STATESBORO, Ga. () — The Georgia Southern football team has wrapped up approximately two weeks of fall practice as they gear up for their opening game of the season against Fresno State.

The Eagles displayed a lot of energy during their session. Coach Clay Helton expressed his appreciation for the Georgia Southern tradition of practicing at Eagle Creek.

The head coach mentioned that former Eagles stars Adrian Peterson and Tracy Hamm addressed the team at the start of the day. Coach Clay Helton described Eagle Creek as sacred ground.

On the offensive front, this marks the first occasion for Clay Helton to have a returning starting quarterback since he took over as head coach. The fourth-year coach noted impressive performances from red-shirt junior JC French during the latest scrimmage.

“There’s just a calmness,” Helton remarked. “When given a chance, reps and experience become crucial. Amidst the chaos, a seasoned quarterback can restore order, and that’s what I saw in the first scrimmage. Everything was calm, relaxed, with excellent decision-making and timing in releasing the ball. The accuracy was notable, and each of the top three quarterbacks achieved a completion rate of 75 percent or higher.”

Georgia Southern starts the season in California. They open the season against Fresno State at 9:30 p.m. EST.