# 2023 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

The 2023 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented Georgia Southern University during the 2023 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. The team was coached by second-year head coach Clay Helton. The Georgia Southern Eagles football team drew an average home attendance of 21,543 in 2023.

## Preseason
### Recruiting class

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Beau Allen QB | | Tarleton | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 203 lb (92 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jshawn Anderson RB | Hartsville, SC | Hartsville HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Jaylon Barden ATH | | Pitt | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Davis Brin QB | Boerne, TX | Champion HS Tulsa | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 181 lb (82 kg) | – | Jan 2, 2023 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Bryson Broadway OT | Dawsonville, GA | Dawson County HS Georgia State | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | – | Dec 12, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| DeAndre Buchannon WR | Atlanta, GA | Carver HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Chris Carter OT | Garden City, KS | Garden City CC | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Kenneth Dorsey WR | Evans, GA | Evans HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 194 lb (88 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Davon Ferguson CB | | Bowling Green | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jacob Ferguson DL | Council Bluffs, IA | Iowa Western CC | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| JC French QB | Norcross, GA | Blessed Trinity Catholic HS Memphis | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | – | Jan 8, 2023 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Davon Gilmore LB | | | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 233 lb (106 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Damel Hickman CB | | East Carolina | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Ayden Jackson WR | Marietta, GA | Walton HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Matthew James EDGE | Jupiter, FL | Jupiter Christian School | 6 ft 6.5 in (1.99 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | – | Aug 12, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Will Johnson EDGE | Tucker, GA | Tucker HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | – | Jul 29, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Alijah Lacey EDGE | Bloomingdale, GA | New Hampstead HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Tarian Lee Jr. LB | | Texas A&M | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 233 lb (106 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Caimon Mathis DB | DeSoto, TX | DeSoto HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jaden Mikhael TE | Niceville, FL | Niceville HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 231 lb (105 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Bryson Norris IOL | Coffeyville, KS | Coffeyville CC | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 330 lb (150 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Anthony Queeley WR | Orlando, FL | Lake Nona HS Syracuse | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | – | Dec 18, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Branden Palmer EDGE | Cornelius, NC | William Amos Hough HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Troy Pikes DL | Atlanta, GA | Mays HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Kebba Secka DL | Lithia Springs, GA | Lithia Springs Comprehensive HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Alex Smith P | Melbourne, Australia | ProKick Australia | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Matthew Smith IOL | Harlem, GA | Harlem HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| TJ Smith S | Powder Springs, GA | McEachern HS Kansas State | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Keaton Upshaw TE | | Kentucky | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Keion Wallace WR | Springfield, GA | Effingham County HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Coby Walton QB | Nolensville, TN | Nolensville HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Elijah Walton ATH | Citra, FL | North Marion HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Jamari Whitehead LB | Jacksonville, FL | Raines HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Cameron Williams S | | Washington | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Ethan Williams IOL | Orange Park, FL | Fleming Island HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Matthew Williams OL | Appling, GA | Harlem HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Robert Wright IOL | Stockbridge, GA | Stockbridge HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | – | |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
Source:

### Media poll

In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Eagles were picked to finish in fifth place in the East division.
Media poll (East division) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | James Madison | 78 (4) |
| 2 | Appalachian State | 75 (4) |
| 3 | Coastal Carolina | 71 (1) |
| 4 | Marshall | 68 (1) |
| 5 | Georgia Southern | 52 (1) |
| 6 | Georgia State | 31 |
| 7 | Old Dominion | 17 |
Offensive lineman Khalil Crowder, wide receiver Khaleb Hood, and linebacker Marques Watson-Trent were named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team. Tight end Jjay Mcafee was named to the second team.

## Schedule

The football schedule was announced February 24, 2023.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 6:00 p.m. | The Citadel* | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | W 34–0 | 17,803 |
| September 9 | 6:00 p.m. | UAB* | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | W 49–35 | 20,103 |
| September 16 | 12:00 p.m. | at Wisconsin* | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI | BTN | L 14–35 | 75,610 |
| September 23 | 2:00 p.m. | at Ball State* | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | ESPN+ | W 40–3 | 10,118 |
| September 30 | 7:00 p.m. | Coastal Carolina | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | NFLN | W 38–28 | 26,483 |
| October 14 | 12:00 p.m. | at James Madison | Bridgeforth StadiumHarrisonburg, VA | ESPN2 | L 13–41 | 25,097 |
| October 21 | 2:00 p.m. | Louisiana–Monroe | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | W 38–28 | 21,068 |
| October 26 | 7:30 p.m. | Georgia State | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA (Modern Day Hate) | ESPN2 | W 44–27 | 23,389 |
| November 4 | 7:00 p.m. | at Texas State | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN+ | L 24–45 | 18,204 |
| November 11 | 7:00 p.m. | at Marshall | Joan C. Edwards StadiumHuntington, WV | NFLN | L 33–38 | 19,175 |
| November 18 | 6:00 p.m. | Old Dominion | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | L 17–20 | 20,032 |
| November 25 | 3:30 p.m. | at Appalachian State | Kidd Brewer StadiumBoone, NC (Deeper Than Hate) | ESPNU | L 27–55 | 31,248 |
| December 16 | 11:00 a.m. | vs. Ohio* | Brooks StadiumConway, SC (Myrtle Beach Bowl) | ESPN | L 21–41 | 8,059 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### at Wisconsin

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Badgers | 0 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 35 |
at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
* Date: September 16, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C); Cloudy; Wind at NW4 MPH
* Game attendance: 75,610
* Referee: Tim O'Dey
* TV announcers (BTN): Mark Followill (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst) and Elise Menaker (sideline)
| Statistics | GASO | WIS |
| First downs | 23 | 22 |
| Total yards | 80–455 | 69–451 |
| Rushing yards | 28–72 | 38–207 |
| Passing yards | 383 | 244 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 33–52–5 | 20–31–0 |
| Time of possession | 31:23 | 28:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Davis Brin | 33/52, 383 yards, 1 TD, 5 INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | OJ Arnold | 10 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 8 receptions, 124 yards |
| Wisconsin | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 19/30, 236 yards |
| Wisconsin | Rushing | Braelon Allen | 12 carries, 94 yards, 2 TD |
| Wisconsin | Receiving | Chimere Dike | 3 receptions, 57 yards |

### at Ball State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Georgia Southern | 14 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 40 |
| Ball State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
at Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN
* Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: -
* Game attendance: 10,118
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | GASO | BALL |
| First downs | 25 | 10 |
| Total yards | 77–530 | 55–197 |
| Rushing yards | 27–167 | 28–37 |
| Passing yards | 363 | 160 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 36–50–0 | 14–29–2 |
| Time of possession | 30:41 | 29:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Davis Brin | 34/46, 344 yards, 4 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | OJ Arnold | 9 carries, 90 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 7 receptions, 107 yards, TD |
| Ball State | Passing | Kadin Semonza | 11/23, 123 yards, 2 INT |
| Ball State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 9 carries, 16 yards |
| Ball State | Receiving | Rico Barfield | 2 receptions, 50 yards |

### Georgia State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, Georgia
* Date: October 26, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 23,389
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Win Probability
Line
Over/Under :
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Georgia State | Passing |
| Georgia State | Rushing |
| Georgia State | Receiving |
| Georgia Southern | Passing |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving |

### at Texas State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Bobcats | 7 | 24 | 14 | 0 | 45 |
at Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, Texas
* Date: November 4
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 18,204
* Referee: Trennis Livingston
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Brant Freeman, Keith Moreland, and Koral Riggs
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | GASO | TXST |
| First downs | 21 | 30 |
| Total yards | 375 | 487 |
| Rushing yards | 180 | 186 |
| Passing yards | 195 | 301 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:04 | 34:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Davis Brin | 18/27, 195 yards, TD, INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 17 rushes, 159 yards, 2 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 7 receptions, 67 yards |
| Texas State | Passing | T. J. Finley | 25/31, 301 yards, 3 TD |
| Texas State | Rushing | Ismail Mahdi | 20 rushes, 99 yards |
| Texas State | Receiving | Joey Hobert | 13 receptions, 141 yards, TD |

### at Marshall

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 3 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 33 |
| Thundering Herd | 10 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
at Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, West Virginia
* Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 19,175
* Referee: Scott Broadway
* TV announcers (NFLN): Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play), Tyoka Jackson (analyst)
* Pregame line: Georgia Southern –1.5
| Statistics | GASO | MRSH |
| First downs | 18 | 14 |
| Plays–yards | 80–384 | 54–370 |
| Rushes–yards | 24–77 | 33–169 |
| Passing yards | 307 | 201 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 29–56–0 | 15–21–1 |
| Time of possession | 32:42 | 27:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Davis Brin | 29/54, 307 yards, 3 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 17 carries, 67 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Jaylon Barden | 6 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD |
| Marshall | Passing | Cole Pennington | 15/20, 201 yards, 1 INT |
| Marshall | Rushing | Rasheen Ali | 24 carries, 165 yards, 3 TD |
| Marshall | Receiving | DeMarcus Harris | 4 receptions, 147 yards |

### Vs. Ohio

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Georgia Southern | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| Ohio | 3 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 41 |
at Brooks Stadium • Conway, South Carolina
* Date: Saturday, December 16, 2023
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. EST
* Game weather: sunny
* Game attendance: 8,059
* Referee: Patrick Foy (Mountain West)
* TV announcers (ESPN): Drew Carter (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline)
* Pregame line: Georgia Southern −1.5; O/U 48.5 • Ohio notes, boxscore
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | Ohio |
| First downs | 16 | 18 |
| Total Yards | 383 | 352 |
| Rushes/yards | 21–33 | 46–232 |
| Passing yards | 350 | 120 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 32–42–3 | 11–16–120 |
| Time of possession | 26:40 | 33:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Davis Brin | 32/42, 350 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | David Mbadinga | 4 rushes, 44 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 6 receptions, 117 yards |
| Ohio | Passing | Parker Navarro | 11/16, 120 yards, 1 TD |
| Ohio | Rushing | Rickey Hunt | 17 rushes, 115 yards, 4 TD |
| Ohio | Receiving | Sam Wiglusz | 5 receptions, 64 yards |