Game Week vs. Southern Miss

Football

Panthers Make First Trip to Sun Belt Newcomer Southern Miss

GEORGIA STATE (3-5, 2-2) at SOUTHERN MISS (5-3, 3-1)
Saturday, Nov. 5 | 3 p.m. ET | M.M. Roberts Stadium 

TV: ESPN+
RADIO: Georgia State Radio Network on WRAS-FM 88.5, GSU Athletics mobile app

THE KICKOFF: Coming off a 31-17 Homecoming victory over Old Dominion, Georgia State hits the road to face Southern Miss Saturday at 3 p.m. ET in Hattiesburg, Miss.

> Winners of three of their last four games, the Panthers now finish the season by playing three of the final four contests on the road.

> Georgia State is facing Sun Belt newcomer Southern Miss, which has won its last three games, and playing in the state of Mississippi for the first time.

> Super senior running back Tucker Gregg became Georgia State's career rushing leader in the win over Old Dominion. The Chatsworth, Ga., native and former walk-on now has 2,165 career yards as he moved ahead of Tra Barnett (2,156, 2016-19).

> Gregg is also the GSU career leader in rushing attempts (441) and rushing touchdowns (24), and he ranks second to Albert Wilson (26) in total touchdowns.  

> The GSU defense turned in perhaps its best game of the season against ODU, limiting the Monarchs to 26 yards rushing--the third lowest total in program history--and 283 total yards. The Panthers forced two turnovers, collected six sacks and allowed just 11 first downs.

> NG Thomas Gore led the defense against ODU with 2.5 sacks, including a sack fumble that GSU recovered at the ODU 11-yard line to set up a touchdown. 

> CB Quavian White, who is No. 7 in FBS with four interceptions, was named 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 18 turnovers forced, Georgia State is No. 6 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.

> GSU features two of the top tacklers in the Sun Belt in S Antavious Lane (3rd, 8.9 pg) and ILB Jordan Veneziale (4th, 8.8 pg). Lane leads the league and is No. 2 in FBS with 6.9 solo tackles per game.

> Since taking over the starting role in Game 3 of 2021, QB Darren Grainger has accounted for 39 touchdowns in 19 starts (32 passing, 7 rushing).

> 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) and quarterback Darren Grainger all rank among the top eight career rushers in GSU history.

> That trio has combined for 4,884 career yards at Georgia State.

> Gregg (2,165 yards) just became the Panthers' career rushing leader, while Williams (1,559) has moved up to No. 4.

> Since the start of the 2020 season, Gregg (1,927) and Williams (1,559) have combined for 3,486 yards, including 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021.

> Grainger ranks eighth with 1,160 yards, which is second among GSU quarterbacks. Counting his time at Furman, he has 1,513 career rushing yards.



 
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