Georgia State quarterback competition continues

ATLANTA — Georgia State is heading into the summer with an ongoing quarterback competition.

Junior Ronnie Bell is the team’s returning starter. But, junior college transfer Nick Arbuckle edged out Bell this spring.

“Coming out of spring, Nick Arbuckle is the starter, but Ronnie got better in the spring, too,” Head Coach Trent Miles said. “We will open it back up for competition at the beginning of camp, when we will add Emiere Scaife. We look forward to competition at the position so that hopefully we can perform at a higher level. The completion percentage has to improve.”

Bell completed 188 of 375 passes last season, throwing 11 interceptions and 15 touchdowns, while junior Ben McLane completed 28 of 51 passes with one interception and two touchdowns. Incoming freshman Emiere Scaife could add a new wrinkle to the mix when he arrives on campus.

The Panthers are coming off a disappointing 0-12 campaign in 2013. The Panthers’ open the 2014 season, their second season in the Sun Belt Conference, on Aug. 27 against Abilene Christian in the first Football Bowl Subdivision football game of the 2014 season.

“I think we’re in condition; we’re bigger, stronger, faster,” Miles said following the Panthers’ final scrimmage this spring. “We’re not changing our schemes at all, but we’re just trying to change our tempo and the way we do things and again just continue to get bigger, stronger, faster.

“I think they’ve done a pretty good job so far,” Miles added. “We’re not where we want to be, but we’re closer to being there.”

The highlight of the Panthers’ 2014 schedule may be Oct. 25 when the Panthers face off against Georgia Southern, marking the first time the two programs play.