Georgia State and head coach Shawn Elliott signed nine recruits on National Signing Day to complete the first recruiting cycle in the early signing period era. The class of 2018 ends with 26 total commits.
The Panthers’ class ranks third in the Sun Belt Conference and with 12 three-star recruits. Swift Lyle, the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the state of Alabama is a standout from the nine additional signees to the 17 signed during the early signing period on Dec. 20.
“What a great job our staff did in recruiting this class,” Elliott said. “It was a little different recruiting this 2018 class with the early signing period in December and now the late signing period. But we met all our needs from running back to d-line to o-line to wide receiver– you name it, offensively and defensively. We did a really good job of getting the necessary tools in place and the character in place to build this program to where we want to be.”
Looking for more offensive firepower, Elliott successfully recruited eight skill-position players, including three running backs, three wide receivers ad two quarterbacks.
“I think we needed to bolster our skill positions,” Elliott said. “Of course you want that offensive line to open holes, but you have to go get those playmakers. We need somebody who can make guys miss and take it the distance, so we went out and attacked those positions.”
Two weapons no longer inside the athletic program turned out to be huge tools Elliott and staff put to good work inside of recruits’ homes– Albert Wilson and Robert Davis.
“When you can go into a home and say, ‘We’ve been in existence for eight years and we’ve got two receivers in the NFL right now and we’ve got one whose heading in the direction to top them both in catches and yardage’ then you’re not selling anything; these are facts. So that’s a big help,” he said.
The much anticipated replacement for two-year starting quarterback Conner Manning, will be determined in an open, fair competition. Dan and two on 2017-2018 roster.
“At this time I really don’t want to throw that (a potential starter) out there and use a name because there’s so much that has to be done over the course of the spring,” Elliott said. “It’s a job that’s wide-open. It’s gonna be a great competition to watch and see how it develops and the best man will win.”
Elliott produced a 33 percent increase in three-star recruits during his second year at the helms, up four from eight in 2017. Additionally this February, the Panthers finished 12 and one spots higher in the national and Sun belt rankings respectively.
February Recruits
- Destin Coates (RB, 5’10, 180, Tallahassee, Fla., Rickards)
- Zachary Dixon (ILB, 6’0, 210, Hollywood, Fla., Chaminade-Madonna)
- Mario Dungy (NG-DE, 6’3, 285, Mobile, Ala., Blount/Highlands C.C.)
- Travis Glover (OL, 6’5, 310, Vienna, Ga., Dooly County)
- Jontrey Hunter (OLB, 6’2, 195, Tampa, Fla., Sickles)
- Swift Lyle (QB, 6’3, 195, Mobile, Ala., St Paul’s Episcopal)
- Seth Paige (RB, 5’10, 180, Glen St. Mary, Fla., Baker County)
- Sam Pinckney (WR, 6’2, 210, Greenwood, S.C., Greenwood)
- Courtney Williams (S, 6’2, 180, Hogansville, Ga., Callaway)
December Recruits
- Despelado Alexandre (OL, 6’5, 265, Deerfield Beach, Florida, Deerfield Beach)
- Johnathan Bass (OL, 6’4, 270, Marietta, Georgia, Kell)
- Blake Carroll (ILB, 6’2, 219, Lawrenceville, Georgia, Mountain View)
- Diondre Champaigne (WR, 6’3, 195, North Charleston, South Carolina, Fort Dorchester/Jones County (Miss.) JC)
- Jacorey Crawford (S, 6’1, 205, Thomson, Georgia, Thomson)
- Dan Ellington (QB, 6’2, 192, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Center Hill/Itawamba (Miss.) CC)
- Tyler Gore (CB, 5’10, 170, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, North Myrtle Beach)
- Dawson Hill (RB, 5’11, 190, Plantation, Florida, South Plantation)
- Brandon Joseph (OL, 6’2, 280, Lawrenceville, Georgia, Central Gwinnett)
- D’Angelo Knight (OLB, 6’2, 215, North Charleston, South Carolina, Fort Dorchester)
- Cornelius McCoy (WR, 5’10, 170, Deerfield, Florida, Deerfield)
- Herman McCray (TE, 6’4, 230, West Palm Beach, Florida, Oxbridge Academy).
- Tre Moore (DE, 6’2, 230, Johnston, South Carolina, Storm Thurmond)
- Akeem Smith (DT, 6’0, 292, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Bishop Sullivan Catholic)
- T..J. Smith (DE, 6’3, 242, Laurinburg, North Carolina, Scotland)
- Marlon Young (DE, 6’3, 245, Opelousas, Louisiana, Opelousas)
- Quavian White (CB, 5’9, 182, Greer, South Carolina, Greer)
