Georgia State's deepest and most experienced football team yet, led by 22 returning starters, opens preseason practice Friday as the Panthers begin preparations for their Sept. 4 season opener vs. Army.

Head coach Shawn Elliott's squad will hold its first practice Friday at 10 a.m. at Center Parc Stadium with 108 players, including all 11 starters returning from an offense that averaged a school-record 33.3 points per game in 2020, as well as nine starters from a defense that ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in sacks and turnovers forced. Georgia State, which has earned bowl berths in three of the last four seasons, features 10 players on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference squad.

The squad is made up of 20 incoming freshmen, 16 redshirt freshmen, 25 sophomores, 20 juniors, 21 seniors and six "super seniors" who have returned for the extra year of eligibility granted due to the pandemic. 

The Panthers' super seniors are four-time All-Sun Belt guard Shamarious Gilmore, two-time All-Sun Belt honorees in tight end Roger Carter and noseguard Dontae Wilson, first-team All-Sun Belt placekicker Noel Ruiz, returning starting safety Chris Moore and DeAndre Bowman, who moves from offense to outside linebacker for his sixth season.

Gilmore leads an offensive line that returns all five starters to protect sophomore quarterback Cornelious Brown IV, the MVP of last year's LendingTree Bowl victory, and pave the way for All-Sun Belt running back Destin Coates. Brown's top targets all return, including Carter and all-conference wideouts Sam Pinckney and Cornelius McCoy.

Wilson and All-Sun Belt defensive end Hardrick Willis anchor the defense, which also features linebacker Blake Carroll, the team's top tackler last fall, as well as a pair of all-conference selections in the secondary in cornerback Quavian White and safety Antavious Lane.

In addition to a highly-regarded freshman class, three transfers are expected to make an impact in quarterback Darren Grainger (Furman), wide receiver Ja'Cyais Credle (UCF) and outside linebacker Shamar McCollum (Wake Forest).

Practice No. 2 for the Panthers on Saturday at 10 a.m. is open for Georgia State fans to get their first look at the is year's team. Click here for more information, including the post-practice punt, pass and kick competition for Pounce's Kids Club members.

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

For more on the Panthers, check out the 2021 Georgia State Football Media Guide.