ATLANTA--Three transfers from BCS-level programs are among the newcomers joining the Georgia State football program as the Panthers officially reported Wednesday for preseason camp. The team's first practice is scheduled for Thursday morning at 8:45 a.m. at the GSU Sports Complex.
Running back Donald Russell and tight end Alex Smith have transferred to Georgia State from Kentucky, while defensive end A.J. Portee joins the GSU program from Connecticut.
Also joining the team for the first time are three freshman signees who did not attend summer school in placekicker Christian Benvenuto (Palm Coast, Fla.), wide receiver Mark Young (Charlotte, N.C.) and athlete Lynquez Blair (Swainsboro, Ga.), a former high school quarterback who will begin his GSU career as a defensive back. All other 2011 signees were enrolled in summer classes.
The team also added placekicker Matt Ehasz (Kingsland, Ga./Camden County), punters Matt Hubbard (Peachtree City, Ga./Starr's Mill) and David Miller (Hinesville, Ga./Bradwell Institute), defensive back Daniel King (Marietta, Ga./Arizona Western), offensive lineman Victory Ozieh (Lawrenceville, Ga./Peachtree Ridge), and defensive end John Kelly (Norcross, Ga./Norcross/Nevada).
Russell, from Dwyer High School in West Palm Beach, Fla., spent two years at Kentucky as a backup running back. Last fall, he was the Wildcats' third-leading rusher with 293 yards, a 4.6 average and two touchdowns. He has two seasons to play for the Panthers.
Smith was a highly-recruited high school standout out of Lakota West High in Cincinnati, Ohio, rated as the No. 11 tight end in the nation by Rivals.com. After redshirting in his only season at Kentucky, he has four seasons to play for the Panthers.
Portee is an Atlanta native who attended Mays High School. He played in nine games last fall at Connecticut, collecting six tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss. The 6-4, 250-pounder has two seasons of eligibility.
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