If Georgia State linebacker Kaleb Ringer and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter end up with matching tattoos it means the Panthers have had a good season.
The two have promised that if the Panthers win the Sun Belt Conference this season, they will get tattoos with the initials “BIA,” for Best in America, which is a motto that Ringer said is important to him. Ringer said his will be on his left forearm. Minter wouldn’t say where his might go.
The Panthers held their first spring practice on Thursday after going 6-7 last season and their first appearance in a bowl game. After practice, coach Trent Miles said he believes the team has the ingredients to compete to win the Sun Belt Conference title. The Panthers haven't come close to winning a conference title in its six seasons.
To increase the chances of that happening, a defense that returns nine starters will need to find new leaders following the losses of all-conference linebacker Joseph Peterson, the school’s all-time leading tackler, and safety Tarris Batiste, an all-conference play-maker in the secondary.
“We do have an older group, but they’ve had the crutch of having a guy like Joe P or a guy like Tarris for three years,” Minter said. “It’s time for other guys to be leaders on and off the field and make sure the group is gelling and doing the things that we need to do.”
Ringer, a redshirt senior, said he’s ready for the challenge.
“That’s a void that we need to fill, but it’s also a good thing because it gives guys a chance to step up and create competition,” he said.
Ringer said he considers himself, safeties Bobby Baker and Bryan Williams three leaders. Minter also said that seniors Shawanye Lawrence, Jalen Lawrence, Carnell Hopson, Andrew Everett, and redshirt juniors Mackendy Cheridor and Alonzo McGee — all guys who played a lot last season — are trying to lead the group.
“It might not be the deal with the one voice that we had with Joe P; it might be more spread around,” Minter said.
In addition to finding leaders, Minter said he wants to establish more depth on the defense so that the players feel that there is competition at every spot.
“It’s a new year,” he said.
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