# 2022 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

The 2022 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented Georgia Southern University during the 2022 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 Clay Helton, former head coach of the USC Trojans. Helton was hired on November 2, 2021, and this was his first season in Statesboro.
The team's statistical leaders include quarterback Kyle Vantrease.

## Preseason
### Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Ben Anderson LS | Charlotte, NC | Charlotte Latin School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | – | Jan 9, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 69 |||||||
| Ezrah Archie WR | Sicklerville, NJ | Timber Creek HS Monmouth | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Omari Arnold RB | Quitman, GA | Brooks County HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Henry Bates K | Waycross, GA | Ware County HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Jan 9, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 72 |||||||
| Latrell Bullard DL | Kennesaw, GA | North Cobb HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 315 lb (143 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Dalen Cobb ATH | Washington, GA | Washington-Wilkes HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Danny Corbett IOL | Lake Park, GA | Lowndes HS Campbell | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| David Dallas QB | Sharpsburg, GA | Trinity Christian School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 188 lb (85 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Josh Dallas ATH | Sharpsburg, GA | Trinity Christian School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Da'Shawn Davis DL | Cornelius, NC | Hough HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 268 lb (122 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Elhadj Fall DL | Marietta, GA | Osborne HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Colton Fitzgerald QB | Santa Clarita, CA | Saugus HS Boise State | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Wylan Free CB | Compton, CA | Lynwood HS Fresno State | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 172 lb (78 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Terrance Gibbs RB | Winter Park, FL | Winter Park HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | Feb 2, 2022 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 83 |||||||
| Jacob Hammonds LB | Griffin, GA | Griffin HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
| Zyere Horton S | Alpharetta, GA | Milton HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 72 |||||||
| Ethan Ingram IOL | Gainesville, FL | Buchholz HS Marshall | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Treston Jordan S | Alpharetta, GA | Denmark HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 72 |||||||
| Michael Lantz K | Peachtree City, GA | Starr's Mill HS Minnesota | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Nate Lewis IOL | Hazlehurst, GA | Jeff Davis HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 265 lb (120 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Zak Rozsman QB | Marietta, GA | Walton HS | 6 ft 2.5 in (1.89 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Marcus Sanders WR | Montezuma, GA | Macon County HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Jeremy Singleton WR | New Orleans, LA | Brother Martin High School Houston | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Kevin Speed ATH | Cairo, GA | Cairo HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 197 lb (89 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Marc Stampley S | Peachtree City, GA | Starr's Mill HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 70 |||||||
| Chandler Strong IOL | Warner Robins, GA | Houston County HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 72 |||||||
| MJ Stroud EDGE | Covington, GA | Alcovy HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Ky Tayo DL | Columbia, SC | Spring Valley HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 69 |||||||
| Joshua Thompson WR | Alpharetta, GA | Johns Creek HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 72 |||||||
| Kyle Toole QB | Leesburg, GA | Lee County HS Troy | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 201 lb (91 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Kyle Vantrease QB | Stow, OH | Stow-Munroe HS Buffalo | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Kristian Varner DL | Hiram, GA | Hiram HS North Carolina | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Ashton Whitner S | Greenville, SC | Greenville HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Pichon Wimbley IOL | Newnan, GA | Newnan HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 305 lb (138 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 69 |||||||
| Mari Wingard CB | Charlotte, NC | Ardrey Kell HS Elon | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 172 lb (78 kg) | – | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
Source:

### Media poll

The Sun Belt media days were held on July 25 and July 26. The Eagles were predicted to finish in fifth place in the Sun Belt's East Division. Georgia Southern also received 1-of-14 first place votes.
Media poll (East Division) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Appalachian State | 94 (10) |
| 2 | Coastal Carolina | 77 (2) |
| 3 | Georgia State | 68 (1) |
| 4 | Marshall | 62 |
| 5 | Georgia Southern | 35 (1) |
| 6 | James Madison | 31 |
| 7 | Old Dominion | 25 |

### Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
## Schedule

All conference games were announced March 1, 2022.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 6:00 p.m. | Morgan State* | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN3 | W 59–7 | 15,183 |
| September 10 | 7:30 p.m. | at Nebraska* | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | FS1 | W 45–42 | 86,862 |
| September 17 | 3:30 p.m. | at UAB* | Protective StadiumBirmingham, AL | Stadium | L 21–35 | 24,302 |
| September 24 | 6:00 p.m. | Ball State* | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | W 34–23 | 18,434 |
| October 1 | 7:00 p.m. | at Coastal Carolina | Brooks StadiumConway, SC | ESPN+ | L 30–34 | 18,756 |
| October 8 | 2:00 p.m. | at Georgia State | Center Parc StadiumAtlanta, GA (Modern Day Hate) | ESPN3 | L 33–41 | 20,109 |
| October 15 | 4:00 p.m. | No. 25 James Madison | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | W 45–38 | 18,738 |
| October 22 | 3:30 p.m. | at Old Dominion | S.B. Ballard StadiumNorfolk, VA | ESPN+ | W 28–23 | 20,162 |
| November 5 | 4:00 p.m. | South Alabama | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | L 31–38 | 17,084 |
| November 10 | 7:30 p.m. | at Louisiana | Cajun FieldLafayette, LA | ESPN2 | L 17–36 | 11,512 |
| November 19 | 6:00 p.m. | Marshall | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | L 10–23 | 16,153 |
| November 26 | 5:00 p.m. | Appalachian State | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA (Deeper Than Hate) | ESPN+ | W 51–48 $^{2OT}$ | 18,683 |
| December 27 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. Buffalo* | Cramton BowlMontgomery, AL (Camellia Bowl) | ESPN | L 21–23 | 15,322 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game |||||||

## Game summaries
### Morgan State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Eagles | 0 | 17 | 14 | 28 | 59 |

### At Nebraska

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 14 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 45 |
| Cornhuskers | 7 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE
* Date: September 10, 2022
* Game time: 6:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy, 63 °F (17 °C)
* Game attendance: 86,862
* Referee: Jeffrey Servinski
* TV announcers (FS1): Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Mark Helfrich (analyst)
* Sources:
| Statistics | GASO | NEB |
| First downs | 34 | 33 |
| Total yards | 642 | 575 |
| Rushes/yards | 30–233 | 47–257 |
| Passing yards | 409 | 318 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 37–56–2 | 23–34–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:04 | 31:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Kyle Vantrease | 37/56, 409 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Gerald Green | 10 carries, 132 yards, 2 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 12 receptions, 119 yards |
| Nebraska | Passing | Casey Thompson | 23/34, 318 yards, TD |
| Nebraska | Rushing | Anthony Grant | 27 carries, 138 yards, TD |
| Nebraska | Receiving | Marcus Washington | 6 receptions, 123 yards |

### At UAB

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Blazers | 7 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 35 |
| Statistics | GASO | UAB |
| First downs | 23 | 21 |
| Total yards | 418 | 413 |
| Rushing yards | 214 | 288 |
| Passing yards | 204 | 125 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:14 | 31:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Kyle Vantrease | 24/50, 204 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 14 rushes, 116 yards, 2 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 4 receptions, 48 yards, TD |
| UAB | Passing | Dylan Hopkins | 12/19, 125 yards, TD |
| UAB | Rushing | DeWayne McBride | 28 rushes, 223 yards, 4 TD |
| UAB | Receiving | Ryan Davis | 1 reception, 36 yards |

### Ball State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 3 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 23 |
| Eagles | 3 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 34 |

### At Coastal Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 30 |
| Chanticleers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 20 | 34 |

### At Georgia State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 7 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 33 |
| Panthers | 13 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 41 |

### No. 25 James Madison

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 25 Dukes | 7 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
| Eagles | 0 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 45 |

### At Old Dominion

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Monarchs | 3 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 23 |
Statistics
| Statistics | GS | ODU |
| First downs | 25 | 18 |
| Total yards | 415 | 446 |
| Rushing yards | 223 | 133 |
| Passing yards | 192 | 313 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 34:33 | 25:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Kyle Vantrease | 22/27, 192 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 30 rushes, 138 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Amare Jones | 5 receptions, 54 yards, TD |
| Old Dominion | Passing | Hayden Wolff | 23/40, 313 yards, TD |
| Old Dominion | Rushing | Blake Watson | 16 rushes, 108 yards, TD |
| Old Dominion | Receiving | Ali Jennings III | 9 receptions, 130 yards, TD |

### South Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jaguars | 7 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
| Eagles | 21 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 31 |

### At Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| • Ragin' Cajuns | 7 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 36 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –3.5 | 63.0 |
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | Louisiana |
| First downs | 24 | 22 |
| Total yards | 430 | 435 |
| Rushing yards | 72 | 242 |
| Passing yards | 358 | 193 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:18 | 31:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Kyle Vantrease | 28/49, 325 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Gerald Green | 10 carries, 44 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 5 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Passing | Ben Wooldridge | 17/31, 193 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 17 carries, 80 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Michael Jefferson | 3 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD |

### Marshall

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thundering Herd | 6 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| Eagles | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, Georgia
* Date: Saturday, November 19, 2022
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 52 °F (11 °C) • Wind: 0 mph
* Game attendance: 16,153
* Referee: Trennis Livingston
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Danny Waugh (play-by-play), Cole Neely (anaylst), Emily Grace McWhorter (sideline)
* Pregame line: Marshall –6.0
| Statistics | MRSH | GASO |
| First downs | 29 | 20 |
| Plays–yards | 86–529 | 64–384 |
| Rushes–yards | 54–255 | 24–179 |
| Passing yards | 274 | 205 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 17–32–0 | 22–40–1 |
| Time of possession | 36:54 | 23:06 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Marshall | Passing | Cam Fancher | 17/32, 274 yards, 2 TD |
| Marshall | Rushing | Rasheen Ali | 16 carries, 79 yards |
| Marshall | Receiving | EJ Horton | 2 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Kyle Vantrease | 22/39, 205 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 13 carries, 143 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Jeremy Singleton | 8 receptions, 73 yards |

### Appalachian State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total |
| Mountaineers | 6 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 48 |
| Eagles | 7 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 51 |
at Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, Georgia
* Date: November 26
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy
* Game attendance: 18,683
* Referee: Wayne Winkler
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Danny Waugh, Cole Neely, Emily Grace McWhorter
Statistics
| Statistics | APP | GASO |
| First downs | 25 | 27 |
| Total yards | 629 | 487 |
| Rushing yards | 376 | 102 |
| Passing yards | 253 | 385 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:33 | 27:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Chase Brice | 15/26, 253 yards |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Nate Noel | 12 carries, 171 yards, 3 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Christian Horn | 2 receptions, 55 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Kyle Vantrease | 34/51, 385 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | AJ Brown | 14 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Jeremy Singleton | 10 receptions, 133 yards |

### Vs. Buffalo (Camellia Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 21 |
| Bulls | 0 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 23 |

## Staff

| Name | Position | Consecutive season at Georgia Southern |
| Clay Helton | Head coach | 1st |
| Kevin Whitley | Assistant head coach/Cornerbacks Coach | 1st (4th overall) |
| Bryan Ellis | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach | 1st |
| Will Harris | Defensive coordinator/Secondary Coach | 1st |
| Ryan Aplin | Pass Game Coordinator/Tight Ends/Inside Receivers coach | 1st |
| Marcus Davis | Wide receivers coach | 1st |
| Matt Merritt | Running Backs Coach | 1st |
| Richard Owens | Run Game Coordinator/ offensive line coach | 1st |
| Rip Rowan | Defensive Line Coach | 1st |
| Aaron Schwanz | Linebackers coach | 1st |
| Turner West | Special Teams Coordinator | 1st |
| Robert Stiner | Head Strength & Conditioning Coach | 1st |