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2012 Spring Practice
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Exclamation 2012 Spring Practice
http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewAr...M_ID=12700


Quote:Panthers Open Spring Practice Wednesday
RELEASE: 03/12/2012

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COURTESY: BILL WALSH/BILL WALSH PHOTOGRAPHY

Donald Russell is one of the Panthers' top returnees on offense.

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The Georgia State football continues its preparations for the 2012 season as head coach Bill Curry and the Panthers begin spring practice Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. at the GSU Practice Complex.

Spring practice continues through April 6 with a total of 15 workouts as permitted by NCAA rules. The Panthers will hold their Spring Scrimmage on Saturday, March 31 at the GSU Practice Complex.

Season three of Georgia State football marks another significant milestone for the program as the Panthers begin conference play as a member of CAA Football.

As GSU looks to improve on last year's disappointing 3-8 season, the Panthers will tackle a difficult schedule in the nation's toughest FCS conference.

The strength of Curry's squad lies in the offensive skill positions, particularly senior running back Donald Russell and talented wide receivers Danny Williams and Albert Wilson.

Major projects this spring include rebuilding an offensive line that graduated four starters, revamping the defensive scheme to utilize a four-man front, and improving all areas of special teams.

The defense is now under the direction of Anthony Midget, who was recently elevated to the coordinator position after serving the last four years as secondary coach and special teams coordinator.

"We need to improve drastically in virtually every area," said Curry. "Since the day after the season ended, we've been working to make this program what it should be.

"The one thing you can always do is create a plan and get to work with a sense of urgency. And that's what we've been doing.

"Every day of spring practice will be a gut check," he added.

SPRING PRACTICE DATES (Subject to Change)
Wed., Mar. 14; Thur., Mar. 15; Sat., Mar. 17; Mon., Mar. 19; Tues., Mar. 20; Thur., Mar. 22; Fri., Mar. 23; Tue., Mar. 27; Wed., Mar. 28; Thur., Mar. 29; Sat., Mar. 31 (Spring Scrimmage); Mon., Apr. 2; Tue., Apr. 3; Thur., Apr. 5; Fri., Apr. 6.


POSITION-BY-POSITION LOOK AT THE PANTHERS

QUARTERBACKS

Georgia State looks to gain stability under center after starting three different quarterbacks in 2011.

Junior Kelton Hill returns after starting the final five games of 2011 and looks to establish more consistency in all areas. He passed for 1,021 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 609 yards and four scores, but he was hampered at times by turnovers and inaccuracy.

Junior Bo Schlechter started four of the first six games of last season. He showed promise in passing for 196 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener, but his productivity waned in later games. He, too, looks to develop consistency.

Redshirt freshman Ben McLane, a former state championship quarterback at Brookwood High School in the Atlanta area, also enters this mix in the spring.

RUNNING BACKS

The running back position is highlighted by senior Donald Russell, who returns after leading the Panthers with 665 yards rushing and nine touchdowns, despite missing time due to injury.

Along with Russell, the Panthers return junior Travis Evans, who was the team's third-leading rusher (390 yards, 4.5 average, 2 TD) and receiver (19 receptions, 109 yards).

Another option is junior Parris Lee, who is versatile and talented but has battled injuries.

Also in the mix are senior Malcolm Smith and sophomore Rendell Wilder, who has been used on kickoff returns.

Senior Rosevelt Watson continues to recover from a knee injury that caused him to miss almost all of the 2011 season.

WIDE RECEIVERS

This is perhaps the deepest and most talented position on the GSU roster, led by a trio of returning starters in juniors Danny Williams, Albert Wilson and Jordan Giles.

Williams, who stands 6-4 and 200 pounds, is the leading receiver in the Panthers' brief history with two-year totals of 84 receptions for 1,134 yards and eight touchdowns. He has caught at least one pass in every game Georgia State has played. Last fall, he caught 30 passes for 485 yards and three scores.

The 5-9, 195-pound Wilson is an explosive athlete with more than 2,000 all-purpose yards in his two-year career, including 56 career receptions for 1,066 yards, an average of 19 yards per catch. He has nine career touchdowns, including eight receptions and one kickoff return. In 2011, Wilson led the Panthers with 37 catches for 772 yards and six touchdowns in nine games while ranking eighth in the nation in punt return average (11.9), 20th in receiving yards (85.8) and 29th in all-purpose yards (134.4).

Giles, 6-1, 195, has been a productive complement to the Williams-Wilson duo, catching 16 passes for 264 yards and four touchdowns last fall.

While those three have dominated the statistics, the Panthers have plenty of other options, too, including junior Darren McCray. The small-but-speedy McCray was hampered by injuries in 2011, catching five passes for 11 yards, but he has averaged 25.5 yards on kickoff returns over the last two years, including a 97-yard touchdown.

Other receivers who should see playing time include junior Bo Carter and sophomores Nathaniel Minor and Lynquez Blair.

TIGHT ENDS

The Panthers will miss graduated starter Arthur "Bully" Williams but return veteran Emmanuel Ogbuehi. The senior from Buford, Ga., has caught 22 passes for 299 yards over the last two seasons.

Behind Ogbuehi, the Panthers have a pair of promising redshirt sophomores in Drew Pearson, who gained valuable experience last fall, and Alex Smith, a transfer from Kentucky.

TACKLES

Right tackle Grant King is the only returning starter on Georgia State's offensive line. The junior from Columbia, S.C., has started every game Georgia State has played (22 straight).

Taking over at left tackle is talented junior Ulrick John, who actually started games at three different positions in the first five games of 2011: left tackle, center and left guard. This season, the 6-8, 290-pounder is ticketed for the all-important left tackle position.

Backups at the tackle positions include 6-7, 295-pound junior Ramell Davis, one of the Panthers' most improved players last season, and 6-5, 310-pound senior Gabe Hampton, who returns for a fifth year after a medical redshirt in 2011.

GUARDS

The Panthers graduated both starting guards from last season but do return experience in juniors Harrison Clottey and Michael Davis. Clottey, 6-5 and 310, has started three games over the last two seasons and played as a backup. Davis, who can play guard or center, has been suffered season-ending injuries the last two years, but last fall he played in three games, including a start at center at nationally-ranked Jacksonville State, before sustaining a broken ankle in practice.

Junior Cade Yates and talented redshirt freshman David Huey enter the spring as backups but should push for playing time.

CENTERS

Sophomore Tim Wynn looks to step in at center to replace two-year starter Ben Jacoby.
Wynn, 6-2, 280, took a redshirt year in 2011 but gained experience in a backup role as a true freshman in the inaugural 2010 season. Junior Michael Davis is also an option at center, while sophomore Ronald Martin adds depth.

DEFENSIVE ENDS

The Panthers' top returnee at defensive end is senior A.J. Portee, a transfer from Connecticut who had 31 tackles with five tackles for loss and two sacks in his GSU debut last fall.

Behind Portee are sophomore John Kelly, a transfer from Nevada, and redshirt freshman Roderick Thompson.

In Georgia State's revised defensive scheme, the other defensive end slot is similar to the outside linebacker position manned the last two years by top defender Jake Muasau. Junior Allen McKay, Muasau's backup the last two years, steps in here, along with senior Qwontez Mallory, who moves from linebacker. McKay contributed 16 tackles with three tackles for loss in 2011, while Mallory had 27 tackles. Also getting a look here will be sophomore Cole Moon, who played linebacker in 2010, then sat out last fall with an injury.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

Georgia State graduated one of its top defenders in defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi. Sophomore C.J. Stephens steps in here after earning valuable experience last fall, when he played in every game and collected 12 tackles with two tackles for loss. Redshirt freshman McClain Head will also compete for playing time.

NOSEGUARDS

The Panthers look for junior Terrance Woodard to have a breakout performance this spring and solidify this position. GSU's largest defender at 6-4 and 320 pounds, Woodard has shown promise with 36 career tackles but missed some time last fall due to injury. Sophomore Marcus Stetzer adds depth.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

One of GSU's top returning defenders, Mark Hogan, moves from outside linebacker to the "sam" inside linebacker position. The junior from Matthews, N.C., is the second-leading tackler in Panther annals with 110 hits in two seasons, along with 7.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. In addition to learning a new position this spring, he is also playing outfield for the GSU baseball team.

Behind Hogan are sophomore Jarrell Robinson, who had 22 tackles and four TFL, last fall, and junior Blake Wyatt.

Junior Robert Ferguson will work at the "mike" inside linebacker slot. Junior Davis Knowles adds depth.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

This position is really a hybrid outside linebacker-safety in the Panthers' new scheme. Manning this new spot will be junior Dexter Moody, GSU's leading tackler last fall with 65 hits from an inside linebacker position. The 6-2, 210-pounder also collected three tackles for loss, two sacks, and interception, a forced fumble and three pass breakups.

Also vying for playing time here will be senior Akeen Felder, a strong special teams contributor, redshirt freshman Nick Henderson and senior Mitchell Vinson.

SAFETIES

Senior Demazio Skelton is the top returnee at safety. The junior college transfer was GSU's second-leading tackler in 2011 with 61 hits, along with two interceptions, six pass breakups. a school-record 93-yard fumble recovery, and a blocked punt.

With the graduation of two-year starter Brandon Jones, senior D'Mario Gunn moves to safety after sharing time at cornerback in his first season with the Panthers. He had 24 tackles and two interceptions in 2011.

Backups at the safety positions include veteran Kail Singleton and true freshman Kyle Vorster, who enrolled this semester and will participate in spring practice.

CORNERBACKS

The Panthers welcome back a quartet of experienced junior cornerbacks in Demarius Matthews, Jamal Ransby, Brent McClendon and Nate Anthony.

Matthews, also involved in the return game, led the Panther with nine pass breakups, along with 33 tackles. McClendon had 31 tackles and one interception, while Ransby contributed 17 tackles and one pick. Anthony, a top special teams performer, moved from wide receiver to cornerback in 2011. Isaiah Howard returns to cornerback after a redshirt year in 2011.

SPECIALISTS

Placekicker Christian Benvenuto showed promise as a true freshman last fall before he was slowed by injuries late in the season. He was perfect (19-for-19) on extra points, and although he was only 9-for-17 on field goals, six of his misses were from 45 yards or longer. Sophomore Matt Ehasz will push Benvenuto.

At punter, Matt Hubbard is coming off a strong freshman season in which he averaged 41.9 yards per punt to rank 15th in the nation. Hubbard stepped in after an injury to Bo Schlechter, who averaged 44.5 yards in 2010.

Veteran long-snapper Scott McQueen and holder Nathaniel Minor return.

03-12-2012 12:02 PM
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