Tennessee football: Five Georgia State Panthers to watch for against Vols

Yes, we know that the Georgia State Panthers were awful on defense last year. But advanced metrics showed it actually could be good, and the extra offseason to gain experience is why members of the front seven are loading up this list. Next, we’re going to another linebacker who could be a huge force.

Ed Curney, a senior and a veteran, is the best defensive player out there. In 2018, he led the Panthers with 81 tackles, and he added four and a half tackles for a loss and a sack. Oh, and he also had a fumble recovery. The 5’11” 220-pound senior doubled his production last year from previous years as Shawn Elliott began to rely on him more.

This year, Curney figures to take another major step. And he is going to do everything he can to show that off in the Panthers’ opener against Tennessee football. So while Victor Heyward is the overall big-play guy, Curney is the one who can sniff things out and stuff plays before they get going. He is the key linebacker for GSU.

If the Vols aren’t prepared for Curney at every turn, they could be in trouble. He and Heyward will likely line up next to each other, with him on the inside and Heyward on the outside, but Curney can come around the edge too. His versatility will be a major issue for Jeremy Pruitt to deal with.