GAMEDAY PREVIEW: Getting to know Georgia State

NC State’s 2nd game of 2018 is here, and the Wolfpack and Georgia State will kickoff at 12:30 in Carter-Finley Stadium.

Here are a few things you need to know about the Panthers before both teams take the field.

-The Georgia State football program is still extremely young, starting in 2010 in the FCS ranks. After three seasons in the FCS, Georgia State joined the FBS ranks as a member of the Sun Belt Conference (this is their 6th season in the FBS).

-The Panthers’ 2017 season was the best in their short history, recording their first winning season. Georgia State finished with a 7-5 record, and defeated Western Kentucky in the AutoNation Cure Bowl.

-They defeated Kennesaw State 24-20 last Friday night in their first game of the season. To be honest, they were lucky to walk out of the stadium with the win. Kennesaw State had more total yards of offense (382/315), and held a 14-point lead to start the game. Georgia State managed to score 2 touchdowns in the final minute of the first half to even things up. Just like the beginning of the game, Kennesaw State began by scoring twice, but this time it was two field goals. Georgia State entered the 4th quarter trailing 20-14, but managed to pull off the comeback, with an 8-yard touchdown pass with 41 seconds left on the clock.

-Junior Dan Ellington won the starting job at quarterback heading into week 1, and played quite well in his first Division-1 football game. He was 20 of 28 (71.4%) for 187 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ellington also led the Panthers in rushing, taking off 18 times for 77 yards. Prior to transferring to Georgia State, Ellington played two years of Junior College at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi, where he earned 2nd team All-American honors last season. He ranked second in the NJCAA with 356.8 passing yards per game and fifth with 27 TD passes.

-Junior Wide Receiver Penny Hart was an Athlon 2018 Preseason All-American (3rd Team). He ranks 1st among active FBS receivers in career receiving yards per game (83.1) and receptions per game (5.64). Hart also ranks second in career receiving yards (2,327), fifth in receptions (158) and third in touchdown receptions (18).

-Redshirt Senior Linebacker Michael Shaw is Georgia State’s career leader in tackles for loss (25.5) and 3rd in sacks (7). He is a 4-year starter, and earned 2018 Preseason 1st Team All-Sun Belt honors.

-Two of the Panthers offensive linemen earned 2018 Preseason 2nd Team All-Sun Belt Honors: Redshirt Junior Hunter Atkinson and Sophomore Shamarious Gilmore.

-Senior Defensive End Marterious Allen earned 2nd Team All-Sun Belt preseason honors, after earning 3rd team honors in 2017 (4 sacks)