Georgia State has started two quarterbacks this season. Both played last week, leaving the door open for a possible quarterback controversy for the remaining seven games.
Forget it, GSU coach Shawn Elliott said.
Elliott said the Panthers will decide the starter this week in practice and roll with him the rest of the season.
“We’re going to make a determination on who gives us the best opportunity to be successful offensively,” Elliott said. “And then we’ll probably settle and go. I’m not a big proponent of playing a two-quarterback system. I know it’s been done before, but that’s not a situation I feel like our football team wants to be in, so we’re going to compete a little bit, settle in and find our guy.”
The Panthers (1-4, 0-1 Sun Belt) play their first conference road game Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN3. The game can be heard locally on WRAS-FM 88.5.
The quarterback contenders are Quad Brown, a sophomore, and Darren Grainger, a junior.
Brown (6-foot-5, 200 pounds) started all 10 games last season and threw for 2,278 yards and 17 touchdowns. He ran for 301 yards and seven touchdowns.
Grainger (6-4, 202) transferred from Furman, where he was the starter for two seasons. He threw for 1,403 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 349 in 17 games, 12 starts.
Brown started the first two games, against Army and North Carolina, and did not resemble the player who was electric at times a season ago. He didn’t play against Auburn, but was inserted into the lineup on the third series Saturday against Appalachian State and some good moments, completing 16 of 31 passes for 171 yards and two interceptions.
Grainger played late in the loss to North Carolina and was promoted to starter against Charlotte in the third game of the season. He threw for 139 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 64 yards in leading the Panthers to their only win. He was solid in the near-upset of Auburn, throwing for 117 yards and two touchdowns and running for 61. He was yanked after two ineffective series against App State, but returned to play in the fourth quarter.
“I don’t think either played great (against App State), to be honest with you,” Elliott said. “I don’t think there was someone who came out and separated themselves. We’ve got to continue to push forward and find the guy and find out exactly what our strengths are offensively.”
It hasn’t helped that the team’s two best receivers, all-conference selections Sam Pinckney and Cornelius McCoy have been hampered through the first five games with nagging hamstring injuries. Both have four catches Saturday, but were denied the big plays that were frequent last season.
Their inability to play at full strength has enabled others to step forward. Jamari Thrash and Ja’Cyais Credle have emerged, and redshirt freshmen Talique Williams and Robert Lewis had catches last week.
“The wide receiver group, it seems like more and more guys are finding ways to make an impact,” Elliott said. “I think our wide receiver (meeting) room is in good shape. It’s just unfortunate that McCoy and Pinckney have been banged up. … Thrash has done a marvelous job, and we’ve got capable guys who aren’t in backup roles, they’re in full rotational roles, and they’re only going to get better.”
The series with Louisiana-Monroe is tied 3-3. In 2020, Georgia State jumped to a 21-0 lead and won 52-34. That was the contest that helped spark the Panthers to a strong finish that led to four wins in the final five games, a 6-4 record and a trip to the LendingTree Bowl.
“We’ve certainly dug ourselves a hole,” Elliott said. “We have to understand what lies ahead of us and keep our heads up. We cannot go out and have a pity party. You can’t feel sorry for yourself because everything we’ve done so far is on us. We’re moving forward with a positive attitude looking to get back.”
Louisiana-Monroe (2-2, 1-1) is coming off a 59-6 loss to Coastal Carolina. The Warhawks are in their first season under coach Terry Bowden, who said, “Our defense got humbled” against the Chanticleers.
Bowden has his own quarterback issues. His team has played four quarterbacks because of injuries. Rhett Rodriguez, son of offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez, did not play against Coastal Carolina because of a lung injury sustained against Troy that landed him in intensive care. That leaves either freshman Chandler Rogers or sophomore Colby Suits to start.
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