STATESBORO - The Clay Helton Era officially took flight Tuesday as the Georgia Southern football team kicked off its 15-practice spring session Tuesday afternoon at Allen E. Paulson Stadium. It marked the first-on field action for Helton and his staff, who have been on campus for nearly four months now. Here are a few takeaways from the first day on the field.

The Looks of the Offense and Defense
Georgia Southern will be installing new schemes on both offense and defense this spring under coordinators Bryan Ellis (offense) and Will Harris (defense). For obvious reasons, we won't report on the specifics here, but expect to see a lot of different looks as both coaches named their base units as simply "multiple" and plan to use a variety of ways to get the best 11 players on the field. With practice open to the public this spring, Eagle Nation is welcomed to come out to take a look for themselves, but don't expect much details here during the spring as to not give away any competitive advantages.

Who's Behind Center
Head coach Clay Helton announced Monday that 2021 starter Justin Tomlin was no longer with the team, leaving the quarterback spot wide open. On the field in Tuesday's first practice were a few veterans in Cam Ransom and Connor Cigelske, but a lot of new faces in Kyle Vantrease, Richie Lankford, Zak Rozsman and David Dallas. Coach Bryan Ellis said on Monday the battle is ongoing and someone had to take the first rep at the first practice, but not to read too much into that at this point.

New Faces, New Places
Several new faces to the Georgia Southern squad took advantage of the NCAA's new one-time transfer year to come play in Statesboro and took to the field Tuesday for the first time. They were: Ezrah Archie (WR, Monmouth), Ethan Dirrim (TE, Mercer), Michael Jubran (OL, Presbyterian), Christian Parrish (WR, Army West Point), Parker Self (WR, Florida State), Dylan Snyder (TE, The Citadel), Kyle Vantrease (QB, Buffalo), Kristian Varner (DL, North Carolina), Mari Wingard (DB, Elon) and Kendall Young (TE, Georgia Tech). Two other players came in from junior colleges and saw their first action as Eagles Tuesday. They were Richie Lankford (QB, College of San Mateo) and Tyler Jordan (RB, Georgia Military College).

One More Time
Fourteen Eagles took advantage of the NCAA's COVID-19 eligibility waiver and returned for an extra year of action: Justin Birdsong, Todd Bradley-Glenn, D.J. Butler, Justin Ellis, Amare Jones, Caleb Kelly, J.D. King, Logan Langemeier, Brian Miller, Dillon Springer and NaJee Thompson. Transferring in and taking advantage of the extra year were: Ezrah Archie, Jerm Singleton and Kyle Vantrease.

TBG Version 7.0
Adversity is a word Todd Bradley-Glenn doesn't want to hear after what he went through in 2015, 2016, 2018 and in 2021. The super senior has overcome cancer, three knee surgeries and a torn biceps injury to return to the field for a seventh season. Taking advantage of the COVID ruling, Bradley-Glenn returned last year for a sixth season, but suffered a torn biceps in the first preseason scrimmage, thus sidelining him for yet another season. He has elected to return for a seventh year, one made possible by a a hardship waiver granted to give him his 2016 season back due to the first knee injury.

Bradley-Glenn (born June 11, 1997) is the oldest player on the team at age 25 and played as a true freshman in 2016. This year's freshman class was in the sixth grade when Bradley-Glenn took his first snaps as an Eagle in 2016. He signed with Georgia Southern in February of 2016 in a class that included Kindle Vildor, who is now in his third year in the NFL with the Chicago Bears.

The Valdosta native is cleared and healthy, but is being held out of contact drills as a precaution as of now. He was back on the field for the first time since his injury last August and told the media afterwards that he feels great and is ready to help out the team in any way possible.

Mid-Year Enrollees
Eight players took to the field for their first time as Eagles on Tuesday after joining the program in January. Those players are: David Dallas, Zyere Horton, Nate Lewis, Zak Roszman, Chandler Strong, Ky Tayo, Ashton Whitner and Pichon Wimbley.

Pre-Spring Press Conference
Coach Helton, along with Ellis, Harris and Turner West (special teams coordinator) all met with the media on Monday. Below are the videos from all four.









The Eagles will return to the field on Thursday for the second practice of the spring season. The Spring Game, presented by Morris Bank and Southern Exchange, will be on April 23 at noon.

Below is the full schedule for the remaining of camp, subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen factors:

Week 1
Thurs, March 24; 4 PM; Paulson
Sat., March 26; 11 AM; Paulson

Week 2
Tues., March 29; 4:25 PM; Eagle Creek
Thurs., March 31; 4 PM; Paulson
Sat., April 2; 3:15 PM; Paulson - Scrimmage #1

Week 3
Tues., April 5; 4:25 PM; Eagle Creek
Thurs., April 7; 4 PM; Paulson
Sat., April 9; 3:15 PM; Paulson

Week 4
Tues., April 12; 4:25 PM; Eagle Creek
Thurs., April 14; 4 PM; Paulson
Sat., April 16; 11 AM; Paulson - Scrimmage #2

Week 5
Tues., April 19;l 4:25 PM; Paulson
Thurs., April 21; 4 PM; Paulson
Sat., April 23; 12 PM; Paulson - SPRING GAME PRESENTED BY MORRIS BANK AND SOUTHERN EXCHANGE; ESPN+

While practices are open to the public and media, we ask you help us keep a competitive advantage by not posting videos and detailed information (including injuries) from practice on social media.