THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nick Arbuckle, QB. He set numerous school records (passing yards, touchdowns, completions and total offense, to name a few) last season, but struggled with throwing interceptions (17), something he vowed in the minutes following the season-ending loss to Texas State that he would improve upon. Arbuckle will work with a talented group of wide receivers, almost all of whom were on the team last season, and an offensive line as deep as Georgia State as ever had.
Mackendy Cheridor, DE. Georgia State's defense must snap a two-year problem and show that it can get to the quarterback. Cheridor will be one of those players expected to bring pressure. Cheridor is moving from outside linebacker, the position he played last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Georgia State had only 12 sacks last season, with Cheridor posting one. Because the defense couldn't consistently bring pressure, opponents completed 68 percent of their passes.
Kaleb Ringer, LB. Georgia State added depth and skills to its linebackers with the addition of Ringer from Butler Community College in Kansas and UAB transfer Alonzo McGee. Ringer will line up as the middle linebacker, flanked by McGee, Michael Shaw and Joseph Peterson, the team's leading tackler the past three seasons, on the other side. Ringer, who once committed to Michigan, is 6-0, 235 pounds, bringing a size that the group hasn't had.
WHEN WE LAST SAW THEM
Georgia State wrapped up a 1-11 season with 11 consecutive losses, capped by a 54-31 loss to Texas State in the Georgia Dome. The Panthers trailed 27-3 at halftime in front of an announced actual attendance of 3,485, the smallest in program history.
By the end, the Bobcats rolled up 607 yards in offense to the Panthers’ 516.
It was Georgia State’s third game of the season with at least 500 yards in offense, but it was also the fifth time the defense allowed at least the same number and the third time an opponent had at least 600.
Arbuckle threw two interceptions that led to 14 points for Texas State.
“You are seeing a process here, and I told our seniors that they are kind of like our parents,” coach Trent Miles said after the game. “My life is better because of what my dad did for me. My goal is to make my children’s lives better. These seniors have laid the foundation and paved the way for these young guys coming back.”
THEY’LL HAVE A WINNING SEASON IF …
The offensive line can sustain blocks and the defensive line can get off blocks. Because of injuries to the offensive line, including starting left tackle Michael Ivory, the group was shuffled time and time again. Those injuries, combined with starting running back Krysten Hammon leaving the program and season-ending injuries to back-ups Kyler Neal and Jonathan Jean-Bart, resulted in Georgia State having the second-worst rushing attack in the Sun Belt, averaging 96.3 rushing yards per game.
Ivory is healthy, and the line has depth that it hasn’t enjoyed since the program started in 2010. Along with Ivory, returning starters include guards Alex Stoehr, Taylor Evans and Akil Hawkins. Several transfers and junior college players were added.
While the offense had trouble running the ball, opponents had no trouble running on Georgia State’s defense. The Panthers had the Sun Belt’s second-worst rush defense, allowing 303.4 yards per game. Seven opponents rushed for at least 300 yards last season. Two players, Julien Laurent and DeQueszman Kelley, were signed to add depth to the line. Cheridor will also move from linebacker to end to increase competition.
THEY’LL COME UP SHORT IF …
Well, if the line can’t block and the defensive line can’t get off blocks, the Panthers will be in obvious trouble. Things could also go south if the team has another negative turnover margin.
The Panthers had a margin of minus-22 last season, the worst in the Sun Belt by nine and the worst in FBS by four.
In 12 games, Georgia State lost 12 fumbles and threw 18 interceptions. Its defense recovered five fumbles and had just three interceptions, tied for the second lowest amount of pickoffs in FBS.
The lack of fumbles recovered can be traced to the inability of the linemen and linebackers to shed blocks and make aggressive plays on ballcarriers.
The lack of interceptions can be traced to the lack of pressure the defense was able to put on quarterbacks.
MUST-SEE GAME
Georgia Southern fans think that there were more of them at the Georgia Dome than Georgia State fans for last year’s first game between the schools. Well, there definitely will be more Eagles fans in Statesboro on Dec. 5 than Panthers fans for this year’s matchup.
Georgia State had no answer for the Eagles’ option offense in last year’s meeting and gave up 10 rushing touchdowns. There were a few FBS teams that didn’t give up 10 rushing touchdowns for the entire season.
But there’s more than payback at stake. With some luck, Georgia State could be gunning for a sixth win and bowl eligibility in this meeting. The Eagles figure to have bowl eligibility locked up.
HE SAID IT
“Our first two years we wanted to teach them how to compete. Now we are beyond that. All have made gains and strides. Now we are teaching them how to win, and our expectation is to win. It’s not hope to win. I don’t care how we play. We won’t settle for anything less than that.” — Miles
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