Georgia State won’t open summer camp until August, so it’s a perfect time to start looking ahead to the teams the Panthers will face during the upcoming season.
I’ve already done:
Let’s turn to Troy. The Trojans defeated the Panthers 45-21 last year, taking advantage of three turnovers. Troy rushed for 324 yards
The Panthers will host Troy on Nov. 27 at the Georgia Dome.
Troy
2014 record: 3-9, 3-5 Sun Belt Conference.
Coach: Neal Brown, first season.
Starters returning: Nine on offense: quarterback Brandon Silvers, running back Brandon Burks, fullback Josh Anderson, wide receivers Bryan Holmes, Teddy Ruben and K.D. Edenfield, tight end Tommy Blevins, and offensive linemen Dalton Bennett and Antonio Garcia.
Six on defense: Defensive ends Tyler Roberts and Jamal Stadom, defensive tackle Lonnie Gosha, safeties Montres Kitchens and JaQuadrian Lewis and cornerback Tray Hall.
Offensive system: Multiple Spread.
Defensive system: Multiple.
Three significant stats about Troy’s new coach and his offense:
- Brown spent four years at Troy from 2006-09, the final two as offensive coordinator. In 2009, the Trojans averaged 485.7 yards per game and 33.7 points per game.
- At Texas Tech in 2012, Brown's offense averaged 495.4 yards per game and 37.5 points per game.
- As Kentucky's offensive coordinator last year, the Wildcats scored 21 touchdowns, or as many as it scored the previous two years combined.
Key stats returning:
- Brandon Burks rushed 96 times for 584 yards and three touchdowns.
- Jordan Chunn rushed 111 times for 505 yards and six touchdowns.
- Brandon Silvers rushed 100 times for 196 yards and five touchdowns.
- Silvers completed 70.5 percent of his passes for 1,836 yards and 11 touchdowns.
- Bryan Holmes caught 34 passes for 474 yards and five touchdowns.
- Brandon Burks caught 23 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.
- Montres Kitchens 88 tackles and six interceptions.
- JaQuadrian Lewis had 57 tackles and three passes broken up.
- Jamal Stadom had 4 ½ sacks.
- Tyler Roberts had 5 sacks.
How does Georgia State match up
This is unknown.
A new coach, new systems and likely new players at so many positions makes it difficult to know how Georgia State may do against the Trojans.
But if Georgia State’s offensive line can sustain blocks and the defensive line can get off blocks, it should be an interesting game.
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