(WR Josh Dallas – Opendorse)
Key Players Returning:
RB OJ Arnold, RB Jalen White, WR Derwin Burgess Jr., WR Dalen Cobb, OC Chandler Strong, OG Pichon Wimbley, DE Da’Shawn Davis, DE Isaac Walker, DT Latrell Bullard, DT Elhadj Fall, DT Justin Rhodes, LB Marques Watson-Trent, NB Marc Stampey II, FS TJ Smith, SS Tyrell Davis, KR DeAndre Buchannon, and PT Alex Smith.
Key Players Departing:
QB Davis Brin, WR/PR Khaleb Hood, TE JJ Mcafee, OG Khalil Crowder, OT Rasheed Miller, DE Davion Rhodes, LB Khadry Jackson, LB Tarian Lee Jr, CB Shemar Bartholomew, CB Damel Hickman, and PK Michael Lantz.
(DL Nasir Smith – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR Jordan Woolen (Hoover, Alabama), TE Tyler Fromm (Auburn transfer), DL Nasir Smith (Loganville, Georgia), ATH Devin Collier (Leesburg, Georgia), ATH Antavious Murphy (Bainbridge, Georgia), CB Elijah McDowell (Snellville, Georgia), DS Deontre Morris (Kennesaw State transfer), QB Dexter Williams II (Indiana transfer), LB CJ Allen (Jacksonville, Florida), and WR Carmelo Mays (Macon, Georgia).
2023 Results:
G01 THE CITADEL W 34-0
G02 UAB W 49-35
G03 @ Wisconsin L 14-35
G04 @ Ball State W 40-3
G05 COASTAL CAROLINA W 38-28
G06 @ James Madison L 13-41
G07 UL-MONROE W 38-28
G08 GEORGIA STATE W 44-27
G09 @ Texas State L 24-45
G10 @ Marshall L 33-38
G11 OLD DOMINION L 17-20
G12 @ Appalachian State L 27-55
BOWL vs. Ohio L 21-41
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 6-7 (7th in Sun Belt East)
Home: 5-1
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-1
SBC: 3-5
Non-SBC: 3-2
Head Coach: Clay Helton
Georgia Southern: 12-14
Career: 58-38
Bowls: 2-5
(WR Derwin Burgess Jr. – Savannah Morning News)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: JC French (13-16, 122 yards, 81.3%, 7.6 avg., 1 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Jalen White (160 car., 889 yards, 5.6 avg., 9 TD)
Receiving: Derwin Burgess Jr. (74 rec., 813 yards, 11.0 avg., 6 TD)
TD’s Scored: Jalen White (10)
Sacks: Isaac Walker (6)
Tackles: Marques Watson-Trent (122)
Interceptions: TJ Smith (3)
Pass Deflections: Isaac Walker (7)
Tackles For Loss: Justin Rhodes/Marques Watson-Trent (13)
Forced Fumbles: Isaac Walker (5)
Kick Returns: DeAndre Buchannon (23 ret., 604 ret., 26.3 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Josh Dallas (1 ret., 9 yards, 9.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Alex Smith (47 rec., 1882 yards, 40.0 avg., 18 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 12 JC French (RS SO/TR)
RB: 25 Jalen White (RS SR)
WR: 5 Marcus Sanders Jr. (JR)
WR: 2 Derwin Burgess Jr. (SR)
WR: 4 LV Bunkley-Shelton (RS SR/TR)
WR: 17 Dalen Cobb (JR)
LT: 62 Dom Boyd (RS JR/TR)
LG: 74 Pichon Wimbley (JR)
OC: 57 Chandler Strong (RS SO)
RG: 78 Caleb Cook (RS JR)
RT: 75 Bryson Broadway (RS SR/TR)
KR: 15 DeAndre Buchannon (SO)
PK: 88 Gavin Stewart (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 13 Isaac Walker (RS JR)
DT: 88 Justin Rhodes (RS SR/TR)
DT: 57 Latrell Bullard (JR)
DE: 91 Davion Rhodes (RS JR)
LB: 18 MJ Stroud (RS SO)
LB: 1 Marques Watson-Trent (RS SR)
NB: 22 Marc Stampley II (JR)
CB: 12 Tracy Hill Jr. (RS SO/TR)
CB: 31 Chance Gamble (RS JR/TR)
FS: 5 TJ Smith (RS SR/TR)
SS: 6 Cam Williams (RS SR/TR)
PR: 4 LV Bunkley-Shelton (RS SR/TR)
PT: 81 Alex Smith (SO)
(RB Jalen White – Georgia Southern Athletics)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 BOISE STATE BRONCOS | First meeting between schools.
09/07 @ Nevada Wolf Pack | Georgia Southern leads the series 2-0. The Eagles wo (36-13) the last meeting between schools in 1990.
09/14 SC STATE BULLDOGS | Georgia Southern leads the series 8-0. The Eagles won (37-6) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/21 @ Ole Miss Rebels | Georgia Southern lost (27-37) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
09/28 @ Georgia State Panthers | Georgia Southern trails the series 4-6. The Eagles won (44-27) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (33-43) was at the prior meeting in 2022.
10/12 MARSHALL THUNDEING HERD | Georgia Southern trails the series 2-6. The Eagles lost (33-38) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (37-34) dates back to 1990.
10/19 JAMES MADISON DUKES | Georgia Southern leads the series 8-2. The Eagles lost (13-41) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (45-38) the prior meeting in 2022.
10/24 @ Old Dominion Monarchs | Georgia Southern leads the series 3-1. The Eagles lost (37-20) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (28-23) the prior meeting in 2022.
11/02 @ South Alabama Jaguars | Georgia Southern leads the series 7-2. The Eagles lost (31-38) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/16 TROY TROJANS | Georgia Southern trails the series 7-14. The Eagles lost (24-27) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/23 @ Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | Georgia Southern leads the series 6-4. The Eagles are 3-4 since restarting the series in 2017, and their last series loss (30-34) was in 2022.
11/30 APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS | Georgia Southern trails the series 16-21-1. The Eagles are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series win (27-55) was in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 4-2
Neutral: 0-1
SBC: 7-1
Non-SBC: 2-3
Overall: 9-4 (1st in SBC East)
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