Though he’s thrown eight interceptions in four games, Georgia State’s Nick Arbuckle said he will continue to try to make plays. He will get his next chance in Saturday’s game at Louisiana-Lafayette.
“Interceptions aren’t going to scare me from throwing into tight coverage,” he said. “When you try to make some plays, and take something from the defense, sometimes you are going to make mistakes. We have to try to limit those mistakes and continue to make plays.”
He said the interceptions have a been a result of poor decisions and defenses making good plays. He’s also had some back luck.
All three occurred in the recent loss to Washington.
On his first interception, which came on the first series, Arbuckle was hit as he threw the ball, which resulted in it floating right to a defender.
On the second, Arbuckle thought the receiver was going to run a curl out, so that’s where he threw the pass. Instead, the receiver kept running up the field and Washington’s Marcus Peters made a spectacular diving interception along the sideline. Arbuckle, in his first year at Georgia State, said that is the result in he and the receives still learning each other.
The last interception came off a tipped pass, something that’s happened at least three times this season.
Still, Arbuckle is completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 1,315 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
Howse returns: Gerald Howse signed with Georgia State as a running back in the Class of 2013.
He has yet to carry the ball after running 14 times for 29 yards in that year’s season-opening loss to Samford.
A combination of injuries, a temporary position change to fullback, and the coaches wanting to look at different players have resulted in Howse going 15 games without a rush. In most of those, Howse didn’t even dress out.
“It was a humbling experience,” he said. “It made me work harder over the summer. All I want to do is come back harder.”
It looked in August like he was going to get another chance to reclaim his spot as the team’s No. 1 back this season. With good size (6-2, 220) and decent speed, Howse was getting some looks with the first- and second-string offensive groups when he suffered a broken hand, delaying his return.
He was cleared last week and participated on the kick return and punt return teams.
“I told coach Miles anything I can do to help the team,” he said.
Miles said Howse will continue to feature on special teams and may get some looks at running back.
Another return: Taylor Evans signed with the Georgia State this year and was expected to become an impact player on Georgia State's rebuilt offensive line. Instead, he suffered an elbow injury that has prevented him from joining the group at guard.
Like Howse, Evans has been cleared and is back into the rotation at line at guard.
“I’ve been ready since the first day I got here,” he said.
Evans said he will work to sharpen his fundamentals. His weight (295 pounds) and strength are close to what the coaches would like.
