Game Week vs. ODU

Football

Panthers Host Old Dominion for Homecoming

GEORGIA STATE (2-5, 1-2) vs. OLD DOMINION (3-4, 2-1)
Saturday, Oct. 29 | 3 p.m. | Center Parc Stadium

TV: ESPN+
RADIO: GSU Radio Network on WRAS-FM 88.5 and the GSU Athletics mobile app

THE KICKOFF: Georgia State returns home to host Old Dominion for Homecoming Saturday at 3 p.m. at Center Parc Stadium.

> Super senior running back Tucker Gregg needs just 44 yards to become Georgia State's all-time leading rusher. The super senior from Chatsworth, Ga., enters the game with 2,113 yards as he chases Tra Barnett's school record of 2,156 yards from 2016-19.

> Gregg is already the GSU career leader in rushing attempts (422) and rushing touchdowns (23), and he ranks second to Albert Wilson (26) in total touchdowns.  

> CB Quavian White, who is No. 6 in FBS with four interceptions, was named last week to the Midseason All-America team (honorable mention by Pro Football News. 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 tied for sixth among all active FBS players. Safety Antavious Lane has nine career picks.

> 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 232.4 yards per game. GSU has rushed for 200-plus yards in 13 of the last 15 games.

> With 15 turnovers forced, Georgia State is No. 9 in FBS in turnovers gained. The Panthers tied school records with four interceptions and five takeaways vs. Georgia Southern.

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

> Old Dominion features the nation's leading receiver in Ali Jennings, who is first in FBS with 129.3 receiving yards per game and second with 6.7 catches per game. Jennings leads the Sun Belt with eight TD catches, while GSU WR Robert Lewis is third with six. Lewis has seven touchdown catches in the last eight games. 

> Since taking over the starting role in Game 3 of 2021, QB Darren Grainger has accounted for 37 touchdowns in 18 starts (31 passing, 6 rushing). He ranks third in GSU history in touchdown passes (31) and touchdown responsibility (37) and fourth in passing yards (3,002) and total offense (4,064). 

> 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.

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

> Gregg (2,113 yards) is No. 2 in Georgia State annals, just 36 yards behind Tra Barnet's record of 2,156 yards, while Williams (1,525) has moved up to No. 4.

> Since the start of the 2020 season, Gregg (1,974) and Williams (1,525) have combined for 3,499 yards, including 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021.

> QB Darren Grainger topped 1,000 yards in a Georgia State uniform last game, currently ranking 11th with 1,054 yards. Counting his time at Furman, he has 1,407 career rushing yards.

SERIES VS. OLD DOMINION: Georgia State and Old Dominion are both relative newcomers to the sport of football as ODU started its program one year before the Panthers launched in 2010. Both schools were members of the Colonial Athletic Association in other sports at that time.
> Georgia State faced Old Dominion in each of its first three seasons, but the Monarchs won all three contests, including a 53-27 win in the last meeting in 2012 at the Georgia Dome. The teams also met in 2010 at ODU and in 2011 at the Georgia Dome.

PICK 'EM: Senior cornerback Quavian White and junior safety Antavious Lane rank No. 1-2 in Georgia State history in career interceptions.

> Only five active FBS players have more career interceptions than White with 11.

> Lane is tied for 11th with nine picks. 

> White also ranks second among active players with 41 passes defended (interceptions plus breakups).

EXPERIENCED O-LINE: The Georgia State returns offensive line features three senior starters, including sixth-year seniors Malik Sumter at center and Pat Bartlett at right guard.

> Sumter (48 starts), Bartlett (49) and Travis Glover (43) and have combined for 140 career starts.

> That trio has started every game since the start of the 2019 season (43 straight), helping the Panthers average 225 yards rushing per game over that stretch.

> During his string of 43 straight starts, the versatile Glover has started at right tackle, left tackle and left guard.


 
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