Georgia Southern Football Preview, Best Players, Top Transfers, Season Prediction, Win Total 2024

Georgia Southern College Football Preview 2024

Georgia Southern football is good, but just about every team in the Sun Belt is good.

Clay Helton was able to change around the style of the attack, and after taking over a 3-9 team after the 2021 season, it’s working. The passing game is fine, the offense keeps on pressing, and the team wins when the points are there.

But it’s been tough to break through and be a star in a Sun Belt with so many good teams to deal with. 2024 might be that on steroids.

Even so, two straight six-win seasons isn’t bad over the last two years with two bowl appearances, but this is supposed to be the year when Georgia Southern becomes the star. That’s going to be tough.

Out of the 14 losses in the last two years, just one - a rivalry date two seasons ago against Georgia State - was against a team that didn’t go bowling.

Every date for Georgia Southern is a 50/50 battle, and that’ll be true more than ever this season against a BRUTAL slate.

This might be the proverbial Better Team Than the Record unless the turnovers slow down, the penalties aren’t bad, and everything about this veteran team clicks.

At the very least the Eagles will be a tough out each and every week because …

Georgia Southern Football Preview 2024: Offense

- The offense should still continue to be a blast. The passing game rolling for close to 4,000 yards, the ground game was okay, and the team went 6-0 when scoring 34 points or more ...

And was 0-7 when scoring fewer than 34. It all starts by keeping the passing game going.

- Davis Brin is gone, and now the Eagles have to get the quarterbacks producing. Dexter Williams didn’t do much in his time at Indiana, but he can move, has the skills, and needs to be able to spread the ball around. If he’s not the main man, 2023 backup JC French has the time logged in to take over.

The receiving corps is still loaded. 101-catch Khaleb Hood is gone, but Derwin Burgess led the team with six touchdown grabs on his 74 catches, and Dalen Cobb was third on the team with 40 catches. They can get down the field, and so can Auburn transfer Tyler Fromm at tight end.

- The ground game isn’t just along for the ride. Jalen White is back after leading the way with 889 yards and nine scores averaging 5.6 yards per carry. OJ Arnold is a good backup who averaged 5.5 yards per pop.

Now the O line has to come through with help from the transfer portal. C Chandler Strong and OG Pichon Wimbley are veterans who can hold up, but OT Kyle Frazier (Savannah State) and OG Justin Kanyuk (North Carolina) have to be the instant stars.

Georgia Southern Football Preview 2024: Defense

- The defense returns loaded with experience and depth. Now the production has to follow. It starts from holding up better on the line around 340-pound Latrell Bullard on the inside and the quick Justin Rhodes on the inside.

The pass rush is a problem, but this D gets into the backfield. Isaac Walker and Davion Rhodes are back on the ends, but hitting the quarterback more is a must.

- The linebackers need more playmakers. Marques Watson-Trent is one of the Sun Belt’s best defenders, but he needs help. Washington State transfer Davon Hicks and MJ Stroud have to combine in a rotation.

- The lack of a great pass rush mattered to a secondary that can hit, but needs more help. Tyrell Davis, Marc Stampley, and TJ Smith combined for 173 tackles and should hit just about everything. They’re a strength, but the corners are a tad questionable with three transfers needing to play big roles.

Key To The Georgia Southern Football Season

STOP WITH THE TURNOVERS
There were plenty of issues with Georgia Southern last year, but giving the ball away in bunches screwed everything up.

There might be a lot of passing with this attack, but it’s a controlled midrange style - for the most part. The 20 interceptions thrown last year by Davis Brin were far too many, with five against Wisconsin and three in the bowl loss to Ohio.

The Eagles threw three or more picks in four games and lost all four. They turned it over multiple times in every game but four. That’s why …

Georgia Southern Key Player

Dexter Williams, QB Sr.
The 6-2, 210-pounder from Indiana was a good recruit, but he got hit with a knee injury early on and saw limited action in 2022.

He ran well and had a few nice moments, but he struggled to get the passing attack going. Now he has to be accurate, consistent, and he has to make the O explode. He’s the team’s most important transfer, but …

Georgia Southern Football Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: LV Bunkley-Shelton, WR Sr.
Tight end Tyler Fromm should blow up in this attack coming over from Auburn, watch out for Bunkley-Shelton to become a big-time producer somewhere in the receiving corps.

He didn’t do much at Oklahoma, but he caught 44 passes at Arizona State with 418 yards and two scores in 2021. A good return man, he’s dangerous in several ways.

Top Transfer Out: Rasheed Miller, OT Sr.
The Eagle offensive front is okay with the two new parts coming in from the transfer portal, but it would’ve been a big deal to keep around its 6-7, 310-pound tackle. Miller will be a part of the Louisville line now.

Georgia Southern Key Game

at Georgia State, Sept. 28
Oh why not. Get the rivalry game out of the way in Sun Belt play, and then move on. It’s more than just beating the Panthers for a second year in a row; it’s about not losing the season before it really gets started.

More on this in a moment - Georgia Southern has one of the Sun Belt’s nastiest schedules over the second half of the season. It gets way harder after this.

10 Best Georgia Southern Football Players

1. Jalen White, RB Sr.
2. Issac Walker, DE Jr.
3. Derwin Burgess, WR Sr.
4. Marques Watson-Trent, LB Sr.
5. Dexter Williams, QB Sr.
6. Davion Rhodes, DE Jr.
7. TJ Smith S Sr.
8. Dalen Cobb, WR Jr
9. Tyler Fromm, TE Sr.
10. Pichon Wimbley, OG Jr.

Georgia Southern 2023 Fun Stats

- Sacks: Opponents 34 for 211 yards, Georgia Southern 23 for 141 yards

- Georgia Southern Opponent 1st Quarter Scoring: 58, 2nd Quarter 131

- 4th Down Conversions: Georgia Southern 14-of-23 (61%), Opponents 6-of-15 (40%)

Georgia Southern Football 2024 Win Total Prediction: What to Expect This Season

Uh oh.

There’s a ton to get excited about. The defense returns loaded with experience, and the high-powered offense gets enough back to keep everything rolling … if the quarterback play is good.

The Eagles will come up with their share of good wins, but there isn’t even a little bit of a break outside of the date against South Carolina State.

They’re better than Nevada, but the game is in Reno. Boise State is a nasty opener at home, forget about the date at Ole Miss, and it gets worse and worse as Sun Belt play goes on.

Overall there are only two teams on the slate that didn’t go bowling last year, and the body blows will add up. It’ll be another six-win regular season, but it’ll be a GRIND.

Set The Georgia Southern Win Total At … 5.5

Likely Wins: South Carolina State

50/50 Games: Appalachian State, Boise State, at Coastal Carolina, at Georgia State, James Madison, Marshall, at Nevada, at Old Dominion, at South Alabama, Troy

Likely Losses: at Ole Miss

2024 Georgia Southern Football Schedule

Aug 31 Boise State
Sept 7 at Nevada
Sept 14 South Carolina State
Sept 21 at Ole Miss
Sept 28 at Georgia State
Oct 5 OPEN DATE
Oct 12 Marshall
Oct 19 James Madison
Oct 24 at Old Dominion
Nov 2 at South Alabama
Nov 9 OPEN DATE
Nov 16 Troy
Nov 23 at Coastal Carolina
Nov 30 Appalachian State

Missing: Arkansas State, Louisiana, Southern Miss, Texas State, ULM