SUN BELT PREVIEW: New head coach, same philosophies at Georgia Southern

The most recognizable face is new, but the offensive identity won't change at Georgia Southern.

It took less than 90 seconds for first-year Coach Tyson Summers to make that clear during his stop at Sun Belt Conference media day last month. His first question — though Summers had likely been peppered with similar inquiries since getting the job last winter — was about the changing of a triple-option offense that has worked so well for the Eagles.

"We'll continue to be a [shotgun] triple-option team," Summers said. "There's no question about that. We're certainly in position where we have people who can do that."

Just about every key piece that helped Georgia Southern rush for 6.48 yards per carry and 363.0 yards per game, both FBS-bests, is available to Summers, who was hired after Willie Fritz went to Tulane.

All six players who had at least 20 rushes last year return, including Matt Breida, who had 1,608 yards and scored 17 touchdowns, and L.A. Ramsby, who had 820 yards and 13 touchdowns. Both quarterbacks are around, too, including Kevin Ellison and Favian Upshaw. Four offensive linemen also return, including center Andy Kwon, a second-team all-Sun Belt pick last year.

Summers would like Ellison or Upshaw to be better passers — the two quarterbacks combined to complete 43.1 percent of their passers — but there's still enough returning to not even think about changing much.

"We want to be in a position where we're at a place where tradition matters, where running the ball matters," Summers said. "We're not going to do something just for the sake of going in a different direction or putting an odd stamp on something."

There's just as many returning pieces on defense as offense for Summers, who spent last season as defensive coordinator at Colorado State. The Eagles led the Sun Belt last year in scoring and rushing defense and were second in total defense. Seven starters return from that team, including returning all-Sun Belt linemen Bernard Dawson and Jay Ellison.

"They feel like they had a good bit of success this past year," Summers said. "But also know that they have a long ways to go. I really think that they have an opportunity to be one of the best defenses in the country, and we'll try to put our stamp on it."

Under Fritz, Georgia Southern won its first 10 games against Sun Belt teams before losing last October to Appalachian State, then it lost its regular-season finale to Georgia State. The Eagles play Arkansas State for the first time this season — Oct. 5 in Jonesboro — since the two met in the I-AA championship game in 1986.

"We've got our challenges," Summers said. "We're looking forward to the opportunity to compete and the opportunity to compete with some of the best teams in the country."

FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

Arkansas State reporter Troy Schulte previewed each team in the Sun Belt conference. Read each one below:

APPALACHIAN STATE: Mountaineers ready for Sun Belt perch

GEORGIA SOUTHERN: New head coach, same philosophies for Eagles

GEORGIA STATE: Panthers building on breakthrough year

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE: Quarterback questions surround Cajuns

TROY: Trojans have quarterback, need complementary pieces

SOUTH ALABAMA: Jaguars putting faith in Everett

IDAHO: Vandals ready for a jump?

NEW MEXICO STATE: Aggies have running game, need a defense

TEXAS STATE: Bobcats starting from scratch

LOUISIANA MONROE: Warhawks starting over with Viator

ARKANSAS STATE: Reinforced Red Wolves aiming for Dallas