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2013 Georgia State Football
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THE YEAR AHEAD
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
PLAYERS:
Tarris Batiste...............................................................TARR-iss buh-TEEST
Mackendy Cheridor ............................ muh-KEN-dee CHER-uh-door
Dontavis Crocker..................................................................... don-TAY-vis
Kight Dallas..............................................................................................KITE
Jah-Mai Davidson ............................................................................juh-MY
Ramell Davis ................................................................................. ruh-MELL
Nermin Delic....................................................................................DELL-ick
Garrett Gorringe.........................................................................gur-RINGE
Carnell Hopson..............................................................................car-NELL
Jonathan Jean-Bart ................................................................... JON-BART
Ulrick John........................................................................................ ULL-rick
Shawayne Lawrence....................................................... shuh-WAN-yuh
Demarius Matthews ................................................... duh-MARR-ee-us
Tyler Nemec...................................................................................NEE-mick
Brandon Pertile............................................................................... per-TILE
Jarrell Robinson.............................................................................juh-RELL
Mark Ruskell...................................................................................RUSS-kell
Kail Singleton ........................................................................................ CALE
Ladarion Young .............................................................. luh-DARE-ee-un
COACHES:
Keary Colbert ......................................................................................KERRY
Jeff Jagodzinski .............................................................JAG-ud-ZIN-skee
George Rogers, a junior college transfer from Northeastern
Oklahoma A&M who enrolled for spring practice, should
further bolster the interior line.
Kelly started every game of 2012 at defensive end, collecting
33 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He will play a hybrid
defensive end-outside linebacker position in the Panthers’ new
scheme. His likely backup is sophomore Melvin King, who
played in nine games as a true freshman last fall.
Other options on the defensive line include redshirt
freshman Tanner Strickland and walk-on Terry Hollingshed.
Defensive line prospects make up the largest portion of
GSU’s freshman class, including Mackendy Cheridor, Will
Cunningham, Carnell Hopson, Tevin Jones, Jalen Lawrence and
Shawayne Lawrence.
LINEBACKERS
Georgia State’s top returnees at linebacker are senior Robert
Ferguson, junior Jarrell Robinson and sophomore Joseph
Peterson.
Ferguson, a 6-1, 230-pounder from Belle Glade, Fla., leads
all active Panthers with 129 career tackles and 11 tackles for
loss, and he is one of just two returnees, along with tackle Grant
King, to play in every game of Georgia State’s first three seasons.
Peterson is a talented young player who was thrown into the
fire last fall as a true freshman, when he led the team in tackles
with 65
Another option is senior Allen McKay, who has played
linebacker in his career but saw time last season as an undersized
defensive end to ease depth problems there.
At outside linebacker, the Panthers hope to have sophomore
Tarris Batiste, a transfer from Indiana State who is awaiting an
appeal to the NCAA to gain immediate eligibility. Sophomore
Bryan Williams gained experience as a true freshman last fall,
playing in eight games, including one start.
The freshman class includes promising linebackers Kight
Dallas, Trey Payne and Jameel Spencer.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
At cornerback, the Panthers return three seniors who
have started over the last three seasons in Brent McClendon,
Demarius Matthews and Jamal Ransby. That trio has combined
for 232 tackles and seven interceptions in Georgia State’s first
three campaigns. McClendon is the top performer with 114
career tackles, the fourth-highest total in GSU history, along
with three interceptions and nine pass breakups.
A fourth senior cornerback, Nate Anthony, is a special
teams standout who can also contribute in the secondary.
The safety position was hard hit by graduation with the loss
of starters Demazio Skelton and D’Mario Gunn, who combined
for nine interceptions over the last two seasons.
The most experienced returnee at safety is senior Kail
Singleton, who had 43 tackles, an interception and a fumble
recovery in nine games last fall. Also returning are Arington
Jordan, Rashad Stewart, Robert Smith and Jamaal May.
SEASON PREVIEW
Secondary prospects in the freshman class include Robert
Dowling, Trent Hill and Tyshaun Clemmons, who could play
wide receiver or defensive back. Cornerback Bruce Dukes will
sit out the 2013 season after transferring from UCF.
SPECIALISTS
The Panthers return five key specialists, led by a pair of
all-conference honorees in punter Matt Hubbard and return
specialist Albert Wilson.
Hubbard, a junior from Peachtree City, Ga., is coming off an
all-conference season as a sophomore, when he averaged 43.1
yards per punt with 21 boots of 50 yards or longer. He enters
2013 as a preseason All-Sun Belt Conference pick by Phil Steele’s
College Football Preview and Athlon.
Wil Lutz, a sophomore, took over the place-kicking chores
midway through last season. He was a perfect 18-of-18 on extra
points and 4-of-7 on field goals, with his three misses coming
from 48 yards or longer.
Junior David Miller is a versatile backup who can punt, kick
off or handle placements.
Senior long-snapper Scott McQueen also returns. He has
been the long-snapper for every field goal and extra point of the
Panthers’ first three seasons, and he added punt duties in 2012.
Wilson, also an all-conference wide receiver, was the Co-
Special Teams Player of the Year in the CAA last fall. He has
averaged 25.1 yards per return for his career, including a 97-
yard touchdown return at Alabama in 2010 and a 100-yard
scoring return last season versus Old Dominion.
