NOTING THE 2015 PANTHERS (6-7, 5-3 Sun Belt/4th)
* After ending the regular season with four straight wins, Georgia State earned its first bowl berth in just its sixth year of football and third at the FBS level, with a trip to the AutoNation Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
* Georgia State improved by five wins over the previous year; only two FBS programs (Washington State and Southern Miss) improved by more than five games from 2014 to 2015.
* Georgia State is one of just four Group of Five schools (27 schools overall) to send its football team to a bowl game and its men's basketball team to the NCAA Tournament in 2015.
* The Panthers swept the Sun Belt Conference's major awards and placed 12 individuals on the all-conference team. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle was named Sun Belt Student-Athlete of the Year, receiver Penny Hart was honored as Freshman of the Year and Trent Miles was tabbed Coach of the Year.
* Georgia State's improved defense finished in the top four in the Sun Belt in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency.
* The Panthers were the nation's most improved team in scoring defense and rushing defense. GSU allowed 15 points fewer per game than in 2014, and against the run, the Panthers improved by 122.3 yards per game and 1.92 yards per carry over the previoius year.
* Quarterback Nick Arbuckle set Sun Belt records with 4,368 yards passing and 4,273 yards of total offense. He ranked sixth in FBS with 336.0 yards passing per game.
* In 25 games in a Panther uniform, Arbuckle passed for 7,651 yards (306.0 pg) and 51 touchdowns.
* Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Penny Hart capped his sensational rookie season with selection to the FWAA Freshman All-America team. Hart led the Sun Belt with 71 receptions for 1,099 yards--the Sun Belt freshman record--along with eight touchdowns. He finished second among FBS freshmen in receiving yards (84.5 pg) and touchdowns (8) and fourth in receptions (5.5).
* The top candidate for Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, Hart ranks second among all FBS freshmen in receptions (5.9 pg), receiving yards (91.3 pg) and touchdowns (8).
* Robert Davis finished his junior season with 155 receptions for 2,423 yards and 12 touchdowns, second in GSU history in all three categories. He will enter 2016 as the top active receive in the Sun Belt and among the top 10 in FBS. He has caught at least one pass in every game he has played (37 straight).
* Senior linebacker Joseph Peterson finished as Georgia State's career leader with 381 tackles and 22 tackles for loss, while senior safety Tarris Batiste tied the GSU career record with five interceptions and finished second in tackles and tackles for loss.
* The Panthers graduate only four starters on offense and two on defense, as well as punter-placekicker Wil Lutz.
2015 HONORS
Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year: Trent Miles
Sun Belt Conference Student-Athlete of the Year: Nick Arbuckle, QB
Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year: Penny Hart, WR
All-Sun Belt Conference, First Team:
Nick Arbuckle, QB
Robert Davis, WR
Penny Hart, WR
Tarris Batiste, S
All-Sun Belt Conference, Second Team:
Joseph Peterson, LB
Keith Rucker, TE
Wil Lutz, P
All-Sun Belt Conference, Honorable Mention:
Donovan Harden, WR
Shawanye Lawrence, DE
Alonzo McGee, LB
Chandon Sullivan, CB
Sun Belt Conference All-Newcomer:
Bobby Baker, S
Freshman All-America (FWAA, 247Sports): Penny Hart, WR
FWAA AutoNation National Defensive Player of Week: Tarris Batiste, Dec. 7
Sun Belt Defensive Student-Athlete of Week: Bobby Baker, S, Sept. 7
Sun Belt Offensive Student-Athlete of Week: Nick Arbuckle, QB, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Dec. 7
Sun Belt Defensive Student-Athlete of Week: Chandon Sullivan, CB, Nov. 16
Sun Belt Defensive Student-Athlete of Week: Tarris Batiste, S, Nov. 16, Dec. 7
Preseason All-Sun Belt:
Joel Ruiz, TE (1st), Donovan Harden, WR (1st), Joseph Peterson, LB (1st), Wil Lutz, PK (2nd)
Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List: Joseph Peterson, LB
John Mackey Award Watch List: Joel Ruiz, TE
Biletnikoff Award Watch List: Donovan Harden, WR, Penny Hart, WR
Ray Guy Award Nominee: Wil Lutz, P
John Mackey Tight End of the Week: Keith Rucker, TE (HM)
Capital One Academic All-District: Chandon Sullivan, CB
TEAM SEASON RECORDS SET
Points: 350
Touchdowns: 45
Total Offense: 5,627
Total Offense Per Game: 432.8
Touchdowns: 45
Passing Yards: 4,367
Passing Yards Per Game: 335.9
Pass Completions: 308
Completion Percentage: 62.1
TD Passes: 28
Interceptions: 15
Pass Breakups: 75
Tackles for Loss: 75
INDIVIDUAL SEASON RECORDS SET
Passing Yards: Nick Arbuckle, 4,368
Completions: Nick Arbuckle, 307
TD Passes: Nick Arbuckle, 28
Total Offense: Nick Arbuckle, 4,273
TDR: Nick Arbuckle, 34
Receptions: Penny Hart, (T) 71
Receiving TDs: Penny Hart, (T) 8
Tackles: Joseph Peterson, 116
Interceptions: Tarris Batiste, 4
Tackles for Loss: Alonzo McGee, 12.5
PAT: Wil Lutz, 42
