(Photo Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Gerald Green, RB J.D. King, RB Logan Wright, WR Khaleb Hood, OC Logan Langemeier, OG Khalil Crowder, OG Aaron Dowdell, OT Caleb Kelly, OT Brian Miller, DE Justin Ellis, NT C.J. Wright, LB Zyon McGee, LB Randy Wade, CB Derrick Canteen, FS Justin Birdsong, SS Anthony Wilson, PK Alex Raynor, and PT Anthony Beck.
Key Players Departing:
QB Shai Werts, WR Malik Murray, DE Raymond Johnson, LB Rashad Byrd, and LB Reynard Ellis.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: LB Khadry Jackson (North Carolina transfer), LB Andrew Johnson (Oregon transfer), S Myzel Williams (Deland, Florida), WR Derwin Burgess (Riverdale, Georgia), LB Michael Edwards (Trussville, Alabama), RB Amare Jones (Tulane transfer), QB Cam’Ron Ransom (Seffner, Florida), S Tyrell Davis (Harrisburg, North Carolina), ATH Montae Maxwell (Hartwell, Georgia), and OG Caleb Cook (Brunswick, Georgia).
2020 Results:
G01 CAMPBELL W 27-26
G02 at #19 Louisiana L 28-20
G03 at UL-Monroe W 35-30
G04 Massachusetts W 41-0
G05 at #25 Coastal Carolina L 14-28
G06 SOUTH ALABAMA W 24-17
G07 TROY W 20-13
G08 TEXAS STATE W 40-38
G09 at Army L 27-28
G10 at Georgia State L 24-30
G11 FLORIDA ATLANTIC W 20-3
G12 APPALACHIAN STATE L 26-34
BOWL vs. Louisiana Tech W 38-3
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 8-5 (4th in Sun Belt East)
Home: 6-1
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 1-0
SBC: 4-4
Non-SBC: 4-1
Head Coach: Chad Lunsford
Georgia Southern: 27-18
Career: 27-18
Bowls: 2-1
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Justin Tomlin (11-25, 161 yards, 44.0%, 6.4 avg., 0 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: J.D. King (116 car., 625 yards, 5.4 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Khaleb Hood (15 rec., 224 yards, 14.9 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: J.D. King/Logan Wright (5)
Sacks: Justin Ellis (3.5)
Tackles: Rashad Byrd (68)
Interceptions: Derrick Canteen (6)
Pass Deflections: Derrick Canteen (10)
Tackles For Loss: Justin Ellis (9)
Forced Fumbles: 5 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Khaled Hood (12 ret., 198 ret., 16.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Khaled Hood (12 ret., 122 yards, 10.2 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: Alex Raynor (18-25 fg-fga., 72%, 40-41 xp-xpa., 94 pts.)
Punting: Anthony Beck (51 punts, 2130 yards, 41.8 avg., 14 in 20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 19 Cam Ransom (FR)
RB: 2 Logan Wright (RS SR)
WR: 9 Jjay McCafee (JR/TR)
WR: 6 NaJee Thompson (SR)
WR: 7 Khaleb Hoob (JR)
TE: 11 Beau Johnson (RS SO)
LT: 56 Brian Miller (RS SR)
LG: 51 Aaron Dowdell (RS SR)
OC: 66 Logan Langemeier (SR/TR)
RG: 72 Khalil Crowder (RS JR)
RT: 50 Caleb Kelly (RS SR)
KR: 7 Khaleb Hood (JR)
PK: 19 Alex Raynor (RS SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 42 Dillion Springer (RS SR/TR)
NT: 94 C.J. Wright (SR)
DE: 2 Justin Ellis (RS RS/TR)
LB: 5 Benz Josue (RS SR)
LB: 43 Tre Allen (RS SR)
LB: 33 Marques Watson-Trent (SO)
LB: 47 Randy Wade (RS SR)
CB: 13 Derrick Canteen (RS SO)
CB: 14 Darrell Baker (RS SR)
FS: 18 Justin Birdsong (SR)
SS: 12 Anthony Wilson (RS SO)
PR: 7 Khaleb Hood (JR)
PT: 7 Anthony Beck (RS JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/04 GARDNER-WEBB BULLDOGS | Georgia Southern leads the series 2-1. The Eagles won (56-0) the last meeting between schools in 2002.
09/11 at Florida Atlantic Owls | Last season’s 20-3 victory was the first meeting between schools.
09/18 at Arkansas Razorbacks | First meeting between schools.
09/25 LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS | Georgia Southern trails the series 1-3. The Eagles lost (18-20) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series win (34-24) was in 2017.
10/02 ARKANSAS STATE RAZORBACKS | Georgia Southern trails the series 2-3. The Eagles are 1-3 since renewing the series in 2016, and their last series win (28-21) was in 2018.
10/09 at Troy Trojans | Georgia Southern trails the series 7-13. The Eagles are 4-3 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series loss (28-49) was in 2015.
10/14 at South Alabama Jaguars | Georgia Southern leads the series 7-0. The Eagles have won the prior seven meetings, dating back to 2014, by an average of 24.6 points per game.
10/30 GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS | Georgia Southern trails the series 3-4. The Eagles lost (24-30) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (38-10) was in 2019.
11/06 COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS | Georgia Southern leads the series 5-2. The Eagles are 2-2 since renewing the series in 2017, and their last series win (30-27 OT) was in 2019.
11/13 at Texas State Bobcats | Georgia Southern leads the series 4-1. The Eagles are 4-0 since renewing the series in 2014, and their only series loss (35-50) was at the inaugural meeting in 2005.
11/20 BYU COUGARS | First meeting between schools.
11/27 at Appalachian State Mountaineers | Georgia Southern trails the series 15-20-1. The Eagles are 3-7 since 2011, and their last series win (24-21) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
SBC: 3-5
Non-SBC: 2-2
Overall: 5-7 (5th in Sun Belt East)
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