HS Coach Confirms Star Jackson is a Panther!!!

Former 4 Star QB will enroll June 14th and will be eligible this Fall

Former Alabama quarterback Star Jackson has elected to transfer to Georgia State for the final three years of his collegiate career, Errick Lowe, Jackson's coach at Lake Worth (Fla.) High School, confirmed today to the Press-Register.

Jackson spent the weekend looking for an apartment in Atlanta and will enroll in summer school at GSU, according to Lowe.

"Nothing is going to be handed to him," Lowe said. "He's going to have to go in there and work his butt off. But if he works hard, he'll get a chance to play right away."

Link: http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/05/transferring_tide_qb_star_jack.html

Tommy Hicks from AL.com: Mid-majors should not wait for chips to fall

With conference re-alignment on the horizon he has an interesting take on what conferences like Conference USA should do:

Here’s one idea: Take the East Division of C-USA — East Carolina, Southern Miss, Memphis, UAB, Marshall and Central Florida — and combine it with Sun Belt members South Alabama, Troy, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Florida International and Florida Atlantic.


It’s simple, allows for in-state rivalries and helps teams reach into key recruiting states such as Florida and Alabama. It is also more advantageous for team and fan travel.

There are other possibilities. Maybe drop Marshall in favor of Georgia State and the Atlanta recruiting area and a more regionally acceptable matchup. Or bump up the membership to 14 or even 16 teams and grab some other attractive programs.

Link: http://blog.al.com/tommy-hicks/2010/05/sports_columnist_tommy_hicks_mid-majors_should_not_wait_for_chips_to_fall.html

My take: If Conference USA came calling, we'd be accept there in a heartbeat. No brainer.

College Football Preview: Sporting News gives us our 1st preview

Thanks to my man Panama for the find:

In their inaugural year of college football, the Panthers will run the gamut of opponents, beginning against tiny Shorter College of the NAIA and ending their campaign with mammoth Alabama, the 2009 FBS national champions. The team will also play Old Dominion, which GSU will join as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association in 2012. Bill Curry, the former head coach at Georgia Tech (1980-86), Alabama (1987-89) and Kentucky (1990-96) before becoming an ESPN analyst (1997-2007) will lead the fledgling program as its first coach.

Curry says 5-11, 175-pound running back Travis Evans is perhaps his best offensive threat. The redshirt freshman rushed for 1662 yards and 17 touchdowns on 166 carries as a senior at Williston High in Florida. Anchoring the offensive line are freshman guard Michael Davis (6-3, 315 pounds) and junior center Ben Jacoby (6-2, 275) a transfer from Ball State. Sophomore linebacker Brad Chahoy (5-11, 202) a Georgia Southern transfer, is the player to watch on defense.

Football Eligibility Chart

http://www.panthertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/GSU-Football-Eligibility-Chart.htm

We are down one WR but overall still standing.  I expect that WR will be a focus this recruiting cycle.

5 Reason Star Jackson Should Come To State

My man Saint does a great write up. Worth the read:

http://www.panthertalk.com/2010/05/19/five-reasons-star-jackson-should-come-to-gsu/

We'll know more in the next 2 weeks.

Alabama QB could transfer to Georgia State

New Starter?

"As a redshirt sophomore, going into next season as third on the depth chart behind a redshirt freshman doesn't look good," Lowe said. "He doesn't feel like he's going to get an opportunity to play. ... I don't think he sees himself getting a legitimate shot of playing in the next couple of years."

Tuscaloosa News Link: http://www.tidesports.com/article/20100518/NEWS/100519471/1011?Title=Jackson-exploring-transfer-options

AL.com Link: http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/05/tide_backup_qb_star_jackson_ex.html

My take: Star comes (which looks like a foregone conclusion) and is given the keys for the next 3 seasons.  He has a national championship ring and that means a ton.  One of the first questions out of an offensive recruits mouth is "Who's your QB?"  This would also signal an end to a current QBs time on the roster.  My guess is Drew Little.