Mackendy Cheridor beat the tackle and made a beeline for the quarterback in Georgia State’s scrimmage Saturday. As Cheridor prepared for what could have been a spine-bruising sack, he peeled off and gave the quarterback a light tap, which was all that he was allowed to do.
But it was a good sign for the Panthers. On the other side, outside linebacker Jarrell Robinson also made his share of plays.
“Our outside guys are doing a good job,” linebackers coach P.J. Volker said.
The Panthers were the worst team in the Sun Belt at getting to the quarterback last season, with 11 sacks. Robinson had two of those and Cheridor one.
That’s why seeing Cheridor closing in on the quarterback was such a welcome site.
“First thing he came over and said, ‘Coach that’s a tomahawk,’” Volker said, referencing the chopping-down move made famous by Lawrence Taylor when hitting the quarterback. “‘I’m going to get one.’”
The group goes five deep, a necessity in the pass-happy Sun Belt, and includes promising freshmen Michael Shaw and James Traylor.
“They are phenomenal athletes that are intelligent and learning in a hurry,” coach Trent Miles said.
Volker said it hasn’t been decided if the duo will play this season, but did say they will put the best players on the field.
That’s not to say the inside linebacker, Joseph Peterson and Sean Jeppesen, aren’t also playing well. Volker said they are. But it’s the outside guys, whose job it is to get to the quarterback or drop into pass coverage, who will need to produce.
Ivory shines: Michael Ivory has stepped into the left-tackle role previously played by NFL draftee Ulrick John and is doing well, according to Miles.
Ivory, 6-foot-5 and more than 300 pounds, enrolled at Georgia State in the spring after a season at Coffeyville Community College.
He said he is comfortable with the position — he has played on the edge for years — the playbook and the read-based assignments required of the linemen.
“This is my first time doing it,” he said. “I’ve picked it up comfortably and things are going well with that.”
Ivory is one of possibly three new starters on the line. The group struggled last season blocking for the run (Sun Belt-low 102.2 yards per game) and the pass (Sun Belt-high 32 sacks allowed). The group also struggled with injuries and discipline.
Several players used up their eligibility on last season’s line, including John, who was selected by the Colts in the draft.
Ivory was one of three junior-college linemen who signed, and he plays the key position that protects the starting quarterback’s blind side.
Ivory said the chemistry and camaraderie is high among the group. They frequently gather to play video games, go bowling (he said he is best in the group) and or go out to eat.
“We just have to learn how to communicate on the field, the (playbook) verbiage and make sure we have everything covered,” he said.
Returning kicks: There is a group of players attempting to replace Albert Wilson as the returner of kicks and punts.
Wilson signed with the Chiefs after leaving as Georgia State’s career leader in kickoff returns (95) and return yards (2,338). He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and averaged 24.6 yards per return.
He also is atop the school’s short list for punt returns (41) and yards (376).
Wide receivers Donovan Harden, Avery Sweeting and Lynquez Blair, along with defensive back Marcus Caffey, are trying out as the punt returners.
Wide receiver Glenn Smith, Caffey and Sweeting are trying out at as kickoff returners.
