STATESBORO - When over 100 All-Americans, several national award winners, multiple conference players of the year, dozens of professional players and two College Football Hall of Famers have suited up to play for the Eagles, narrowing down a list of the best players of the past 40 years was never going to be easy.

As the 40th season of modern football in Statesboro kicks off on Saturday, the Georgia Southern Department of Athletics and the EFAA tasked the members of Eagle Nation to cast their vote for members of the 40th Anniversary Team. Each week, new position groups with new eligible players were announced and thousands of votes were cast each time. 

To be eligible, a player had to have finished his eligibility at GS, or have graduated before transferring to another school. All players on the ballot were one of the following:

• On the GS Athletics Hall of Fame Ballot
• An all-conference (1st/2nd/3rd Team) selection or conference award honoree
• An All-American
• A member of the GS Athletics Hall of Fame
• A national National Award Winner
• An NFL Player
• An NFL Draft Pick
• Has their number retired

The EFAA approved the initial list and had the discretion to adjust the nominations. So without any further adieu, here is the 97-player list as voted on by Eagle Nation.

Offensive Line (18)
DORIAN BYRD (2010-13) – Macon, Ga.
JAMES CARTER (1986-87) – Thomaston, Ga.
CHARLES CLARKE (1999-02) – Pace, Fla. 
MARCELO ESTRADA (2005-07) – Hinesville, Ga. 
DENNIS FRANKLIN (1985-88) – Loganville, Ga. 
GARRETT FRYE (2011-14) – Cumming, Ga.
WILLIAM MAXWELL (2008-11) – Quitman, Ga. 
RICH McGRATH (1996-99) – Snellville, Ga. 
BRETT MOORE (2010-11) – Warner Robins, Ga.
CHAD MOTTE (2002-05) – Arab, Ala.
RUSSELL ORR (2004-07) – Thomasville, Ga.
VANCE PIKE (1983-85) – Warner Robins, Ga. 
FRANKLIN STEPHENS (1991-94) – Keysville, Ga. 
FRED STOKES (1983-86) – Vidalia, Ga. *
ALBERT TURNER (2002-04) – Rydal, Ga. 
RONALD WARNOCK (1985-87) – Eastman, Ga.
MARK WILLIAMS (1996-99) – Albany, Ga.
MATT WINSLETTE (1995-98) – Greensboro, Ga. 

Slot Backs (3)
RICKY HARRIS (1983-86) – Harlem, Ga. *
COREY JOYNER (1996-98) – Albany, Ga. 
ZZREAM WALDEN(1999-02) – Marietta, Ga.

Wide Receivers (4)
RAJA ANDREWS (2005-08) – Swainsboro, Ga.
TEDDY CRAFT (2003-05) – Hartwell, Ga. *
BJ JOHNSON III (2013-16) – Woodruff, S.C.
MONTY SHARPE (1983-86) – Lyons, Ga.

Running Backs (8)
JERMAINE AUSTIN (2002-05) – Darien, Ga.
MATT BREIDA (2013-16) – Brooksville, Fla.
GERALD HARRIS (1983-86) - Swainsboro, Ga.
ADRIAN PETERSON (1998-01) – Alachua, Fla. *
JOE ROSS (1987-90) – Augusta, Ga.
RODERICK RUSSELL (1994-97) – Opelika, Ala.
DOMINIQUE SWOPE (2011-12) – Buford, Ga. 
ERNEST THOMPSON (1985-89) – Louisville, Ga.

Quarterbacks (7)
KEVIN ELLISON (2013-16) – Cornelia, Ga.
JAYSON FOSTER (2004-07) – Canton, Ga. *
RAYMOND GROSS (1987-90) – Hinesville, Ga.
TRACY HAM (1983-86) – High Springs, Fla.
GREG HILL (1996-99) – Sarasota, Fla.
J.R. REVERE (1998-01) – LaGrange, Ga.
CHAZ WILLIAMS (2001-04) – Apopka, Fla.

Defensive Line (13)
DARREN ALFORD (1987-88) – Eatonton, Ga. 
VONCELLIES ALLEN (1996-99) – Douglas, Ga. 
STEVE BUSSOLETTI (1988-91) – Gainesville, Ga. 
ERIC DAVIS (1997-98) – Albany, Ga.
RAYMOND JOHNSON III (2017-20) – Sumter, S.C.
ALEX MASH (1990-93) – Thomasville, Ga. 
FREDDY PESQUEIRA (1999-02) – Acworth, Ga. *
EUGENE PHILLIPS (1996-99) – Columbus, Ga. 
BRENT RUSSELL (2009-12) – Madison, Ga. 
GIFF SMITH (1987-90) – Mableton, Ga. 
EDWARD THOMAS (1993-96) – Atlanta, Ga.
RODERICK TINSLEY (2008-11) – Soperton, Ga.
DAKOTA WALKER (2007-08) – Mays Landing, N.J. 

Linebackers (13)
DERRICK BUTLER (2001-04) – Orangeburg, S.C.
RASHAD BYRD (2017-20) – North Augusta, S.C.
CHARLES CARPER (1983-85) – Ocala, Fla.
PAUL CARROLL (1991-94) – Columbus, Ga.
DION DUBOSE (2008-12) – Norcross, Ga. 
IRONHEAD GALLON (2012-16) – Madison, Fla. *
DARRELL HENDRIX (1987-89) – Nahunta, Ga.
EDWIN JACKSON (2011-14) – Atlanta, Ga. 
FLINT MATTHEWS (1985-87) – Lincolnton, Ga.
JOHN MOHRING (2003-06) – Naples, Fla. 
DARYL MORRELL (1997-98) – Mableton, Ga.
CHAD NIGHBERT (1994-97) – Frankfurt, Germany 
ANTWIONE WILLIAMS (2011-15) – Lovejoy, Ga.

Defensive Backs (16)
RANDELL BOONE (1987-89) – Uvalda, Ga. 
A.J. BRYANT (2002-05) – Bushnell, Fla. 
TAZ DIXON (1986-89) – Dublin, Ga. 
EARTHWIND MORELAND (1996-99) – Atlanta, Ga.
RODNEY OGLESBY (1988-91) – Swainsboro, Ga. 
LARON SCOTT (2009-11) - Warner Robins, Ga.
ROB STOCKTON (1992-95) – Clayton, Ga. 
KIWAUKEE THOMAS (1996-99) – Perry, Ga. 
ARKEE THOMPSON (1998-99) - Savannah, Ga.
KINDLE VILDOR (2016-19) – College Park, Ga. 
LAVELLE WESTBROOKS (2010-13) – Riverdale, Ga. 
KEVIN WHITLEY (1988-91) – Decatur, Ga. 
J.J. WILCOX (2009-12) – Cairo, Ga. 
DAVID YOUNG (1999-02) – Columbia, S.C.
NAY YOUNG (1984-87) – Savannah, Ga. 
JAMES YOUNG (2001-04) – Tampa, Fla. *

Specialists (12)
TYLER BASS, PK (2016-19) – Irmo, S.C. *
TEDDY CRAFT, RS (2003-05) – Hartwell, Ga.
DEXTER DAWSON, RS (1992-95) – Camilla, Ga. 
CHARLIE EDWARDS, P (2008-11) – Tifton, Ga. 
TIM FOLEY, PK (1984-87) – Miami, Fla.
JESSE HARTLEY, PK (2007-08) – Eatonton, Ga.
YOUNGHOE KOO, PK (2013-16) – Ridgewood, N.J.
RYAN LANGAN, LS (2017-20) – Cedar Rapids, Neb. 
ERIC MENG, PK (1995-97) – Jupiter, Fla. 
ADRIAN MORA, PK (2008-11) – Dalton, Ga. 
LARON SCOTT, RS (2009-11) – Warner Robins, Ga.
ANT WILLIAMS, RS (1999-02) – Stone Mountain, Ga. 

All-Purpose (2)
JAYSON FOSTER, QB/WR/RS (2004-07) – Canton, Ga.
JERICK McKINNON, QB/SB/RB/RS (2010-13) - Marietta, Ga.

Team Captain (1)
JESSIE JENKINS (1982-85) – Bonaire, Ga. "The Original Eagle"

* - denotes top vote getter within each position group by Eagle Nation

Georgia Southern begins its 2022 season on Sept. 3 against Morgan State at 6 p.m.