Football 10/16/2022 9:57:00 AM

Nationally-Televised Game Wednesday at App State

GEORGIA STATE (2-4, 1-1) at APPALACHIAN STATE (3-3, 1-2)
Wednesday, Oct. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Kidd Brewer Stadium

TV: ESPN2
RADIO: Georgia State Radio Network on WRAS-FM 88.5, GeorgiaStateSports.com & GSU Athletics mobile app

THE KICKOFF: Winners of two in a row, Georgia State travels to Appalachian State for a nationally-televised (ESPN2), Wednesday night game on Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

> Georgia State is playing on a Wednesday night for the first time since the 2014 season opener, a 38-37 win over Abilene Christian at the Georgia Dome. The Panthers have played numerous times on Thursday nights as part of the Sun Belt Conference package on the ESPN networks, including earlier this year, but this is their first Sun Belt Wednesday game.

> In the back-to-back victories over Army and Georgia Southern, the Panthers rushed for a total of 634 yards. GSU gained 299 yards vs. Army and then 335 vs. Georgia Southern, including back-to-back 100-yard games by Jamyest Williams (106/129) and Tucker Gregg (124/111).

> The Panthers lead the Sun Belt and rank No. 10 in FBS in rushing with 234.3 yards per game. GSU has rushed for 200-plus yards in 12 of the last 14 games.

> With 15 turnovers forced in six games, Georgia State is No. 2 in FBS in turnovers gained. The Panthers tied school records with four interceptions and five takeaways vs. Georgia Southern.

> CB Quavian White is No. 4 in FBS with 0.7 interceptions per game (four total). The super senior had two interceptions at South Carolina, along with two tackles for loss including a sack, a pass breakup and five tackles. He added picks vs. Charlotte and Georgia Southern.

> White has 11 career interceptions, the Georgia State record and fifth among all active FBS players. Safety Antavious Lane has nine career picks. White also ranks second among active players with 41 passes defended (interceptions plus breakups).

> Senior ILB Jordan Veneziale is tied for the NCAA lead with three fumble recoveries, all the last two games. His five career fumble recoveries are tied for the GSU career lead.

> Super senior running back Tucker Gregg topped the 2,000-yard mark for career rushing against Georgia Southern. With 2,020 yards, he is No. 2 in GSU history, 136 yards behind Tra Barnett's school record of 2,156 yards from 2016-19.

> Gregg is already the GSU career leader in rushing attempts (411) and rushing touchdowns (22).

> Sophomore WR Robert Lewis leads the Sun Belt and ranks No. 9 in FBS with six TD receptions this season. He has seven touchdown catches in the last eight games.

> Junior WR Jamari Thrash leads the Panthers with 30 catches for 503 yards. He is No. 4 in the Sun Belt in receiving yards.

> Since taking over the starting role in Game 3 of 2021, QB Darren Grainger has accounted for 36 touchdowns in 17 starts (31 passing, 5 rushing).

> Grainger leads the Sun Belt and ranks No. 8 in FBS with 14.63 yards per completion.

> Grainger ranks third in program history in TD passes (31) and TDR (36), fourth in total offense (3,892) and fifth in passing yards (2,929).

> Head coach Shawn Elliott's squad has played in three straight bowl games, including back-to-back wins in the 2020 LendingTree Bowl and 2021 TaxAct Camellia Bowl. The Panthers have played in bowl games in four of Elliott's five seasons.

ELLIOTT FACES ALMA MATER: Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott is a 1996 graduate of Appalachian State and was a long-time assistant coach for the Mountaineers.

> Elliott spent 13 seasons on the App State staff under head coach Jerry Moore. He worked two seasons as a defensive assistant (1997-98) and two seasons as tight ends coach (1999-00) before taking over the offensive line (2001-09).

> Elliott helped lead the Mountaineers to three NCAA FCS titles (2005-07) plus two trips to the national semifinals and three appearances in the quarterfinals. App State reached the NCAA playoffs 10 times in his 13 seasons.

> Elliott was a four-year letterman as a defensive lineman from 1992-96. App State head coach Shawn Clark was his teammate.

> First-year offensive line coach John Holt played and then coached under Elliott at App State. Holt was a player on App's three straight NCAA titles from 2005-07.

> GSU Director of Athletics Charlie Cobb served nine years in the same position at App State before coming to Atlanta in 2014.

> Football staffers Ginny Thompson (Director of Player Personnel and On-Campus Recruiting) and Dre LeGree (High School Relations Recruiting Coordinator) are also App State alumni. Thompson lettered in golf and LeGree was a football standout who inducted into the Mountaineers' Hall of Fame in 2021.

> Georgia State is looking for its first win over App State since the two schools began playing in 2014. The Panthers had a close call at Boone in 2020 with a 17-13 loss in which the GSU defense allowed just 310 total yards.

CROWDED BACKFIELD: Senior running backs Tucker Gregg (second) and Jamyest Williams (fourth) both rank among the top five career rushers in GSU history

> Gregg (2,020 yards) is No. 2 in Georgia State annals, 136 yards behind Tra Barnet's record of 2,156 yards, while Williams (1,515) has moved up to No. 4.

> Since the start of the 2020 season, Gregg (1,881) and Williams (1,515) have combined for 3,396 yards, including 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021.

> QB Darren Grainger is approaching 1,000 yards in a Georgia State uniform, currently ranking 11th with 963 yards. Counting his time at Furman, he has 1,316 career rushing yards.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Tra Barnett: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

#26 Tucker Gregg: RB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#34 Antavious Lane: S; 5' 9"; Freshman

#2 Jamari Thrash: WR; 6' 0"; Freshman

#40 Jordan Veneziale: ILB; 6' 0"; Freshman

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

#3 Darren Grainger: QB; 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior

#14 Robert Lewis: WR; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

#21 Jamyest Williams: RB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#5 Tra Barnett
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

#26 Tucker Gregg
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: RB

#34 Antavious Lane
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: S

#2 Jamari Thrash
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: WR

#40 Jordan Veneziale
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: ILB

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

#3 Darren Grainger
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior
: QB

#14 Robert Lewis
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: WR

#21 Jamyest Williams
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: RB