Football 11/14/2022 8:15:00 PM

Panthers Play at Sun Belt Newcomer James Madison Saturday

GEORGIA STATE (4-6, 3-3) at JAMES MADISON (6-3, 4-2)
Saturday, Nov. 19 | 2 p.m. | Bridgeforth Stadium

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

THE KICKOFF: Georgia State finishes the regular season with back-to-back road games beginning Saturday at James Madison with a 2 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+.

> The Panthers have won four of their last six games but are coming off a 31-28 loss to ULM, despite outgaining the Warhawks, 535 yards to 300.

> With two touchdowns against ULM, super senior running back Tucker Gregg added another record to his resume as he passed Albert Wilson (26 TD) to become the GSU career leader in touchdowns scored with 27. The Chatsworth, Ga., native and former walk-on broke the Panthers' career rushing mark vs. ODU and now has 2,229 career yards as he moved ahead of Tra Barnett (2,156, 2016-19).

> Georgia State had a record-setting 42-14 victory at Southern Miss as the GSU defense allowed just 202 yards of total offense, the lowest figure in school history.

> The GSU defense turned in its two best performances, and two of the best games in program history, in the back-to-back wins over Old Dominion (283 total yards/26 rushing yards) and Southern Miss (202 total/33 rushing). In those two contests combined, the Panthers allowed just 485 yards of offense, including 59 yards rushing, and collected 13 sacks. Add the ULM game (300 total yards), and the GSU defense has allowed an average of 262 yards over the last three games.

> The defensive line trio of Thomas Gore (4 TFL, 3.5 sacks), Javon Denis (3 TFL, 2 sacks) and Jeffery Clark (3.5 TFL, 3 sacks) have done much of the damage, combining for 14 TFL, including 8.5 sacks in the three games.

> Super senior CB Quavian White and junior safety Antavious Lane share the GSU career record with 11 interceptions each. Only two active players have more FBS interceptions.

> Junior running back Marcus Carroll had a breakout game at Southern Miss. Making his first career start, he rushed for 163 yards, the fourth-highest total in program history, and tied the school record with three rushing touchdowns. He followed with 100 yards vs. ULM.

> QB Darren Grainger added 143 yards rushing at Southern Miss for his second straight 100-yard game. The Panthers piled up 388 yards on the ground, the third-best single-game in GSU history.

> The Panthers lead the Sun Belt and rank No. 7 in FBS in rushing with 241.9 yards per game. GSU has rushed for 200-plus yards in 15 of the last 18 games.

> With 21 turnovers forced, Georgia State is No. 9 in FBS in turnovers gained. The Panthers, who tied school records with four interceptions and five takeaways vs. Georgia Southern, are just one behind the school record of 22 turnovers forced in 2015.

> CB Quavian White, who is No. 10 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.

> Senior ILB Jordan Veneziale is second in FBS 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 (7th, 8.0 pg) and ILB Jordan Veneziale (8th, 7.9 pg. Lane leads the league and is No. 5 in FBS with 6. solo tackles pg.

> Including back-to-back 100-yard rushing efforts vs. Old Dominion and Southern Miss, QB Darren Grainger has rushed for 389 yards over the last four games.

> Super senior offensive guard Pat Bartlett's next game will be the 60th of his career and tie Shamarious Gilmore (2016-21) for the GSU record. Super senior center Malik Sumter is scheduled to start his 52nd consecutive game, which would break the school record, also set by Gilmore.

> 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.

SERIES VS. JMU: The only previous meeting came in 2012, when both schools were members of the Colonial Athletic Association at the FBS level. James Madison won 28-21 in Harrisonburg.

> Head coach Shawn Elliott is very familiar with the James Madison program from his time as a player and assistant coach at Appalachian State. Elliott made his first trip to Harrisonburg as a freshman defensive lineman for App State in 1992.

> As the App State offensive line coach, Elliott faced JMU three straight years from 2006-07, including a 28-27 win in the 2007 FCS playoffs, in which the Mountaineers went on to win their third straight NCAA title.

CROWDED BACKFIELD: Senior running backs Tucker Gregg (first) and Jamyest Williams (fourth) and quarterback Darren Grainger (seventh) all rank among the top seven career rushers in GSU history.

> Gregg (2,229 yards) recently became the Panthers' career rushing leader, while Williams (1,559) has moved up to No. 4 but is now injured.

> Grainger ranks seventh overall, and first among quarterbacks, with 1,353 yards. Counting his time at Furman, he has 1,706 career rushing yards.

> Junior Marcus Carroll is now emerging as a fourth threat, giving the Panthers four players with 447 yards or more this season.

> The quartet of Gregg, Williams, Grainger and Carroll have combined for 5,861 career yards at Georgia State.

PICK 'EM: Senior cornerback Quavian White and junior safety Antavious Lane share the Georgia State record lead with 11 career interceptions.

> Only two active players (Emmanuel Forbes, Miss. State and Bralen Trahan, Louisiana) have more career interceptions in FBS than White and Lane.

> Lane is second with 0.31 interceptions per game for his career.

> White also also active leader in FBS with 45 passes defended (interceptions plus breakups).

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Players Mentioned

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

#64 Pat Bartlett: G; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#91 Jeffery Clark: DL; 6' 0"; Freshman

#98 Javon Denis: DL; 6' 0"; Freshman

#75 Shamarious Gilmore: G; 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior

#59 Thomas Gore: DL; 6' 0"; Freshman

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

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

#62 Malik Sumter: C; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

#64 Pat Bartlett
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#91 Jeffery Clark
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: DL

#98 Javon Denis
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: DL

#75 Shamarious Gilmore
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior
: G

#59 Thomas Gore
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: DL

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

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

#62 Malik Sumter
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: C

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

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