Football 6/10/2021 7:00:00 PM

Meet the New Panthers: Tylon Dunlap

With the start of the 2021 football season just three months away, it's time to get to know Georgia State's class of newcomers who will join a GSU program that returns 22 starters from last year's bowl-winning squad.

Today's featured freshman is defensive lineman Tylon Dunlap from Harding University High School in Charlotte, N.C.

The only member of the 2021 recruiting class who to enroll in January, Dunlap participated in spring practice with the Panthers.

The 6-1, 245-pounder is an exciting pass rusher who collected 106 tackles and 19 sacks in 11 games as a junior, when he earned all-conference honors.

Dunlap adds another piece to an experienced defensive line, led by All-Sun Belt Conference seniors Dontae Wilson and Hardrick Willis. He will look to help the Panthers build on last year's record-setting sack total as Georgia State ranked No. 7 in FBS with a program-record 35 sacks.

No doubt Dunlap will be able to learn a thing or two from Willis, Georgia State's career leader with 12 sacks, along with 18 tackles for loss.

Georgia State opens the season on Sept. 4, when the Panthers host Army at Center Parc Stadium in a noon kickoff on ESPNU. That kicks off the most exciting and challenging schedule in program history, including non-conference games at North Carolina and Auburn and a home date with Charlotte. In Sun Belt Conference play, the Panthers host Appalachian State, Texas State, Arkansas State and Troy while traveling to ULM, Georgia Southern, Louisiana, Coastal Carolina.

Season tickets for the 2021 season are on sale now by visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com/TIX or calling 404-413-4160.

MORE ON GEORGIA STATE FOOTBALL

Head coach Shawn Elliott's squad returns 22 of 24 starters, including all 11 starters from an offensive unit that averaged a school-record 33.3 points per game, nine starters from a GSU defense that ranked No. 7 in FBS with a program-record 35 sacks, and their placekicker and punter.

The 2020 LendingTree Bowl champions welcome back 12 All-Sun Belt Conference players, led by first-team selections in left guard Shamarious Gilmore and placekicker Noel Ruiz, as well as the LendingTree Bowl Most Valuable Player in quarterback Cornelious Brown IV, along with numerous other playmakers on both sides of the ball.

GSU will enter the 2021 season on a three-game winning streak after ending 2020 with victories over South Alabama, Georgia Southern and Western Kentucky in the LendingTree Bowl.

The Panthers will face the most exciting and challenging schedule in program history with non-conference games against Army, North Carolina, Auburn and Charlotte along with a Sun Belt Conference slate that features three straight road games against rival Georgia Southern and 2020 co-champions Coastal Carolina and Louisiana.

GSU will play seven teams that played in bowl games, including six foes who won eight or more games in 2020.

Georgia State has earned back-to-back bowl berths and posted consecutive winning seasons for the first time in program history.

The Panthers have earned three bowl berths in the last four seasons.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

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

#90 Hardrick Willis: DE; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#52 Dontae Wilson: NG; 6' 0"; Senior

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

#90 Hardrick Willis
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: DE

#52 Dontae Wilson
: 6' 0"; Senior
: NG

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