Football 2/3/2021 1:15:00 PM

Panthers Add Local Standout to Bring Signing Class to 18

Georgia State added local standout Cameron Dye, an offensive lineman from Milton High School, on Wednesday's National Signing Day, bringing the 2020-21 recruiting class to 18.

The Panthers' signed 14 high school prospects in the December early signing period and then added three mid-year transfers in quarterback Darren Grainger (Furman), outside linebacker Shamar McCollum (Wake Forest) and wide receiver Ja'Cyais Credle (UCF).

Georgia State's 2020-21 class now features 11 players on the defensive side of the ball, along with seven offensive standouts.

The Panthers' defensive haul includes four defensive linemen, four linebackers and three defensive backs, while on offense, GSU has added three linemen, two receivers, one running back and one quarterback.

Dye, 6-4 and 265 pounds, was a two-time all-region selection while playing in a top program at Milton, which won the Class AAAAAAA state title in 2018. He projects as a tackle.

"He's got great movement skills, he plays with great leverage, he finished blocks," Elliott said. "When you have athletic guys like that, you start them at the tackle position and see where they might fit."

All three transfers are enrolled now and will participate in spring practice, along with December signee Tylon Dunlap, a defensive end from Charlotte, N.C.

"We've added a few new faces to our roster to help us better prepare for this upcoming season," Elliott said.

Grainger, the 6-4, 200-pound quarterback, is a dual threat who was the Furman starter when GSU defeated the Paladins 48-42 in 2019. He passed for 311 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 53 yards and a score that night and was the FCS National Freshman of the Week.

"From a depth standpoint, Darren Grainger helps us immediately at the quarterback position," said Elliott, whose offense returns starting quarterback Cornelious Brown IV and backup Mikele Colasurdo. "He gives us some experience. We've seen him play in person, right here in our own stadium, and he was a magical player that night. So we feel we have great depth in that room right now.

"The other guys also have playing experience," Elliott continued. "If you look at his size and skill set, Ja'Cyais Credle fits in nicely with our receiving corps, and he's going to have an opportunity to help us there really quickly.

"Shamar McCollum is an outside linebacker and pass rusher who plays with a great motor. He is going to be able to come in and put pressure on the quarterback immediately."

Coming off a 6-4 record last fall and a victory in the 2020 LendingTree Bowl, Georgia State enters the 2021 season on a three-game winning streak after ending 2020 with victories over South Alabama, Georgia Southern and Western Kentucky. Including nine seniors who elected to return for an extra season, the Panthers welcome back all 11 starters on offense, eight starters on defense and the placekicker and punter.

Georgia State opens the 2021 season by hosting Army on Sept. 4 at Center Parc Stadium. Season tickets are on sale now at GeorgiaStateSports.com/tix.

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
Darren Grainger	QB	6-4, 200	Conway, S.C.	Conway HS/Furman
Shamar McCollum	OLB	6-4, 235	Hamer, S.C.	Dillon HS/Wake Forest
Ja'Cyais Credle	WR	6-4, 195	Columbus, Ga.	Carver HS/UCF
Cameron Dye	OL	6-4, 265	Alpharetta, Ga.	Milton HS

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Players Mentioned

#4 Cornelious Brown IV: QB; 6' 5"; Redshirt Freshman

#10 Mikele Colasurdo: QB; 6' 1"; Freshman

#3 Darren Grainger: QB; 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior

#50 Tylon Dunlap: DL; 6' 1"; Freshman

#17 Shamar McCollum: OLB; 6' 4"; Junior

#8 Ja'Cyais Credle: WR; 6' 4"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#4 Cornelious Brown IV
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Freshman
: QB

#10 Mikele Colasurdo
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: QB

#3 Darren Grainger
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior
: QB

#50 Tylon Dunlap
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: DL

#17 Shamar McCollum
: 6' 4"; Junior
: OLB

#8 Ja'Cyais Credle
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: WR