# 2021 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

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. 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.

## 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

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Derwin Burgess Jr. WR | Riverdale, GA | Riverdale HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Chas Collins OL | Statesboro, GA | Bulloch Academy | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Caleb Cook OL | Brunswick, GA | Brunswick HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Tyrell Davis DB | Harrisburg, NC | Hickory Ridge HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Michael Edwards III LB | Trussville, AL | Hewitt-Trussville HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| James Graham QB | Fitzgerald, GA | Fitzgerald HS Georgia Tech | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Harrison Hamsley TE | Valdosta, GA | The Valwood | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Seaburn Hines IV OL | Helena, AL | Helena HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Andrew Johnson Jr. OLB | Tifton, GA | Tift County HS Oregon | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Amare Jones RB | Frisco, TX | Heritage HS Tulane | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Evan Lester TE | Dalton, GA | Christian Heritage | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Montae Maxwell DB | Hartwell, GA | Hart County HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Aug 12, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jjay Mcafee WR | Charleston, SC | Ashley Ridge HS Georgia Military | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| LJ McCloud DL | Pike Road, AL | Pike Road HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 265 lb (120 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Nick Mercer DL | Cordele, GA | Crisp County HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Justin Meyers DB | Washington, GA | Washington-Wilkes HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Cam'Ron Ransom QB | Lakeland, FL | Armwood HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Davion Rhodes DL | Camilla, GA | Pelham HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Eldrick Robinson II LB | Pensacola, FL | Booker T. Washington HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Nathan Tillman LS | Claxton, GA | Claxton HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: |||||||
| Josh Trice DB | Waverly Hall, GA | Harris County HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Isaac Walker LB | Greensboro, NC | Hough HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Britton Williams PK | Richmond Hill, GA | Richmond Hill HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Myzel Williams DB | DeLand, FL | DeLand HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Myles Winslow DL | Kissimmee, FL | Tohopekaliga HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
Source:

### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

#### Preseason

| Award | Player | Position | Year |
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.
East Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| T1 | Coastal Carolina | 44 (6) |
| T1 | Appalachian State | 44 (4) |
| 3 | Georgia State | 24 |
| 4 | Georgia Southern | 20 |
| 5 | Troy | 18 |
West Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| 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
## 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.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 6:00 p.m. | Gardner–Webb* | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN3 | W 30–25 | 15,089 |
| September 11 | 3:30 p.m. | at Florida Atlantic* | FAU StadiumBoca Raton, FL | Stadium | L 6–38 | 17,736 |
| September 18 | 4:00 p.m. | at No. 20 Arkansas* | Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, AR | SECN | L 10–45 | 66,311 |
| September 25 | 6:00 p.m. | Louisiana | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | L 20–28 | 17,522 |
| October 2 | 4:00 p.m. | Arkansas State | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | W 59–33 | 16,377 |
| October 9 | 7:00 p.m. | at Troy | Veterans Memorial StadiumTroy, AL | ESPN+ | L 24–27 | 25,424 |
| October 14 | 7:30 p.m. | at South Alabama | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPNU | L 14–41 | 16,089 |
| October 30 | 6:00 p.m. | Georgia State | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA (Modern Day Hate) | ESPN+ | L 14–21 | 17,843 |
| November 6 | 6:00 p.m. | Coastal Carolina | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | L 8–28 | 12,875 |
| November 13 | 3:00 p.m. | at Texas State | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN+ | W 38–30 | 15,896 |
| November 20 | 4:00 p.m. | No. 14 BYU* | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | L 17–34 | 20,862 |
| November 27 | 2:30 p.m. | at Appalachian State | Kidd Brewer StadiumBoone, NC (rivalry) | ESPN+ | L 3–27 | 28,005 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 2) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Gardner–Webb

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 6 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 25 |
| • Eagles | 3 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
| Pregame line | 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 |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Narii Gaither | 7 carries, 33 yards |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | T. J. Luther | 6 receptions, 164 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Cam Ransom | 8/13, 90 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Logan Wright | 26 carries, 178 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 3 receptions, 39 yards |

### At Florida Atlantic

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| • Owls | 0 | 10 | 21 | 7 | 38 |
| Pregame line | 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 |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Cam Ransom | 9 carries, 41 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Gerald Green | 6 receptions, 55 yards |
| Florida Atlantic | Passing | N'Kosi Perry | 19/27, 332 yards, 4 TDs |
| Florida Atlantic | Rushing | Johnny Ford | 15 carries, 71 yards |
| Florida Atlantic | Receiving | LaJohntay Wester | 7 receptions, 124 yards, 1 TD |

### At Arkansas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| • No. 20 Razorbacks | 14 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
| Pregame line | 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 |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Justin Tomlin | 10 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 6 receptions, 42 yards |
| Arkansas | Passing | KJ Jefferson | 13/23, 366 yards, 3 TDs |
| Arkansas | Rushing | Dominique Johnson | 5 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas | Receiving | Treylon Burks | 3 receptions, 127 yards, 1 TD |

### Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ragin' Cajuns | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Eagles | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Pregame line | 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 | Levi Lewis | 17/28, 249 yards, 3 TDs |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Montrell Johnson | 13 carries, 61 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Dontae Fleming | 4 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Justin Tomlin | 11/24, 175 yards, 1 INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Gerald Green | 18 carries, 186 yards, 3 TDs |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Logan Wright | 4 receptions, 85 yards |

### Arkansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 3 | 16 | 0 | 14 | 33 |
| • Eagles | 10 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 59 |
| Pregame line | 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 | James Blackman | 28/43, 292 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 7 carries, 54 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Jeff Foreman | 6 receptions, 83 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Cam Ransom | 2/5, 29 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Logan Wright | 10 carries, 214 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 2 receptions, 19 yards |

### At Troy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 24 |
| • Trojans | 10 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| Pregame line | 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 |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Gerald Green | 5 carries, 33 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 2 receptions, 76 yards |
| Troy | Passing | Gunnar Watson | 24/36, 270 yards, 2 TDs |
| Troy | Rushing | Jamontez Woods | 9 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD |
| Troy | Receiving | Reggie Todd | 4 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD |

### At South Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| • Jaguars | 10 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 41 |
| Pregame line | 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 |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Logan Wright | 14 carries, 60 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Amare Jones | 4 receptions, 90 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 24/31, 389 yards, 3 TDs |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Bryan Hill | 8 carries, 65 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 11 receptions, 174 yards, 1 TD |

### Georgia State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Panthers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Pregame line | 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 | Darren Grainger | 16/27, 141 yards |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Jaymest Williams | 12 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Roger Carter | 2 receptions, 59 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Justin Tomlin | 18/27, 279 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Logan Wright | 20 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 6 receptions, 107 yards |

### Coastal Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Chanticleers | 0 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Pregame line | 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 |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | Shermari Jones | 20 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Kameron Brown | 3 receptions, 30 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Justin Tomlin | 6/13, 83 yards, 1 INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Justin Tomlin | 10 carries, 39 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 5 receptions, 66 yards |

### At Texas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Eagles | 3 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
| Bobcats | 0 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 30 |
| Pregame line | 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 |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 10 carries, 82 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess, Jr. | 5 receptions, 134 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Passing | Tyler Vitt | 29/46, 263 yards, 1 INT |
| Texas State | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 19 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Marcell Barbee | 4 receptions, 63 yards |

### BYU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 14 Cougars' | 7 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
| Eagles | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Pregame line | 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 | Jaren Hall | 17/29, 312 yards, 2 TDs |
| BYU | Rushing | Tyler Allgeier | 25 carries, 136 yards, 1 TD |
| BYU | Receiving | Gunner Romney | 5 receptions, 87 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Connor Cigelske | 11/14, 122 yards, 1 INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Logan Wright | 14 carries, 50 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Logan Wright | 5 receptions, 43 yards |

### At Appalachian State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| • Mountaineers | 7 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 27 |
| Pregame line | 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 |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 8 carries, 38 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Amare Jones | 5 receptions, 56 yards |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Chase Brice | 12/24, 235 yards, 2 TDs |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Anderson Castle | 6 carries, 31 yards |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Thomas Hennigan | 3 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD |