well on the road in a 37-20 loss last season, but this time around it’s in Atlanta. Win, and with Appalachian State a home game, there’s a shot to dream big – the Panthers leave Georgia just once in the last six games.
– Georgia State Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 Georgia State Fun Stats
– 1st Quarter Scoring: Opponents 133 – Georgia State 52
– 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 14-of-18 (78%) – Georgia State 17-of-28 (61%)
– Penalties: Opponents 71 for 599 yards – Georgia State 48 for 469 yards
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. GEORGIA STATE WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
There are just enough good parts to the puzzle to think the Panthers could pull off a surprisingly big season.
The defense has to be night-and-day better – it starts with generating more pressure – but there’s decent size up front and enough experience to make a bit of a push.
The offensive side is loaded with veterans, and that has to lead to a more efficient and effective attack that can be more explosive.
Overall, the Panthers don’t get flagged, the special teams are solid, and the style of play helps keep them in control. However, considering just one of the ten losses last season was by fewer than nine points, it’s going to take a bit of luck to be in the hunt for six wins and a bowl.
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 5
The Panthers should be able to take down Furman and South Alabama at home, but it’s not a plus that some of the easier games – Texas State, Coastal Carolina – are on the road.
Getting Arkansas State, Army, Troy and Appalachian State at home should lead to one big win in the bunch, but it’s asking a lot to get too many more without a few breaks.
The Panthers should be a few wins better, but not enough to get a third bowl appearance in the last five years.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
