2020-21 Football Signing Day

Football

Football Inks Strong Class with Emphasis on Defense

With a heavy emphasis on defensive players, Georgia State announced the signing of 14 student-athletes on Wednesday's National Signing Day, the first day of the December signing period.

"It's always an exciting time when you are preparing for a bowl game and having a signing day, all in the same week," head coach Shawn Elliott said as his Panthers look forward to the Dec. 26 LendingTree Bowl vs. Western Kentucky. 

"We've got a lot of smiling faces around here. It's a great time to welcome 14 new Georgia State Panthers."

Georgia State's 2021 class features 10 players on the defensive side of the ball, along with four offensive standouts. All 14 are high school signees.

The Panthers' defensive haul includes four defensive linemen, three linebackers and three defensive backs, while on offense, GSU added two linemen, a receiver and a running back.

"We're very, very pleased with the depth that we've added on defense and the play-makers that we've added on offense, along with the two linemen," Elliott said.

"We're looking to move this program forward each and every day, but it all starts with these players, and we think we've got a great bunch."

Elliott talked about adding depth, speed and size to the Panthers' improving defense.

"You've  seen the improvement of our defense the last three or four ballgames and how the young men that we recruited the last few years have come on and stepped up. Now we add some more player-makers to that side of the ball and some more speed and more size so we can continue the trend upward.

"That doesn't mean we're taking away from the offensive side of the ball; it just means we had some more numbers on that side."

Six states are represented in the class. In addition to Georgia (3), the new Panthers hail from Florida (4), South Carolina (3), North Carolina (1), Alabama (2) and Mississippi (1).

Elliott said he did not want single out individuals in the class.

"We're thrilled to death with each and every one of these individuals who chose to come to Georgia State to be a part of our University, get a great education and better our football program," he said. "I think they all are special, talented players, and now we have to develop them to be the very best they can be."

Elliott did mention an interesting fact about running back Jaquan Dixon from Green Sea Floyds High School.

"He played for my parents' high school down there in Loris, S.C.," Elliott explained. "He played for Green Sea Floyds High School and won a state championship, and my two parents went to Floyds High School a long, long time ago. He's a fine player, and I told him right from the beginning, 'It's meant to be.'"

THE CLASS OF 2020-21
 
Name Pos. Ht, Wt. Hometown High School
Jaylin Tolbert WR 6-3, 200 Greenwood, S.C. Greenwood HS
Omarion Hammond DE 6-3, 250 Columbia, S.C. AC Flora HS
Makkah "MJ" Jordan S 5-10, 180 St. Petersburg, Fla. Calvary Christian School
Fuches "Deuce" Lewis II NT 6-3, 290 Savannah, Ga. Calvary Day School
Jordan Jones ILB 6-0, 210 Smiths Station, Ala. Smith's Station HS
Tony McCray Jr. CB 5-11, 170 Clarksdale, Miss. Lake Cormorant HS
Tylon Dunlap DE 6-1, 245 Charlotte, N.C. Harding University HS
Marquez Bargman OL 6-3, 285 Athens, Ga. Clarke Central HS
Christopher Davis Jr. LB 6-3, 215 Tampa, Fla. Armwood HS
Jaquan Dixon RB 5-11, 175    Loris, S.C. Green Sea Floyds HS
Montavious Cunningham OL 6-3, 285 Athens, Ga. Clarke Central HS
Jamarion Ellis OLB/DE 6-2, 240 Eastman, Ga. IMG Academy (Fla.)
Evan Graham OLB 6-1, 225 St. Petersburg, Fla. Boca Ciega HS
Brylan Lanier CB 6-1, 170 Tuscaloosa, Ala. Paul W. Bryant HS
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