Georgia Southern Eagles 2018 Football Preview

Georgia Southern Eagles 2018 Football Preview

Opening Statement: The program bottomed out under Tyson Summers last fall, and he was fired in October, when Chad Lunsford took over as interim head coach. The team responded to Lunsford, and he was named the permanent head coach after the season. The Eagles won 2 of their final 3 games last fall, and with that comes hope that the needle is finally pointing upward for 2018.

Breakdown Offense: The Eagles struggles on offense were monumental at times, as they averaged just 20 points per game. They scored fewer than 20 points 7 times last fall, but there was an uptick when they beat South Alabama 52-0 for their first win of the season in November.

Shai Werts is back as the starting QB. He showed some solid play at times, and was not entirely awful, but there is work to be done with him, and he showed some improvement and flash in spring ball. He passd for 929 yards as a freshman, and may have been in a bit over his head at times last fall. Expect to see better play from him as a sophomore, as he has grown more confident over time. He added 722 yards rushing, and his dual threat nature should be his key ally once again. LaBaron Anthony, a RS freshman, is the backup heading into the summer.

Wesley Fields rushed for 811 yards last fall, and returns as the primary back. Monteo Garrett, a senior, is the 2nd option at the position, but both players were banged up and missed most or all of spring practice. In order for this offense to work, there has to be more punch from this group, but they will have to work to see that in fall camp. Garrett has some explosive ability, as he averaged over 7 yards per carry in limited duty last fall. Wesley Fields and  Matt LaRoche provide some depth, with Grant Walker, Logan Wright, and Eric Montgomery looking for reps as well.

Malik Henry led the team with 20 receptions, and returns this fall to start. Obe Fortune, the 2nd leading receiver with 15 grabs, is back as well. Wesley Kennedy III caught just 4 passes last fall, but should get work as the 3rd receiver. Darion Anderson, Mark Michaud, and Malik Murray are the backups, but the staff would like to find more production out of this group as a whole, and will be looking for some step up play makers in the fall.

Ellis Richardson will start at TE, and will play off the line, while Cam Brown is a more connected line blocker off the end. Michaud will possibly move into what they call the CRUISER position, which is a more receiver/TE hybrid that can both block and break into the 2nd and 3rd levels as a route runner.

The staff was pleased with the line play in the spring, and they feel that this group could be the strength of the offense. Jeremiah Culbreth (LT), Jakob Cooper (LG), Curtis Rainey (C), Lawrence Edwards (RG), and Drew Wilson (RT) lead a balanced group that will have 2 seniors, 2 juniors, and a sophomore this season. Freshman Jarrod Leeds projects as the backup at LT, while Brian Miller, another freshman, is the backup at RT. Jawaski Webb and Ryan Northrup are battling it out for the backup job at LG, while Caleb Kelly is the backup on the right side. Drake Grall, a senior, is the backup at C as we head into the summer.

Breakdown Defense: This unit spun out in 2017, allowing over 32 points per game. Improvements must come in all areas, as they allowed 230.1 yards passing and 180.33 yards rushing per game.

The Eagles are transitioning to a 3 man front in 2018, and so changes must be made, as players are moving off and onto the line. Raymond Johnson III and Logan Hunt are the starters at DE. Hunt led the team with 11 TFLs, while Johnson added 6.5. This duo could be one of the better edge units in the Sun Belt this fall. Quan Griffin and Traver Vliem are battling it out to back up Johnson, while Josh Johnson and Deshon Cooper are battling out for the spot to back up Hunt.

RS senior Ian Bush is the starting NT, but is more of an Earth mover than a play maker. Ty Phillips is slated to back him up.

Todd Bradley finished with 25 tackles last fall, and moves into the starting job at MLB this fall in the new 4 LB alignment. Tomarcio Reese finished with 45 tackles, and starts at the WLB position. Chris Harris and Tre' Allen are battling to back up the MLB spot, while Rashad Byrd is the backup to the WLB spot. According to the staff, this group had a rough early spring, but came around by the end, and they will be looking for continued improvements in fall camp.

Jay Bowdry finished last fall with 37 tackles, and starts at the ANCHOR position outside. Randy Wade played in just 5 games as a freshman last fall, and finds himself as the starting DOG backer this fall. Lane Ecton backs up the ANCHOR spot, while there is an ongoing battle between Alvin Ward, Benz Josue, and Demetrice Lofton to back up Wade at the DOG spot.

Monquavion Brinson and Kindle Vildor are the starting CBs, with Christian Matthew leading for the 3rd CB spot. Bryce Cross, a RS freshman, is considered as the 4th CB. Brinson led the team with 12 PBUs last fall and had 5 INTs. Vildor had 3 picks and 7 PBUs.  This group will be playing more zone defense than man, which was primary last season in coverage.

Joshua Moon (FS) and Sean Freeman (SS) are the deep starters. They combined for 5 PBUs last fall. Moon was 3rd on the team with 47 tackles, while Freeman had 32. RJ Murray, Martial Washington, and Kenderick Duncan are fighting to back up the FS spot, while Jessie Liptrot and Darrell Baker are battling for the backup spot at SS.

Breakdown Special Teams: Tyler Bass hit 15/19 FG attempts last fall, and returns as one of the best kickers in the Sun Belt. Magill Bauerle is the new Punter with the departure of Matt Flynn.

Malik Henry returns from a crowded field of Kick Returners, and will now be the primary guy. Wesley Kennedy III is the punt return man, and averaged 15.67 yards per return in limited duty last fall.

Final Analysis: The Eagles will not let last season become the norm, as this program hit the ground hard when they transitioned from FCS football, much as Appalachian State did in the same conference. There is a ton of history and pride in this program, and that will not change as the staff makes the necessary adjustments under Lunsford and his staff. 20 new players will come into camp in August, so anything regarding player battles could get more intensified by a freshman class that is ready to push some vets for jobs, so stay tuned. Georgia Southern could be the most improved team in the Sun belt in 2018, but a lot of things have to come together first. I am betting on good things in the next couple of seasons here, and the fan base must stay patient as things get fixed.