Opponent Preview - Georgia State
Georgia State Facts:
Location: Atlanta, GA
Stadium: Center Parc Credit Union Stadium
Field Type: Turf
Capacity: 24,333
Enrollment: 53,000
2024 Record: 7-6 (3-5 SBC)
Last Bowl: 2023 Idaho Potato Bowl (45-22 W Utah State)
All-Time Bowl Record: 4-2
2023 Attendance: 15,594 (117th nationally)
All-Time Series: 0-1
Last Meeting: 35-14 L 2023
Returning Starters: 4 Off, 6 Def
Lettermen: 34 Returning, 22 Lost
Schedule:
8/31- at Georgia Tech
9/7- Chattanooga
9/14- Vanderbilt
9/28- Georgia Southern
10/12- Old Dominion
10/17- at Marshall
10/26- at Appalachian State
11/1- at UConn
11/9- at James Madison
11/16- Arkansas State
11/23- at Texas State
11/30- Coastal Carolina
Last Meeting:
The Huskies were hoping to rebound against the Panthers after a ten point loss to NC State in the opener a week prior. Georgia State was coming off a 42-35 win over FCS Rhode Island, so UConn fans were hoping to see some offense out of the Huskies. Narrators voice: “they would not.” Mobile QB Darren Grainger would no doubt be the focal point of the defense, after NC State QB Brennan Armstrong tore up the UConn defense. After forcing a three and out on the opening drive, the Husky defense was gashed right up the middle by Grainger, 65 yards to the house for the score. UConn would respond by moving downfield a bit, but Jalen Mitchell fumbled trying to fight for 1st down yardage on a 3rd and 15, giving the ball back to the Panthers. Georgia State’s RB Marcus Carroll would fumble on the ensuing drive, giving the ball back to the Huskies, who would move the chains on the back of a pass interference, but missed a 48 yard FG, and that would essentially do it for the scoring chances in the 1st half.
The teams would trade punts through the 2nd quarter, when Brett Buckman muffed a punt, giving the ball to the Panthers in UConn territory. Grainger hit WR Jacari Carter for some solid gains, capping the drive with a nine yard TD pass to Robert Lewis, giving them a 14-0 lead. Ta’Quan Roberson would come out at QB on the next drive, after a Joe Fagnano shoulder injury, that would end his season. He would go three and out, then Grainger would break off runs of 21 and 26 to get to the goal line, when Carroll punched it in from the two, giving the Panthers a 21-0 lead going into the half, and UConn fans’ high hopes for the season were going down the drain.
Roberson came out to the 2nd half with a 16 yard pass to Geordon Porter, but a holding penalty on Yakiri Walker on the next play put them too far behind the sticks, and had to punt. The next drive for the Panthers really put a nail in the coffin on this one. A demoralizing 15 play 92 yard drive culminated in a three yard Carroll TD rush, putting the game out of reach, if it wasn’t already. To start the 4th quarter, Roberson began to find some rhythm, even if the Panthers had called off the dogs, or cats, in this case. A 10 play 76 yard drive ended with a 16 yard TD to Kevens Clercius. He would hit Buckman for three passes on the drive. Buckman would get his first UConn TD later on, a 32 yard pass from Roberson. The Huskies would leave Atlanta with a 35-14 loss and questions about this team after high expectations in the preseason.
2024 Georgia State:
Georgia State suffered heavy losses to graduation and the transfer portal. Not only that, but HC Shawn Elliot left at the beginning of spring practice to take a job at South Carolina, forcing former Georgia Run Game Coordinator Dell McGee into a tough situation as the new coach. He not only needed to stabilize the roster, as a 30 day transfer portal window opens when a HC leaves, but he also needed to run spring practice with a roster of guys he doesn’t know.
Fear not, UConn fans, Grainger is gone. The 2nd all-time passing leader in school history leaves a huge hole in the offense, one that will be filled by either Penn State/Pitt transfer Christian Veilleux, or Akron/Georgia Tech transfer Zach Gibson. Last season at Pitt, Veilleux threw for 1,179 yards in five starts, but had a 7:8 TD:INT ratio, and only completed 51% of his passes. Gibson didn’t get any game action in 2023, as QB Haynes King won the job and wouldn’t relinquish it. Gibson did play at times in 2022, throwing for 589 yards, one TD, and two INTs. He played in seven games for Akron in 2021, throwing for 1,262 yards, ten TDs, and no INTs. Gibson spent the spring as QB1, so he would appear to have the inside track to start.
At RB, 3rd all-time leading rusher in school history, Marcus Carroll, departs to Missouri. Carroll had 1,350 yards last season and 13 TDs, to go with Grainger’s 736 yards and ten TDs. The leading returning rusher is Freddie Brock, who rushed for 307 yards on 30 carries, for a 10.7 yards per carry. He had a monster game in the Idaho Potato Bowl, rushing for 276 yards. They’ve had to supplement heavily through the portal, adding Colorado transfer Sy’Veon Wilkerson, Coastal Carolina transfer CJ Beasley, and Tulsa transfer Jordan Ford. It certainly is a unit that has potential, but there are a lot of new faces.
Similarly, the receiving corps lost a lot when Robert Lewis took his talents to Auburn, after catching 70 passes for 877 yards. Jacari Carter also departs, so they lose their top and 3rd leading receiver. Talique Williams returns after catching 49 passes for 615 yards, as does Cadarrius Thompson. They added DII Valdosta State transfer Ted Hurst, and Nakai Poole from Mississippi State. TE Ahmon Green (19 catches for 147 yards) returns as well, so it is a unit that also has potential, but someone will need to step up to replace Lewis and Carter.
Only one starter returns on the offensive line in RG Trevor Timmons. After playing well in their bowl game, Ben Chukwuma, and Alec Johnson look to work their way into the starting lineup at LT and C, respectviely. The Panthers added Favor Kamolafe from Boise State at LG, and Joshua Black from Louisville. This unit may be end up being the biggest liability on offense, and UConn’s front seven should look to exploit that.
Defensive line also suffered some losses, but they return P4 transfers Henry Bryant (Louisville), Kevin Swint (Clemson), and Victoine Brown (Louisville). They lose Shamar McCollum, who had 30 tackles last season, and Javon Denis (31 tackles and five sacks). It’s a solid unit that accrued 30 sacks last season, up from 27 in 2022, but down from 38 in 2021.
It’s a mixed bag at LB, as the Panthers lose their top tackler in Jontrey Hunter (96 tackles, 5.5 for loss), but return their second leading tackler, Justin Abraham (84 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 4.5 TFLs). Hunter was 2nd team All-SBC, and they also lose Jordan Veneziale, the team’s leader in tackles in 2022. Daniel Heimuli, an Arizona/Washington transfer, looks to take over at weakside LB, and the Panthers also added Xavier Robinson, who accrued 113 tackles in the last two seasons at FCS transitioning West Georgia.
The secondary wasn’t the best last season, although you wouldn’t have known that watching UConn struggle to throw against them. They lose Tygee Leach, who had 71 tackles, seven TFLs, and six PBUs, but do return Gavin Pringle, who led the team with four INTs. The Panthers add Tennessee Tech transfer Jyron Gilmore (77 tackles and 14 PBUs in 18 starts), as well as Kenyatta Watson II, who comes in from Georgia Tech. There’s a mix of experience and inexperience, and this unit will need to mesh in order to improve on their 65% completion percentage allowed, and 279 passing yards per game.
Both kicker and punter return to Atlanta, as well as kick returner. As a redshirt freshman, K Liam Rickman hit 9-12 FGs, with a long of 46. Braeden McAlister handled kickoffs, with 22 touchbacks on 42 kicks. P Kade Loggins returns to the danger zone after punting 59 times for a net of 34.9 yards per punt. At kick return, Talique Williams should continue his duties after returning 11 kicks for 187 yards, sharing the job with Lewis. Carter was returning punts, but only returned eight for 17 yards, so this is a unit that will look to return more punts and become more explosive in the return game.
Prediction:
I looked pretty dumb last year when I picked UConn to win in a close game. Georgia State was coming off a 4-8 season with their main production returning, but had lost several close games in that 4-8 season. So I had said it’s hard to get a read on the Panthers, but UConn should prevail. Obviously, that was wrong, but this season, but there is no Darren Grainger returning, or Marcus Carroll, or even Robert Lewis. They need to replace nearly all their offensive production. They have to rebuild the OL. They very well may before November 1st hits, and this game is very important to both team’s bowl hopes. Georgia State has one of the toughest Sun Belt conference slates, and don’t have a lot of margin of error. With that said, I give UConn the edge with the strength of their DL and a little Friday night, Senior Day home field advantage.
UConn 20 Georgia State 17
Subscribe to Storrs Central Premium TODAY!
Never miss the latest from Storrs Central! Join our free email list!