Panthers Face First Sun Belt Road Test at ULM

GEORGIA STATE (1-4, 0-1) at ULM (2-2, 1-1)
Saturday, Oct. 9 | 8 p.m. ET | Malone Stadium

TV: ESPN3
RADIO: WRAS-FM 88.5

THE KICKOFF: Georgia State faces its first Sun Belt Conference road test with a trip to ULM for an 8 p.m. ET contest on ESPN3.

> The Panthers (1-4, 0-1) have opened the season with a tough five-game stretch, including two nationally-ranked Power 5 foes in No. 22 North Carolina and No. 23 Auburn plus Army, Charlotte and Appalachian State. Those five opponents have a combined record of 18-7.

> The Warhawks (2-2, 1-1) are coached by former Auburn head coach Terry Bowden in his first season.

SERIES vs. ULM: The series between Georgia State and ULM is tied at 3-3, but the Panthers have won three of the last four meetings.

> The Panthers won 52-34 last season at Center Parc Stadium, tying the program record for points against an FBS opponent. Destin Coates rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns, and Cornelius McCoy caught two TD passes.

> ULM won the last meeting in Monroe, La., with a 45-31 win in 2019, despite a school-record 414 yards rushing by the Panthers. Georgia State's only win at Malone Stadium was its 47-37 victory in 2017.

> Georgia State has averaged 302.3 yards rushing for its last four games vs. ULM.

> GSU offensive line coach Eman Naghavi spent the last four seasons at ULM as offensive coordinator and o-line coach.

NO MATTER HOW YOU SAY IT: Although his last name is frequently mispronounced, there is no mistaking ILB Jordan Veneziale (ven-zee-AL) as Georgia State's leading tackler. The junior moved into the starting lineup in Game 2 vs. North Carolina, and for the season, he has collected 44 tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His average of 8.8 tackles per game ranks second in the Sun Belt.

ACADEMIC HONOR FOR JONES: Senior cornerback Jaylon Jones was named a semifinalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award. Presented by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF), the Campbell Trophy® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

> Jones is a three-year starter at cornerback who has excelled in the classroom, including President's List honors with a 4.0 GPA the last two semesters. He earned his bachelor's degree last spring and is now pursuing a master's in instructional technology and design.

RUIZ AMONG TOP ACTIVE KICKERS: All-Sun Belt Conference placekicker Noel Ruiz ranks among the active FBS leaders in career points, field goals and extra points.

> Ruiz stands fourth in career points (349), fifth in PAT (181), and eighth in field goals (56).

TUCKER THE TRUCKER: Senior running back Tucker Gregg, known for his hard-nosed style, rushed for a career-high 150 yards on just 12 carries at No. 23 Auburn.

> Gregg had a career-long 57-yard run to set up a score in the first quarter, and then a 50-yard touchdown run to put GSU ahead 24-10 late in the second quarter. He is the first Panther to have two runs of 50 or more yards in the same game.
> Gregg now has 874 career rushing yards to move into ninth place in GSU history.

ON GUARD: Super senior left guard Shamarious Gilmore, the veteran of the Georgia State program, played in his 52nd straight game against Appalachian State, but he did not start the game due to an injury. That meant his streak of consecutive starts was snapped at 51 games, but he holds the school records for most games played and most starts.

ROGER THAT: Super senior tight end Roger Carter caught a 7-yard touchdown pass at Auburn for his 11th career touchdown reception. That gives him the GSU record for touchdowns by a tight end passing Keith Rucker (10, 2013-16).

> Carter has 83 career receptions for 974 yards, second to Rucker in both categories among all GSU tight ends.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Roger Carter: TE; 6' 2"; Senior

#75 Shamarious Gilmore: G; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#26 Tucker Gregg: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

#27 Jaylon Jones: CB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior

#83 Cornelius McCoy: WR; 5' 11"; Senior

#92 Noel Ruiz: PK; 5' 11"; Senior

#40 Jordan Veneziale: ILB; 6' 0"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#5 Roger Carter
: 6' 2"; Senior
: TE

#75 Shamarious Gilmore
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#26 Tucker Gregg
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

#27 Jaylon Jones
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Senior
: CB

#83 Cornelius McCoy
: 5' 11"; Senior
: WR

#92 Noel Ruiz
: 5' 11"; Senior
: PK

#40 Jordan Veneziale
: 6' 0"; Junior
: ILB