Head coach Chad Lunsford and the Eagles have seen a little bit of everything from Georgia Southern’s quarterbacks since spring training. Now, substantial changes are taking place.

Following Shai Werts’ transfer to Louisville, the Eagles needed to find a new quarterback for the first time since 2017.

Early on, it was looking like redshirt junior Justin Tomlin was set to take over. However, academic issues sidelined him for two games.

The Eagles ended up running with three quarterbacks the first two weeks, none of which ever started a college game at the position.

True freshman Cam Ransom and senior running back Amare Jones split time in week one, with Ransom showing off his passing prowess while Jones contributed with his feet.

In week two, Ransom was the starter, but struggled to gain traction, especially after a leg injury . Redshirt freshman Sam Kenerson saw significant action, but struggled to find momentum following an early fumble.

“I don’t think there’s been anything in the quarterback play that is egregious,” Lunsford said in a Monday press conference. “I thought [Ransom] started really well [against FAU]. I think he struggled a bit after he got hurt. Kenerson I thought started off well. After the fumble, [I] didn’t think he responded well to the fumble, but was giving it everything he got.”

Tomlin’s return from suspension comes just in time for the Eagles’ first ranked opponent of the season. As a redshirt junior, Tomlin provides experience from last season on top of spring football.

“Obviously, Justin Tomlin will start this week and we’ll see how he plays. But, like anything, you’re always fighting for your job,” Lunsford said. “You should never be complacent, you should never feel like it’s wrapped up and you got it made. [Tomlin] needs to go in there and play like ‘I’m the starter and I’m always going to be the starter.’”

Lunsford believes that the key to Tomlin providing a spark for a struggling Eagle team is to relax, and let the game come to him. He also believes that Tomlin has enough good credibility within the team that as long as he does what he’s been coached to do, that he is poised to have a good game.

Georgia Southern (1-1) will take another road trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas to play the #20 Arkansas Razorbacks (2-0), who are riding high after a top-15 Texas team. The contest will take place this Saturday, September 18 at 4 p.m.