Anticipation is high for the 2021 football season as Georgia State returns 22 starters from last year's record-setting team and LendingTree Bowl champions.

Head coach Shawn Elliott's squad welcomes back 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.

Each week leading up to the 2021 season opener on Sept. 4 vs. Army at Center Parc Stadium, GeorgiaStateSports.com will feature one or more of the 22 returning starters.

DESTIN COATES
Running Back, Senior, Tallahassee, Fla.

The centerpiece of Georgia State's potent rushing attack is All-Sun Belt Conference running back Destin Coates, the senior from Tallahassee, Fla.

After rushing for 769 yards--the second-highest season total in program history--in nine games in 2020, Coates now stands third on Georgia State's career rushing rushing list with 1,452 yards.  This fall, he will take aim at Tra Barnett's Georgia State career record of 2,156 yards.

Not only has Coates been able to pile up yards, but he is proficient at finding the end zone with 15 career touchdowns, just four behind Barnett's record of 19.

In 2019, Coates was a key part of Georgia State's school-record 3,141 yards rushing as the team's third-leading rusher with 560 yards on just 82 carries, a team-leading 6.7-yard average. He first made an impact as a true freshman in 2018 with 137 yards on 32 carries before suffering a season-ending injury. 

As productive as Coates has been, he is far from the only weapon in the Georgia State backfield. Seniors Tucker Gregg (468 yards rushig and 6 TD in 2020) and Jamyest Williams (253 yards rushing on just 47 carries) will also see plenty of action, giving the Panthers a versatile trio to tote the rock.

Junior Dawson Hill adds depth, and talented freshman Jaquan Dixon could push for playing time.

Coaching this crew is former Georgia State quarterback Dan Ellington, now the Panthers' running backs coach. Ellington certainly knows a thing or two about running the football as he gained 1,293 yards on the ground in two seasons (2018-19) as the starting quarterback.

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