Georgia Southern football will divide into two teams and play its annual Blue-White Spring Game this Saturday at noon at Allen E. Paulson Stadium.

Offense

Eagle fans will get their first real look at Georgia Southern’s new-look offense, led by first-year offensive coordinator Bryan Cook.

Seth Shuman, the sophomore quarterback from Valdosta, will step into the starting role for the Eagles this upcoming season. He was forced into action as a freshman last season after Favian Upshaw and Kevin Ellison were banged up. Shuman showed his arm briefly in 2016 when he was 21-of-36 for 228 yards and a touchdown in a start against Louisiana.

With the departure of running back Matt Breida, junior Wesley Fields and senior L.A. Ramsby will get more touches than last season. Fields and Ramsby – like Shuman – were impressive in their roles last season. Fields had 94 carries for 492 yards and three touchdowns last season, and he averaged over five yards per carry. Ramsby scored eight touchdowns and rushed for 343 yards on 84 carries, including a 61-yard touchdown run.

Five-foot-6-inch dart-of-a-receiver Myles Campbell returns as the leading receiver for the Eagles.

Defense

On defense, the Eagles return junior safety Joshua Moon as their leading returning tackler from last season. Moon had 72 total tackles and two interceptions. The defense will be young but talented, as the Eagles recruited some touted defensive linemen and linebackers.

In his biweekly letter to the Eagle Nation, GS athletic director Tom Kleinlein said, “like many of you, I am eager to see our football team’s progress this spring.”

The spring game is free to attend, and it will begin at noon on Saturday.

Events

The Punt, Pass, and Kick Contest for kids ages 5-12 will be first on the Paulson Stadium agenda Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.

After that, tailgaters will show off their finest gameday grub in a cook-off late Saturday morning. Participants must use their own food and equipment plus a $25 participation charge. Eagle fans can be tasting judges for $3 if they sign up before Wednesday.

The judges’ favorite tailgate chefs will win various prizes, perhaps the most coveted being a hotel room and two tickets to the Georgia Southern vs. Auburn game on September 2.