Georgia State Panthers (7-5) vs Wyoming Cowboys (7-5)
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Coach: Shawn Elliott
Georgia State Players to watch:
Senior RB Tra Barnett (5-10/185)
Barnett, the senior from Elbeton, Ga., is the first Georgia State running back to ever earn All-Sun Belt honors. Barnett let the Sun Belt in rushing with 1,389 yards rushing (115.8 ypg) – those numbers were good enough to rank Barnett 8th in the FBS in rushing yardage and to set a new school record. His 12 rushing touchdowns were also a new school record.
Senior OT Hunter Atkinson (6-6/295)
Atkinson, the senior left tackle, was named all-conference for the second straight year. Atkinson ranks among the national leaders with 48 consecutive games started and has rarely come out of a game in four seasons. A team captain. he has helped GSU set season records for rushing yards each of the last two seasons, including nearly 3,000 yards in 2019.
Senior QB Dan Ellington (6-3/205)
Ellington is one of the nation’s top dual-threat quarterbacks. He has led Georgia State–which was picked to finish last in the Sun Belt–to bowl eligibility and a five-game improvement over 2018. Ellington passed for 2,291 yards and 21 touchdowns while completing 65 percent of his passes. The second-leading rusher on the nation’s No. 14 rushing team with 598 yards and five touchdowns.
*Junior TE Aubry Payne (6-4/235)
Payne joined the GSU program as a walk-on in 2018 after transferring from Western Carolina. Payne has been a key blocker in GSU’s rushing attack that ranks and has helped pave the way for four games of 340-plus rushing yards this season, including a school-record 414 vs. ULM. As a receiver, Payne is second among Sun Belt tight ends with six touchdown catches.
**Sophomore WR Cornelius McCoy (5-11/180)
McCoy is the leading receiver for an offense that has set school records for points and total offense per game. After only two seasons, McCoy already ranks in the top six in GSU history in career receptions (100) and receiving yards (1,174).
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Coach: Craig Bohl
Wyoming Players to watch:
Senior SS Alijah Halliburton (6-2/190)
Halliburton ranks second in the MW and No. 11 in the nation in total tackles, averaging 9.9 per game. Halliburton led Wyoming in tackles in 2019, with 119 total tackles. He also has 10 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, one interception. He also had one fumble recovery which he returned for 79 yards against Missouri to set up a field goal.
Senior LB Logan Wilson (6-3/250)
Wilson is one of six national finalists for the 2019 Butkus Award, and is the only finalist from the Group of Five conferences. Wilson ranks No. 8 in the MW in passes defended, with 11 (4 interceptions and 7 pass breakups). He leads a Wyoming defense that ranks second in the Mountain West and No. 11 in the NCAA in Scoring Defense, allowing only 17.8 points per game. He has been named to several All-American teams.
**Sophomore OC Keegan Cryder (6-4/300)
The sophomore center from Littleton, CO, has played 769 total snaps in this season, and he leads Wyoming with over 100 Knockdown Blocks. Impressively, Cryder has allowed only one sack for the entire season, and he has also been called for only one penalty in 12 games in 2019.
Senior PR/WR Austin Conway (5-10/183)
Conway led the Mountain West in punt returns for much of the 2019 season, and currently ranks second in the conference and No. 11 in the nation, averaging 11.1 yards per return. He had 344 punt return yards on 31 attempts. A starting wide receiver for the Cowboys, he leads Wyoming in receptions (22) and is second in receiving yards with 296.
Senior LB Cassh Maluia (6-1/248)
Maluia recorded 57 tackles, with seven tackles-for-loss and two interceptions for 30 yards in the 2019 season. His first interception of the season came against Missouri. He intercepted Mizzou in the end zone to stop a Tiger scoring threat on way to a 37-31 Wyoming victory.
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Arizona Bowl
Wyoming 38, Georgia State 17
Arizona Stadium
Tucson, AZ
Dec 31, 2019 | 4:30 p.m. | CBSSN
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2018 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl
Nevada 16, Arkansas State 13 (OT)
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Nat L. Faybian's College Football Focus 
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