Georgia Southern Eagles Prepare for Challenge at Sun Belt Media Days

News Summary

At the 2025 Sun Belt Media Days in New Orleans, Georgia Southern Eagles showcased their key players and strategies for the upcoming season, focusing on team dynamics and leadership. Head Coach Clay Helton, alongside key players, emphasized the importance of experienced members and coaching staff in achieving success. The team’s aim is to improve from last season, where they fell short of the championship game, and are now poised to tackle tough opponents in the upcoming matches. With a loyal fan base and strong projections, the Eagles are excited to commence practice and focus on their ambitious goals.

New Orleans

Georgia Southern Eagles showcased their key players and strategic goals during the 2025 Sun Belt Media Days held in New Orleans, where the focus was on building a stronger team dynamics and preparing for a challenging upcoming season. Represented by Head Coach Clay Helton, Quarterback JC French IV, and Defensive Lineman Davion Rhodes, the Eagles reflect on their performance from the previous year and aim for success in the upcoming season.

Last season, Georgia Southern fell short of qualifying for the Sun Belt Championship game, prompting the team to enhance their approach. Coach Helton emphasized the importance of retaining experienced players, as many team members entered their third, fourth, and fifth seasons. The consistent guidance from the coaching staff, including Offensive Coordinator Ryan Aplin, Defensive Coordinator Brandon Bailey, and Special Teams Coordinator Blake Wilson, also plays a crucial role in the team’s aspirations. Each coach brings several years of experience that contribute to the team’s stability and growth.

As the official starting quarterback, JC French is looking forward to leading the team in the upcoming season. Having emerged from a competitive quarterback battle last season, he has focused on significantly improving his fitness and diet during the offseason to enhance his performance. French warned that the success of the Eagles will largely rely on their ability to perform well in challenging away games, including matchups against formidable opponents such as Fresno State, USC, James Madison, Arkansas State, App State, and Marshall.

Defensive standout Davion Rhodes is also set to take on a leadership role this season, aiming to expand his influence beyond just his performance on the field. He intends to develop vocal leadership skills to better guide younger teammates and foster a collaborative environment within the team.

Georgia Southern has received favorable projections, being anticipated to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference while striving to secure the top spot. The Eagles have nine players recognized on the All-Conference list, with seven of them making the first team. These players include:

• Latrell Bullard, Senior Defensive Tackle
• Caleb Cook, Senior Offensive Lineman
• Josh Dallas, Junior Receiver
• Chance Gamble, Senior Defensive Back
• Brendan Harrington, Senior Linebacker
• Alex Smith, Junior Punter
• Pichon Wimbley, Senior Offensive Lineman

Additionally, Senior Receiver Dalen Cobb and Junior Defensive Back Tracy Hill Jr. were recognized on the second team.

With a loyal fan base that has set an all-time attendance record in Georgia Southern history, Coach Helton expressed optimism about the team’s consistent progression each year. The Eagles are set to commence fall practice on August 7th, ramping up their preparations for the new season.

Their first game is scheduled for August 30th against Fresno State, with kickoff set for 9:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM PT. As they embark on this journey, the Eagles and their supporters hope to build on past experiences and turn aspirations into achievements in the upcoming season.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Louisiana-Lafayette Edges Out Southern Miss in Close Game

Additional Resources

• WTOC: Georgia Southern Sun Belt Media Days
• WJCL: JC French Embracing QB1 Role
• Georgia Southern: Nine Eagles Picked as Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference
• Georgia Southern: Sun Belt Media Days Broadcast Schedule Announced
• Google Search: Georgia Southern Eagles Football