2020 GEORGIA SOUTHERN FOOTBALL

On the covers: OFC - Shai Werts, Rashad Byrd, Wesley Kennedy III, J.D. King and Raymond Johnson III; IFC - Kenderick Duncan Jr., Traver Vliem, Malik Murray, Reynard Ellis, Drew Wilson, Anthony Beck II and Ryan Langan; IBC - Eagles in the NFL; OBC - The 2020 Georgia Southern football schedule.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES FOOTBALL 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2020 SCHEDULE Date Opponent Series Record Last Sept. 12 CAMPBELL First Meeting N/A 19 FAU First Meeting N/A 26 at Louisiana * UL leads, 2-1 UL won 37-24 (2019) Oct. 3 at ULM * GS leads 6-3 ULM won 51-29 (2019) 14 APPALACHIAN STATE * ASU leads, 18-15-1 GS won 24-21 (2019) 24 at Coastal Carolina * GS leads, 5-1 GS won 30-27 (2019) 31 SOUTH ALABAMA * GS leads, 6-0 GS won 20-17 (2019) Nov. 7 TROY * Troy leads, 13-6 Troy won 49-28 (2019) 14 TEXAS STATE * GS leads, 3-1 GS won 15-13 (2018) 21 at Army West Point First Meeting N/A 28 at Georgia State * Tied, 3-3 GS won 38-10 (2019) Dec. 5 Sun Belt Championship Game [if qualifi ed]

* - Game

EAGLES GATA MEET THE EAGLES HISTORY EAGLES IN THE PROS 1 On the Covers 32 Veteran Profi les 140 Eagle Football History 178 Eagles in the Pros 2 2020 Schedule/Quick Facts/Credits 69 Newcomers 142 1985 National Championship 180 NFL Draft/Super Bowl/Pro Bowl Eagles 4 Staff Information 144 1986 National Championship 5 Allen E. 2019 REVIEW/STATISTICS 146 1989 National Championship UNIVERSITY/MEDIA 6 Edwin Jackson Tribute 78 Individual Honors/Start Chart 148 1990 National Championship 182 Georgia Southern University 79 2019 Statistics 150 1999 National Championship 184 President Dr. Kyle Marrero 2020 SEASON 82 2019 Individual Summaries 152 2000 National Championship 185 Athletic Director Jared Benko 8 Preseason Rosters 84 2019 Game-By-Game Statistics 154 Eagle All-Americans 186 Media Guidelines 10 Preseason Depth Chart 85 2019 Game Highs 157 Conference Accolades 187 Athletics Communications 11 Personnel/Pronunciation Guide 86 2019 Scoring Summaries 160 Modern Era Lettermen 188 Georgia Southern Radio Network 12 adidas 87 2019 Miscellaneous Statistics 164 All-Time Coaching Records 189 Department Personnel 88 2019 Big Plays 166 Bowl Gamess COACHING STAFF 89 Last Time It Happened 167 Bowl Records 14 Head Coach 90 Eagles in National Rankings 168 Modern Era Assistant Coaches 16 Associate Head Coach Chris Foster 91 2019 Game Recaps 170 Coach Tribute 17 Off ensive Coordinator Bob DeBesse 172 No. 8 18 Defensive Coordinator Scot Sloan RECORD BOOK 173 No. 3 Adrian Peterson 19 Assistant Coach Victor Cabral 100 Individual Records 174 Jayson Foster 20 Assistant Coach Travis Cunningham 115 Annual Leaders 175 Paul Johnson 21 Assistant Coach Dimitri Donald 122 Longest Plays 186 Younghoe Koo 22 Assistant Coach Ron Hudson 123 Team Records 23 Assistant Coach Jeremy Rowell 124 Overtime Games 24 Assistant Coach Doug Ruse 125 Year-By-Year Team Stats 26 Assistant Coach Kevin Whitley 127 Team Records By Era 26 Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Greenhalgh 128 Paulson Stadium Records 27 Support Staff 129 All-Time Results 134 Series Results 138 Eagles vs. Conferences 2 FOOTBALL QUICK FACTS

GS QUICK FACTS PROGRAM INFORMATION AND HISTORY TEAM INFORMATION CREDITS Conference: Sun Belt Head Coach: Chad Lunsford The 2020 Georgia Southern University SCHOOL INFORMATION First Year of Football: 1924 Alma Mater: Georgia College, ‘00 Football Media Guide was published by the Georgia Southern Athletics Communications Offi cial Name: Georgia Southern University (no football from 1942-1981) Record at GS: 19-13 (3rd Full Year) O ffi c e . Abbreviation: GS (not GSU) Modern Era Record: 333-148-1 (.692) ^ Career Record: Same Location: Statesboro, Ga. FCS National Championships: 6 Eagles’ 2019 Record: 7-6 Editor and Design: Bryan Johnston Covers: AJ Henderson Founded: December 1, 1906 (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000) Postseason: Lost Cure Bowl Printing: South Georgia Graphics in Enrollment: 26,500 * No. Years in NCAA FCS Playoff s: 19 Conference Record: 5-3 Claxton, GA President: Dr. Kyle Marrero All-Time Playoff Record: 45-13 Off ensive System: Gun/Pistol Triple Option Additional contributions from the GS O ce of Marketing and Communications. Athletics Director: Jared Benko Bowl Games/Titles: 3/2 Defensive System: 3-4 Faculty Athletics Rep: Chris Geyerman, Ph.D. won 2015 GoDaddy Bowl GS Athletics on the Web: GSEagles.com PHOTOGRAPHY Athletics Department Phone: 912-478-5047 won 2018 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl GS Football on Twitter: @GSAthletics_FB Frank Fortune, AJ Henderson, Jonathan Chick, Allen Gambrell, Carroll Gambrell, Nickname: Eagles Home Stadium: Allen E. Paulson Stadium Letterwinners (Ret/Lost): 40/18 Kyunnie Shuman, Dan Groover and Jeff rey Primary Colors: Blue (PMS 282) and White Capacity: 25,000 O: 19/7; D: 19/10; ST: 2/1 Abraham. Images of Eagles in the NFL Secondary Colors: Gray (PMS 429) and Gold (PMS 872) Playing Surface: Shaw Sports Turf (Legion 41) Position Starters (Ret/Lost): 14/8 courtesy of Diamond Images, Getty Images and USPresswire. Images of championship Mascots: GUS (mascot) and Freedom (live) Paulson Stadium Record: 197-41 (.828) O: 8/3; D: 6/5 rings from Super Bowl XXVI and Super Bowl XXXIX and NFL team marks courtesy of the TICKET INFORMATION FOLLOW THE EAGLES ON SOCIAL MEDIA National Football League. Ticket Director: Tyler Weedon Ticket Offi ce Phone: 1-800-GSU-WINS Ticket Offi ce Website: GSEagles.com/Tickets

* - As of January 2018, the new Georgia Southern University consists of three campuses: Statesboro, Armstrong (Savannah) and Liberty (Hinesville). The three schools consolidated to become one university. @GSATHLETICS_FB GSATHLETICS GSATHLETICS_FB GSATHLETICS GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES FOOTBALL 3 STAFF INFORMATION COACHING STAFF FOOTBALL SUPPORT STAFF Head Coach ...... Chad Lunsford (@ChadLunsford) Director of Football Operations ...... Sean Fitzgerald (UCF) Alma Mater/Year ...... Georgia College/2000 Strength & Conditioning Coach, Football...... Matt Greenhalgh (Rhode Island) Record at Georgia Southern (Years) ...... 19-13, .594 (Third Full Year) Director of Student-Athlete Development ...... Adrian Peterson (Georgia Southern) Career Record (Years) ...... Same Assistant of Football Operations ...... Nikki Donoff (Georgia Southern) Best Time to Reach Coach ...... Contact Athletics Communications Assistant Athletic Trainer, Football ...... Bryce Sorrier (Georgia) Sun Belt Coaches’ Teleconference ...... Monday mornings in season Assistant Athletic Trainer, Football ...... Daniel Lindsey (Troy) Assistant Athletic Trainer, Football ...... Loriann Tedder (Western Carolina) ASSISTANT COACHES (Alphabetical order) Assistant Manager, Equipment Services ...... Brandon Randolph (FAMU) VICTOR CABRAL @Coach_Cab Video Coordinator/GATA Lifestyle ...... Phill Guard (Mount Union) Georgia Southern, 2006 ...... Defensive Line/Recruiting Coord. – Third Year/Seventh Year Overall Assistant Director, Strength & Conditioning ...... Eric Scott (Mount Union) Associate AD for Public Relations and Communications ...... Bryan Johnston (South Carolina) TRAVIS CUNNINGHAM @TCunninghamGS Character Development Volunteer ...... Matt Wise (Georgia Southern) Gardner-Webb, 2003 ...... Inside Linebackers – Third Year Defensive Graduate Assistant ...... Chris Barton (Georgia Southern) Off ensive Graduate Assistant ...... Mateo Kambui (Florida A&M) BOB DEBESSE @CoachDeBesse5 Off ensive Graduate Assistant ...... Charles “Cal” King (Presbyterian College) Southwest Texas State, 1982 ...... Off ensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Third Year Defensive Graduate Assistant ...... Isaiah Walker (Georgetown College) Special Teams Analyst ...... Carter Barfi eld (Furman) DIMITRI DONALD @_CoachDonald Strength & Conditioning Graduate Assistant ...... Brian Puckett (North Alabama) West Texas A&M, 2016 ...... Wide Recievers – First Year KEY DEPARTMENT STAFF CHRIS FOSTER @CoachC_Foster Athletics Director ...... Jared Benko (Georgia) Gardner-Webb, 2003 ...... Assoc. Head Coach/Running Backs – Fifth Year Deputy A.D...... Chris Davis (Miami) Senior Women’s Administrator ...... Brandy Clouse (Georgia Southern) RON HUDSON @CoachRHud Senior Associate A.D. for Development ...... Erick Reasoner (Ohio State) Muskingum, 1986 ...... Off ensive Line – Third Year Senior Associate A.D. for NCAA Compliance ...... Keith Roughton (Georgia Southern) Senior Associate A.D. for Student-Athlete Services ...... Reggie Simpkins (South Carolina State) JEREMY ROWELL Coach_Rowell Assistant A.D. for Game Operations ...... Nick Scull (Lock Haven) Troy, 1997...... Outside Linebackers – Fifth Year Assistant A.D. for Ticketing, Parking & Suites ...... Tyler Weedon (Ferris State)

DOUG RUSE @CoachRuse_GS KEY DATES Northwest Missouri State, 1986 ...... Tight Ends – First Year/Third Year Overall Student-athletes report ...... Sunday, July 12 First day of preseason practice ...... Friday, August 7 SCOT SLOAN @Coach_Sloan First day of university fall classes ...... Monday, August 17 Clemson, 1992 ...... Defensive Coordinator/Safeties – Third Year/Seventh Year Overall Season and Home Opener (Campbell) ...... Saturday, September 12

KEVIN WHITLEY @kwhit4 Georgia Southern, 1993 ...... Cornerbacks – Second Year

4 GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES FOOTBALL ALLEN E. PAULSON STADIUM

PAULSON STADIUM FACTS Capacity: 25,000 (expanded 2014) Layout: East-West Initial construction start date: First shovel – 1983 Expansion construction start date: June 12, 2013 Glenn Bryant Field Surface: Shaw Sports Turf (Legion 41); installed 2016 Daktronics Video Board: 852 square feet of display area for replays, graphics and promotions Suite Level: 26 private booster boxes, fi lm deck and a two-level working press box. Opening Game: Sept. 29, 1984 First Opponent: Liberty, 9/29/84 First Win: 48-11 vs. Liberty, 9/29/84 First Postseason Win: 27-0 vs. Jackson State, 11/30/85 All-Time Record: 197-41 (.828) All-Time Playo Record: 33-3 (.917) First Score: 36-yard run by Tracy Ham vs. Liberty (13:44, 1Q), 9/29/84 First 100-Yard Rusher: 104 by Melvin Bell vs. Liberty, 9/29/84 First Shutout: 34-0 vs. Tennessee Tech, 10/5/85

Thirty years after its fi rst game on Sept. 29, 1984, Allen Winning is the one constant at Paulson Stadium where The stadium is named for the late Allen E. Paulson, former E. Paulson Stadium underwent a major expansion for the the Eagles have a stunning 197-41 home record (.828) and founder and chairman of Gulfstream Aerospace, who donated Eagles’ fi rst season in the FBS and the Sun Belt Conference. The won 91.7 percent of their postseason games (33-3). That .828 more than $1 million toward construction of the facility. newly expanded facility, now at a capacity of 25,000, off ers winning percentage stands as the third best amongst current In 2007, Georgia Southern University renamed the area incredible views of the playing fi eld and modern amenities on FBS stadiums entering the 2020 season. surrounding the Stadium “Erk Russell Athletic Park” to honor its concourses. More than three million fans have witnessed that success the former Eagle coach. The inaugural game at Paulson Stadium in 1984 saw the in Statesboro, creating a game day atmosphere that attracts The addition of the Ted Smith Family Football Center Eagles soar to a 48-11 victory over Liberty. That fi rst contest Eagle fans from across campus, throughout the Coastal Empire brought the nucleus of Eagle Football to the south end of was a fi tting end to four years of planning and hard work – and southeast region. campus. This building features the team locker room, weight four years of dreaming of one of the fi nest football facilities in Previous upgrades to the complex included renovation of room, training room, equipment room, team room, meeting America. the concourses and hospitality areas and the addition of a rooms and a lobby with all six FCS national championship What former Eagle head coach Erk Russell described as “The brick façade along the walls of Paulson Stadium prior to 2005. trophies. Prettiest Little Stadium in America” has been transformed Initially constructed at a cost of $4.7 million with just over The Field of Dreams has also been a popular addition to the into one of the fi nest facilities of its kind. The new mid-deck 14,000 permanent seats and grass seating for thousands stadium complex, allowing children to play football on their creates an architectural presence on the north side with the more, the addition of Paulson Stadium elevated the fl edgeling own fi eld alongside the Eagles during their game. new 50,000-square-foot Ted Smith Family Football Center program. The site for numerous nationally televised games, The 2014 expansion also brought a new Daktronics video enclosing the east end zone. including the 1989 Hugo Bowl on ESPN, permanent light board to the east side of the fi eld. Following the 2015 season, The $10 million stadium expansion project was student fi xtures were installed for the 1994 season. Every home game the grass playing surface of Glenn Bryant Field was removed fee funded with private donations making possible the Eagle over the past three seasons has been aired by the ESPN family to make way for a brand-new turf surface. New LED lights Football team’s new building. of networks. were installed in 2020. GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES FOOTBALL 5 Georgia Southern head football coach Chad Lunsford announced in February of 2018 that the walk-on tryouts for the program moving forward will be named in honor of Edwin Jackson, who died Feb. 4, 2018 in an automobile accident in Indianapolis. Jackson went through the tryout process at Georgia Southern to earn a spot on the team and worked his way up to eventual starter before moving on to start in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts.

“In memory of Edwin Jackson and the mark that he left in so many peoples lives, we wanted to take the first step in honoring him by naming our walk-on tryouts after him,” Lunsford said. “Edwin went down the hardest path possible here at Southern to earn some unbelievable results. He went from a walk-on tryout participant, to a spot on the team, to playing time, to a starter and leader and finally, a captain and Sun Belt champion. He then did it all again, signing as an NFL undrafted free agent, earned a spot on an NFL roster and then regular playing time before finally earning a job as a starter. His work ethic exemplified the blue collar mentality that made him the perfect fit at Georgia Southern. Not only did he accomplish these things, but he also was an unbelievable person who demonstrated our core values. The ultimate servant leader, he affected so many lives in a positive manner. I want to give a big thank you to his family for allowing us the to honor Edwin Jackson by naming our walk-on tryouts after him.”

As a junior in 2013, Jackson totaled a team-best 92 tackles, including a team-leading 13 stops in a 26-20 upset win against the University of Florida in The Swamp. He was voted team captain by his teammates and recorded a career-high 100 tackles as a senior in helping the Eagles win the Sun Belt Conference Championship in the school’s inaugural year competing at the FBS level in 2014. He was awarded first-team All-Sun Belt honors for his performance on the field.

He was an undrafted free agent who went to the Arizona Cardinals’ camp, but was one of the final cuts. He joined the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad in late 2015 and went on to start eight games at linebacker in 2016 for the Colts. He did not play in 2017 season due to an injury.

Jackson created the Edwin Jackson 53 Foundation, which holds football clinics, fitness camps and after-school programs for disadvantaged youth, and supports student athletes who do not have scholarships.

Each year’s Edwin Jackson Memorial Walk-On Tryouts will be held in February and all of the pertinent information can be found on GSEagles.com.

6 GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES FOOTBALL