Georgia State football coach Bill Curry said the 2012 signing day class represents the strongest the Panthers have signed in their short history. That will be immediately needed because he also said the team is going to switch defensive schemes.
Curry said his assistant coaches worked to find players who will help the Panthers as they embark on their first season in the Colonial Athletic Association.
“The biggest lesson that football teaches young people is what to do when you get knocked on your butt,” he said, a reference to last year’s 3-8 record. “You collect yourself, get back to work, build unity and build the discipline, physical and mental toughness that you can change your results. That’s what we’ve been doing
“Other thing is to improve the talent level. That has happened.”
Signing nine defensive players and eight offensive players, Curry said he thinks as many as four players could push for starting time as freshmen, if they can handle the transition. Three of those four players -- Melvin King, Joe Lockley and Joseph Peterson -- play defense, where the Panthers are going to incorporate a 4-2-5 system, similar to one used by TCU.
Defensive coordinator John Thompson said he wants to take advantage of the team’s speed, so he’s going back to a system he coached at South Carolina and utilized some last year. He has studied film of the Horned Frogs' scheme and spent time with their coaches during the offseason.
The secondary will use more man coverage. Some players will change positions. Notably, Dexter Moody will move from inside linebacker to outside.
Assistant coaches will change responsibilities as well. Anthony Midget will take over the safeties. Jason French will coach the corners and outside linebackers. Ryan Zimmerman will coach the ends and Chris Ward will work with the tackles. Thompson will coach inside linebackers.
“What this does, in our opinion, it matches our personnel better,” Thompson said. “We will be more aggressive, we will play faster, we will be a better defense.”
Curry said the combination of the new practice facility, Georgia State's growing academic reputation, the work of the academic and athletics staff, and the experience gained from playing another season made recruiting easier.
Curry stressed the achievements of the class, noting offensive lineman Garrett Gorringe (Grayson High School) and defensive tackle Jah-Mai Davidson (Brookwood High School) played on state champion teams. He was also pleased GSU was able to sign eight linemen (four on offense, four on defense), areas where they have been thin. The team graduated four starters on the offensive line and two on the defensive line.
The class has some family ties. Bryan Williams, a linebacker from Florida, is the younger brother of former Panther Arthur Williams.
The Panthers were also able to add two quarterbacks, Mark Weidenaar and Nathan Schuster, which will help make up for the loss of Trent Thompson, a long-time GSU commit who instead signed with Tennessee Tech. Curry declined to comment on players who de-committed.
“Future is very bright for Georgia State football, much, much better than it was a few weeks ago,” he said.
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