ATLANTA -- Less than two months after ending the 2023 season with a dominating bowl victory, the Georgia State football team will be back on the practice field to begin spring practice Tuesday.

Tuesday morning's workout will be the first of 15 spring sessions for the Panthers, culminating with the annual Spring Game, which is scheduled for Thursday, March 7 under the lights at Center Parc Stadium.

Head coach Shawn Elliott enters his eighth season at the helm after leading Georgia State to five bowl games in his first seven years, including the 45-22 win over Utah State in the 2023 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

"Spring practice is always a development time period. It's an opportunity to identify," Elliott said. "Are the transfers ready to step in right away and solidy positions? It's also a time to see the guys who played in the bowl game - are they going to continue their progress and fight for those positions."

While the Panthers return plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, there is one very obvious hole to fill at quarterback, where Georgia State must replace three-year starter and multiple record-holder Darren Grainger.

The primary candidates competing to replace Grainger will be redshirt freshman Braylen Ragland and veteran Zach Gibson, the transfer from Georgia Tech. The Panthers also have redshirt freshmen Bryson Harrison, who is recovering from injury, and Seth Griffin, a walk-on, along with incoming signee DJ Murray Jr., who will enroll next summer.

"The most interesting storyline of the spring is the quarterback position," Elliott said. "We signed DJ [Murray], Zach [Gibson] comes in here from Tech, Braylen [Ragland] is going to step up. That's where we've got to develop and improve. It's a huge open market, and we're going to push them and see who is going to take over the reins."

Elliott noted that Gibson has shown "Great leadership. It's hard to transfer in and become a leader right away, but that's what he's tried to do in our offseason workout. He's been a real plus added to that room."

Gibson is one of 12 transfers who joined the program this semester and will participate in spring practice, along with three freshman signees who enrolled early.

Another position of interest is at running back, where the Panthers must replace Marcus Carroll. Freddie Brock stepped up with a school-record 276 yards in the bowl win, and Georgia State has added two talented transfers in C.J. Beasley from Coastal Carolina and Domonique Thomas from Clemson. 

Other top returning skill players on offense include wide receivers Ja'Cyais Credle and Cadarrius Thompson and tight end Ahmon Green. On the offensive line, the Panthers lost four of the five starters, but the players who stepped in for the bowl game performed very well, including center Alec Johnson, guard Lamar Robinson and tackle Ben Chukwuma.

Top returnees on defense include defensive end Javon Denis, outside linebacker Kevin Swint, inside linebacker Justin Abraham, safety Jeremiah Johnson and cornerback Gavin Pringle.

The Panthers also return placekicker Liam Rickman and punter Kade Loggins.

Georgia State opens the 2024 season Aug. 31 at Georgia Tech, and the Panthers will also face Vanderbilt (home), UConn (away) and Chattanooga (home) in non-conference play. The complete 2024 schedule will be announced by the Sun Belt Conference on or before March 1. Season tickets renewals and sales are underway now by visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com/tix or calling 404-413-4020.