Georgia State’s Jarrell Robinson attended Statesboro High before graduating from Portal High, five minutes away.

He grew up with season tickets to Georgia Southern (5-2, 4-0) football, so Saturday’s game against the Eagles at the Georgia Dome is very important to him.

“When I go home and have my Georgia State gear, my friends rag on me and tell me to take it off,” he said. “My best friends all went to Georgia Southern.

“I don’t want to hear them talk when I go home, ‘We beat y’all.’ It can’t happen. That’s why this is really big to me.”

Robinson was recruited by Georgia Southern, but he said his father decided it was time for his son to leave the nest.

Robinson, a fifth year senior and starting outside linebacker, is Georgia State’s (1-6, 0-4) all-time leader in tackles for loss (19) and this season is tied for the team lead in sacks (three).

He is one of a handful of Georgia State players who grew up near Statesboro. Georgia Southern has 48 players who are from the metro Atlanta area. Between state championships and the Corky Kell Classic, 12 players have played at least once in the Georgia Dome, according to Georgia Southern.

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