Georgia Southern Football Preview 2025: Experienced Eagles Can Win the Sun Belt
Clay Helton has a good thing going at Georgia Southern.He was able to flip the program around to his style relatively quickly, and while it hasn't always been smooth, the Eagles have gone to three straight bowl games and are coming off an excellent eight-win season.But can he and the staff tie up all the loose ends?The offense was great in the red zone, but it's all short-to-midrange throws with WAY too many turnovers. The team won the penalty battle by a massive margin, but couldn't come up with a third down stop.
It beat a slew of good teams, lost to a few mediocre ones, and while getting to bowl games is nice, the Eagles are 0-3 in them under Helton.But it's Year Four, he's found a home post-USC life, and he's the type of coach schools want to see succeed. Even with all of the tweaking and issues, Georgia Southern has been consistently good - last year it showed signs of being one of those find-a-way-to-win programs.This season's team doesn't have a ton of depth in key spots, but overall, it should be Helton's best one yet.
Georgia Southern Eagles Preview 2025: Offense
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN- The offense didn't quite work as well as it should've, and there were too many turnovers, but the midrange passing game was okay, and now there's enough back to do even more, starting with quarterback JC French. He's a good runner, three for over 2,800 yards and 13 touchdowns, and now he has to cut down on the picks, throwing 11.
- The receiving corps is getting help from the transfer portal with Dylan Gary (West Georgia) for the outside and Camden Brown (Auburn) in the slot. Veteran Josh Dallas is back in the slot after catching 46 passes for 614 yards and a team-high six scores.Tight end River Helms (WKU) should be a major short target, catching 41 passes for five scores over the last two years.
- Jalen White and his 13 rushing scores are gone, but No. 2 man OJ Arnold is back after averaging over five yards per carry, and ultra-quick David Mdabinga should do far more. Both can catch.- The offensive front returns full of veterans. It wasn't great at keeping teams out of the backfield, but the ground game should be better behind all-star guards Pichon Wembley and Caleb Cook.
Georgia Southern Eagles Preview 2025: Defense
- The defense got ripped up too easily, allowing 429 yards per game. However, there was plenty of bending without a ton of breaking, giving up 23 points or fewer seven times. The Eagles won all seven games.- Linebacker Marques Watson-Trent left for Nebraska after earning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year honors. Davon Hicks will be one of the leading tacklers in the middle of the corps after making 43 stops as a key backup. App State transfer Brendan Harrington is in his seventh season - he knows what he's doing.
- The line has to get into the backfield more. Davion Rhodes did his part, finishing second on the team with six tackles for loss with three sacks at one edge spot. There will be a rotation for the other spot, with senior Jacob Ferguson the likely first one getting a look.The tackles are really, really thin - in depth, not bodies. 360-pound Latrell Bullard is back on the nose, making 35 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss on the inside, joined by Georgia Tech's Uche Iloh. The pressure is on for those two to hold up and anchor the line.
- There's a lot to like about the secondary, starting with safety Antonio White (Rutgers), a monster get from the transfer portal. Justin Meyers made 61 stops and should be a statistical star at strong safety. The corners are even better, with Chance Gamble an All-Sun Belt playmaker, who led the way with three picks. He and Tracy Hill combined for 84 stops.
Georgia Southern Eagles Key to the Season
The turnovers have to slow down.There has to be more of a downfield passing game, the pass rush has to show up, and a third down stop would be nice, but turnovers continue to be a huge issue.The 2018 Eagles turned it over five times. The 2019 team turned it over 11 times. There were 17 turnovers in 2020 and 2021, 21 in 2022, and a whopping 31 in 2023. The 22 turnovers last year were an improvement, but there were still too many, closing the season with five in the bowl loss to Sam Houston.
Georgia Southern Eagles Key Player
Latter Bullard, DT Sr.A few untested 300+ pound redshirt freshmen will be a part of the rotation, meaning the 340-pound Bullard is the only experienced giant who can park it in the middle of the line. His main job, though, is to stay in one piece until the rest of the tackles can get up to speed.
Georgia Southern Eagles Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: Dylan Gary, WR Jr.The Eagles need more downfield plays, and that's where Gary comes in. He started out at Kentucky, went to West Georgia, and last year caught 48 passes for 810 yards and nine touchdowns for the Wolves, including a 94-yard scoring play.Top Transfer Out: Marques Watson-Trent, LB Sr.It's a bit of a miracle the Eagles were able to hold on to him this long. A guided missile of a linebacker made 356 tackles and six sacks with 27 tackles for loss over the last three years. He'll be a monster for Nebraska.
Georgia Southern Eagles Key Game
at James Madison, Sept. 27The Dukes have been fantastic since moving up to the FBS level, but Georgia Southern hasn't flinched. The Eagles won 45-38 in 2022, got whacked in 2023, and won at home last year 28-14.It's the Sun Belt opener, and it's on the road. With away dates at Arkansas State, App State, and Marshall still to deal with, winning this matters.- 2025 Georgia Southern Schedule Breakdown
Georgia Southern Eagles Top 10 Players
1. Chance Gamble, CB Sr.2. Pichon Wimbley, OG Sr.3. Caleb Cook, OG Sr.4. Davion Rhodes, EDGE Sr.5. Justin Meyers, S Sr.6. Josh Dallas, WR Jr.7. Antonio White, S RFr.8. JC French, QB Jr.9. Dylan Gary, WR Jr.10. River Helms, TE Sr.
Georgia Southern Eagles 2024 Fun Stats
- Penalties: Opponents 110 for 1,007 yards, Georgia Southern 73 for 628 yards- Fumbles: Georgia Southern 22 (lost 11), Opponents 16 (lost 6)- 4th Quarter Scoring: Georgia Southern 116, Opponents 75
Georgia Southern Eagles 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Every Sun Belt game is a 50/50 battle.Georgia Southern was good enough to beat Marshall and James Madison last year, but lost to Old Dominion and a mediocre Troy squad. This year's version will be like that again.A fourth straight bowl and seventh in eight seasons are a given, but every game will be a fight. On the plus side, though, not playing Louisiana, South Alabama, or Texas State is huge this season.
There's too much experience not to be in the Sun Belt race until late, but not having a home game for a month over the second half of the season will make it tough.Set The Georgia Southern Eagles Win Total At … 6.5Likely Wins: Jacksonville State, Maine50/50 Games: at App State, at Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, at James Madison, at Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern MissLikely Losses: at Fresno State, at USC
© 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Cowboys RB room may have surprise candidate to start in $18.7 million reclamation
Cowboys RB room may have surprise candidate to start in $18.7 million reclamation The Dallas Cowboys have added four new running backs into the mix, almost completely turning over their backfield this offseason. With two free agents and two draft picks joining the fray, many are left wondering who the lead runner will be for 2025. While veteran RB Javonte Williams and fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue have gotten most of the attention, it wouldn't be wise to underestimate Miles Sanders' potential role in the Cowboys' backfield. The veteran RB has impressed the coaching staff and practice observers during the recent rounds of OTAs. Brian Schottenheimer spoke highly of the free agent pickup and says no one should be surprised by Sanders' play. That's high praise. With Schottenheimer looking for playmakers and a RB who excels out of the backfield as a receiver, Sanders looks like he's got a legitimate shot at becoming the starter. There wasn't much fanfare when Sanders signed with the Cowboys, but he could wind up playing a big role in the offense. Schottenheimer's right; no one should be shocked about Sanders' ability. The former Philadelphia Eagle has had the most success of anyone currently on the Cowboys' roster as the only RB in Dallas with a 1,000-yard season under his belt. The recently turned 28-year-old runner is also the only double-digit touchdown scorer in the team's backfield. In 2022, Sanders ran for a career high 1,269 yards and 11 scores on his way to a Pro Bowl selection. However, since Sanders has left the Eagles, his production has dipped significantly. The Carolina Panthers signed him to a four-year, $25 million deal after his monster season but in the two years with the team, Sanders has run for a combined 637 yards and three touchdowns. For first time in his career, Sanders has also been under four yards a carry in his two years with the Panthers. While his time in Carolina wasn't good, it's important to have some context. The team was working in a rookie quarterback when Sanders arrived, and he was running behind a subpar offensive line for the last few seasons. The Panthers also went through two different offensive schemes and two head coaches during his time there, none of which is conducive for success. He might have flopped at his last stop, but Sanders was a second-round pick who can play and had success with the Eagles. He might be the oldest RB in the room for the Cowboys, but he also doesn't have much wear and tear. Sanders has only eclipsed 200 carries once in his career (259 in 2022) and has just 184 totes in the last two years combined, including a measly 55 in 11 games last season. There should be plenty of juice left in Sanders' legs. It's only June and these are glorified practices, but when training camp does arrive, no one should be surprised if Miles Sanders makes an impact. The veteran RB no longer looks like an afterthought for the Cowboys. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hilliard Davidson track's Celia Schulte anchors 3,200 relay to OHSAA championship repeat
VIDEO: Granville comes up just short vs. Watterson in district final The top-seeded Eagles came back from a 4-2 deficit for a 6-4 win in Division III at Lancaster's Beavers Field. 1:17 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Eagles' Reed Blankenship Calls Out Dolphins Players Amid Vic Fangio's Departure
Eagles' Reed Blankenship Calls Out Dolphins Players Amid Vic Fangio's Departure originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Miami Dolphins saw their 2023 defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, win a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. With how the Dolphins' 2023 season ended, Fangio and the Dolphins parting ways, the Eagles' defensive performance in 2024 came as a surprise. Advertisement During an interview on Sports Radio 94 WIP, Eagles safety Reed Blankenship was asked what it's like being coached by Fangio. His answer was a subtle jab at the Dolphins players who complained about Fangio from the 2023 season. "I've never had a problem with him." Blankenship said. "Whatever was said in Miami, that's their locker room. Our locker room is completely different, I believe in my opinion. We've got guys that like to be coached and like to be held accountable, and obviously that shows on the field." Blankenship's comments indirectly paint the Dolphins, who complained about Fangio, as players who don't like to be coached hard or held accountable. That subtle jab stings more, since the Eagles' defense, led by Fangio, was one of the best units in the NFL in 2024. Advertisement Dolphins defensive backs Cam Smith and Jevon Holland shared posts on social media, essentially celebrating Fangio's departure following the 2023 season. Holland posted a video of him kicking rocks shortly after Fangio left, and Smith posted an emoji, signifying he'll be unlocked following Fangio's departure. Neither Smith nor Holland was the only source to showcase that the Dolphins' players weren't upset at Fangio departing for Philadelphia. His former players celebrated Fangio's departure, and things were heightened after Drew Rosenhaus, in a comment to Miami Fox affiliate WSVN-Channel 7, claimed multiple Dolphins players didn't get along with Fangio. Advertisement The Dolphins players weren't big fans of Fangio. Holland, Smith, and other Dolphins players were "celebrating" his departure. The Dolphins' defense, led by Fangio, was the 10th-best unit by yards allowed. They allowed the seventh fewest yards in the run game as well. But, they also allowed the 11th most points, and the seventh most passing touchdowns. Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio at a press conference at the PSD Bank Lee-Imagn Images While not a terrible unit defensively, the Dolphins' 2023 season didn't go as well as the team had hoped. Finishing 11-6, the Dolphins made the playoffs, but were bounced after Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins couldn't beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Blankenship's subtle jab at the Dolphins players comes in defense of his defensive coordinator. With how Blankenship and the Eagles performed under Fangio, it's easy for him to question the Dolphins players for not replicating the Eagles' success with Fangio. Advertisement His comments called out the Dolphins players after Fangio's departure. He essentially said the Dolphins players don't like to be coached, nor do they like to be held accountable. Related: Dolphins Get Bad News on Projected Jalen Ramsey Trade Package Related: Dolphins Legend Dan Marino Questions Aaron Rodgers' Mindset This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
