4 Seniors Who Could Cement Their Legacies

By Mac Brown, @SSN_GSU

As promised, the seventh stop of our countdown has arrived. Just like last week, this list isn’t in ascending or descending order, but rather a comprehensive list. This time, the countdown will go over four seniors who could be etched into Georgia State Football history and remembered forever. These four players have spent the majority, if not the entirety, of their careers in Atlanta and are looking to having their last go-round be the best. To truly cement a legacy, it needs to be done on and off the field and all four players mentioned below are doing exactly that. Whether it’s becoming the most committed player in program history, or the best, these guys can get it done. The only negative is that it’s the last time we’ll see them in a Panthers uniform. These guys could very well be saving the best for last though. Let’s begin…

1. Mason Cook – IOL

Cook is entering his SIXTH season with the Panthers and is one of the unquestioned leaders, not only in the offensive line room, but the entire team as well. He spoke after the Spring Game about the “pressure” he’s felt with becoming a leader in the locker room but that he “kind of likes the pressure”. Cook has learned from some of the all-time Panther greats in Shamarious Gilmore and Travis Glover and will now look to use 2025 to carve out his name in GSU lore just like them. He’s a natural born leader and is poised to help the Panthers get back to their winning ways. And hey, no pressure, no diamonds.

Cook has played both guard and tackle for the Panthers but will likely primarily see time on the inside at guard this season. Ideally, this group doesn’t experience a ton of injury and Cook is allowed to stay inside. But his versatility will be crucial in the late stretch of the season if needed. Having a guy who knows it all and can do it all will be huge for the Panthers if they are to return to a dominant run game. In 2023, he helped anchor an offensive line for GSU that rushed for 2,445 yards, which was best for 26th in the nation. 2024 saw a slight dip in production but that was hardly due to Cook. The Panthers averaged 389 yards of offense per game last season, good for 7th in the Sun Belt. With an even more experienced group up front and even more skilled position players, the Panthers are set up for an even more explosive offense in 2025. Cook will play a critical role in that happening.

Cook is the self-dubbed “old guy” of the team of this year and is more than embracing that title. Cook is someone who’s played on both sides of the line, special teams, and even lined up at TE a few times in practice. He’s someone who emphasizes “just getting on the field” and is now preaching that to the guys a little younger than him. “If you play left guard, learn how to play right guard. If you don’t know how to snap, learn how to snap.” It may sound simple, but the advice Cook is giving to the younger guys is worth more than gold. Playing offensive line is thankless and always will be. The guys up front have to define true grit and true determination. Cook practices what he’s preaching and embodies everything that it means to be a hog molly.

2. Henry Bryant – DT

Bryant hasn’t been at GSU for quite as long as Cook, but then again most haven’t. Bryant joined the Panthers in 2023 when he transferred over from Louisville. Being a three-star recruit and top 40 defensive tackle per 247Sports, Bryant has been playing at high level since before he could legally get his driver license. That hasn’t stopped during his time in Atlanta either with Bryant tallying 61 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks in two seasons. He was named to the 2024 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention Team and was just named 2025 Phil Steele Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team. Bryant isn’t just poised for a big year, he’s poised for a massive one.

Bryant’s best game last season came when it was most needed. He recorded a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, and two tackles against GSU’s rival down south. The Panthers weren’t able to prevail that day, but Henry’s big game showed that on the biggest stages, he’s going to show up. 2025 will have plenty of big stages for Henry and him putting on a show is highly probable. If his play this upcoming season is a little more consistent, there’s no reason to believe that Bryant won’t only be stuffing gaps on the line of scrimmage, he’ll be stuffing stat sheets as well.

Bryant will be the keystone in a defensive front that brings back more familiar faces than any other unit on the entire roster. The continuity this group has will be pivotal for any success the Panthers look to have in 2025. Football is a rather simple game at times. You win up front, you win the game. If Bryant and crew are able to take the attention of the opposing team’s offensive line, then the uber athletic linebackers and safeties can get in the backfield, wreak havoc, and cause turnovers. Bryant may not lead the team in sacks in 2025 but if sack-assist were a stat, he may lead the entire Sun Belt in them.

Bryant also played a little bit of running back in high school and even scored a game-winning touchdown in the Florida state playoffs. He and Coach McGee were asked about Bryant seeing time at RB during goal line scenarios at Sun Belt Media Days this year and CDM certainly didn’t say no. Bryant’s impact will be felt everywhere and opposing offensive AND defensive coordinators will hate to see him coming.

3. Deuce Lewis II – DT

Lewis II is entering his fifth season at GSU and is coming off of his best season as a Panther. Deuce attended Calvary Day School in Savannah, GA and was an All-State nose tackle for the Cavaliers. He was also named All-Region for all four years of his high school career. Lewis II was offered by the Air Force Academy, Army, and Naval Academy coming out of high school in 2020. He may have decided to spend his collegiate career in Atlanta but he’s still a soldier for this program, nonetheless.

Lewis II had his best game on arguably the biggest stage last season when he had a career-high 5 tackles, which was best for third on the team. He actually recorded the first two tackles of the game and set the tone for the front seven. The next play, Kevin Swint broke through and sacked Vanderbilt QB, Diego Pavia, and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Panthers. GSU would famously go on go win the game, 36-32. Lewis II will look to use his play in the Vanderbilt game to propel him to perform like that week in and week out in 2025. At 6’3, 300lbs, the stages may be big this season, but Lewis II is bigger.

Lewis II comes from a highly athletic family. His father, Fuches “Drum”, was a star in high school and played collegiately at Savannah State. His younger brother Langston plays wide receiver at Central Michigan. And his youngest brother, Emerson plays cornerback and is a part of the 2027 recruiting class. He’s currently being looked at by schools like Auburn, Georgia Tech, Indiana, and SMU. Needless to say, the Lewis boys know how to play some ball. When you come from this type of family, competition is bred into you. Lewis II has been competing for the title of “top dawg” his entire life and that won’t be stopping in 2025.

Lewis II, like Bryant, is a part of a group that has more familiarity with each other than any other position group. A lot of the guys at the top of the depth chart are Redshirt Seniors too. They understand how much of the team success is weighted on their performances. Lewis II may not have the production, yet, of some of the other guys on this list but his leadership and knowledge of the program will be invaluable. He certainly has the ability to produce at that level though and his 2025 curtain call may show just that.

4. Ted Hurst – WR

Hurst is arguably the best player to ever step foot in GSU’s locker room. The Panthers have seen some highly skilled receivers come through in Albert Wilson, Penny Hart, and Jamari Thrash just to name a few. And yet Hurst has the ability, and chance, to go down as the best pass catcher this university has ever seen. The highest selected GSU player in NFL Draft history is DE Christo Bilukidi in 2012. Bilukidi was selected 189th overall in the 6th round and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders. Hurst could very well shatter this record and potentially even be drafted in the first three rounds. Hurst will continue to climb draft boards during the 2025 season and the sky is truly the limit.

Hurst was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team by essentially every publication out there. He’s been named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List and will almost certainly be named to the 2025 Biletnikoff Watch List when it’s released on August 6th. He’s not just one of the best receivers in the Sun Belt, he’s one of the best receivers in the nation. 2025 is shaping up to be a monster year for Hurst and the only real piece of advice for anyone out there is to get your popcorn ready. The show this guy is going to put on this season will be talked about for the foreseeable future.

Hurst mentioned at Sun Belt Media Days this year that he’s been working on himself, and the little things, all offseason. When asked if he had worked with one QB on the roster more than others, Hurst commented that this offseason was more about him getting “his steps and details down” rather than establishing a rapport with a single quarterback. This shouldn’t worry anyone though as Hurst has proved he can handle anyone running the offense. Hurst had two different QBs throw him the ball last season and was highly productive with both. Someone could probably come out of the stands and throw Hurst a few passes and he would still catch them. It doesn’t matter who’s throwing you the ball when you’re as good as Hurst.

When you talk to Hurst you get the sense he knows what could be in store for him. He knows how good he is, and he knows the heights he can reach. If GSU is able to reach the potential a lot of college football observers think it can, it will undoubtedly be because of guys like Hurst. He could have gone anywhere in the country this fall to play football and likely would’ve made a lot more money. And gotten a lot more exposure. But Hurst wants to be something special for GSU. He wants to be a pioneer in so many different ways, whether it be through All-American selections or his draft stock. His play alone can elevate this program to new heights and there’s plenty of reason to believe that 2025 will do exactly that.