Meet the Panther offense...

D.J. Kunovac, senior football analyst for the The Signal, has spent much of his summer watching practices, chatting with coaches and interviewing players. As the Sports Editor, my job is to find the writer that is most knowledgeable about college football, recruiting, strategies and the team itself to bring our readers right into the action. This semester D.J. will be charged with covering every angle of the historic launch of the football program. For the latest, most accurate information on Panther football, pick up the most recent copy of The Signal and get inside the huddle.

Braving the brutal heat wave that has gripped the Southeast in recent weeks, the Georgia State football team has logged over a dozen practices so far in their preparation for the program's inaugural game on Sep. 2nd. While the football staff has not publicly released an official depth chart, players across all positions are starting to solidify themselves as likely starters. Here is a quick breakdown by each position on offense and defense.

Quarterback

The competition for the starting spot that has received more attention than any other has been, without a doubt, the quarterback race. The already heated battle between Drew Little, Kelton Hill and Bo Schlechter became even more interesting when University of Alabama's former quarterback Star Jackson transferred to Georgia State in June.

Little has a cannon of an arm and has dropped significant weight during the summer workouts. Hill is a prototypical dual-threat quarterback that stole the show at the spring game in April. Schlechter is a solid all-around quarterback that every good team should have. But as good as these three are, the one thing they simply don't have over Jackson is experience.

With two years spent in an SEC program, not to mention a national championship ring, Jackson has the poise and presence in the pocket that separates him from the other three candidates. It is not so much what Jackson does well, but rather what he doesn't do a lot of, and that is make mistakes. Combined with his physical tools, he simply seems as the best option to lead the Panthers on Sept. 2nd

Receiver

University of Central Florida transfer Sidney Haynes, Boone High School standout Danny Williams and Jordan Giles, the record-setting receiver from South Carolina, all seem to have solidified themselves as likely starters at the wide receiver position.

Parris Lee, the former nationally ranked player from Jacksonville, Fl., has ruled the slot receiver position with his speed and soft hands. Georgia prospects Nate Anthony and Darren McCray should also see some time at slot, although the two might see considerable action on special teams as well.

Offensive Line

Head Coach Bill Curry noted in a recent interview that the offensive line could easily be the best core of players on the team, and with the amount of talent and experience the Panthers are fielding, it is easy to see why.

The likely starter at left tackle should be the Georgia Tech transfer Clyde Yandell, who had a slew of FBS offers coming out of high school, but never really got to showcase his talents in Paul Johnson's triple option offense.

Next to him at left guard should be Joseph Gilbert, the former starting guard at Georgia Tech that paved the way for the second best rushing offense in the country last year.

As has been the case since he transferred from Ball State, Ben Jacoby should get the nod at center for the Panthers. Gabriel Hampton, the 320-pound Junior College standout from City College of San Francisco, seems to have beaten out LaDeven Kirkland for the starting role at right guard.

The surprise seems to be at right tackle, where red-shirt freshman Harrison Clottey seems to have won the starting job.

Tight End

There is little doubt that Auburn transfer Bailey Woods will get the starting job at tight end for the Panthers.

The 6-foot-5-inch 250-pound Woods, out of Walton High School in Marietta, Ga., has been living up to his billing as one of the best blocking tight ends in the country.

Another powerful blocker that should see significant time behind Woods is Arthur Williams, the Palomar Junior College transfer that signed with the Panthers in February.

Emmanuel Ogbuehi showed that he could be an offensive threat when he caught a touchdown pass during the spring scrimmage, and he should also see considerable time at the tight end position for the Panthers this year.

Running Back

The running back position does not appear to have a clear starter as the coaching staff seems to be intending to use multiple players in a single-back formation. Rosevelt Watson, a former high school teammate of Star Jackson's at Lake Worth, is a powerful runner with perhaps the most mature body of all the running backs.

Travis Evans, a speedy and very elusive runner with great field vision, has been hampered by a hamstring injury that should be healed completely before the season opener.

Sam Burkhalter, the stalky running back from Blessed Trinity high school that seems to relish contact, has made as good a case as any for the starting role with a good number of long-yardage runs during scrimmages.

Another pleasant surprise has been the addition of Rendell Wilder to the running back core. The extremely fast Wilder was a human highlight reel at Tucker high school and should prove to be one of Curry's many strong weapons in the Panther backfield.

...and the defense

Defensive Line

The defensive line still seems somewhat fuzzy in terms of who the starters will be, but the player that has stood out the most has been Chirsto Bilukidi from Eastern Arizona Junior College. The former top high school prospect from Canada has been nothing short of a monster on defense so far.