By William Qualkinbush.

Signing up to play for or work for Georgia State football is a thankless task these days. The program is merely half a decade old, yet it is in its second season of transition into the FBS level. As a result, the Panthers have become one of college football’s sacrificial lambs.

Last season, teams like West Virginia and Alabama used Georgia State as target practice. Those two beat the Panthers by a combined score of 86-10. The rest of the Sun Belt feasted on the Panthers too, as did a trio of FCS opponents. The result was an 0-12 campaign that marked Head Coach Trent Miles’ first season at the Atlanta institution.

The Panthers averaged only 18.8 points per game last season, but it was not the fault of quarterback Ronnie Bell. The rising junior threw for 2,573 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2013 as one of the bright spots on the squad. However, Bell only completed half of his passes, so there is no guarantee he will maintain the job. Miles hit the junior college ranks to find some suitable competition to push Bell in fall camp.

Georgia State only averaged 3.4 yards per carry last season, so improving the ground game will be a primary objective for the team moving forward. No real experience exists on the roster, so coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski will have to manufacture some production by committee in his two-back system. Six offensive linemen graduated after last season, meaning the task may be doubly difficult if some of the junior college reinforcements cannot adequately take over starting roles.

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Robert Davis is the Panthers’ leading receiver from a year ago. He will look to tack onto his freshman numbers to help replace departed wideout Albert Wilson, who pushed the 1,200-yard mark in 2013. Davis had 44 catches for 711 yards in his own right, so he has some ability. But the rest of the receiving corps is largely untested, meaning there will be some growing pains throughout the season.

Georgia State was one of the worst teams in the country against the run last season, so a new crew of defensive linemen will attempt to reform the trenches. Only one starter—unremarkable end Shawayne Lawrence—will be back to oversee the improvement. Middle linebacker Joseph Peterson leads all returners with 103 tackles in 2013 and is the de facto leader of the defense. He is poised for a big junior season alongside outside backer Mackendy Cheridor, who spent some time on the edge last season.

Safety Tarris Batiste will look to build on the 77 tackles he piled up last season as a linebacker. But the rest of the defensive backs are unproven or junior college transfers, so much of the weight at the back end of the defense will rest on his shoulders.

The Panthers’ specialists will return to attempt to bring some stability to an otherwise unstable situation. Punter Matt Hubbard had an all-conference season while averaging 42 yards per kick, while Will Lutz drilled two-thirds of his field goals. If the growing pains felt on both sides of the ball are great, these two should be able to salvage some brownie points from a couple of games.

Many in the college football world see Georgia State as a sleeping giant. They play in the Georgia Dome and get to sow the fertile recruiting ground of Atlanta on a consistent basis. But as the new program continues its ascent, games against teams like Clemson will serve to help its branding throughout the region—and nothing more.