2021 Georgia Southern Eagles football team explained
| Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | Georgia Southern Eagles |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Sun Belt Conference |
| Short Conf: | Sun Belt |
| Division: | East Division |
| Record: | 3–9 |
| Conf Record: | 2–6 |
| Head Coach: | Chad Lunsford |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Hc Games: | first 4 games |
| Head Coach2: | Kevin Whitley |
| Hc Games2: | interim; final 8 games |
| Off Coach: | Doug Ruse |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Off Scheme: | Pistol |
| Def Coach: | Scot Sloan |
| Dc Year: | 4th |
| Def Scheme: | 3–4 |
| Stadium: | Paulson Stadium |
The 2021 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented Georgia Southern University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia, and competed in the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by third-year head coach Chad Lunsford until he was dismissed mid-season following his third consecutive loss within the first four games of the season. Cornerbacks coach Kevin Whitley was tapped to serve as interim coach until a new head coach was hired by the university.[1] Whitley was in his third year as cornerbacks coach and previously played for Georgia Southern as a four year starter from 1988 to 1991, helping to win two national titles for the Eagles. On November 2, 2021, Clay Helton, former head coach of the USC Trojans, was hired to become the next head coach for Georgia Southern, starting in the 2022 season.[2]
Previous season
The Eagles finished the 2020 season 8–5, 4–4 in Sun Belt play to finish in third place in the East Division and. Southern was then invited to play in the New Orleans Bowl, their fourth postseason FBS bowl game and their third consecutive appearance. They played Louisiana Tech, where they steamrolled the Bulldogs 38-3.
Preseason
Recruiting class
|}Source:[3]
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released
Preseason
Sources:
Sun Belt coaches poll
The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 20, 2021. The Eagles were picked to finish fourth in the East Division.[4]
East Division| T1 | Coastal Carolina | 44 (6) |
| T1 | Appalachian State | 44 (4) |
| 3 | Georgia State | 24 |
| 4 | Georgia Southern | 20 |
| 5 | Troy | 18 | |
West Division| 1 | Louisiana | 49 (9) |
| 2 | Arkansas State | 38 (1) |
| 3 | South Alabama | 27 |
| 4 | Texas State | 25 |
| 5 | Louisiana–Monroe | 11 | |
Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
Offense
2nd team
- JD king – Running Back, SR
- Aaron dowell – Offensive Lineman, SR
Defense
1st team
- Derrick canteen – Defensive Back, RS-SO
Special teams
2nd teams
- Anthony beck ii – Punter, RS-JR
- Khaleb hood – Return Specialist, JR
Schedule
The 2021 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Eagles will travel to Sun Belt foes Troy, South Alabama, Texas State, and Appalachian State. Southern will play host to Sun Belt foes Louisiana, Arkansas State, Georgia State, and Coastal Carolina.
The Eagles will host two of the four non-conference opponents at Paulson Stadium, Gardner–Webb, from NCAA Division I FCS Big South Conference and BYU, a FBS Independent, and will travel to Florida Atlantic of the Conference USA and Arkansas of the Southeastern Conference.
[5] [6]
Game summaries
Gardner–Webb
See also: 2021 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| GASO –27.5 | 48 | |
| Statistics | Gardner–Webb | Georgia Southern |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 25 |
| Total yards | 427 | 500 |
| Rushing yards | 62 | 365 |
| Passing yards | 365 | 135 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:11 | 35:49 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Bailey Fisher | 27/45, 315 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Narii Gaither | 7 carries, 33 yards |
| Receiving | T. J. Luther | 6 receptions, 164 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Cam Ransom | 8/13, 90 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Logan Wright | 26 carries, 178 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 3 receptions, 39 yards | |
At Florida Atlantic
See also: 2021 Florida Atlantic Owls football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| FAU –7.0 | 49 | |
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | Florida Atlantic |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 27 |
| Total yards | 257 | 528 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 196 |
| Passing yards | 118 | 332 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:04 | 33:38 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Cam Ransom | 12/21, 98 yards |
| Rushing | Cam Ransom | 9 carries, 41 yards |
| Receiving | Gerald Green | 6 receptions, 55 yards |
| Florida Atlantic | Passing | | 19/27, 332 yards, 4 TDs |
| Rushing | Johnny Ford | 15 carries, 71 yards |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 124 yards, 1 TD | |
At Arkansas
}
See also: 2021 Arkansas Razorbacks football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| ARK –23.0 | 53 | |
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | Arkansas |
|---|
| First downs | 11 | 27 |
| Total yards | 235 | 633 |
| Rushing yards | 154 | 269 |
| Passing yards | 81 | 364 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:54 | 33:06 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Justin Tomlin | 11/23, 65 yards |
| Rushing | Justin Tomlin | 10 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 6 receptions, 42 yards |
| Arkansas | Passing | | 13/23, 366 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Dominique Johnson | 5 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 3 receptions, 127 yards, 1 TD | |
Louisiana
See also: 2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| LA –14.5 | 55 | |
| Statistics | Louisiana | Georgia Southern |
|---|
| First downs | 18 | 23 |
| Total yards | 378 | 453 |
| Rushing yards | 129 | 278 |
| Passing yards | 249 | 175 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:11 | 32:49 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Louisiana | Passing | | 17/28, 249 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | | 13 carries, 61 yards |
| Receiving | Dontae Fleming | 4 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Justin Tomlin | 11/24, 175 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Gerald Green | 18 carries, 186 yards, 3 TDs |
| Receiving | Logan Wright | 4 receptions, 85 yards | |
Arkansas State
See also: 2021 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| GASO –2.0 | 67 | |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Georgia Southern |
|---|
| First downs | 34 | 20 |
| Total yards | 524 | 540 |
| Rushing yards | 81 | 503 |
| Passing yards | 443 | 37 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 31:04 | 28:56 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Arkansas State | Passing | | 28/43, 292 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 7 carries, 54 yards |
| Receiving | Jeff Foreman | 6 receptions, 83 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Cam Ransom | 2/5, 29 yards |
| Rushing | Logan Wright | 10 carries, 214 yards, 2 TDs |
| Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 2 receptions, 19 yards | |
At Troy
See also: 2021 Troy Trojans football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| TROY –5.5 | 51 | |
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | Troy |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 18 |
| Total yards | 301 | 409 |
| Rushing yards | 82 | 139 |
| Passing yards | 219 | 270 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:19 | 26:41 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Justin Tomlin | 15/22, 210 yards, 3 INTs |
| Rushing | Gerald Green | 5 carries, 33 yards |
| Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 2 receptions, 76 yards |
| Troy | Passing | | 24/36, 270 yards, 2 TDs |
| Rushing | Jamontez Woods | 9 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Reggie Todd | 4 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD | |
At South Alabama
See also: 2021 South Alabama Jaguars football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| USA –2.5 | 50 | |
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | South Alabama |
|---|
| First downs | 10 | 20 |
| Total yards | 233 | 545 |
| Rushing yards | 121 | 140 |
| Passing yards | 112 | 405 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:02 | 29:58 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Cam Ransom | 2/12, 63 yards |
| Rushing | Logan Wright | 14 carries, 60 yards |
| Receiving | Amare Jones | 4 receptions, 90 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | | 24/31, 389 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Bryan Hill | 8 carries, 65 yards |
| Receiving | | 11 receptions, 174 yards, 1 TD | |
Georgia State
See also: 2021 Georgia State Panthers football team and Modern Day Hate.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| GSU –6.0 | 55 | |
| Statistics | Georgia State | Georgia Southern |
|---|
| First downs | 22 | 24 |
| Total yards | 378 | 486 |
| Rushing yards | 237 | 207 |
| Passing yards | 141 | 279 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 25:07 | 34:53 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia State | Passing | | 16/27, 141 yards |
| Rushing | Jaymest Williams | 12 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 2 receptions, 59 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Justin Tomlin | 18/27, 279 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Rushing | Logan Wright | 20 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 6 receptions, 107 yards | |
Coastal Carolina
See also: 2021 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| CCU –16.0 | 56 | |
| Statistics | Coastal Carolina | Georgia Southern |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 15 |
| Total yards | 305 | 233 |
| Rushing yards | 220 | 86 |
| Passing yards | 85 | 147 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 31:37 | 28:23 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | Bryce Carpenter | 13/20, 85 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Shermari Jones | 20 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Kameron Brown | 3 receptions, 30 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Justin Tomlin | 6/13, 83 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Justin Tomlin | 10 carries, 39 yards |
| Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 5 receptions, 66 yards | |
At Texas State
See also: 2021 Texas State Bobcats football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| TXST –2.0 | 52 | |
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | Texas State |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 26 |
| Total yards | 395 | 341 |
| Rushing yards | 162 | 78 |
| Passing yards | 233 | 263 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:08 | 31:52 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Cam Ransom | 7/12, 125 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | | 10 carries, 82 yards, 2 TDs |
| Receiving | Derwin Burgess, Jr. | 5 receptions, 134 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Passing | Tyler Vitt | 29/46, 263 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Calvin Hill | 19 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Marcell Barbee | 4 receptions, 63 yards | |
BYU
See also: 2021 BYU Cougars football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| BYU –20 | 57 | |
| Statistics | BYU | Georgia Southern |
|---|
| First downs | 25 | 19 |
| Total yards | 507 | 268 |
| Rushing yards | 195 | 146 |
| Passing yards | 312 | 122 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 31:09 | 28:51 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| BYU | Passing | | 17/29, 312 yards, 2 TDs |
| Rushing | | 25 carries, 136 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Gunner Romney | 5 receptions, 87 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Connor Cigelske | 11/14, 122 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Logan Wright | 14 carries, 50 yards, 2 TDs |
| Receiving | Logan Wright | 5 receptions, 43 yards | |
At Appalachian State
See also: 2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team and Appalachian State–Georgia Southern football rivalry.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| APP –24.5 | 55 | |
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | Appalachian State |
|---|
| First downs | 15 | 12 |
| Total yards | 194 | 329 |
| Rushing yards | 87 | 94 |
| Passing yards | 107 | 235 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:35 | 25:25 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Connor Cigelske | 11/24, 107 yards |
| Rushing | Jalen White | 8 carries, 38 yards |
| Receiving | Amare Jones | 5 receptions, 56 yards |
| Appalachian State | Passing | | 12/24, 235 yards, 2 TDs |
| Rushing | Anderson Castle | 6 carries, 31 yards |
| Receiving | Thomas Hennigan | 3 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Gough . Lyndsey . Lyndsey Gough . Georgia Southern athletics director, interim coach answer questions day after Lunsford's firing . 2021-09-29 . www.wtoc.com . en.
- Web site: Clay Helton Named Head Football Coach of Georgia Southern Eagles. 2021-11-02. Georgia Southern University Athletics. en.
- Web site: Georgia Southern Rounds Out 2021 Recruiting Class . Georgia Southern University Athletics . 4 July 2021 . en.
- Web site: Sun Belt Announces Football Preseason Awards & Poll . sunbeltsports.org . 26 July 2021 . en.
- Web site: 2021 Georgia Southern Eagles Football Schedule. 3 July 2021.
- Web site: Georgia Southern Eagles . ESPN . 3 July 2021.
