Panthers win again with 16 signees

It’s been a successful week for Georgia State: Saturday, the Panthers earned their first bowl win by defeating Western Kentucky 27-17 in Orlando’s Cure Bowl. Wednesday, they added 16 recruits.

“What a great class,” GSU coach Shawn Elliott said. “Our coaches did a great job solidifying the spots we needed to get in the early signing period. Becoming bowl-eligible, having the success we had this season, it helped.”

Four signees are from Georgia. Elliott, a native of South Carolina and former Gamecocks interim coach, put his ties to good use: The Panthers signed four South Carolina athletes.

GSU signed three defensive ends, three offensive linemen and a defensive tackle.

On the offensive line, Despelado Alexandre is a three-star recruit from Deerfield Beach, Florida’s No. 1 Class 8A team. Brandon Joseph is from Lawrenceville and made All-Region Class 7A as a junior. Johnathan Bass from Marietta’s Kell High rounds out the group.

Defensive end Marlon Young is considered a prize. Louisiana Football Magazine calls him the best recruit from Opelousas since former Saints receiver Devery Henderson.

Blake Carroll was a twoway star at Mountain View. A three-star recruit, he’ll likely stick at inside linebacker..

D’Angelo Knight signed at outside linebacker after a 47-tackle, eight-interception year at Fort Dorchester High in North Charleston, S.C. Tre Moore, T.J. Smith and Akeem Smith will beef up the defensive front.

Tyler Gore, a cornerback and receiver from Myrtle Beach, S.C., picked off five passes as a senior.

In quarterback Dan Ellington and receiver Diondre Champaigne, Elliott added two junior college players.