College Football Previews #3 and #4 - Georgia Southern and Georgia State
Georgia Southern hopes a more favorable Conference Schedule and a plethora of returning starters will help the Eagles get back in contention for the Sun Belt Title. Head Coach Chad Lunsford enter his 4th season with hopes of the Eagles reaching double digit victories. Georgia Southern returns six starters on Offense including four starters on the Offensive Line. The Eagles will use a pair of Running Backs in seniors J.D. King and Logan Wright. The Wide Receiving Unit only returns one starter in Sophomore Emil Smith. The biggest question is which Quarterback will be under Center with a pair of juniors vying for the job in Justin Tomlin and James Graham. That decision could loom large heading into the Fall. The Eagles return seven starters on Defense and are heavily experienced in the Secondary with three starters returning including a pair of Cornerbacks in senior Darrell Baker, Jr. and sophomore Derrick Canteen. The Linebacking Unit returns two starters - both Outside Linebackers - in senior Randy Wade, Jr. and junior Zyon McGee. The Defensive Line returns two starters as well in senior Nose Tackle C.J. Wright and senior Defensive End Dillon Springer but will need increased production from their reserves to make up for the loss of departed pass rusher Raymond Johnson III. The Special Teams Unit is experienced with both sophomore Kicker Alex Raynor and junior Punter Anthony Beck II both back. Georgia Southern hopes their more favorable schedule will produce better results. I think the Eagles will take a step back this season as the Sun Belt East Division is brutal with both Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State entrenched at the top. I predict Georgia Southern to go 6-6 in 2021 and finish at the bottom of the East Division Standings.
Georgia State looks to contend for the Sun Belt Conference Title for the first time in many years in 2021. Head Coach Shawn Elliott enters his 5th season with modest expectations and the hope that the Panthers can break through several barriers this coming season. Georgia State welcomes back all eleven starters on Offense including sophomore Quarterback Cornelious Brown IV. Brown will have a bevy of options to throw to as all three starting Wide Receivers are back led by junior Sam Pinckney and senior Terrance Dixon along with senior Tight End Roger Carter. All five starters on the Offensive Line return as well and will be blocking for senior Running Back Destin Coates who is in line for another solid season. The Panthers welcome back eight starters on Defense including all four starters in the Secondary which will be led by a pair of senior Cornerbacks in Quavian White and Jaylon Jones. The Defensive Line will be stout with all three starters returning including a pair of Defensive Ends in senior Hardrick Willis and sophomore Jeffery Clark. The Linebacking Unit only returns one starter in senior Inside Linebacker Blake Carroll and will need to replace departed Linebacker Jordan Strachan's production as he transferred to South Carolina. The Special Teams Unit returns intact with both senior Kicker Noel Ruiz and sophomore Punter Michael Hayes both back. Expect Ruiz to have another solid season. Georgia State expects to have a better season than last year's 6-4 finish. Their 2020 season included several close losses that the Panthers expect to be wins in 2021. I expect the Panthers to be better in 2021, albeit only slightly better than they were last season. I predict Georgia State to go 8-5 in 2021 and win their Bowl Game.
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