The Georgia Southern Eagles are coming off a 7-6 season and the first bowl win under coach Clay Helton. The Eagles lost 11 offensive starters and had one of the worst defenses statistically last season.
Many questions surrounding the 2026 Eagles may be answered Saturday as Georgia Southern opens the season at home against Charleston Southern. To help address the struggles on defense Helton brought Stephen F. Austin coordinator Mike Mutz who returns to the sidelines at Paulson where he once coached. Helton feels he has not only helped the defense, but the offense as well.
“It’s an ultra-aggressive system that brings pressures from everywhere,” Helton said. The coverage hides for a quarterback and makes it really hard, and that’s what we have been facing as an offense.
"What I was hoping to see is an aggressive defense that created tackle losses just like they did last year at SFA. There is a reason they had 42 sacks last year and the number one tackle for loss team in the country. We have had to go against it for two training camps and I think all the chaos they bring has made us a better offense.
"There will be some growing pains on both side sides of the ball with 46 newcomers, but I think at the end of the day if we just try to get better with each play, you can look up and have a team that has grown together and just playing good football.”
Helton announced UNC transfer Max Johnson as his starting quarterback prior to releasing his two-deep for this week. Helton said there were a lot of positions where deciding on the starter came down to the wire but he says that is a good thing do to the depth he feels he has on both sides of the ball.
“I see it’s a little bit different this year than we were last year,” Helton said. “I feel more we have more depth, especially at several positions whether it’s receiver or the running back room which is excessively strong. Having River Helms back at tight end really allows you to jump start an offense.
"Defensively I thought it was really important Brandon Tyson and RJ Miles here creating strength at linebacker. At the defensive front with MJ Stroud, Anthony Bynum Kebba Secka coming back along with Latrell Bullard Elijah Fears. It’s a great combination of retention and acquisition across the board.”
As far as the offensive line and defensive backs those are two units without a lot of returning players, but Helton feels they could be two of the biggest strengths of the team.
“I’ve been waiting for this group of offensive linemen to have a chance to play for a while,” Helton said. “I remember talking to dad, who was an NFL line coach forever, and I remember him and I both feeling the same that we couldn’t wait for this group to get their opportunity because we felt like they may be even mortal talented than the group that just left.
"I also can’t wait to see the secondary play. We’ve tried to rebuild this secondary for coach Mutz and having Chance Gamble back healthy makes a huge difference. We converted Tracy Hill to the nickel position along with Carlo Thompson. We also have these new safeties even though we are glad Aaron Sears was with Mike at SFA. For the other kids it’s going to be their first time out there and we can also establish who that other corner is going to be opposite Chance.”
Johnson will be the starting quarterback but backing him up will be Helton’s son Turner, with Weston Bryan continuing to take snaps in certain situations while being third on the depth chart.
“Obviously Weston is going to be part of each and every game plan,” Helton said. “As he continues to develop as a quarterback we will add things. He has a unique talent that people have seen and it’s no surprise that we will use some of that this year, if not more.”
This week’s opponent Charleson Southern comes in 0- after a season opening 20-17 loss to Lindenwood. Helton feels they will take the usual step forward after their first game and is not taking them lightly.
"I think defensively when you start with talking about All American Steve Zayachkowsky who had 10 tackles last week,” Helton said. “He was just all over the place defensively. They were down and fought back to make it a three-point game with a chance to win. They have a new quarterback and I feel like they finally started hitting their groove in the second half. They’ll be a challenge for us and we have to play to our standard and worry about what we are doing from an execution standpoint Saturday.”
Georgia Southern and Charleton Southern are set for a 7:00 kickoff Saturday night at Paulson Stadium.
