2019 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL

On the covers: OFC - Head coach Chad Lunsford, along with Tyler Bass, Shai Werts, Kindle Vildor and Raymond Johnson III; IFC - Mark Michaud, Jakob Cooper, Lane Ecton, Rashad Byrd and Jay Bowdry; IBC - Eagles in the NFL; OBC - The 2019 Georgia Southern football schedule.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES FOOTBALL 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2019 Schedule Date Opponent Series Record Last Aug. 31 at LSU First Meeting N/A Sept. 7 MAINE GS leads, 3-0 GS won 35-23 (2011) 14 at Minnesota First Meeting N/A 28 LOUISIANA * Tied, 1-1 GS won 34-24 (2017) Oct. 3 at South Alabama * GS leads, 5-0 GS won 48-13 (2018) 19 COASTAL CAROLINA * GS leads, 4-1 GS won 41-17 (2018) 26 NEW MEXICO STATE GS leads, 4-1 GS won 48-31 (2018) 31 at Appalachian State * ASU leads, 19-14-1 GS won 34-14 (2018) Nov. 9 at Troy * Troy leads, 12-6 Troy won 35-21 (2018) 16 ULM * GS leads 5-3 ULM won 44-25 (2018) 23 at Arkansas State * Tied, 2-2 GS won 28-21 (2018) 30 GEORGIA STATE * GSU leads, 3-2 GS won 35-14 (2018) Dec. 7 Sun Belt Championship Game [if qualified]

* - Game

EAGLES GATA MEET THE EAGLES 122 Series Results EAGLES IN THE PROS 1 On the Covers 32 Veteran Profiles 126 Eagles vs. Conferences 164 Eagles in the Pros 2 2019 Schedule/Quick Facts/Credits 63 Newcomers 166 NFL Draft/Super Bowl/Pro Bowl Eagles 4 Staff Information HISTORY 5 Allen E. Paulson Stadium 2018 REVIEW/STATISTICS 128 Eagle Football History UNIVERSITY/MEDIA 6 Edwin Jackson Tribute 68 Individual Honors/Start Chart 130 1985 National Championship 168 Georgia Southern University 69 2018 Statistics 132 1986 National Championship 170 President Dr. Kyle Marrero 2019 SEASON 72 2018 Individual Summaries 134 1989 National Championship 171 Athletic Director Tom Kleinlein 8 Preseason Rosters 74 2018 Game-By-Game Statistics 136 1990 National Championship 172 Media Guidelines 10 Preseason Depth Chart 75 2018 Game Highs 138 1999 National Championship 173 Athletics Communications 11 Personnel/Pronunciation Guide 76 2018 Scoring Summaries 140 2000 National Championship 174 Georgia Southern Radio Network 12 adidas 77 2018 Miscellaneous Statistics 142 Eagle All-Americans 175 Department Personnel 78 2018 Big Plays 145 Conference Accolades COACHING STAFF 79 Last Time It Happened 148 Modern Era Lettermen 14 Head Coach Chad Lunsford 80 Eagles in National Rankings 152 All-Time Wins/Championships/Bowls 16 Associate Head Coach Chris Foster 81 2018 Game Recaps 153 All-Time Coaching Records 17 Offensive Coordinator Bob DeBesse 154 Modern Era Assistant Coaches 18 Defensive Coordinator Scot Sloan RECORD BOOK 156 Coach Tribute 19 Assistant Coach Victor Cabral 90 Individual Records 158 No. 8 Tracy Ham 20 Assistant Coach Travis Cunningham 105 Annual Leaders 159 No. 3 Adrian Peterson 21 Assistant Coach Andrew Dodge 109 Longest Plays 160 Jayson Foster 22 Assistant Coach Ron Hudson 110 Team Records 161 Paul Johnson 23 Assistant Coach Lamar Owens 111 Overtime Games 162 Younghoe Koo 24 Assistant Coach Jeremy Rowell 112 Year-By-Year Team Stats 26 Assistant Coach Kevin Whitley 114 Team Records By Era 26 Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Greenhalgh 115 Paulson Stadium Records 27 Support Staff 116 Eagles on Television 117 All-Time Results

2 FOOTBALL QUICK FACTS

GS QUICK FACTS PROGRAM INFORMATION AND HISTORY TEAM INFORMATION CREDITS Conference: Sun Belt Head Coach: Chad Lunsford The 2019 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 Official Name: Georgia Southern University (no football from 1942-1981) Lunsford’s Record at GS: 12-7 (2nd Full Year) Office. Abbreviation: GS (not GSU) Modern Era Record: 326-142-1 (.696) ^ Career Record: Same Location: Statesboro, Ga. FCS National Championships: 6 Eagles’ 2018 Record: 10-3 Editor and Design: Bryan Johnston Editorial Content: AJ Henderson, Trent Founded: December 1, 1906 (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000) Postseason: Won Camellia Bowl Whitmire, Katy Baker Johnston, Cassie Enrollment: 26,500 * No. Years in NCAA FCS Playoffs: 19 Conference Record: 6-2 Nakamoto President: Dr. Kyle Marrero All-Time Playoff Record: 45-13 Offensive System: Gun/Pistol Triple Option Covers: Robbie Monk, Liam Kissinger, Drew Morris; helmets on OBC designed by Clark Athletics Director: Tom Kleinlein Bowl Games: 2 Defensive System: 3-4 Ruhland of Salem, Va. Faculty Athletics Rep: Chris Geyerman, Ph.D. won 2015 GoDaddy Bowl GS Athletics on the Web: GSEagles.com Printing: South Georgia Graphics in Athletics Department Phone: 912-478-5047 won 2018 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl GS Football on Twitter: @GSAthletics_FB Claxton, GA Additional contributions from the GS Office of Nickname: Eagles Home Stadium: Paulson Stadium (25,000) Letterwinners (Ret/Lost): 40/20 Marketing and Communications. Primary Colors: Blue (PMS 282) and White Playing Surface: Shaw Sports Turf (Legion 41) O: 17/10; D: 20/10; ST: 3/0 Secondary Colors: Gray (PMS 429) and Gold (PMS 872) Paulson Stadium Record: 192-40 (.828) ^ Position Starters (Ret/Lost): 14/8 PHOTOGRAPHY Frank Fortune, AJ Henderson, Jonathan Mascots: GUS (mascot) and Freedom (live) Chick, Allen Gambrell, Carroll Gambrell, Kyunnie Shuman, Dan Groover and Jeffrey TICKET INFORMATION FOLLOW THE EAGLES ON SOCIAL MEDIA Abraham. Images of Eagles in the NFL courtesy of Diamond Images, Getty Images Ticket Director: David Cutler and USPresswire. Images of championship Ticket Office Phone: 1-800-GSU-WINS rings from Super Bowl XXVI and Super Bowl Ticket Office Website: GSEagles.com/Tickets XXXIX and NFL team marks courtesy of the National Football League.

* - 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 GSAthletics GSAthletics 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 Senior Associate AD for Sports Medicine/SWA...... Brandy Clouse (Georgia Southern) Record at Georgia Southern (Years)...... 12-7, .632 (Second Full Year) Strength & Conditioning Coach, Football...... Matt Greenhalgh (Rhode Island) Career Record (Years)...... Same Director of Player Personnel...... Matt Brennan (Troy) Best Time to Reach Coach...... Contact Athletics Communications Director of High School Relations...... T.J. Anderson (Georgia Southern) Sun Belt Coaches’ Teleconference...... Monday mornings in season Director of Student-Athlete Development...... Adrian Peterson (Georgia Southern) Assistant of Football Operations...... Nikki Donoff (Georgia Southern) ASSISTANT COACHES (Alphabetical order) Assistant Athletic Trainer, Football...... Bryce Sorrier (Georgia) VICTOR CABRAL @Coach_Cab Equipment Services, Football...... Leo Roberts IV (Bowie State) Georgia Southern, 2006 ...... Defensive Line/Recruiting Coord. – Second Year/Sixth Year Overall Video Coordinator...... Phill Guard (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 – Second Year Defensive Graduate Assistant...... Jake Brandon (Appalachian State) Defensive Graduate Assistant...... Darrius Jones Jr. (Georgia Southern) BOB DeBESSE @CoachDeBesse5 Offensive Graduate Assistant...... Clayton Barnes (Texas A&M) Southwest Texas State, 1982...... Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Second Year Offensive Graduate Assistant...... Dimitri Donald (West Texas A&M) Analyst (O/ST)...... Chris Barton (Georgia Southern) ANDREW DODGE @Coach_Dodge Analyst (D)...... Dustin Ramsey (Gardner-Webb) UCF, 2012...... Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator – Third Year Recruiting Graduate Assistant...... Ashley Burns (Georgia Southern)

CHRIS FOSTER @CoachC_Foster KEY DEPARTMENT STAFF Gardner-Webb, 2003...... Assoc. Head Coach/Running Backs – Fourth Year Athletics Director...... Tom Kleinlein (Wake Forest) Deputy A.D...... Lisa Sweany (Tri-State) RON HUDSON @CoachRHud Senior Associate A.D./Executive Director, Athletic Foundation...... Dan O’Dowd (Georgia Southern) Muskingum, 1986...... Offensive Line – Second 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) LAMAR OWENS @CoachLO2 Senior Associate A.D. for Internal Operations...... Tracy Ham (Georgia Southern) Maryland, 2008...... Wide Receivers – First Year Assistant A.D. for Game Operations...... Nick Scull (Lock Haven) Assistant A.D. for Ticketing, Parking & Suites...... David Cutler (Georgia Southern) JEREMY ROWELL @Coach_Rowell Troy, 1997...... Outside Linebackers – Fourth Year KEY DATES Student-athletes report...... Thursday, August 1 SCOT SLOAN @Coach_Sloan First day of preseason practice...... Friday, August 2 Clemson, 1992 ...... Defensive Coordinator/Safeties – Second Year/Sixth Year Overall First day of university fall classes...... Monday, August 19 Season Opener (LSU)...... Saturday, August 31 KEVIN WHITLEY @kwhit4 Home Opener (Maine)...... Saturday, September 7 Georgia Southern, 1993...... Cornerbacks – First Year Home Sun Belt Opener (Louisiana)...... Saturday, September 29

4 GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES FOOTBALL 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, film 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: 192-40 (.828) All-Time Playoff 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 first 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 192-40 home record (.828) and founder and chairman of Gulfstream Aerospace, who donated Eagles’ first season in the FBS and the Sun Belt Conference. The won 91.7 percent of their postseason games (33-3). That more than $1 million toward construction of the facility. newly expanded facility, now at a capacity of 25,000, offers .828 winning percentage stands as the second best amongst In 2007, Georgia Southern University renamed the area incredible views of the playing field and modern amenities on current FBS stadiums entering the 2019 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 first contest Eagle fans from across campus, throughout the Coastal Empire brought the nucleus of Eagle Football to the south end of was a fitting end to four years of planning and hard work – and southeast region. campus and gave the Eagles’ one of the finest team areas four years of dreaming of one of the finest football facilities in Previous upgrades to the complex included renovation of in the Sun Belt. This building features the team locker America. the concourses and hospitality areas and the addition of a room, weight room, training room, equipment room, team What former Eagle head coach Erk Russell described as “The brick façade along the walls of Paulson Stadium prior to 2005. room, meeting rooms and a lobby with all six FCS national Prettiest Little Stadium in America” has been transformed Initially constructed at a cost of $4.7 million with just over championship trophies. into one of the finest facilities of its kind. The new mid-deck 14,000 permanent seats and grass seating for thousands The Field of Dreams has also been a popular addition to the creates an architectural presence on the north side with the more, the addition of Paulson Stadium elevated the fledgeling stadium complex, allowing children to play football on their new 50,000-square-foot Ted Smith Family Football Center program. The site for numerous nationally televised games, own field alongside the Eagles during their game. enclosing the east end zone. including the 1989 Hugo Bowl on ESPN, permanent light The 2014 expansion also brought a new Daktronics video The $10 million stadium expansion project was student fixtures were installed for the 1994 season. Every home game board to the east side of the field. Following the 2015 season, fee funded with private donations making possible the Eagle over the past three seasons has been aired by the ESPN family the grass playing surface of Glenn Bryant Field was removed Football team’s new building. of networks. to make way for a brand-new turf surface. 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