Eagles Kick Off Another Spring Practice

Georgia Southern Football opens Spring Practice before the 2024 season at Allen E. Paulson Stadium on March 19, 2024 in Statesboro, Georgia. (Photograph by AJ Henderson / Georgia Southern Athletics)

Photo by: AJ Henderson / Georgia Southern

3/19/2024 1:30:00 PM | Football

2024 Football Season, Presented by Morris Bank

Spring Game Set For April 20

STATESBORO - Year Three of the Clay Helton Era commenced Tuesday as the Georgia Southern football team kicked off its 15-practice spring session at Allen E. Paulson Stadium. Here are a few takeaways from the first day on the field.

Who's Behind Center
The past two years, the starter was quickly established in spring ball. This year, the position is wide open. In all, there are six players in the quarterback room fighting for the job. In alphabetical order, those players are: Tyler Budge, David Dallas, Colton FitzGerald, JC French, Coby Walton and Dexter Williams II. Only two of them have taken a snap for the Eagles (FitzGerald and French). Three are coming off injuries (Dallas, French and Williams II) and two are new to the program (Williams II and Budge). Helton was quick to point out that it is only day one and the Eagles still have 39 practices to determine a two-deep before the opener on Aug. 31 against Boise State.

New Faces, New Places
Several new faces to the Georgia Southern squad took advantage of the NCAA's updated transfer year to come play in Statesboro and took to the field Tuesday for the first time. They were: Bryce Bernard (USF), LV Bunkley-Shelton (Oklahoma), Kyle Frazier (Savannah State), Tyler Fromm (Auburn), Chance Gamble (Kennesaw State), Davon Hicks (Washington State), Justin Kanyuk (North Carolina), Kevin Lukiri (Sterling), Deontre Morris (Kennesaw State), Deuce Petty (Tuskeegee), Deyandre Ruffin (Allen), Isaiah Screen (LaGrange) and Dexter Williams II (Indiana). Three other players came in from junior colleges and saw their first action as Eagles Tuesday. They were Jeremiah Holmes (Georgia Military), Demarcious Robinson (Butler CC), Dorrian Smith (Northeast Mississippi CC),

One More Time
Seven Eagles took advantage of the NCAA's COVID-19 eligibility waiver and returned for an extra year of action: Jaylon Barden, Bryson Broadway, Matthew Daniel, Reid Dedman, Davon Gilmore, Beau Johnson, Michael Lantz, Jeffrey Smyth, Kristian Varner, Jackson Wheeler, Jalen White and Cam Williams. Transferring in and taking advantage of the extra year were: LV Bunkley-Shelton, Kyle Frazier, Tyler Fromm and Deyandre Ruffin.

Mid-Year Enrollees
Six freshmen took to the field for their first time as Eagles on Saturday after joining the program in January. Those players are: Tyler Budge, Carmelo Mays, Skyler Malone, Zach Pearson and Eli Anders.

Georgia Southern Roots
Numerous coaches and staff members on the field on Saturday have deep roots to Statesboro as graduates of Georgia Southern. From the coaching staff, defensive coordinator Brandon Bailey, linebacker coach Darius Eubanks, wide receivers coach BJ Johnson and cornerbacks coach Darius Safford all went to Southern with the latter three playing for the Blue and White. Additionally, staff members Adrian Peterson, Andrew Bevill, Kennedy Joerger and Matt Wise also graduated from Georgia Southern with Peterson and Wise playing for the Eagles.

Pro Day
Georgia Southern will host its annual Pro Day on Monday, March 25 starting around noon. The public is welcome to come watch the outdoor portion of the testing and drills by sitting in the stands.

The Eagles will return to the field on Thursday for the second practice of the spring season. The Spring Game, presented by Morris Bank, Southern Exchange and Savannah Airport, will be on April 20 at noon.

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

Week 1
Thurs., March 21; 9:40 AM
Sat., March 23; 11:40 AM

Week 2
Tues., March 26; 9:40 AM
Thurs., March 28; 9:40 AM
Sat., March 30; 11:40 AM

Week 3
Tues., April 2; 9:40 AM
Thurs., April 4; 9:40 AM
Sat., April 6; 11:40 AM

Week 4
Tues., April 9; 9:40 AM
Thurs., April 11; 9:30 AM
Sat., April 13; 11:40 AM

Week 5
Tues., April 16; 9:40 AM
Thurs., April 18; 9:30 AM
Sat., April 20; 12 PM - SPRING GAME PRESENTED BY MORRIS BANK, SOUTHERN EXCHANGE AND SAVANNAH AIRPORT; 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.