Georgia State’s football team will begin Spring practice on Monday with several questions it hopes to answer before the sessions end on April 12.
The Panthers went 0-12 in coach Trent Miles’ first season and 27 seniors either graduated or used up their eligibility. So there are lots of holes to fill before hosting the season-opener against Abilene Christian on Aug. 27.
Here are five things Georgia State must do this Spring:
Establish a quarterback. There are many legitimate reasons why, but Georgia State's quarterbacks haven't inspired confidence in each of the past two seasons.
Nick Arbuckle signed from Pierce College in December and, though the competition is open, is expected to be given every opportunity to win the job. He has played quarterback for just two years, both at Pierce, but he passed for almost 7,000 yards and showed athleticism and toughness. He has shown leadership abilities that the coaches are looking for by organizing film sessions. There will be a lot of competition, including last year’s starter, Ronnie Bell, and the big name signed in the 2013 class, Clay Chastain. Bell averaged 214.4 passing yards per game last year but completed 50.1 percent of his attempts.
“We’ve got to make great strides at the position,” Miles said. “Everybody knows the triggerman is the key. We need to get some consistency, accuracy and leadership out of the position.”
Look for combos on the offensive line. Whoever wins the quarterback job will only be as good as the offensive line and it must find some consistency. Because of injuries and suspensions, the line started nine different combinations last year.
The two starting tackles, Ulrick John and Grant King, used up their eligibility. The squad is also hoping that A.J. Kaplan, who played every position on the line but center last year, has recovered from minor knee surgery (meninscus) in the offseason. Holdovers Mark Ruskell and Ronald Martin are trying to come back from injuries sustained last year.
Miles has tried to stockpile linemen in the past two classes, including junior college signees in Taylor Evans, Michael Ivory and Steve Wolgamott, each of whom enrolled in the Spring.
“We’ve got some depth because we went out and signed the three junior college players but we’ve got to find some continuity,” Miles said. “We’ve got some questions marks but you can’t ask for a better leader than (assistant coach) Harold Etheridge to get those guys going.”
Develop wide receivers. No one player provided more offense for the Panthers than Albert Wilson, who used up his eligibility after totaling more than 6,200 yards with 26 touchdowns in his career.
No one player will be expected to match that production.
“No one will replace Albert so you’ve got to go out and find guys who can be consistent,” Miles said.
Robert Davis will lead the group to trying to do that. As a freshman, Davis was the team’s second-leading receiver last year with 44 catches for 711 yards and four touchdowns. Behind Davis and Lynquez Blair, there’s not much experience. There is depth at tight end with Keith Rucker, Joel Ruiz and Bill Teknipp, so offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski may begin to find ways to use that group more in the passing game.
Rebuild the secondary. All four starters from last year's group used up their eligibility, which may be a good or bad thing depending upon your point of view when considering the passing defense allowed 245.2 yards per game and had four of the team's meager six interceptions.
Depth, as at wide receiver, is a concern.
Until the junior college signings arrive, the team will have just two safeties on scholarship for the spring. A possible third, Tyshaun Clemmons, is moving to wide receiver after sitting out most of last season because of injuries. Miles said they may move a linebacker back to safety to add some depth.
“Once we get the guys here in the summertime that we signed, we’ll have a lot more depth,” Miles said. “Until then, we’ll work with what we have. It’ll be a little unorthodox some of the stuff we have to do this spring to get through it, make sure we don’t have any injuries and still be able to improve their play. It’s a big question mark. But when you have Jesse Minter coaching back there, I’m not really worried about anything.
The cornerbacks will be led by junior college signee Marcus Caffey.
Get bigger and faster. Many of the players are getting stronger after another offseason in strength and conditioning coach Ben Pollard's program.
But Miles said more work is needed. He said the biggest gains usually occur between a player’s second and third years.
“There is a commitment there,” he said. “But we are still a ways away. There’s still a few growing years with these guys.”
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