Panthers Hit the Practice Field Friday

ATLANTA -- It's here.

With the season opener just four weeks away, the Georgia State football team has reported to campus for preseason camp and will hit the practice field for the first time Friday morning at 10 a.m. at Center Parc Stadium.

The Panthers open the season Sept. 4, hosting Army at Center Parc Stadium in a 12 noon game that will be nationally televised on ESPNU. Season tickets for the 2021 season are on sale now by calling 404-413-4160 or visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com/TIX.

The GSU roster of 108 players includes 20 incoming freshmen, 16 redshirt freshmen, 25 sophomores, 20 juniors, 21 seniors and six "super seniors."

But perhaps the most important number is 22 - as in 22 of 24 starters returning from a 2020 squad that earned Georgia State's third bowl berth in the last four years and knocked off Western Kentucky in the LendingTree Bowl.

The Panthers are one of the most experienced teams in the nation with 11 starters returning on offense and nine on defense, along with their punter and placekicker. Ten of those returning starters were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team, and five are on preseason watch lists for various national awards.

The GSU offense returns every starter and key backup and more than 98 percent of its total yardage from a unit that averaged a school-record 33.3 points per game last fall. Nine starters are back from a defense that ranked in the Top 10 in FBS in sacks and turnovers forced.

"When you look at our returning starters and our returning production offensively and defensively, you can see exactly where we are," head coach Shawn Elliott said as he enters his fifth season at GSU.

"We've got great leadership, from the so-called super seniors and the guys who are seniors this year. We've got an abundance of leadership, so that means good quality practices, that means a lot of focus and a lot of energy. When you have that much returning, it's a little bit easier on the coaching well. These players have been so much and they know what to expect and how to conduct themselves."

Sophomore quarterback Cornelious Brown IV is an exciting, dual-threat quarterback who passed for 2,278 yards and 17 touchdowns last fall while rushing for 301 yards and seven scores. In addition to playing behind a veteran offensive line that returns all five starters, including four-time All-Sun Belt super senior Shamarious Gilmore, Brown has plenty of weapons around him.

Sam Pinckney (47 receptions for 815 yards and seven touchdowns) and Cornelius McCoy (31-447-4) lead a receiving corps that also boasts plenty of young talent, while Roger Carter (23-285-4) is one of the top tight ends in the Sun Belt. Seniors Destin Coates (769 yards rushing and seven touchdowns) and Tucker Gregg (468 yards, 6 TD) lead the running game.

Top returnees on defense include the defensive line tandem of Dontae Wilson and Hardrick Willis, who have combined for 20.5 career sacks, linebacker and leading tackler Blake Carroll, and cornerback Quavian White and safety Antavious Lane in the secondary.

The game against Army is the first of four very challenging non-conference games that the Panthers will face in September.

"I think those first four games are all really tough," Elliott said. "If you're going to play tough teams, you've got to be tough yourself. When you play Army, North Carolina, Charlotte and Auburn, you've got to be ready play.

"We do have a veteran football team with a lot of experience, and that bodes well for playing tough contests early. I feel like our team will handle it and handle it well."

Georgia State fans are invited to attend the Panthers' second practice on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Center Parc Stadium. Click here for more details on the open practice, which will be followed by a Punt, Pass and Kick competition for Pounce's Kids Club members.

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