Georgia State’s spring game Saturday won’t offer too much of a glimpse of its potential in its effort to post its first winning season since 2010.
The team won’t be at full strength because of injuries, precautionary holdouts and that most of the freshmen have yet to enroll. Plus, the schemes run by the offense and defense will be fairly basic. Lastly, and possibly most important, coach Trent Miles said the starting quarterback won’t be decided until the day before the season-opening game against Ball State at the Georgia Dome in September.
But coach Trent Miles wants to see energy, proper alignment and execution when the scrimmage kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Panthersville.
The teams for the spring game will be mixed and matched, selected in a draft.
The Blue team will be captained by wide receiver Robert Davis and safety Bryan Williams. The White team will be captained by running back Kyler Neal and safety Bobby Baker. The draft’s format followed these lines: the offensive line and defensive lines were broken into groups by first-string and second-string so that if one team selected the first-string offensive line, the other team would select the first-string defensive line.
The captain would then select a player, with both teams selecting players to fill that position group. For example, cornerback Chandon Sullivan was the first player selected by the Blue team. So, the White team selected Jerome Smith and on it went.
The Blue team will feature the first-string defensive line of Shawanye Lawrence, Jalen Lawrence and Mackendy Cheridor. The White team will feature the first-string offensive linemen.
“Just go out and have fun and play hard,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said.
The quarterbacks are split in a unique way, with Conner Manning on the Blue team and Aaron Winchester on the White team. Emiere Scaife will play for both teams. All three are competing to replace Nick Arbuckle, who was named the Sun Belt player of the year after passing for more than 4,300 yards last season.
“I want to see guys plays fast,” offensive coordinator Luke Huard said. “Get lined up and play ball.”
There are a few players who won’t participate Saturday: linebacker Michael Shaw has a class project, tight end Keith Rucker will be held out for precautionary measures, as will running backs Taz Bateman and Kendrick Dorn, offensive lineman Michael Ivory and defensive lineman Marterious Allen.
Notable players on the teams:
Blue team
Defensive linemen
Mackendy Cheridor
Jalen Lawrence
Shawanye Lawrence
Carnell Hopson
Julien Laurent
Jamal Paxton
Marterious Allen
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Linebackers
Trey Payne
Chase Middleton
Andrew Everett
Malik Ricks
Jameel Spencer
-
Cornerbacks
Chandon Sullivan
B.J. Clay
Cedric Stone
David West
Leander Howard
Kyndall Phillips
-
Safeties
Bryan Williams
Cloves Campbell
Ronald Peterkin
-
Quarterbacks
Conner Manning
Emiere Scaife
-
Offensive linemen
Akil Hawkins
Tyler Simonsen
Hunter Atkinson
Davis Moore
Michael Ivory
Mitch Word
Madison Bell
-
Running backs
Glenn Smith
Anthony Valverde
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Wide receivers
Robert Davis
Jonathan Ifedi
Octavious Andrews
Penny Hart
Matlin Marshall
-
Tight end
Bill Teknipp
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Kicker/specialists
Brandon Wright
Seth-Patrick Holman
-
-
White team
Defensive linemen
Tevin Jones
DeQueszman Kelley
Will Cunningham
Nich Long
Juan Orozco
Javonte Lain
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Linebackers
Alonzo McGee
Kaleb Ringer
Ed Curney
Justin Otiwu
James Traylor
Niemus Bryant
-
Cornerbacks
Jerome Smith
Robert Dowling
-
Safeties
Bobby Baker
Antreal Allen
Trent Hill
Deion Wilkins
-
Quarterbacks
Aaron Winchester
Emiere Scaife
-
Offensive linemen
Gabe Mobley
Alex Stoehr
Dom Roldan
Sebastian Willer
Lucas Johnson
-
Running backs
Kyler Neal
Demarcus Kirk
Taz Bateman
Kendrick Dorn
-
Wide receivers
Todd Boyd
Mattavius Scott
Brett Sheehan
-
Tight ends
Ari Werts
Jacob Nesmith
Keith Rucker
-
Specialists
Daniel Zeigler
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