Hamilton leads Georgia State against Georgia Southern after 25-point showing
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Eagles -4.5; over/under is 156.5
BOTTOM LINE: Georgia State takes on Georgia Southern after Jelani Hamilton scored 25 points in Georgia State's 80-74 loss to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.
The Eagles are 10-3 in home games. Georgia Southern is fifth in the Sun Belt scoring 74.1 points while shooting 42.7% from the field.
The Panthers are 8-9 in conference matchups. Georgia State averages 11.2 turnovers per game and is 3-4 when winning the turnover battle.
Georgia Southern's average of 9.6 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 8.8 per game Georgia State allows. Georgia State averages 74.9 points per game, 1.3 fewer than the 76.2 Georgia Southern allows.
TOP PERFORMERS: Adante' Holiman is scoring 16.5 points per game and averaging 2.0 rebounds for the Eagles. Eren Banks is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Malachi Brown is averaging 8.3 points and 3.3 assists for the Panthers. Cesare Edwards is averaging 18.3 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Eagles: 4-6, averaging 73.3 points, 34.2 rebounds, 14.9 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.1 points per game.
Panthers: 6-4, averaging 79.7 points, 33.5 rebounds, 12.1 assists, 5.2 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.9 points.
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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
John Metchie III's rapid Eagles intro begins with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith on sideline
PHILADELPHIA — John Metchie III approached the line of scrimmage with the first-team offense about 70 minutes into his first practice with the Eagles. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith watched from the sideline. Neither star receiver practiced while nursing injuries. Somewhere in the trainer's room in the team facility, Johnny Wilson was being examined for an apparent lower-body injury that required him to exit Tuesday's session early and was significant enough that he needed a cart to take him inside the building. Advertisement This should offer a sense about the state of the Eagles' wide receivers at the moment — with 'at the moment' carrying considerable weight. On most days, the Eagles' receivers are the envy of the NFL. Come Sept. 4 against the Dallas Cowboys, that might be the case. It's not this week. Brown has a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for most of training camp. Smith has a groin injury that kept him out on Tuesday. At this point, the Eagles want to be conservative with front-line players while eyeing the season opener. If they're still missing practice with a week to go before the Cowboys game, it would be more of a concern. Regardless, the Eagles acquired Metchie on Sunday to add more talent to a group that was unsettled behind Brown, Smith, and Jahan Dotson. Metchie, 24, was the No. 44 overall pick in the 2022 draft and had become expendable in Houston. The Eagles, who have acquired 28 players during the past two years who were drafted in the first three rounds by other teams, like to gamble on unrealized talent. 'I think just going with the flow, I was not necessarily shocked, I was just into my process — not worried about outcomes,' Metchie said of the trade. He'll have an opportunity with the Eagles. Depending upon the status of Wilson, the Eagles' No. 4 and 5 receiver spots (and maybe even No. 6) are undetermined. Undrafted rookie Darius Cooper worked with the first-team offense on Tuesday. Second-year receiver Ainias Smith also mixed into the group. There's not a major roadblock for Metchie to become a top reserve. The way the offense functions — or rather, struggles to function — without Brown and DeVonta Smith is a sign of how badly the Eagles need their top duo back for the season. Dotson and Metchie give the Eagles pedigreed players behind the top pair, while Wilson, if healthy, offers a big-bodied pass catcher who can help block and play special teams. Cooper is the camp darling who will try to seal his bid for the 53-man roster with a strong preseason finale, while Ainias Smith will hope the momentum of two preseason touchdowns and his return ability helps his case. Advertisement Of course, there was a reason why the Eagles acquired Metchie. If Howie Roseman was not intrigued by adding Metchie to the mix, he wouldn't have dropped down from the fifth to the sixth round in the 2026 draft and dealt tight end Harrison Bryant. The first teammate to reach out to Metchie was DeVonta Smith, who played with Metchie at Alabama. When Metchie was recovering from acute promyelocytic leukemia in 2022, Smith wore a Metchie T-shirt to honor his friend before an Eagles-Texans game. 'It definitely meant a lot to me in that moment,' Metchie said Tuesday, and their bond can help with the transition from Houston to Philadelphia. 'He'll have some of the guys to lean on a little bit differently, like DeVonta Smith and say, 'Hey, what do I really need to know and how do things work?'' Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo said. The Eagles wasted little time with Metchie — in part because of how late it is in camp, in part because of necessity. The final day of training camp is Wednesday. The preseason finale is Friday. Preparation for Dallas begins soon after. Metchie spent most of his time with the second-team offense. He made a leaping catch on a pass from Kyle McCord and later mixed in with the first-team offense and hauled in a short pass from Hurts. Jalen Hurts Eagles 'Two things are happening — one, it's a mental learning process, you have to learn a new offense, new scheme, really the words,' Metchie said. 'And the second, it's just football. Football is football — you run routes against the defense.' The Eagles have precedent for this type of move. Dotson, a former first-round pick, was acquired during this same timeframe last summer. He did not practice before the preseason finale. By Week 1, he was the No. 3 receiver. By Week 4, he was the top receiver with Brown and Smith injured. Advertisement There were more expectations on Dotson — and the price was more expensive, too — but it offered Nick Sirianni's coaching staff a template for the transition at the position. That took time, and even this summer, the Eagles have touted the benefit of a full offseason with Dotson rather than the trial-by-fire approach of an August acquisition. 'I think when you bring a guy in later in camp, they have to be caught up to speed as fast as they can,' Patullo said. 'But still having a couple weeks left, I think the timing's pretty good. (Wide receivers coach) Aaron Morehead does a really good job. He's been with us the whole time. He knows the system, knows where we're going with things, and then he'll be familiar with DeVonta and some of the other guys to lean on. So, I think from the standpoint of bringing a guy in, we're in a pretty good spot where he can still pick it up and feel confident in what he can do.' Dotson is also a resource. The two have a relationship dating back to high school, when Dotson hosted Metchie on a visit to the Peddie School, a New Jersey prep school one hour from the Eagles' facility. Metchie also considered joining Dotson at Penn State. 'Dive into that playbook!' Dotson said. 'That's kind of what I've been telling him. Try to learn as much as possible, as fast as possible, to give yourself the best chance to get out on the field. That's truly the only way to get out there is to know what you're doing. He has all the talent and tools to be out there.' Metchie showed the talent during his junior season at Alabama, when he finished with 96 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games before tearing his ACL in the SEC Championship Game. Even more serious, Metchie was diagnosed with APL later that year. He missed his rookie season while undergoing treatment. Metchie returned to the field in 2023 — an inspiring story within itself — and played 29 games during the past two seasons. His modest production (40 catches, 412 yards, one touchdown), combined with the Texans adding two Day 2 wide receivers and veteran Christian Kirk this offseason, prompted Houston to move him. The Eagles offer a chance to display his college form with four former Alabama teammates on the roster. 'I don't ever think you go back to being the same person. I think you always change,' Metchie said. 'It definitely took some time, with all the health things, you have to build yourself back up. I think I'm a different person – I'm a better player, and it'll help me as a person and a player.' Advertisement How is he better? 'I think faster, for sure,' he said. Because he needed to rebuild his body, Metchie said he became more efficient with movement and functionality. At 6-feet and 195 pounds, Metchie can move around the formation. Patullo suggested that was one of the appeals of adding Metchie. 'I'm just trying to bring something to the table, contribute to a team that's already so good,' Metchie said. That's always a challenge with trades — finding where you fit amid a whirlwind of emotions. It's not only a new team. It's a different city with unknown coworkers while reconciling that your previous employer has moved on without you. It was a topic Brown, Smith, and Dotson recently discussed in the locker room. 'You feel you're being betrayed a little bit,' Dotson said. 'You can't frown about it. You can't look down upon it. You have to attack it and make the most of your opportunity. …That's life itself. When life knocks you down, you look for the next obstacle and attack it.' Metchie doesn't need that reminder. In three years, he's recovered from a torn ACL and survived cancer. Changing offenses might seem less daunting. Contributing to the Eagles is the next challenge. 'Just being present with everything, living the dream, not worrying about a bunch of things you can't control — that's probably the biggest one,' Metchie said of his past three years. 'And understand the things you can control, the things you're grateful for.' • The injury report is mounting for the Eagles. Tackle Jordan Mailata was out with a concussion. Quarterback Tanner McKee missed practice with a finger injury that does not require surgery, according to a league source. Smith and Landon Dickerson (knee) were the other starters sidelined. Tight end Dallas Goedert was limited with a groin injury. Advertisement • Rookie safety Drew Mukuba, who had been pushing to win the starting job next to Reed Blankenship, exited practice with an apparent hamstring injury. He tried to continue practicing before retreating to a medical tent. • Adoree' Jackson took most of the first-team snaps at cornerback, a sign that he could be the favorite in the quest to find a No. 2 cornerback. Jakorian Bennett also mixed in with the first-team defense. Of note: Kelee Ringo did not work with the top group. In fact, Ringo played behind rookie Mac McWilliams on Tuesday. • With McKee out, Kyle McCord took every snap as the second-team quarterback ahead of Dorian Thompson-Robinson. That could be an indication that McCord is in the lead for the No. 3 quarterback spot one week away from cut-down day. • With Mailata out, Matt Pryor played left tackle. Pryor has now played left tackle and right tackle with the first-team offensive line this summer, putting him as the likely option for the valuable swing tackle role entering the season. • Nolan Smith dropped into coverage and recorded an interception off Hurts — an impressive play for the edge rusher. It was a sloppy day for the offense, which might be expected for a group missing Brown, Smith, Mailata, and Dickerson. (Top photo of John Metchie III: Zach Berman / The Athletic) Spot the pattern. 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NBC Sports
2 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Mississippi State working to bounce back from rough first season under Jeff Lebby
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby enters his second season still looking for his first victory with the Bulldogs in Southeastern Conference play. Lebby, however, doesn't judge his maiden campaign solely by the Bulldogs' winless league record. 'The result was not what we want, wasn't the expectation,' he said. 'But if you know football and you watch, you can tell that it's a group of guys that believe, and so people want to be a part of that. There's great belief, passion, toughness, confidence inside the program right now.' The former offensive coordinator at Ole Miss and Oklahoma was widely seen as a rising star when he was hired at State after the regular season in 2023. His new job presented some tough challenges. The Bulldogs had been through a tumultuous calendar year that included coach Mike Leach unexpected death during the team's bowl game preparations. Defensive coordinator Zach Arnett took over, but couldn't last a full season as the Bulldogs struggled to a 5-7 record. Just four games into Lebby's first season, starting quarterback Blake Shapen went out with a shoulder injury. Lebby was left with true freshman Michael Van Buren at QB and the conference's worst statistical defense, resulting in a 2-10 overall mark. Lebby brought in Phil Loadholt to replace Cody Kennedy as offensive line coach, and added former head coaches Mike MacIntyre and Paul Rhodes as defensive analysts, along with former Colorado defensive line coach Vincent Dancy to coach the pass rushers. He also bolstered the roster with nearly 30 transfers and a full signing class. Second-year defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler has more more depth and talent on a unit that accounted for just 10 sacks last season. Offensively, Shapen returns for a final season of eligibility. It will be an offense built around a stable of running backs and led by a QB who enters his second year in Lebby's system and fifth year of college football. 'Being able to move a lot faster than I was last year is a big thing for me and then moving with tempo but also being able to lead other guys too,' Shapen said. 'I feel like last year I was very focused on the offense. This year I have a lot of opportunity to lead other guys and get guys in spots.' Ground game It took some time last year for the Bulldogs to get the running game off the ground, but former Utah State running back Davon Booth and junior college product Johnnie Daniels became a solid 1-2 punch. After Booth was granted another season of eligibility — stemming from Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia's precedent-setting case regarding junior college players — he is set for a huge senior campaign. Booth and Daniels have had plenty of competition from former South Alabama standout Fluff Bothwell, who gained more than 800 yards and a Sun Belt-Leading 13 touchdowns in 2024. Seth Davis, Kolin Wilson and Xavier Gayten also have shown potential. Retooled offensive line For the running game to thrive, Loadholt's line will have to pave the way. Lebby and Loadholt added five new faces from the transfer portal and added size to give the Bulldogs one of the bigger lines in the country. Jimothy Lewis and Luke Work are promising blockers poised to improve in Year 2, while Albert Reese and Canon Boone return as fifth-year veterans. Colorado transfer Zach 'Flap Jack' Owens and Virginia's Blake Steen could make an impact as well. Defensive line beefed up Improving the defensive line was among the Bulldogs' top priorities. Veteran line coach David Turner now has bigger players up front. Meanwhile, there's been an emphasis on getting defensive ends and linebackers better equipped to pressure QBs after finishing last in the league in sacks last season. The schedule The Bulldogs' SEC schedule features four teams that played in last season's inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff and seven ranked in the preseason AP Top 25. Lebby and his squad will host playoff teams Arizona State, Tennessee, Texas and Georgia with road trips to teams like Missouri and Texas A&M. The Bulldogs also have their annual matchup at home against rival Ole Miss, a team that was on the outside looking in of last year's playoff.
NBC Sports
2 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Mekhi Becton back at practice for Chargers
There was a positive development for the Chargers offensive line on Tuesday. Reporters at the team's practice shared images of right guard Mekhi Becton in uniform and on the field with his teammates. Becton had missed the last several weeks of practice with an undisclosed injury and there was little indication from the team's coaches about when he'd back. The timing of Becton's return bodes well for the likelihood that he'll be in the lineup in Brazil against the Chiefs on the first Friday of the regular season. The Chargers signed Becton to a two-year contract after he started for the Eagles in their Super Bowl win over Kansas City. Assuming Becton is good to go, the only change to the Chargers' desired starting line will be the absence of left tackle Rashawn Slater. Slater is out for the season with a knee injury, so Joe Alt is moving over from right tackle and Trey Pipkins is in line to start next to Becton.
