Georgia State’s football team will look to build momentum on last year’s bowl season when it starts spring practice on Thursday.
Coach Trent Miles’ squad went 6-7 last season and returns 17 starters, making it one of the more experienced teams in the Sun Belt Conference.
Miles wants to see a few things that most coaches want to see during the next 15 practices: maintaining health and improving player development, which is football-speak for every coach and player getting better at what they do.
“We’ve seen it in the weight room, now we will see it on the football field,” Miles said.
Of course, there are more things that Miles needs to see that are specific to his team.
The first is finding a quarterback.
The second is settling on rotations at the offensive line.
The third is finding combinations on the defense’s front seven.
While Miles said it is unlikely that returning starting linemen Jalen Lawrence, Shawanye Lawrence and Mackendy Cheridor will be moved around, he said it is likely that the coaching staff may try some of the linebackers in different positions.
“Those front seven dudes, you can get a better understanding of what you do if you know what the other guys do,” Miles said.
Miles said they may try outside linebacker Alonzo McGee at inside linebacker. They may also move outside linebacker Andrew Everett, a transfer from Old Dominion who sat out last year, to middle linebacker or strongside linebacker.
The group returns every starter except Joseph Peterson, the program's all-time leading tackler. Ed Curney, who started one game in place of an injured Peterson last season, is one of several who will compete at the position.
Also returning are middle linebacker Kaleb Ringer and outside linebackers Michael Shaw and James Traylor. The returners totalled more than 275 tackles last season on a defense that allowed averages of 28.3 points and 405.6 yards per game.
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