Panthers on the Prowl
Every week we’ll be previewing Auburn football’s upcoming opponent. This week, it’s the Georgia State Panthers of the Sun Belt conference.
Shawn Elliot enters his 5th year as the Head Coach of the Panthers. They had a decent season last year going 6-4 overall with a 4-4 record in conference play. Their offense is very impressive, having posted an average of 424 yards per game and a school record 33 points per game. The Panthers’ defense was less impressive, allowing 410 yards per game and 32 points per game. However, that defense did show a devastating pass rush, gathering 35 sacks in 10 games. They return 19 total starters, including all 11 of that record-setting offense.
So far this year, the Panthers are 1-2, with blowout losses to Army and North Carolina, and a 20-9 victory over Charlotte.
Players to watch for:
Quarterback Darren Grainger- Grainger was not QB1 to start the season, but started in place of incumbent starter Cornelious Brown in GSU’s lone victory over Charlotte. In that game, Grainger went 6-for-12 for 139 yards and two touchdowns with 1 interception. He has also rushed 22 times for 122 yards. He is tops on the depth chart for the game against Auburn.
Linebacker Blake Carrol- Carrol has been the defensive leader for the Panthers since the beginning of his junior year in 2020. He finished the 2020 season with 73 tackles, 4.5 of them going for a loss. He also forced a fumble last year. So far this season, Carrol has built on that strong campaign. In three games, He’s racked up 20 total tackles, including 2.5 sacks.
