ATLANTA -- The Georgia State football team opened preseason camp Tuesday to begin preparations for the 2023 season, which kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 31, when the Panthers host Rhode Island at 7 p.m. at Center Parc Stadium.

"It's a thrilling day to be back on that practice field and preparing for another season," head coach Shawn Elliott said after Tuesday morning's workout at Center Parc Stadium. "I think everybody wanted to back out there, together as a team, a lot sooner than we actually could have."

Now in his seventh season at the helm, Elliott says his squad enters the season with a renewed commitment to toughness as the Panthers look to bounce back from last year's 4-8 campaign and and regain what they had attained the previous three seasons and four of the last six years with winning records and bowl berths.

"We had great offseason, and now we have the ability to get back out there and throw the balls around and compete," he said. "I thought our focus, our energy, our discpline, everything was on point. I think we looked poised, and I think we looked fast.

"I think it started with hiring Mike Sirignano as our strength coach," he continued. "I knew he would lay a foundation in that room that needed to be laid. And we grew in every area. 

"We grew in our academics and had our second-best semester since we've been here. We grew physically - our entire team added strength numbers that we haven't achieved before. And we're confident. That's hard to say about a team that won four games a year ago. But we're not that team. No way, no how are we that team from a year ago."

Georgia State will look to leaders such as quarterback Darren Grainger, tackle Travis Glover, wide receiver Robert Lewis and running back Marcus Carroll on offense, and defensive end Javon Denis, linebackers Jontrey Hunter, Jordan Veneziale and Blake Carroll, and cornerback Bryquice Brown.
    
The Panthers have bolstered the roster with 31 newcomers, including 18 four-year transfers, one junior college transfer and 12 scholarship freshmen. 

"A lot of new parts, so this camp is going to be interesting to see how those new parts fit together to shape our football team," Elliott said. "Our transfers are hungry. These guys have really stepped in nicely in their transition to Georgia State and become great teammates. We're thrilled to have each and every one of them."
    
Another new face is defensive coordinator Chad Staggs, who spent the last four seasons in the same role at Coastal Carolina. Staggs was hired at the end of spring practice so this was his first actual practice with the Panthers.

"Really, it was our first look at the defensive scheme, with true play calls, and defensive fronts and so forth," Elliott said. "I saw a lot of pressure out there, and a lot of running to the ball. Sometimes the simplest scheme in football is just getting your butt to the ball. How many can you get there and how fast can you get there. That is the name of the game."

The Panthers will back on the field for practice No. 2 of the preseason camp Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.