Dell McGee
Panthers on The Prowl
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia State hired Dell McGee as their head coach in February of 2024. He got a late start on recruiting and the Panthers went 3-9 last season.
McGee coached at University of Georgia from 2016-23 as the running backs coach and assistant head coach.
The Panthers added many new faces in 2025. They signed 34 high school signees and walk-ons and 43 transfers via the portal.
“We feel like those 77 new additions have supplemented our program,” McGee said at the Sun Belt’s Preseason Media Days event in New Orleans. “But ultimately, the direction of our program is going to be spearheaded by the 45 guys who return.”
This is his first real recruiting class he has signed. “I really can’t compare (to where we were last year), but I can say the 77 additions, we’ve created competition in every single room, and we feel like the competition will push the needle from a standpoint of accountability and competitiveness,” McGee said.
Some of the top incoming transfer players are CB Tyler Scott (Auburn), RB Jordon Simmons (Ole Miss), RB Rashad Amos (Memphis), RB Branson Robinson (Georgia), S Jordan Huff (East Carolina), IOL Deandre Duffus (Maryland), CB Isiah Dunson (Baylor), CB Bernard Causey III (LSU), OT Obadiah Obasuyi (NC State), QB Cameran Brown (Texas Tech), WR Javon Robinson (Georgia), WR Leo Blackburn (Georgia Tech) and LB Zavier Carter (UCF).
As you can see, they have added several players from Power 4 programs. The problem with building a team with transfers is maintaining the program’s culture. You also have to worry about not having a cohesive team if things get rough. A great example of this would be last year’s Florida State team that went 2-10.
Four of GSU’s losses in 2024 were by a touchdown or less, so they were competitive. They have been picked to finish last in the East Division in the preseason poll conducted by the coaches.
The Panthers have two players selected to the Sun Belt’s preseason all-conference team; wide receiver Ted Hurst (first team) and defensive lineman Henry Bryant (second team). Hurst is a senior from Savannah and he transferred in from Valdosta State. He led the team with 56 receptions for 961 yards and a school-record nine touchdowns.
Bryant is a redshirt senior from Delray Beach, Florida. He transferred in from Louisville in 2023. Last year he played in all 12 games and had 30 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 FF and 1 FR.
“Holding our team accountable is really one of the tiers that our players must uphold,” McGee said. “With the leadership of our 45 returning guys, they understand how we practice. They understand what it takes in the off-season, in the weight room and in summer conditioning. They’ve done a great job pushing that agenda forward.”
Georgia State will start the season August 30th at #21 Ole Miss. They play Memphis and Murray State after that. Memphis was 11-2 last season and Murray State is an FCS team that only won one game last year.
Week 4 is a trip to Vanderbilt. GSU beat Vandy 36-32 last season so I expect them to be looking for revenge.
They start conference play October 4th against James Madison. They were picked to finish first in the East Division and Georgia Southern was picked second
The games after that are Appalachian State, @ Georgia Southern, South Alabama, @ Coastal Carolina, Marshall, @ Troy and @ Old Dominion.
I don’t expect the Panthers to win six games but they should improve on the three wins from last season.
New Look Panthers
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia State University was founded in 1913 and it is one of University System of Georgia’s four research universities.
They started playing football in 2010. They have had some success but their overall record is 61-106 (.365). Surprisingly they have a winning bowl record at 4-2 (.667).
Head coach Shawn Elliott abruptly retired in February 2024. He coached the Panthers from 2017-2024. They started the 2023 season 6-1 and then they lost five straight games. They did win the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to finish 7-6.
GSU hired Dell McGee as their head coach in late February. The Georgia native was the running backs coach/run game coordinator at Georgia from 2016-23. He has 22 years of coaching experience, including the back-to-back national titles while he was at UGA.
“We are proud to announce Coach Dell McGee as our head football coach,” Director of Athletics Charlie Cobb said. “Coach McGee is an outstanding and authentic man with a strong passion for developing young men. His track record of competitive success at the high school and college levels makes me confident that he will lead our football program to its greatest achievements. We welcome Linda and Dell to Georgia State University!”
He is known as a good recruiter but he was hired too late in the recruiting cycle to make a difference for this season.
Roster turnover has become the norm in college football and it’s no different for Ga State. They have 48 new players this season between high school signees, transfers and walk-ons.
Quarterback Darren Grainger was the only three-year starter in GSU history. He graduated so now the Panthers have to find their new signal caller.
“That’s one of the toughest positions in football,” McGee said. “Just looking for how they respond, how they lead, who can throw, and minimize mistakes and play clean football every day.”
Redshirt freshman Braylen Ragland is the only QB that was on the roster last season. He was the No. 54 quarterback in the nation coming out of high school.
Redshirt senior Zach Gibson transferred from Georgia Tech and he’s the favorite to win the starting job. He’s from John’s Creek and played two seasons at Akron, passing for 2,471 yards and 15 touchdowns, before transferring to Tech.
In 2022 he played in six games and made three starts. One of those was an upset of No. 13 North Carolina. He did not see game action in 2023.
Former Coastal Carolina running back CJ Beasley might be the best transfer player. Last season he had just under 1,000 rushing yards.
They also return running back Freddie Brock, who got his first start in last year’s bowl game. He rushed for 276 yards on 24 carries.
The only returning All-Sun Belt player for the Panthers is corner back Gavin Pringle. He had four interceptions, including a pick-6 and four pass breakups last season.
They were the worst pass defense in the conference so the rest of the secondary has to step up.
I think Georgia State is going to have a rough season in 2024. They have a lot of new players, a new coach and a relatively tough schedule. I think they will win 4 to 5 games.
Here is their schedule:
8/31 @ Georgia Tech
9/7 vs Chattanooga
9/14 vs Vanderbilt
9/28 vs Georgia Southern
10/12 vs Old Dominion
10/17 @ Marshall
10/26 @ Appalachian State
11/1 @ UConn
11/9 @ James Madison
11/16 vs Arkansas State
11/23 @ Texas State
11/30 vs Coastal Carolina
