Carroll, Defense Excited for Early Season Challenges

ATLANTA -- The day is October 19, 2019. With a minute left in the fourth quarter of a tight 21-28 ballgame at Georgia State, Army quarterback Kelvin Hopkins is looking to deflate a rowdy home crowd in Atlanta with a game-tying touchdown.

From the Panthers' 28-yard line, Hopkins drops into a solid pocket, steps up, and releases a throw across the middle of the field intended for outstretching receiver Camden Harrison at the goal line. However, right before the 6'2" pass-catcher can get his hands on the ball, then-sophomore defensive back Quavian White jumps in front of and picks off Hopkins' throw, sealing a staple victory for Georgia State in Center Parc Stadium.

It's plays like White's interception from underclassmen that showcase the growth of young stars with potential into seasoned veterans who have capitalized on it. Linebacker Blake Carroll, for instance, did not see a lot of playing time in the Panther's 2019 win over Army. However, he did play plenty in 2020, when he started for Georgia State, led the team in tackles (74) and amplified his accomplishments with a game-icing fumble recovery with less than two minutes in the fourth quarter to knock off Georgia Southern.

Carroll, now a senior, is one of nine returning starters on defense. With years of experience and chemistry under his and his teammates' belts, he and the rest of the Georgia State stop squad spent the offseason preparing for an exciting 2021 campaign.

"I just focused on getting better at everything I felt like I lacked at last year. Last year being my first year starting, I know there's some stuff. I missed a couple tackles I felt like I should've made, I left a lot of plays on the field, so I just focused. I just dialed in and I got bigger, faster, stronger," said Carroll. "Apart from that, I already know the playbook, my football IQ has got to be better to I can help my teammates out."

The Lawrenceville, Ga. native (Mountain View High School) believes the team's load of returning talent on defense shares a bond unique to college football teams.

"I feel like we have a lot of older guys. We've all played together for so long," he said. "We're further along than most teams would've been… we're all really close."

Last season, the GSU defense ranked No. 7 in FBS with a school-record 35 sacks and No. 8 with 21 turnovers caused (12 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries), including two touchdowns. Georgia State set a program record by allowing an average of 3.86 yards per rush, while the Panthers' average of 136.7 rushing yards allowed is the second-best figure in school history.

The Panther defense will get plenty of opportunities to prove itself early this season, beginning with a week one rematch with Army on September 4 in a noon kickoff that will be nationally-televised on ESPNU. Season tickets for the 2021 season can be purchased by calling 404-413-4160 or visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com/TIX.

Army, notorious for its run-first option-heavy offense, poses an interesting challenge for Georgia State in week one. In a league where teams continue to rely on the pass more every season, the Black Knights' ground-and-pound mentality calls upon Carroll and the rest of the Panther front seven to play hard-nosed, "old-school football."

"We know we've got to be more physical than normal. They're physical.They're going to run the ball three out of four downs, maybe all four downs, so we already know what we have to do. We're ready," he said.

The following week, Carroll's defense will be tested again, this time against ninth-ranked North Carolina, led by Heisman candidate Sam Howell at quarterback. Two weeks later, Georgia State will travel to Auburn to face another high-octane offense led by former five-star quarterback Bo Nix. Needless to say, the Panthers will have their paws full. As daunting as Georgia State's first month may appear to be, Carroll welcomes the oncoming challenges - and the opportunities they present - with open arms.

"I'm more excited about our schedule," he said. "I'm looking forward to the challenges. I'm looking forward to the big games and the upsets. We hear everything about our defense having the toughest schedule in the Sun Belt, where they think we're going to go this year, but we're focused. This might be one of the best Georgia State teams that I've been a part of. I'm excited. I'm ready."

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Players Mentioned

#42 Blake Carroll: ILB; 6' 1"; Senior

#20 Quavian White: CB; 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#42 Blake Carroll
: 6' 1"; Senior
: ILB

#20 Quavian White
: 5' 10"; Senior
: CB

Players Mentioned

#42 Blake Carroll

#20 Quavian White

Players Mentioned

#42 Blake Carroll

#20 Quavian White