TWITTER: @CoachJoeGraves
Joe Graves joined the Georgia Southern football staff in February of 2021 and serves as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator for the Eagles.
Graves came to Statesboro after coaching at ULM for three seasons, the final two as the running backs coach. He served as a graduate assistant coach in 2018, working closely with the offensive line. Under his tutelage, Josh Johnson earned All-Sun Belt second-team honors in 2019, ranking second in the Sun Belt and 13th in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing with an average of 108.2 yards per game. He also finished among the NCAA FBS Top 20 in yards per carry (10th at 6.46) and rushing yards (tied for 18th with 1,298). Johnson’s 1,298 rushing yards ranked as the fourth-highest single-season total in ULM history and he also led the Warhawks in all-purpose yards (1,420) while ranking second in rushing touchdowns (11) and scoring (66 points).
The Covington, Louisiana, native went to ULM following two seasons as running backs coach at his alma mater Southeastern Louisiana.
In 2017, SLU led the Southland Conference and ranked third in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in rushing, averaging 283.1 yards per game. The Lions also finished second in the league in rushing touchdowns with 27. A trio of running backs – Marcus Cooper, Eugene Bethea and Darren Johnson – combined to rush for 1,813 yards and 12 TDs.
In 2016, Julius Maracalin earned second-team All-SLC honors after finishing fourth in the league in rushing, averaging 67.9 yards per game. Maracalin, who led the Lions with 747 rushing yards and eight rushing TDs, closed out the season with three-straight 100-yard games.
A three-year starter on the offensive line for the Lions from 2013-15, Graves became one of the most-decorated student-athletes at SLU. He garnered All-SLC honors each of his final three seasons (honorable mention in 2013 and 2014; second team in 2015) while helping SLU win back-to-back conference championships in 2013 and 2014.
In addition to his production on the field, Graves was a three-time Southland Conference All-Academic and a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. He also was named to the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team as both a junior and senior.
Graves received a bachelor’s degree in history from Southeastern Louisiana in May 2016.
THE GRAVES FILE
Personal
Hometown: Covington, La.
Born: 01/18/1994 in Toledo, Ohio
College: Southeastern Louisiana (2016)
Playing Experience
Southeastern Louisiana (2012-2015)
Coaching Experience
2021- Georgia Southern (running backs)
2019-20 ULM (running backs)
2018 ULM (G.A.)
2016-17 Southeastern Louisiana (running backs)
College Bowl/Postseason Experience
Coach
2014 NCAA FCS First Round (SLU)
2013 NCAA FCS Quarterfinals (SLU)
Prominent Pupils
Josh Johnson (RB): All-Sun Belt selection
