ATLANTA -- Adding perhaps the most highly-regarded class in program history, Georgia State announced the signing of 16 student-athletes on Wednesday's National Signing Day, the first day of the early signing period.
 
Georgia State's 2020 class includes 15 incoming freshmen, along with one four-year transfer in Jamyest Williams, a former Southeastern Conference All-Freshman defensive back at South Carolina and all-state prep player at Grayson High School.
 
The Panthers' haul includes four offensive linemen, four receivers, two tight ends, a quarterback, a running back, a linebacker, a defensive back and two athletes ticketed for the defense. Eight signees are home-grown Georgia products, while six hail from South Carolina, along with one from Florida and one from Alabama.
 
Head coach Shawn Elliott has the Panthers in a bowl game for the second time in his three seasons and the third time in the last five years, but today is about the future.
 
"Today has been a thrilling day, signing 16 outstanding individuals to help us on both offense and defense and pinpointing some of the areas where we have to build depth in our football program," Elliott said.
 
"I think this is one of the top-ranked signing classes we've had here at Georgia State University. We've met a lot of our needs, we've added a lot of speed, and we feel very, very good. All these signees are tremendous athletes and tremendous individuals. I think they are going to make this class a special group.
 
"This is the first time in Georgia State history that we've signed a Gatorade Player of the Year, from the state of South Carolina in quarterback Mikele Colasurdo. That's a huge, huge get," Elliott added.
 
Elliott noted that wide receiver and offensive line, which make up half the group, were the areas of greatest need. At receiver, the Panthers added four Georgia players in Jacob Freeman (LaGrange/Callaway H.S.), Robert Lewis (Covington/Newton H.S.), Christian Thomas (Loganville/Greater Atlanta Christian) and Tailique Williams (Pine Mountain/Harris County H.S.).
 
The four linemen are Mason Cook (Columbus, Ga./Central, Ala., H.S.), Chandler Durham (McDonough, Ga./Ola H.S.), Jeff Miller (Seffner, Fla./Armwood H.S.) and Jonathan Brown (Anderson, S.C./T.L. Hanna H.S.)
 
"If you look at the numbers on both sides, you'll say there are a lot of offensive players. That's because we're balancing our numbers," Elliott said. "The wide receiver position is one of the key areas we needed to fill, and we added a lot of speed and play-making ability on the perimeter. And I think you've always got to add players on the line of scrimmage, so we added multiple offensive linemen."
 
The Panthers also bolstered the offense with Hapeville Charter running back Marcus Carroll, who was the Offensive Player of the Year in his region, and tight ends Ahmon Green (Columbia, S.C./Westwood H.S.) and Kris Byrd (Lyman, S.C./Byrnes H.S.).
 
Colasurdo, the Gatorade Player of the Year and a finalist for the South Carolina Mr. Football award, accounted for 51 touchdowns in leading Chapman High School to the 3A state title. The Inman, S.C., native passed for over 3,000 yards and 36 TDs while rushing for nearly 500 yards and 15 scores.
 
On Williams, the South Carolina transfer, Elliott said, "Jam is a special player. He played the corner position and was SEC All-Freshman. He could play on offense with his speed and explosive nature, and he gives us such a dynamic player in the return game. We're very excited that he is coming to our university and we look forward to what he can contribute."
 
The defense also welcomes inside linebacker Justin Abraham (Hartsville, S.C., H.S.), defensive back Jalen Tate (Pelzer H.S./Greenville, S.C.) and Terrell Gordon (Phenix City, Ala./Central H.S.), an athlete who could play outside linebacker or safety.
 
Elliott noted that he expects the Panthers to add four signees in the February period.

 

Name	Pos.	Ht., Wt.	Hometown	High School
Christian Thomas	WR	6-3, 190	Loganville, Ga.	Greater Atlanta Christian School
Justin Abraham	ILB	6-1, 233	Hartsville, S.C.	Hartsville H.S.
Robert Lewis	WR	5-11, 171	Covington, Ga.	Newton H.S.
Jonathan Brown	OL	6-4, 278	Anderson, S.C.	T.L. Hanna H.S.
Tailique Williams	WR	5-9, 165	Pine Mountain, Ga.	Harris County H.S.
Chandler Durham	OL	6-3, 266	McDonough, Ga.	Ola H.S.
Ahmon Green	TE	6-2, 232	Columbia, S.C.	Westwood H.S.
Marcus Carroll	RB	5-10, 192	Union City, Ga.	Hapeville Charter Academy
Mason Cook	OL	6-3, 258	Columbus, Ga.	Central (Ala.) H.S.
Kris Byrd	TE	6-1, 200	Lyman, S.C.	Byrnes H.S.
Jalen Tate	DE	6-0, 173	Pelzer, S.C.	Greenville H.S.
Mikele Colasurdo	QB	6-1, 210	Inman, S.C.	Chapman H.S.
Jacob Freeman	WR	5-11, 195	LaGrange, Ga.	Callaway H.S.
Terrell Gordon	ATH	6-1, 190	Phenix City, Ala.	Central H.S.
Jeff Miller	OL	6-2, 280	Seffner, Fla.	Armwood H.S.
Jamyest Williams	ATH	5-9, 181	Athens, Ga.	Grayson H.S./South Carolina