GEORGIA STATE (1-2, 0-0 SBC) at VANDERBILT (3-0, 0-0 SEC)
Saturday, Sept. 20 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Nashville, Tenn. | FirstBank Stadium
TV: ESPNU
RADIO: Georgia State Radio Network in Atlanta on WRAS-FM 88.5, in Gainesville on WGTJ-FM 97.5, in Columbus on WIOL-FM 95.7, GSU Athletics mobile app, www.LowCountryRadio.com
ATLANTA-- After securing the first win of the season against Murray State last weekend, Georgia State hits the road to face its second Power 4 team of the season at Vanderbilt on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 6:30 p.m. CT.
Georgia State and Vanderbilt finish off the home-and-home series that began last season. The Panthers are 1-0 in the series against the Commodores after a 36-32 at home.
The starting quarterback position is still up for grabs, with veterans TJ Finley and Cameran Brown in the race.
Veteran transfer TJ Finley made his Georgia State debut when he started for the Panthers against Memphis on Sept. 6. Finely was added to the active roster after the Panthers' season opener.
Coach McGee and the Panthers' staff welcomed the largest recruiting class in program history, adding 29 to the early signing class, and 67 total newcomers.
LEADING THE PACK
Receiver Ted Hurst leads the Panthers through another season, totaling 275-yards on 18 receptions and two touchdowns. The senior notched a career-high 10 receptions and matched his career-high two touchdowns in the win over Murray State (Sept. 13), the best-single game offensive performance for the Panthers so far this season.
Following directly behind Hurst is Javon Robinson, who co-leads the Panthers offense with two touchdowns. The junior receiver has accumulated 146 yards on 10 receptions, and has scored a touchdown in two-of-three games so far this season.
Running back Rashad Amos leads the Panthers' run-game with 144 yards on 26 carries. He scored his first touchdown of the season against Murray State (Sept. 13).
Freshman TJ Peyton, the Panthers' primary kick returner, leads the Panthers in yards-per-carry, averaging 13.8 and totaling 239 all purpose yards. He ran a career-long 49-yarder at Ole Miss (Aug. 30).
Quarterback Cameran Brown leads the Panthers in scoring with four TDs. The dual threat scored Georgia State's first rushing touchdown of the season against Memphis (Sept. 6). He matched his career-high three touchdowns from passes against Murray State (Sept. 13).
Quarterback TJ Finley leads the panthers through the air, going 32-for-47 for 351 yards.
On the defensive side, linebacker Josiah Robinson leads the Panthers with 20 tackles (12 UA), with four tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery. following closely behind is safety Jordan Huff with 15 tackles (8 UA), one tackle for loss, and interception and two pass breakups.
NOT SAFE FROM SAFETIES
For the first time in program history, Georgia State has recorded two safeties in a single season, happening in back-to-back games for the Panthers.
Redshirt senior Marlin Dean completed the first safety of the 2025 season for the Panthers against Memphis (Sept. 6). The second one came from safety Jaylen Jones in Georgia State's win over Murray State (Sept. 13).
The Panthers have recorded a safety in every season for the last three consecutive seasons.
In 2023, the Panthers put up two points against Old Dominion late in the fourth quarter on a team safety. The Panthers struck again in 2024 when former linebacker Kevin Swint took down Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia in the end zone.
THE QUARTERBACKS' ROOM
Georgia State enters the 2025 season with six quarterbacks in rotation, featuring returner Christian Veilleux, Tulane transfer TJ Finley and Texas Tech transfer Cameran Brown.
Transfer TJ Finley made his Georgia State Debut as the Panthers' starter in week two against Memphis. In his first game in blue and white, the 6-7 QB went 21-for-29 for 201 yards. Finley leads the Panthers' QB room with 351 yards.
The veteran QB joined the Panthers' active roster after week one of the season. Finely joined the Panthers from Western Kentucky, where he started in three games before being sidelined due to injury.
Transfer Cameran Brown continues to fight for the starting QB position for the Panthers. Brown leads the Panthers in touchdowns (4) and passing efficiency (68.42). Brown tied the single-season program record for completion percentage against Murray State (Sept. 13) after going 10-for-12 through the air.
The redshirt junior completed one passing and one rushing touchdown, and went 8-for-12 for 139 yards, against Memphis (Sept. 6), marking his first two touchdowns of the season.
Christian Veilleux, the Panthers starter in 2024, led the squad with 2,047 passing yards and 13 touchdowns in the air during the 2024 season. The senior QB threw a career-high three touchdown passes and recorded his first career rushing touchdown in the Panthers win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 14, 2024.
The Panthers also welcomed two freshmen quarterbacks to the squad in the off-season, including 6-2 TJ Stanley and Jadon Olaffson.
LOCKDOWN D
Georgia State ranks fifth in the Sun Belt for fumble recoveries, thanks to a forced fumble from Marlin Dean that was picked up by Josiah Robinson against Murray State (Sept. 13).
The Panthers also rank fourth in the conference for total team sacks (1.67).
After three contests, the Panthers defense totals 210 tackles, 20 tackles for loss of 75 yards, five sacks and two forced fumbles.
Josiah Robinson leads the Sun Belt in tackles for loss (1.33 PG). He is second in the Sun Belt and top 10 in the nation for fumble recoveries.
Georgia State enters the 2025 season with a versatile mix of returners and newcomers on defense.
The Panthers return defensive stars Henry Bryant, Damaine Wilson, Josiah Robinson, Sir Mells and Ian Mathews, all of which make huge impacts on the 2024 season. .
Georgia State's defense finished the 2024 campaign ranking fifth in the Sun Belt and 38th in the nation with eight fumble recoveries.
The Panthers snagged nine interceptions throughout the 2024 season, good for ninth in the Sun Belt.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will enjoy a bye-week following Vanderbilt before kicking off conference play hosting James Madison on Saturday, Oct. 4. Time is TBA.
