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AJC College Sports Recruiting

Sudden impact: Freshmen thriving at Georgia Southern

1:10 pm September 10, 2009, by Chip Towers

I’ve written a lot the last couple of weeks about all the true freshmen and first-year players making contributions for Tech and Georgia. But they’ve got nothing on Georgia Southern.

Heading into Saturday’s game against South Dakota State, the Eagles feature 15 freshmen — including 10 true freshmen — on the two-deep depth chart. Last weekend against Albany (N.Y.), 18 players made their Georgia Southern debut, according to Eagles publicist Patrick Osterman. Five of those were freshman that got starts — RB Darrieon Robinson (Athens), WR Tyler Sumner (Savannah), WR Jamere Valentine (Myrtle Beach, S.C.), DL Brent Russell (Comer) and DB Darius Eubanks (Harlem). Word is that Daniel Few, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound redshirt freshman out of Atlanta’s Grady High, will get the start at left tackle this week. Josh Rowe, a freshman linebacker out of Opelika, is playing a bunch.

All this after Georgia Southern coach Chris Hatcher played 37 freshman last season. Last year Georgia Southern led the Southern Conference with seven players on the All-Freshman team: RB Adam Urbano (Calhoun), P Charlie Edwards (Tifton), K Adrian Mora (Dalton),  DB Derek Heyden (Atlanta) and DB K.R. Snipes (Opelika, Ala.), LB Dion DuBose (Norcross) and LB J.B. Shippy (Gaffney, S.C.). Six of those seven started in the Albany game.

So when people say the Eagles are a young team, they’re not kidding.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Valentine was the most impressive of this year’s newbies. He was named the SoCon Freshman of the Week after hauling in six passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns in the Eagles’ 29-26 win over Albany. Both of his TDs — 36 and 26 yards — came in the second half, including a stunning one-handed grab in the fourth quarter. Another freshman, J.J. Wilcox of Cairo, had three catches for 35 yards. In all, freshmen accounted for 14 of quarterback Lee Chapple’s 30 completions.

Heading into the South Dakota State game, 15 freshmen (10 true-freshmen) are listed on the 2-deep. One of the redshirts, OL Daniel Few (Atlanta) is scheduled to make his first start at Left Tackle. Linebacker Josh Rowe (Opelika, AL) has been impressive in fall camp and played against Albany.

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48 comments Add your comment

AndyT

September 10th, 2009
1:36 pm

Thanks for the PUB! We are young, but we are tough! This year could go either way, but I expect us to make the playoffs. Next year, we are adding another flag to the pole!!!!!

GATA Eagles!!!! Beat the JackWabbits!! lol

GS 383

September 10th, 2009
1:38 pm

Awesome blog. Glad to see Georgia Southern getting some love on the AJC.

Najeh Davenpoop

September 10th, 2009
1:55 pm

A little love for the other Division 1 school in Ga…well alright. A little coverage will go a long way in winning over this fan base.

Herschworld

September 10th, 2009
1:59 pm

A lot of diaper dandies on this team. Valentine will be a special player GATA go eagles

K Eagle

September 10th, 2009
2:14 pm

You got that right about the freshmen. But man are they playing their butts off. Jamere Valentine is a beast, and if healthy, is going to put us over the edge when it comes to winning in the playoffs.

Thanks for the write-up.

Lane D.

September 10th, 2009
2:18 pm

Building for the future…and hopefully it’s the immediate future!

Herschworld

September 10th, 2009
2:26 pm

go eagles!!!

GS 383

September 10th, 2009
2:27 pm

Chip,

A once a week blog about Georgia Southern Football this fall will get you thousands of views. We love our team and we enjoy reading the media’s thoughts. Keep up the good work Chip!!!

Dusty

September 10th, 2009
2:27 pm

Thanks for giving Eagle fans something to read in Atlanta! The future looks very bright at GSU. All these freshmen playing now, and play well; will pay off HUGE in the coming years!

Erkseagle

September 10th, 2009
2:57 pm

I wonder if PJ misses the numbers he used to put up when he was with us. Go Eagles! I look forward to eating a little wabbit stew this weekend!

BrendanGSU

September 10th, 2009
3:02 pm

Coach Hatcher and his staff are working wonders down here!

Your coverage of the Eagles are very much appreciated Chip!

Steven

September 10th, 2009
3:11 pm

Will all of this young talent, UGA better watch out in 2012!

btjacket

September 10th, 2009
3:23 pm

good write up. that team should be a force in about two years

Eagleman

September 10th, 2009
3:36 pm

Thanks for the publicity Chip. Georgia Southern is certainly a better football team than Georgia Tech to cover. We support our team by selling out our stadium and traveling with the team on road games…something the Tech fans don’t do and have never done.I can’t wait for Southern to play Tech in the future.The Eagles are going to suprise a lot of people including Tech.The AJC would better serve its readers going forward by covering Southern football more and Tech football less.

ATL EagleFan

September 10th, 2009
3:46 pm

GATA Eagles!!!

T>O

September 10th, 2009
3:48 pm

Thanks for the write up for GSU Chip……more coverage would be greatly appreciated

1peatfor7

September 10th, 2009
3:59 pm

Thanks for the coverage. GATA!!

Eaglegus2

September 10th, 2009
4:05 pm

Thanks for the coverage of Georgia Southern football. We are a young team but the future is definitely bright. GO EAGLES!!

Birds fly in flocks, Eagles soar alone

Furman Sucks

September 10th, 2009
4:10 pm

This young talent will pay off in the next couple of years. Thanks for the coverage, Chip!

longtimeeagle

September 10th, 2009
4:12 pm

Should have a bunch of 3 and 4 year starters going into Tuscaloosa in 2011. Can’t Wait

leroy

September 10th, 2009
4:24 pm

You can see the foundation being built for Southern’s return to the nation’s elite in FCS… be patient Eagle fans, good times are a coming soon.

realGSUfan

September 10th, 2009
4:26 pm

Just want to add my thanks for including the Eagles in your blog. We really appreciate the assistance in getting our story out there in a positive way.

Duke Yellowjacket

September 10th, 2009
4:33 pm

Why trash Tech, Eagleman? Is it Johnson envy … or the fact that there’s just not as much to do in Statesboro on a football Saturday?

Besides, given the direction in which both programs (Tech and Georgia) are headed, it certainly appears that U(sic)GA would have more to fear from a GSU challenge than would Tech.

THWG!

Brock

September 10th, 2009
4:35 pm

Thanks AJC for the coverage. Hopefully this will continue.

Big Man

September 10th, 2009
4:50 pm

I support Coach Hatcher, but The REAL GSU and the option goes together.

Georgia Southern Mom

September 10th, 2009
4:56 pm

Go Eagles !!!!

RockinEagle

September 10th, 2009
5:09 pm

Thanks for the pub. GO EAGLES! GATA

Jordan

September 10th, 2009
5:28 pm

Thanks for the shoutout Chip. Keep it up, and us Eagle fans WILL read. If you ever get bored feel free to stop over to GSUFans.com, we would love to chat up our eagles with a journalist.

Hey Duke YJ, we have no envy about Paul Johnson, we appreciate all he did here with his hand in several NCAA championships. Sure we miss him and would love to have him back, but most of us hope that Coach Johnson does well until the first game of 2012! BTW, there is plenty to do on a football saturday. We have much better tailgating than Ga Tech or even UGA from what I saw. (I’ve been to BOTH stadiums on BIG gamedays with sellout crowds). I would take Southern over both of them. UGA and Techs are spread out due to lack of space. Ga Southerns is right beside the stadium, and I enjoy NOT having to walk 10 miles to the stadium. :)

Thanks again Chip, and I can’t wait to hear more about our Eagles!! GATA baby!

brdyz

September 10th, 2009
5:30 pm

Nice to read about Georgia Southern for a change. Keep it up.

rbostic218

September 10th, 2009
6:25 pm

Thanks Chip we love hearing about our eagles. Like the post said earlier you will get more readers. Count me in……

mounsen

September 10th, 2009
7:34 pm

We need more Georgia Southern University info like this. Nice work. Go Eagles!!!

Roland

September 10th, 2009
11:19 pm

I wish Paul Johnson was still coaching for GSU. They haven’t been the same without him. For those who want to know what the option can do when properly executed check out stats from the GSU teams of the early decade. True dominance!!!!

BigDaddy

September 11th, 2009
4:22 am

Chris Hatcher and the Hatch Attack will be a force. Good luck this season. Looking forward to the next few years. Coach is building something special.

Trusty

September 11th, 2009
8:31 am

Thank you for the positive coverage from AJC.

shankit

September 11th, 2009
8:54 am

Go coach Hatcher.
From the guys in the locker room at VCC.
You need to come back over and defend
your “night” golf championship with me
and the Pro.
You might have to find you a new partner,
as you know who hasn’t been playing much
lately.
CM

SCVcampdavis

September 11th, 2009
9:05 am

Eagles are going to be beastly in a couple years! Watch your back Tech/Dawgs! GO EAGLES

gsu3.5

September 11th, 2009
9:25 am

Thanks for the post! Like the others, I am more than happy to see Georgia Southern covered in the AJC as there are many alums in the Atlanta area.

Go Eagles!

GATA

September 11th, 2009
9:37 am

Nice to see the AJC mention Southern for something positive. Keep it up!

Go Eagles!

Jon

September 11th, 2009
9:52 am

We will be back to national champion status within 2 years.

Knuckle Sandwich

September 11th, 2009
3:27 pm

GEORGIA SOUTHERN..EAGLES..FIGHT ON TO VICTORY AND WIN THIS GAME! GEORGIA SOUTHERN, EAGLES, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

Claydus

September 11th, 2009
3:54 pm

Awesome read! Looking forward to checking this blog out more!

Bud

September 11th, 2009
3:59 pm

Thanks for the AJC love in South GA.

jake lassiter

September 11th, 2009
4:32 pm

Go Eagles!

bibtp

September 11th, 2009
4:33 pm

2012 headline:

Eagles beat the Dawgs in a shocker!!!

Paddy

September 11th, 2009
5:18 pm

You got about all the coverage you are going to get. Since the AJC cut ou tcirculation to most of the state it is probably not in their best interest to use sports space on anywhere that can’t get delivery. That is really a shame. GSU is a good program.

AFAN

September 11th, 2009
5:20 pm

Chip…thanks for the words….tell your editor that if you can do a piece during the week and a game recap on Sunday that I will renew my daily subscription…and you will have a cult following as a journalist.

There are almost 20,000 students at Georgia Southern and a huge number of students and alumni are from the metro area…we are starving for coverage in the AJC.

I would like to personally invite you down for a game…I’ll drive…quick tour of the campus, tailgate next to the stadium, watch warm-ups from the Bishop Field House, then settle in for an exciting game in “The Prettiest Little Stadium in the Country”…I’ll even throw in a post game at the Mill House and night at the Marriott…you pick the game.

gator6

September 12th, 2009
3:30 pm

Enter your comments here

gator6

September 12th, 2009
3:34 pm

Thanks for finally giving GSU a liitle press! The players work hard and they get very little press in North Georgia. As a mom of one of the players, it is nice to see a paper other than an the Savannah paper and the Chattanooga Times give them some press! The games are fun! You should come! Go Eagles! Go No. 6!

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