The Sports Inquirer

Release from Georgia State Athletics:

Seven Georgia State football players were recognized on Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Sun Belt team, led by first-team honorees Donovan Harden, Joel Ruiz and Joseph Peterson. All three players are returning All-Sun Belt players.

Harden, the senior receiver, led the Panthers with 60 catches for 885 yards and was third in the Sun Belt with seven touchdown receptions.

Ruiz, the senior tight end, was named to the John Mackey Award Watch List before finishing with 39 catches for 478 yards and three touchdowns.

Peterson is a two-time all-conference linebacker and the Panthers’ leading tackler the last three seasons as well as Georgia State’s career tackling leader with 265.

Phil Steele’s second-team includes senior place-kicker Wil Lutz, Georgia State’s career leader in field goals (19), extra points (78) and points by kicking, and junior receiver Robert Davis, another returning all-conference selection who had 50 receptions for 732 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensive linemen Julien Laurent, a junior college transfer who joined the program this spring, and Mackendy Cheridor, who returns after a season-ending knee injury last fall, were recognized on the third team and fourth team, respectively.