The 2016 National Signing Day for the Eagle Nation was one for the record books. Coach Tyson Summers was hired on during the so-called “dead week,” in recruiting and was limited to a month of recruiting. With pressure mounting and time running low, Coach Summers and his coaching staff quickly and successfully assembled what’s now the #1 ranked recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference. It might be the most highly touted recruiting class in the history of Georgia Southern’s football program.

“We certainly got what we wanted,” Coach Summers announced, appearing excited during Wednesday’s press conference.

 To top off a successful end to their recruiting campaign, Coach Summers and his coaching staff were even able to land Georgia Southern football program’s first ever ESPN Top 300 player, wide receiver Darion Anderson. Overall, Coach Summers and his coaching staff successfully recruited 27 new prospects. The 85 scholarships given to the Georgia Southern football program have not all been used, so there’s still potential more recruits will become Eagles.

“From a depth standpoint, we wanted to add quality, and it certainly felt like we were able to do that,” Coach Summers said.

He went onto mention the fact there was a clear-cut plan when determining if these young men were the right fit for Georgia Southern’s football program.

“We continued to fight. We continued to make sure we were doing the job for our university and our current team. We want to continue the sustained success that we’ve had,” Coach Summers said.

Following the press conference, Coach Summers and his coaching staff joined in celebration as letters of intent were finalized and recruits became Eagles as their names were placed on “big board,” of recruits in the lobby of the Ted Smith Family Football Center. Coach Summers and his coaching staff could be seen taking pictures with the media and playing corn hole and ping-pong.

“I believe this is the best class I’ve been associated with,” Coach Summers said. He understands there’s a long road ahead for these new Eagles but seemed confident these new Eagles will make positive contributions to the Eagle Nation on and off the football field.  To best sum up this historic time for the Georgia Southern football program, the atmosphere surrounding the 2016 National Signing Day was nothing short of a game day at Paulson Stadium – electric.