Georgia Southern Depth Chart: Who’s here and who’s there?

via Petre Thomas/Imagn

As players come and players go on a nearly daily basis amidst the whirlwind that is the transfer portal window, piecing together a full look at any given roster has become nearly impossible. However, despite all the turmoil, we’re here to try our best to break down each position group on the Georgia Southern football team.

Each group is ordered by their eligibility status following this season and is in no way a projection of what the depth chart will look like in 2026.

Quarterback

Max Johnson (Graduate)

Turner Helton (R-Sr.)

Trey Townsend (R-So.)

Weston Bryan (So.)

Charlie Johnston (R-Fr.)

Harrison Faulkner (Fr.)

The unexpected departure of two-year starter JC French left the Eagles in a predicament at the quarterback position. But the program got a much-needed boost in the form of graduate transfer Max Johnson, who brings six years of Power Four experience to Statesboro.

Running Back

Terrance Gibbs (R-Sr.)

David Mbadinga (Sr.)

Bryce Baker (R-So.)

Taeo Todd (R-So.)

Bre’Lan Mareus (R-So.)

Tyrese Woodgett (So.)

Foster Orris (R-So.)

Ty Cummings (Fr.)

After adding two running backs (Ty Cummings and Tyrese Woodgett) on Early Signing Day, Georgia Southern has to be happy with the depth of the running back room. Even after the loss of J’Shawn Anderson, I do not expect the Eagles to add another back at this time.

Wide Receiver

Andre Greene Jr. (Graduate)

Josh Dallas (R-Sr.)

Ashton Hollins (Sr.)

Kevin Douglas (R-Jr.)

Noble Johnson (R-Jr.)

Taylor Bradshaw (R-Jr.)

King Phillips (Jr.)

Alex Taylor (R-So.)

Antavious Murphy (R-So.)

Kam Mikell (R-So.)

Brandon Paul (So.)

Cam’Ron King (So.)

Jeremiah Ware (R-So.)

Peyton Plott (So.)

Jarvis Mathurin (Fr.)

Zavier Hilliard (Fr.)

The Eagles lost their top three wide receivers and top five receivers overall, but got a boost in the form of Josh Dallas returning for one more year in Statesboro. The coaching staff made the position a priority throughout the offseason, with a total of seven receivers joining the program by way of the transfer portal.

Tight End

River Helms (Graduate)

Jackson Long (R-Sr.)

Elijah Walton (R-Jr.)

JP Mikhael (R-Jr.)

Aubrey Heath (R-So.)

Henry Gregory (R-Fr.)

J’Qwan Crosby (Fr.)

Despite River Helms announcing his return for another year at Georgia Southern, the team has been in contact with a number of tight ends currently in the transfer portal. While the Eagles have yet to add another tight end, it would not come as much of a surprise if another joins the team before the transfer portal window officially closes.

Offensive Line

Caelen Williams (Graduate)

Ty Furnish (Graduate)

Ethan Williams (R-Jr.)

Matthew Williams (R-Jr.)

Colin Alexander (R-So.)

Jalen Burgess (R-So.)

Jaylen Slaughter (R-So.)

Josh Raymond (R-So.)

Kingtriton Samuela (R-So.)

Zach Pearson (R-So.)

Cole Norred (So.)

Brandon Stoner (R-Fr.)

Ike Turner (R-Fr.)

Jace Molden (R-Fr.)

Joshua Ford (R-Fr.)

Grady Howell (Fr.)

Jaden Johnson (Fr.)

Jayvon Perry (Fr.)

Liam Thompson (Fr.)

The Eagles’ lost their entirety of their starting offensive line from last season, forcing the program to search for replacements in the transfer portal. The return of Caelan Williams and the addition of FCS Freshman All-American Cole Norred were both big wins for the program, but the offensive line remains a point of emphasis as the program continues their search for transfers.

Defensive Line

MJ Stroud (R-Sr.)

Kwon McGinney (Sr.)

Anthony Bynum (R-Jr.)

Jamari Whitehead (R-Jr.)

Kebba Secka (R-Jr.)

O’marion Brown (R-Jr.)

Caleb Moore (Jr.)

Eli Anders (R-So.)

Korey Jordan (R-So.)

Marcus Downs (R-So.)

Uche Iloh (R-So.)

Elijah Fears (So.)

Amari Wilson (R-Fr.)

Caleb Ellis (R-Fr.)

Jeremiah Ticket (R-Fr.)

Nigel Eldridge Jr. (R-Fr.)

Alec Upshaw (Fr.)

DA Logan (Fr.)

Stephone Ross (Fr.)

The defensive line is another position group that was decimated by a number of departures, once again forcing the Eagles to look towards the transfer portal. Alongside the unexpected return of MJ Stroud, the addition of O’marion Brown and Anthony Bynum was a welcome sight for Eagle fans. The players listed above should make up the entirety of the defensive line room in 2026.

Linebackers

Festus Davies (Graduate)

Brandon Tyson (R-Sr.)

Jacob Hammonds (R-Sr.)

Rashon Myles Jr. (R-Sr.)

Brandon Alford (R-Jr.)

Diego Aviles (R-Jr.)

Holden Trice (R-Jr.)

CJ Allen Jr. (R-So.)

Colton Veltkamp (So.)

Braxtin McLester (R-Fr.)

Caleb Butler (R-Fr.)

Ethan Johnson (R-Fr.)

Kru Casey (Fr.)

Xavier Brown (Fr.)

Georgia Southern has added two linebacker during he transfer portal window and may look to add another. The position will seemingly undergo a complete transformation under new defensive coordinator Mike Mutz.

Defensive Backs

Chance Gamble (Graduate)

Amar Jenkins (R-Sr.)

Carlo Thompson (R-Sr.)

Noah Mangham (R-Sr.)

Jakyri Jones (Sr.)

AJ Brown Sr. (R-Jr.)

Devin Collier (R-So.)

Jadaan Cooper (R-So.)

Jaquari Brown (R-So.)

Jaylen Bentley (R-So.)

Phillip Gladney (R-So.)

Temirez Williams Jr. (R-So.)

Fabo Chaney (So.)

Elijah Ffrench (R-Fr.)

Dariyon Gordon (Fr.)

Jayden Jackson (Fr.)

Max Haertel (Fr.)

Rahsaan Isaac (Fr.)

Tylin Drakeford (Fr.)

Even after adding five defensive back from the high school level, the Eagles added former Southeastern Louisana standout Jakyri Jones and Abilene Christian’s Noah Mangham. After the departure of Ayden Jackson, both should compete for immediate playing time in Statesboro.

Kicker

Blake Ford (R-Sr.)

TJ Hartley III (R-Jr.)

Evan Scruggs (R-So.)

Tripp Bryant (So.)

Donal Dempsey (R-Fr.)

After a less than stellar season for the Eagles’ special team units, the staff brought in former North Texas and Arkansas kicker Blake Ford to foster some competition at the kicker position.

Long Snapper

Chason Glenn (So.)

Gavin Kurpis (R-Fr.)

There should be no changes at the long snapper position, assuming Glenn officially signs with the program.

Punter

Alex Smith (Sr.)

The Eagles will ride with Smith at punter for at least one more season, so don’t expect any changes here.

As commitments and departures continue to roll in, this article will be updated.