The 2021 Georgia State Panthers football team represented Georgia State University (GSU) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by fifth-year head coach Shawn Elliott. This was the Panthers' ninth season in the Sun Belt Conference, fourth within the East Division, and 12th since the inception of the program. They played their home games at Center Parc Stadium. It was the first 8 win season in program history.
Preseason
Recruiting class
Source:
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Preseason Doak Walker Award Destin Coates RB SR Biletnikoff Award Sam Pinckney WR RS-JR Mackey Award Roger Carter TE SR Outland Trophy Shamarious Gilmore OL SR Manning Award Cornelious Brown IV QB RS-SO Sources:
Sun Belt coaches poll The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 20, 2021. The Panthers were picked to finish third in the East Division.
Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
Offense
1st team Destin Coates – Running Back, SR Shamarious Gilmore – Offensive Lineman, RS-SR Sam Pinckney – Wide Receiver, RS-JR
2nd team Roger Carter – Tight End, SR Cornelius McCoy – Wide Receiver, SR
Defense
2nd team Hardrick Willis – Defensive Lineman, RS-SR Dontae Wilson – Defensive Lineman, SR Antavious Lane – Defensive Back, RS-SO Quavian White – Defensive Back, SR
Special teams
1st team Noel Ruiz – Kicker, SR
Personnel
Schedule The 2021 schedule consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Panthers would travel to Sun Belt foes Louisiana–Monroe, Georgia Southern, Louisiana, and Coastal Carolina. Georgia State would play host to Sun Belt foes Appalachian State, Texas State, Arkansas State, and Troy.
The Panthers would host two of the three non-conference opponents at Center Parc Stadium, Army, a FBS Independent and Charlotte of the Conference USA, and would travel to North Carolina of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Auburn of the Southeastern Conference.
Game summaries
Army West Point
Statistics Army West PointGeorgia State First downs 20 14 Total yards 356 177 Rushing yards 258 48 Passing yards 98 129 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 42:07 17:53
Team Category Player StatisticsArmy West Point Passing Christian Anderson 1/2, 40 yards, 1 TD Rushing Christian Anderson 15 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tyrell Robinson 1 reception, 40 yards, 1 TDGeorgia State Passing Cornelious Brown IV 12/20, 129 yards, 1 INT Rushing Destin Coates 13 carries, 48 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jamari Thrash 7 receptions, 87 yards
At North Carolina
Statistics Georgia StateNorth Carolina First downs 16 28 Total yards 271 607 Rushing yards 181 201 Passing yards 90 406 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 30:17 29:43
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Cornelious Brown IV 12/26, 68 yards, 1 INT Rushing Darren Grainger 5 carries, 56 yards Receiving Jamari Thrash 2 receptions, 18 yardsNorth Carolina Passing Sam Howell 21/29, 352 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Sam Howell 11 carries, 104 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Antoine Green 3 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD
Charlotte
Statistics CharlotteGeorgia State First downs 17 20 Total yards 276 437 Rushing yards 118 298 Passing yards 158 139 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 33:21 26:39
Team Category Player StatisticsCharlotte Passing Chris Reynolds 13/28, 158 yards, 1 TD Rushing Calvin Camp 14 carries, 53 yards Receiving Grant DuBose 5 receptions, 45 yardsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 6/12, 139 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Destin Coates 4 carries, 83 yards Receiving Jamari Thrash 2 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD
At Auburn
Statistics Georgia StateAuburn First downs 20 21 Total yards 384 419 Rushing yards 267 166 Passing yards 117 253 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 40:41 19:19
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 12/24, 117 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Tucker Gregg 12 carries, 150 yards, 1 TD Receiving Roger Carter 4 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TDAuburn Passing Bo Nix 13/27, 156 yards Rushing Jarquez Hunter 10 carries, 62 yards Receiving Kobe Hudson 5 receptions, 76 yards
Appalachian State
Statistics Appalachian StateGeorgia State First downs 23 21 Total yards 502 381 Rushing yards 163 135 Passing yards 339 246 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 31:32 28:28
Team Category Player StatisticsAppalachian State Passing Chase Brice 20/28, 326 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Nate Noel 12 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD Receiving Corey Sutton 4 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TDGeorgia State Passing Cornelious Brown IV 16/31, 171 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Marcus Carroll 9 carries, 46 yards Receiving Tailique Williams 1 reception, 66 yards, 1 TD
At Louisiana–Monroe
Statistics Georgia StateLouisiana–Monroe First downs 39 21 Total yards 572 359 Rushing yards 326 122 Passing yards 246 237 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 35:08 24:52
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 18/25, 230 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Darren Grainger 12 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ja'Cyais Credle 7 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TDsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Chandler Rogers 15/23, 208 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Chandler Rogers 14 carries, 72 yards Receiving Boogie Knight 5 receptions, 78 yards
Texas State
Statistics Texas StateGeorgia State First downs 26 26 Total yards 378 483 Rushing yards 123 283 Passing yards 255 200 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:23 27:37
Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing Brady McBride 27/47, 255 yards, 1 INT Rushing Brady McBride 17 carries, 46 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ashtyn Hawkins 6 receptions, 108 yardsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 16/25, 200 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Tucker Gregg 21 carries, 115 yards Receiving Jamari Thrash 4 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
At Georgia Southern
Statistics Georgia StateGeorgia 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 StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 16/27, 141 yards Rushing Jaymest Williams 12 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD Receiving Roger Carter 2 receptions, 59 yardsGeorgia Southern Passing Justin Tomlin 18/27, 279 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Logan Wright 20 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD Receiving Khaleb Hood 6 receptions, 107 yards
At Louisiana
Statistics Georgia StateLouisiana First downs 20 21 Total yards 307 430 Rushing yards 209 143 Passing yards 98 287 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 28:46 31:14
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 8/19, 98 yards, 1 TD Rushing Tucker Gregg 23 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD Receiving Roger Carter 3 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TDLouisiana Passing Levi Lewis 19/34, 287 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Montrell Johnson 17 carries, 98 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Peter LeBlanc 9 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD
At Coastal Carolina
Statistics Georgia StateCoastal Carolina First downs 18 26 Total yards 373 442 Rushing yards 175 209 Passing yards 198 233 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 25:11 34:49
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 18/24, 198 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Jamyest Williams 11 carries, 82 yards, 1 TD Receiving Roger Carter 3 receptions, 70 yardsCoastal Carolina Passing Bryce Carpenter 17/29, 233 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Braydon Bennett 10 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD Receiving Isaiah Likely 7 receptions, 101 yards, 1 TD
Arkansas State
Statistics Arkansas StateGeorgia State First downs 16 21 Total yards 270 434 Rushing yards -3 282 Passing yards 273 152 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 30:52 29:08
Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas State Passing Layne Hatcher 28/48, 273 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Lincoln Pare 13 carries, 33 yards Receiving Lincoln Pare 6 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TDGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 10/21, 152 yards, 1 INT Rushing Jaymest Williams 16 carries, 125 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Jamari Thrash 4 receptions, 103 yards
Troy
Statistics TroyGeorgia State First downs 18 21 Total yards 344 387 Rushing yards 57 247 Passing yards 287 140 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 32:56 27:04
Team Category Player StatisticsTroy Passing Gunnar Watson 21/38, 287 yards, 2 INTs Rushing B. J. Smith 13 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD Receiving Deshon Stoudemire 4 receptions, 80 yardsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 11/22, 140 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Jaymest Williams 15 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD Receiving Sam Pinckney 3 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Ball State (Camellia Bowl)
Statistics Ball StateGeorgia State First downs 21 22 Total yards 464 367 Rushing yards 259 74 Passing yards 205 293 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 26:46 33:14
Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Drew Plitt 27/46, 293 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Carson Steele 15 carries, 62 yards Receiving Jayshon Jackson 12 receptions, 146 yards, 1 TDGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 15/19, 203 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Darren Grainger 11 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD Receiving Aubry Payne 8 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TDs
References