Georgia Southern football: Can Eagles finally make run at Sun Belt title?

Eagles boast one of the best front-sevens in the Sun Belt

Georgia Southern boasted the third-best scoring and third-best total defense in 2019 and that was with mostly bad secondary play, which was supposed to be a strength last season. All the ingredients are there for the Eagles to remain one of the best defensive teams in the league and it all starts up front.

First-team All-Sun Belt selection Raymond Johnson III is back up front for his senior season after having 33 total tackles and three sacks last season. Traver Vliem is also back for his senior year up front. The only new starter on the line is at nose tackle where CJ Wright will take over, but he has a lot of experience so this unit should remain a strength for the Eagles.

The linebacking corps brings back three starters who will be either juniors or seniors and among them is All-Sun Belt second-teamer Rashad Byrd, who led the team in tackles last season with 85 and also added two sacks and two interceptions. Randy Wade Jr. and Reynard Ellis are also back after combining for nearly 150 tackles and six sacks.

The area that the Eagles need to see big improvement in is in the secondary, as the defense gave up too many big plays in the passing game and that was with future NFL draft Pick Kindle Vildor at cornerback. Kenderick Duncan Jr. is the only returning starter in the secondary and he had a decent season with 79 tackles and two interceptions last season.

Both starting corners will need to be replaced and the secondary is going to need to come together quickly with games against Boise State and Florida Atlantic early on in the season.