Blue and White Preview
STATESBORO - Many of the questions surrounding Georgia Southern’s football team will be answered this weekend when the team faces off in it’s annual intersquad scrimmage on Saturday. The “Blue and White” game, as it is called, will begin at 1p.m. in Paulson Stadium.
The game pitches the first-team offense versus the first-team defense and the second-team offense versus the second-team defense.
The game might solve the "quarterback question," as Walter-Payton Award winner Jayson Foster graduated last year.
“I’m really interested in seeing what they have planned now that Foster is gone,” said Matt Rooks, a senior criminal justice major.
The Eagles current depth chart lists six quarterbacks, but the fight can be narrowed to two or three players. As a freshman last year, Billy Lowe saw a good number of snaps playing behind Foster and is seen as one of the front-runners to earn the job this year. Also vying for the job are redshirt freshman Lee Chapple and sophomore Kyle Collins.
In last years spring game, Collins went 24 of 47 for 300 yards and a touchdown. Chapple has yet to compile any college statistics but according to the team’s webpage he was ranked 73rd nationally as a recruit by ESPN.
All three quarterbacks are predominantly passers. This could change the team's playing style since Foster electrified crowds with his incredible run attempts.
The Eagles enter this year with as strong core of running backs as well, which include redshirt freshman Zeke Rozier and University of South Florida transfer Ricky Ponton.
The team will need these players to make an immediate impact after losing last year’s starter, Lamar Lewis, to graduation.
In last years spring game the White team came out on top in a 17-7 win.
Leighton Maher