10 Storylines That Could Make or Break Georgia State's Season

By Mac Brown, @SSN_GSU

With us reaching mid-June, June 19th to be exact, we now officially have ten Saturdays between us and the return of college football. (Well, Week 1 at least.) To get the Panther Family ready for what should hopefully be an improved season, an article will be written each week counting us down. The articles will cover every aspect of the football program and where it could be headed by the end of the season. Year 2 for Head Coach Dell McGee will be just as intriguing as the first, if not more. So, let’s begin the countdown…

The first stop of our countdown will be discussing the ten storylines that could make or break the season for the Panthers. Each storyline will be imperative to how the season will turn out on Hank Aaron Dr. If the majority of these storylines sway in the favor of the Panthers, it’s hard to believe this season won’t be considerably better than last. If they happen to sway the other direction, it could be another year of growing pains for the young program. Either way, these storylines will be at the forefront of close to every conversation surrounding Georgia State in 2025.

1.   Has Dell McGee figured out a little more in Year 2?

The expectations for Dell McGee going into his first season at Georgia State probably shouldn’t have been too high considering it was his first stop as a HC at the FBS level of football, and he had virtually no offseason to work with his new players and fully implement his system. Yet, due to pedigree of his coaching and recruiting at the University of Georgia combined with a 2-1 start in Atlanta, including an upset win over another SEC school from the Volunteer State, set the bar a little too high for some. However, whatever the expectation may have been, most can agree that winning a single game after Week 3 is never necessarily acceptable. That is what McGee will need to avoid in Year 2 for the Panther Family to continue having such a high level of faith in him.

When it comes to almost anything in life, continuity and experience will improve the outcomes. It’s no different in sports and we see it every single year at every single level. There’s no real reason to think it will be any different for CDM and his players this year. It will likely come down to how this team can finish and handle adversity. There’s plenty of reasons to believe McGee can get it done.

2.  Will there be a solidified starter at QB this year?

This time last year Georgia State was having a QB battle between two guys (Christian Veilleux and Zach Gibson) who had played at the Power 5 level previously, and at times, at a high level. Georgia State was also coming off essentially three full seasons of the same guy behind the helm, Darren Grainger. Grainger is arguably one of the best players in program history and filled up the stat sheets during his time in Atlanta. Filling the hole he left would be a tall task no matter who was asked to take it on or what level they may have played at. When you combine all of that it left most of the Panther Family unsure yet somewhat excited? Veilleux got the starting nod to begin the season and played lackluster against Georgia Tech and Chattanooga. Due to this, that excitement wavered after two weeks but peaked the next after GSU pulled off an upset and last second win over Vanderbilt. Veilleux hit Ted Hurst down the sideline for a 25-yard touchdown to put the Panthers up four and for good. After starting the season 2-1 with six touchdowns and one turnover and pulling off one of the biggest wins in program history, many thought the Panthers had found their guy. Three games later, he was replaced as the starter by Zach Gibson to “provide a spark”. Gibson played his heart out but ultimately went 0-4 in his five starts and only threw for 250+ yards once. In his fifth start against Arkansas State, he got injured on a sack and Veilleux had to enter the game. Veilleux was unable to pull off the win against the Red Wolves and showed again why the coaches made the switch. Credit will be given where due though and it should be mentioned that Veilleux had his best game of the season the next week in San Marcos in a 52-44 win over Texas State. However, the Canadian QB came crashing back to down to earth in the final game against Coastal Carolina where he threw four interceptions and lost one fumble. In other words, last season was the definition of a rollercoaster for the Panthers at the most important position in all of sports.

Enter 2025 and the Panthers find themselves in a familiar position as last year but do have a key difference. The key difference is that Veilleux is returning this year and at the very least should be able to provide some leadership, continuity, and knowledge of the conference. Veilleux, or anyone for that matter, has not been named the starter and would undoubtedly have some work to do in Fall Camp to get the nod. But for the aforementioned reasons, Veilleux would be an ideal backup. A backup for who you ask? Cameran Brown has now entered the chat. Brown is a versatile QB who fits the style of play new offensive coordinator, Hue Jackson, may implement this year. Brown can help the Panthers establish the run game as he can run the RPO and Read Option at a high level and has the arm strength to put the ball downfield once the passing game has opened up. Brown is transferring in from Texas Tech but didn’t have much playing time at all. So, there’s a lot of unknown about him but what has been seen so far seems to be promising. Brown has a similar skillset to another QB on the roster and the third QB that could be in the mix to start this season.

That third QB is PJ Hatter transferring over from Texas State. Just like Brown, Hatter is a more versatile player than Veilleux and could be a better fit for what the offense could look like this year. Also, just like Brown, he didn’t see much playing time for the Bobcats and was mainly used in spot rushing situations. Hatter is probably the fastest QB on the roster and that skillset will be utilized at some point. Hatter is no stranger to playing at a high level though. Hatter played high school football in Texas and won the Texas District 14 6-A Overall MVP. Due to this, one can imagine Hatter, and Brown alike, are ready to prove what they can do on the gridiron. Whoever it may be, one thing is for certain. The Panthers need a winner, and they need one fast.

3.   Will another brutal schedule prevent the Panthers from reaching full potential?

When you play in the toughest division of football at the Group of 5 level like Georgia State does, every year is going to be a gauntlet. Is this area of the country just about everyone is familiar with the idea of your conference slate being incredibly difficult and to expect at least one loss along the way. Because of this, complaining about a tough schedule is going to fall on deaf ears just about every single time. The only way to really ensure you’ll have a manageable schedule is to schedule nothing but FCS and lower tier FBS schools in your out of conference schedule. While some schools in the Peach State may be able to get away with that, it’s not really an option when your program hasn’t even been around for twenty years yet. Georgia State must schedule bigger schools out of conference, like most G5 schools, so that they can grow their program. This will cause your schedule to be quite daunting when you already have to play in a division like the Sun Belt East. Georgia State will yet again have a test week in and week out with their 2025 schedule.

Georgia State will start the season in Oxford, MS against the Rebels of Ole Miss, host one of the better G5 teams of the last decade in Memphis the next week and then have to travel up to Nashville to try and avoid the Commodores avenging last year. They’ll then have to start their Sun Belt slate with three straight games against JMU, App State, and GaSo. They also have to go on the road to Coastal and Troy. Safe to say, if there is an improvement in Year 2 for CDM, it will be more than earned.

4.   Will there be more fan support this year because of CDM and the incoming recruiting class?

Even after a 3-9 season, there’s still plenty of buzz around Dell McGee and what he’s building Downtown. It’s easy to see that he’s gotten the students, alumni, and the city as a whole to pay a little more attention to what’s happening at GSU. Season ticket sales are increasing, local news are covering more, and higher-level players are looking at this program differently. Everything points to more butts in seats this year at Center Parc and if the Panthers are able to continue playing competitively, it should come to fruition.

What’s the best way for that to come to fruition? How about the highest rated recruiting class in school history, highest in the Sun Belt, and third highest in all the Group of Five? Per 247Sports, the highest rated recruit in school history, will hit the field this Fall in DJ Avery Jr. DJ attends Chattahoochee High School and has over 3000 career receiving yards. He is one of twenty-nine players in the history of Georgia high school football to have this achievement. Kelan Butler, a 6’3 230lbs edge rusher out of Jefferson High School chose Georgia State over multiple P5 offers and could legitimately be the best player on the team one day. There would be no surprise at all if a majority of these incoming freshmen make impacts this season because that’s truly how talented this group is. This is exactly why Dell McGee was hired and why he could very well turn Georgia State in a G5 powerhouse in no time.

Recruiting is two-parted these days and CDM is proving he can handle both as he’s been able to get some high-level players from high-level schools to come down to GSU. One of the most notable incoming transfers this year is a player he helped recruit at UGA. That player is Branson Robinson. If Robinson is able to stay healthy, he could very well become the bell cow back for this team. It may not be needed with the depth this team should have at running back, but he has the potential to, nonetheless. There’s a ton of excitement surrounding these incoming players and it’s certainly warranted. Let’s just see if these players, and CDM, are able to keep the excitement going for an entire season.

5.   Can Hue Jackson return to the good graces of the football gods?

Anyone who knows Hue Jackson’s past with coaching in the sport of football knows it has been a tale of ups and downs. From helping lead some of the best offenses in the league in Cincinnati and Oakland, to going winless for an entire season as the head man in Cleveland, it really has seen it all. Jackson, like most who have experienced the same, is unfairly remembered for his bad and not his good. While it does seem like that winless 2017 season may still linger in the distance, there’s nothing saying things can’t be different this go around. Jackson understands the sport of football and has shown that when surrounded by talented players and coaches, he can excel at a high level. It’s fair to say that if he is able to lead the Panthers to a top 20 offense and back to bowl season, that his reputation in the world of coaching football will get a much-needed boost. A lot of things will have to go right for this happen, but if Jackson and crew are able to pull it off, his time at GSU could be shorter than Dell McGee may like.

6.   Can Georgia State sweep the series with Vanderbilt?

Albeit this game alone will not define the season for the Panthers, it’s hard to say that winning both games against a SEC school, and one on the road, wouldn’t be an incredible achievement. When Georgia State pulled off the upset last September versus the Commadores it really did feel like the arrival party of Dell McGee. Beating them again the next year, this time in their backyard, would solidify that arrival. Vanderbilt will undoubtedly be hungry to get their revenge and not lose to a “lesser” opponent again. This would make a Georgia State win even that more impressive. It may be the ultimate test of the season and Panthers will look to ace it again.

It's worth noting that the Panthers won a singular game after the upset win over the Vandy Boys. It will be crucial for Dell McGee and staff to not let that happen again if the Panthers are able to pull off the second victory. When you lose that many games in a row, it’s never just one thing. CDM and staff will have their work cut out for them yet again but there’s reason to have hope they can pull it off.

7.   How will the shoes of former team leaders be filled?

Having to replace upper-class leadership is something that every college program experiences every offseason since the inception of the sport. Roster turnover is at an all-time high with things like the transfer portal and extra years of eligibility becoming standard. Roster structure is the most difficult it’s ever been. Georgia State and other Group of Five schools are in arguably the toughest positions to succeed with this new structure. Since it applies to almost everyone, it can’t be viewed as an excuse for poor play. But that doesn’t mean it won’t rear its ugly head back into the realities of most programs around the country.

Georgia State will certainly have some leadership to replace with losing guys like Kevin Swint, Ja’Cyais Credle, and Justin Abraham to name a few. These guys not only produced on the field, but were some of the loudest, if not the, voices in the locker room. One could argue that the smaller the program, the more guys like this will matter. Panther fans should be confident those shoes will be filled but it may not be the smoothest transition and may take some time. Every team has leaders, whether organic or appointed. The Panthers will have theirs and who they may be won’t matter nearly as much as what their effort and message are.

8.   Will Georgia State return to pounding the rock in 2025?

Anyone who’s paid close attention to this program over the last five years knows that there’s one thing this program has had a ton of success with. And that’s running the damn ball. Under HC Shawn Elliott, the Panthers were: 12th in the nation in rushing in 2019, 40th in 2020, 9th in 2021, 14th in 2022, and 26th in 2023. The Panthers were 92nd last season. The record the Panthers had in each of those seasons does seem to tell a bit of a story. In 2019, the Panthers went 7-6, 2020 went 6-4, 8-5 in 2021, 4-8 in 2022, and 7-6 in 2023. Last season the Panthers went 3-9. It’s obviously a completely different coaching staff and philosophy, but the proof is in the pudding. When Georgia State runs the ball, they win games. Establishing the run game early in the season will be a key factor in how successful this year will be. It’s plain and simple, at Georgia State you have to run the ball.

The RB room, just like last year, is incredibly deep this year and has a ton of talent. As mentioned previously, Branson Robinson may have the best ability and could easily become the lead back if healthy. But with guys like Djay Braswell, Jordon Simmons, and Rashad Amos all looking for carries, Robinson will have no shortage of competition. The production didn’t match the talent level last season and that will be something the Panthers have to avoid in 2025. But if they’re able to and are able to return to a smashmouth version of football Panther fans know and love. The win total should look a little better than it did a year ago.

9.   Will Jeremy Hawkins be coaching for a DC/HC position at a bigger school?

This isn’t something anyone likes to talk about at this level, but when you have a good coach anywhere on staff, you probably aren’t going to keep him for long. One of the better examples of this is Jesse Minter. Minter was the defensive coordinator for the Panthers from 2013-2016. Since then, he’s won a national championship with Michigan and is now the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. If for whatever reason Minter was still coaching at Georgia State, it’s safe to say he would likely be leading one of the best defenses in the country regardless of level. But alas, at this level your best players and coaches will always be poached. It’s just a part of the G5 life.

The Panthers could be potentially experiencing the same with Assistant Head Coach and defensive line coach, Jeremy Hawkins. Hawkins proved himself to be quite the recruiter as he’s been able to sign the highest-rated recruits in school history. He’s widely regarded as the best recruiter in the Sun Belt and because of this, his services may be bought out by a higher bidder than GSU. But for now, he belongs to the Panthers and he’s going to continue bringing in some of the best talent around. Not to say he can’t, but coaching highly talented guys can make you look just that much better. Hawkins may not be here for long, but while he is his impact will be immeasurable.

10.  Will 2025 be a year for the books or another for the Panther Family to repress?

2024 started by giving the Panther faithful the highest of hopes and by the end it had them in the trenches. 2024 will be remembered as Dell McGee’s first year and for beating Vanderbilt at home. Everything else will, and should, be forgotten. Winning 3 games, no matter how young or small your program may be is a hard season to experience for any fanbase. Dell McGee and this program simply cannot afford for that to happen again.

A season for the books for the Panthers in 2025 would probably look like the Panthers returning to Bowl Season and perhaps even pushing for an appearance in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game. Realistically, the Panthers will likely fall somewhere in the middle. And most Panther fans will be happy with that. Any sign of improvement under a new regime is all they can truly ask for here. But don’t be too surprised if they end up getting much more.

Be on the lookout next week for the next part of the countdown to the season.