GEORGIA STATE SIGNEES
Name, Pos., Ht., Wt., Hometown
Antreal Allen, CB, 5-11, 175, Auburn, Ala.
Nick Arbuckle, QB, 6-1, 230, Camarillo, Calif.
Todd Boyd, WR, 5-11, 170, Moultrie
Niemus Bryant, LB, 6-2, 230, Columbus
Marcus Caffey, CB, 5-11, 195, Atlanta
Tevish Clark, WR, 6-2, 190, Atlanta
Ed Curney, LB, 5-11, 220, Atlanta
Taylor Evans, OL, 6-3, 285, Irvine, Calif.
Maaseiah Francis, WR, 6-3, 190, Norcross
Krysten Hammon, RB, 5-9, 175, Dickinson, Texas
Michael Ivory, OL, 6-5, 360, Louisville, Ky.
Lucas Johnson, OL, 6-4, 260, Cartersville
Gabe Mobley, OL, 6-3, 260, Moultrie
Ronald Peterkin, S, 6-0, 170, Stone Mountain
Malik Ricks, LB, 6-2, 231, Stone Mountain
Emiere Scaife, QB, 6-3, 220, Charlotte, N.C.
Michael Shaw, LB, 6-4, 205, Sugar Hill
Nate Simon, S, 6-2, 185, Compton, Calif.
Jerome Smith, CB, 5-10, 170, Atlanta
Brandon Sullivan, FB, 5-11, 225, Lilburn
Chandon Sullivan, CB, 5-11, 180, Winder
Ari Werts, TE, 6-4, 220, Stone Mountain
Steve Wolgamott, OL, 6-6, 305, Maize, Kan.
Sheldon Wynn, S, 6-1, 210, Miami
THE BOTTOM LINE
Georgia State signed seven defensive backs, five offensive linemen, four linebackers, three wide receivers, two quarterbacks, one tight end, one fullback and one running back.
Coach Trent Miles said the Panthers hope to sign two more players. He said the issue of going over the 25-man limit will be resolved because they have discussed “grayshirting” a few unnamed players.
At one point, Georgia State had one of the better classes in the Sun Belt, finishing fourth. But the Panthers missed on some key players they hoped to sign and lost a few more who switched their commitments to other schools. As a result, Georgia State’s class slowly dropped in quality, if recruiting rankings are to be believed.
But the Panthers filled some key needs at quarterback, offensive line and in the secondary with enough players to provide competition and add depth as they attempt to improve upon last season’s 0-12 record.
The Panthers will start spring practice March 10 and open the season against Abilene Christian on Aug. 27 at the Georgia Dome.
THE HITS
The class is headlined by quarterback Nick Arbuckle and defensive backs Antreal Allen and Marcus Caffey. Arbuckle passed for nearly 7,000 yards and 73 touchdowns in two years at Pierce (Calif.) College.
Allen, a three-star prospect, had six interceptions last season at Auburn (Ala.) High School.
Caffey is a converted running back from Grady High who moved to defensive back at Iowa Western Community College.
The Panthers tried to get bigger across the board and did that at several positions, notably along the offensive line, which lost three starters off last season’s team.
THE MISSES
The Panthers needed a big running back and spent a lot of time trying to lure De’Andre Mann, a three-star standout at Hartnell Community College in California. But Mann chose Kansas, leaving Georgia State looking for a replacement.
The coaching staff also lost out on three-star tight end Hunter Atkinson of West Hall. He committed to Cincinnati before signing with Georgia on Wednesday.
Georgia Tech swooped in late and signed wide receiver Clinton Lynch, a longtime commitment to Georgia State.
Walden Davis, a safety from Peachtree Ridge, switched his commitment from Georgia State to Southern Miss.
AMONG FRIENDS
The Panthers had success recruiting at certain high schools. Three players from Stephenson, tight end Ari Werts, safety Ronald Peterkin and linebacker Malik Ricks, all signed. Colquitt County also was a friendly place, sending offensive lineman Gabe Mobley and wide receiver Todd Boyd to the Panthers.
FILLING HOLES
The Panthers needed to create competition at quarterback, and they likely will have it with the additions of Arbuckle and Emiere Scaife.
Arbuckle was a highly rated pro-style quarterback coming out of junior college. He also runs well and should challenge for a starting position at a spot that was inconsistent last season. Scaife projects to fully recover by this summer from an undisclosed injury that caused him to miss most of last season at Mallard Creek High in Charlotte, N.C.
The Panthers also need to rebuild their offensive line and secondary and picked up quite a few signees in both areas.
Allen, a three-star defensive back, fell into Georgia State’s lap in the past few weeks. He committed to UCLA at one point. He and Caffey could help a secondary that lost all four starters. The team also signed two big safeties in Nate Simon (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) and Sheldon Wynn (6-1, 210) to improve the defense in the middle of the field, which also was an issue last season.
Signing Taylor Evans (6-3, 285) and Steve Wolgamott (6-6, 305), Georgia State dipped into the junior-college ranks to improve the depth and competition along the offensive line. That duo could help a unit that struggled to pass block (32 sacks allowed) or open holes for the running backs (102.2 rushing yards per game).
IN-STATE SUCCESS
The Panthers signed 14 players from in-state high schools. Caffey, who from Atlanta, matriculated initially at Kentucky before transferring to Iowa Western Community College.
OUT-OF-STATE SUCCESS
Georgia State had success recruiting junior colleges in California and Kansas. Four players from the Golden State — Nate Simon, Sheldon Wynn, Taylor Evans and Arbuckle — signed with the Panthers. Wolgamott and offensive lineman Michael Ivory (6-5, 350) signed from schools in Kansas.
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