Football 2/9/2023 9:58:00 AM

Spring Practice Opens Monday, Spring Game Set for March 9

ATLANTA -- The 2022 football season officially ends Sunday with the playing of Super LVII. One day later, the Georgia State Panthers will be back on the field for the start of 2023 spring practice.

Monday morning's workout is the first of 15 spring practices over the next four weeks. Spring practice will culminate with the annual Spring Game, scheduled for Thursday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Center Parc Stadium. Admission and parking are free, and fans can register for free tickets here.

Head coach Shawn Elliott, entering his seventh season, explained the decision to move up spring practice to the earliest start date in program history.

"We talked about what we needed to do to become a bigger, stronger, faster football team, and our new strength and conditioning coach, Mike Sirignano, thought it would be really beneficial to move spring practice up," Elliott said. "That will give us give us a few extra weeks on the back end to continuously train."

When asked what would be the focus this spring, Elliott didn't mention schemes or personnel.

"Fighting through adversity, knowing how to put away opponents, and learning to strain to finish," he immediately answered. "This is going to be a physical spring practice, it's going to be competitive spring practice, it's going to be a tough spring practice."

The Panthers return six starters on offense, including quarterback Darren Grainger, and six on defense. Other top returnees include running back Marcus Carroll, receiver Robert Lewis, tackle Travis Glover, defensive ends Javon Denis and Jeffery Clark, and linebackers Blake Carroll, Jordan Veneziale and Jontrey Hunter.

Eleven signees enrolled this semester and will participate in spring practice, including eight transfers and three freshmen. The Panthers have a total of 23 signees, with the balance enrolling in June.

Key additions from the transfer portal on display this spring include offensive linemen Tyden Ferris (Central Michigan) and Lamar Robinson (Norfolk State)--described by Elliott as "big, strong men who can move people"--receiver Jacari Carter (Merrimack), defensive lineman Henry Bryant (Louisville) and outside linebacker Kevin Swint (Clemson).

"We think we've added some key pieces, and I want to see just how they fit it," Elliott said. "We've seen it in conditioning drills, now I'm ready to see it in the actual game of football. It's good to have some new energy and some new hunger."

Freshmen quarterbacks Braylen Ragland and Bryson Harrison will see reps behind Grainger.

The Panthers are scheduled to practice four days a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays leading up to the Spring Game.

SPRING PRACTICE DATES
Monday, Feb. 13
Tuesday, Feb. 14
Thursday, Feb. 16
Friday, Feb. 17
Monday, Feb. 20
Tuesday, Feb. 21
Thursday, Feb. 23
Friday, Feb. 24
Monday, Feb. 27
Tuesday, Feb. 28
Thursday, March 2
Friday, March 3
Monday, March 6
Wednesday, March 8
Thursday, March 9 (SPRING GAME)

Please Note: All February practices are closed to recruits due to the NCAA dead period.

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Players Mentioned

#42 Blake Carroll: ILB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

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

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

#73 Travis Glover: T; 6' 6"; Redshirt Freshman

#1 Jontrey Hunter: OLB; 6' 2"; Sophomore

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

#23 Marcus Carroll: RB; 5' 10"; Senior

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

#1 Robert Lewis: WR; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#9 Jacari Carter: WR; 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

#60 Tyden Ferris: OL; 6' 5"; Redshirt Senior

#4 Bryson Harrison: QB; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#42 Blake Carroll
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: ILB

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

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

#73 Travis Glover
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Freshman
: T

#1 Jontrey Hunter
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: OLB

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

#23 Marcus Carroll
: 5' 10"; Senior
: RB

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

#1 Robert Lewis
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#9 Jacari Carter
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#60 Tyden Ferris
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Senior
: OL

#4 Bryson Harrison
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: QB