2018 Georgia State Panthers football team

The 2018 Georgia State Panthers football team represented Georgia State University (GSU) in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by second-year head coach Shawn Elliott. The season was the Panthers' sixth in the Sun Belt Conference, first within the East Division, and ninth since starting football. They played their home games at Georgia State Stadium. They finished the season 2–10, 1–7 in Sun Belt play to finish in last place in the East Division.

2018 Georgia State Panthers football
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
	East Division
2018 record	2–10 (1–7 Sun Belt)
Head coach	Shawn Elliott (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Travis Trickett (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Nate Fuqua (2nd season)
Home stadium	Georgia State Stadium (Capacity: 23,000)

2018 Sun Belt Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Appalachian State xy$		7	–	1					11	–	2
Troy x		7	–	1					10	–	3
Georgia Southern		6	–	2					10	–	3
Coastal Carolina		2	–	6					5	–	7
Georgia State		1	–	7					2	–	10
West Division
Louisiana xy		5	–	3					7	–	7
Arkansas State x		5	–	3					8	–	5
Louisiana–Monroe		4	–	4					6	–	6
South Alabama		2	–	6					3	–	9
Texas State		1	–	7					3	–	9
Championship: Appalachian State 30, Louisiana 19
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant

Previous season

In 2017, the Panthers played their first season under new head coach (and accompanying staff) Shawn Elliott. After a short recruiting year (due to turnover of staff), Elliott managed to put together one of Georgia State's highest rated recruiting classes. After losing the opening game at the Panther's new stadium Georgia State Stadium, a conversion of the former Turner Field, the Panthers would go on to become bowl eligible for the second time in the programs seven-year history, defeating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at the Cure Bowl.

Recruiting

Recruits

As of December 21, 2016, the Panthers have a total of 20 recruits committed. Eight are three-star recruits.

Back	B		Center	C		Cornerback	CB		Defensive back	DB
Defensive end	DE		Defensive lineman	DL		Defensive tackle	DT		End	E
Fullback	FB		Guard	G		Halfback	HB		Kicker	K
Kickoff returner	KR		Offensive tackle	OT		Offensive lineman	OL		Linebacker	LB
Long snapper	LS		Punter	P		Punt returner	PR		Quarterback	QB
Running back	RB		Safety	S		Tight end	TE		Wide receiver	WR

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40^‡	Commit date
Despelado Alexandre OT	Deerfield Beach, FL	Deerfield Beach High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	275 lb (125 kg)	-	Jun 27, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Danterius Ellington QB	Fulton, MS	Itawamba Community College	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	-	Dec 16, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Jacorey Crawford CB	Thomson, GA	Thomson High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	-	Nov 3, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Diondre Champaigne WR	North Charleston, SC	Fort Dorchester High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	194 lb (88 kg)	-	Sep 20, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 77
Tyler Gore CB	Little River, SC	North Myrtle Beach High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	-	Jul 22, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Destin Coates RB	Tallahassee, FL	James S. Rickards High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	-	Jan 21, 2018
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 73
Swift Lyle QB	Mobile, AL	St. Paul's Episcopal School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	-	Jan 31, 2018
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 80
Sam Pinckney WR	Greenwood, SC	Greenwood High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	-	Jan 21, 2018
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Akeem Smith DT	Virginia Beach, VA	Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	295 lb (134 kg)	5.68	Dec 5, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Courtney Williams WR	Hogansville, GA	Callaway High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	179 lb (81 kg)	-	Feb 7, 2018
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Blake Carroll LB	Lawrenceville, GA	Mountain View High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	219 lb (99 kg)	4.84	Dec 10, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Cornelius McCoy WR	Deerfield Beach, FL	Deerfield Beach High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	-	Dec 17, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 73
Quavian White CB, RB	Greer, SC	Greer High School	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	178 lb (81 kg)	4.78	Jul 22, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Dawson Hill RB	Hoschton, GA	Mill Creek High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	4.58	Jul 4, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Travis Glover OT	Vienna, GA	Dooly County High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	310 lb (140 kg)	-	Feb 7, 2018
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
D'angelo Knight S	North Charleston, SC	Fort Dorchester High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	-	Jul 27, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Jontrey Hunter S	Tampa, FL	Sickles High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.50	Jan 29, 2018
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Seth Paige RB	Glen Saint Mary, FL	Baker County High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	176 lb (80 kg)	4.47	Dec 17, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Brandon Joseph OG	Lawrenceville, GA	Central Gwinnett High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	-	Jun 19, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Herman McCray TE	West Palm Beach, FL	Oxbridge Academy	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	4.86	Aug 13, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Mario Dungy DT	Eight Mile, AL	Blount County	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	285 lb (129 kg)	-	Aug 13, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Marlon Young LB	Opelousas, LA	Opelousas High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	4.67	Oct 13, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
TJ Smith DE	Laurinburg, NC	Scotland County High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	240 lb (110 kg)	-	Jul 4, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Zachary Dixon TE	Hollywood, FL	Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.60	Jan 28, 2018
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Tre Moore DE	Johnston, SC	Strom Thurmond High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	-	Jun 27, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Johnathan Bass OT	Marietta, GA	Carlton J. Kell High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	270 lb (120 kg)	5.20	Nov 25, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Samuel Oshodi WR	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Cypress Bay High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	-	Jul 23, 2017
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:
Overall recruiting rankings:   247Sports: 94
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 27, 2018.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award	Player	Position	Year
Fred Biletnikoff Award[1]	Penny Hart	WR	JR
John Mackey Award[2]	Camrin Knight	TE	JR

Sun Belt coaches poll

On July 19, 2018, the Sun Belt released their preseason coaches poll with the Panthers predicted to finish in third place in the East Division.[3]

East Division
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Appalachian State	46 (6)
2	Troy	44 (4)
3	Georgia State	26
4	Georgia Southern	22
5	Coastal Carolina	12

Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams

The Panthers had five players selected to the preseason all-Sun Belt teams.[4]

Offense 1st team Penny Hart – WR 2nd team Hunter Atkinson – TE Shamarious Gilmore – OL

Defense 1st team Michael Shaw – LB 2nd team Marterious Allen – DL

Coaching and support staff

Name	Position	Consecutive season at Georgia State in current position
Shawn Elliott	Head coach	2nd
Travis Trickett	Offensive coordinator, quarterback	2nd
Nate Fuqua	Defensive coordinator, outside linebackers	2nd
Tim Bowens	Assistant coach, running backs	1st
Chris Collins	Assistant coach, safeties	2nd
Blake Gideon	Assistant coach, cornerbacks	1st
Skylor Magee	Assistant coach, defensive line	2nd
Trent McKnight	Assistant coach, wide receivers	2nd
Josh Stepp	Assistant coach, tight ends	2nd
Cedric Williams	Assistant coach, offensive line	2nd
Rusty Wright	Assistant coach, inside linebacker	2nd
Steve Wojcikowski	Director of football operations	2nd
Scott Holsopple	Head strength and conditioning coach	3rd
Bob Murphy	Associate AD, sports medicine and nutrition	3rd
Reference:[5]

Schedule

Georgia State announced its 2018 football schedule on February 27, 2018. The 2018 schedule consists of 6 home and away games in the regular season. The Panthers host Sun Belt foes ULM, Coastal Carolina, Texas State, and in-state rivals Georgia Southern, and traveled to Troy, Arkansas State, Louisiana, and Appalachian State. Georgia State will not play Sun Belt foe South Alabama this year.[6] The team will play four non-conference games, two home game against Kennesaw State, an FCS team from the Big South Conference, Western Michigan from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), and two road games against NC State from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Memphis from the American Athletic Conference (AAC).

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	7:00 p.m.	No. 5 (FCS) Kennesaw State*	Georgia State Stadium Atlanta, GA	ESPN+	W 24–20	23,088
September 8	12:30 p.m.	at NC State*	Carter–Finley Stadium Raleigh, NC	ACCRSN	L 7–41	56,017
September 14	8:00 p.m.	at Memphis*	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN	L 22–59	27,678
September 22	2:00 p.m.	Western Michigan*	Georgia State Stadium Atlanta, GA	ESPN+	L 15–34	15,264
September 29	2:00 p.m.	Louisiana–Monroe	Georgia State Stadium Atlanta, GA	ESPN+	W 46–14	14,368
October 4	7:30 p.m.	at Troy	Veterans Memorial Stadium Troy, AL	ESPNU	L 20–37	22,903
October 18	7:30 p.m.	at Arkansas State	Centennial Bank Stadium Jonesboro, AR	ESPNU	L 35–51	18,176
October 27	2:00 p.m.	Coastal Carolina	Georgia State Stadium Atlanta, GA	ESPN+	L 34–37	15,648
November 3	2:00 p.m.	Texas State	Georgia State Stadium Atlanta, GA	ESPN+	L 31–40	11,312
November 10	5:00 p.m.	at Louisiana	Cajun Field Lafayette, LA	ESPN+	L 22–36	14,945
November 17	2:30 p.m.	at Appalachian State	Kidd Brewer Stadium Boone, NC	ESPN+	L 17–45	22,315
November 24	2:00 p.m.	Georgia Southern	Georgia State Stadium Atlanta, GA (rivalry)	ESPN+	L 14–35	20,011
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Schedule source:[7]

Game summaries

Kennesaw State

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 5 (FCS) Owls	7	7	6	0	20
Panthers	0	14	0	10	24

at NC State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	7	0	0	0	7
Wolfpack	10	10	7	14	41

at Memphis

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	3	7	6	6	22
Tigers	21	17	7	14	59

Western Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	3	17	14	0	34
Panthers	0	9	6	0	15

Louisiana–Monroe

	1	2	3	4	Total
Warhawks	7	7	0	0	14
Panthers	14	16	6	10	46

at Troy

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	3	3	14	20
Trojans	14	9	0	14	37

at Arkansas State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	7	0	14	14	35
Red Wolves	20	14	7	10	51

Coastal Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chanticleers	17	3	7	10	37
Panthers	7	6	21	0	34

Texas State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bobcats	13	0	20	7	40
Panthers	7	3	0	21	31

at Louisiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	7	7	8	22
Ragin' Cajuns	7	6	3	20	36

at Appalachian State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	7	0	3	7	17
Mountaineers	14	3	14	14	45

Georgia Southern

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	13	15	7	35
Panthers	0	0	0	14	14

References

1. "2018 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
2. "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
3. http://sunbeltsports.org/news/2018/7/18/mountaineers-red-wolves-selected-as-division-favorites-in-2018-sun-belt-football-coaches-preseason-poll.aspx
4. http://www.sunbeltsports.org/news/2018/7/20/sun-belt-announces-2018-preseason-all-conference-football-teams.aspx
5. 2018 Georgia State Panthers Football Media Guide
6. "THREE NATIONAL TV GAMES HIGHLIGHT 2018 SCHEDULE". GeorgiaStateSports.com. Georgia State University. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
7. "THREE NATIONAL TV GAMES HIGHLIGHT 2018 SCHEDULE". GeorgiaStateSports.com. Retrieved February 27, 2018.