Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Ryan Kostensky
PREVIEW: Eagle defense looks to shut down South Alabama on the road
The Georgia Southern football team is looking to bounce back with a strong defensive performance against conference foe South Alabama on Thursday night. Georgia Southern (1-3, 0-1) The Georgia Southern football team travels to South Alabama for a matchup against the Jaguars and will rely heavily on the defense in order to get their first conference win of the season.
PREVIEW: Georgia Southern travels north for a bout with Power-5 foe Minnesota with both squads looking for an offensive boost
The Eagles will be heading to Minnesota Saturday to take on another Power 5 school, and both teams seem to need a boost on the offense. Georgia Southern The biggest and most important question for the GS offense is the status of redshirt-junior QB Shai Werts, whose status for Saturday’s game remain up in the air. Redshirt-freshman Justin Tomlin got his first start against the Black Bears where he rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown while just going four-of-nine through the air for 63 yards.
Georgia Southern volleyball set to start 2019 campaign with first-year Head Coach Chad Willis at the helm
The Georgia Southern women’s volleyball team opens their 2019 season in Macon with a lot of questions and excitement happening within the program right now. In 2018, the Eagles finished at 8-22 and inevitably made a coaching change, where they brought in Chad Willis from Appalachian State to give the program a much needed boost by creating a culture of winning. The first-year head man talked about that process of creating the culture, as well as what he’s liked from the team in the preseason.
Preview: GS heads west for a battle in the Bayou to open up much awaited 2019 campaign
The Georgia Southern football team will be Callin’ Baton Rouge this week when they face off against the Tigers of LSU Saturday. Just one year after a 10-3 season that saw the Eagles finish as Camellia Bowl Champions, GS faces a daunting task opening the season at No. 6 LSU. LSU too, is coming off of a 10-win season, one that saw them beat five ranked teams, including a Fiesta Bowl victory over former national champions UCF.
J. D. King speaks on eligibility
STATESBORO- The Georgia Southern football program got a huge boost on Monday when the NCAA ruled J.D. King, the junior running back transfer from Oklahoma State, eligible to play immediately. In his two seasons as a Cowboy, King amassed over 600 yards with four touchdowns on 142 rushing attempts. The junior running back proved useful in the passing game as well, recording three touchdowns on 14 receptions.
Shai Werts, Quan Griffin arrested, suspended after unrelated incidents
Head Coach Chad Lunsford announced that redshirt junior quarterback Shai Werts and redshirt junior defensive end Quan Griffin have been suspended from football activities due to unrelated arrests earlier in the week. “These suspensions are in place to protect Shai, Quan and the university and will allow us to gather more information,” Lunsford said.
Vildor talks 2019 expectations and NBA 2K at 2019 Sun Belt Media Day
Georgia Southern’s junior cornerback, Kindle Vildor, is one of the nation’s best at his position, but Vildor’s talents don’t stop with football. In fact, you could call him a two-sport athlete due to his proficiency in basketball. Well, in NBA 2K, that is. When asked who the best 2K player on the GS roster, Vildor gave an adamant answer in his favor. “Me,” Vildor said. “Not going to lie, me without a doubt.
Dunleavy resigns to take an assistant coaching job at Mississippi State
The Georgia Southern Women’s soccer club is in search of a new head coach after Brian Dunleavy stepped down to take an assistant coaching position at Mississippi State University. "This is an incredible opportunity for my family and I to be a part of Mississippi State University," Dunleavy said in a press release.
Shuman signs with A’s, ending Georgia Southern career
Georgia Southern’s ace pitcher, junior Seth Shuman, officially signed with the Oakland Athletics Wednesday after being drafted with pick 194 in the sixth round. The one-time starting quarterback for the Eagles signed for $235,000 and joins fellow GS teammate, Chase Cohen, in the A’s minor league system. Over his GS career that saw 44 appearances, 39 of which were starts, Shuman posted a career 3.86 ERA, with a career-high 3.59 ERA in 15 starts in 2019.
Baseball eyes conference title, opens tournament play against Louisiana
Three Georgia Southern baseball juniors, OF Mason McWhorter, RHP Seth Shuman and INF Steven Curry take home post-season awards, recapping a successful regular season for the Eagles. McWhorter and Shuman were both named to the first team and Curry was named to the second team. McWhorter and Curry have been juggernauts in the GS lineup all season, with the OF hitting .380 in league play alone, and the infielder taking the league batting title with a .355 overall batting average.
Kramer sets eyes on international competition after storied collegiate career
Senior markswoman Rosemary Kramer ended her time at Georgia Southern in soaring fashion, becoming not only the first Eagle to qualify for the NCAA championships, where she would finish third, but also becoming the first All-American in the program’s six-year history. But Kramer almost didn’t come to GS, and her story as an Eagle almost didn’t happen. Hailing from Culloden, Georgia, Kramer comes from a family where shooting was a way of life.
Opinion: Georgia Southern baseball a dark-horse contender despite 19-14 record
With over half of the 2019 baseball season in the books, Georgia Southern sits at 19-14 overall, and 7-5 within the Sun Belt, one game behind Coastal Carolina. At a quick glance, the Eagles appear to be an average team that can score enough runs and get enough outs to be competitive, but where does GS really sit with 23 games remaining before conference tournaments begin?
Behind late-inning heroics, Eagles rally to upend Presbyterian 10-5
Tuesday boasted the first of two mid-week contests for the Georgia Southern Baseball team, who came back from a five-run deficit to down Presbyterian 10-5 in impressive fashion- improving to 15-13 on the season. The Eagles and Blue Hose battled in the only meeting of the season between the two, where it was PC who came out scoring early, getting out to a 5-0 lead by the fifth inning before GS could push a run across.
Georgia Southern baseball travels to the bayou for an important series against conference foe ULM
Just nights after the Eagles bashed Mercer behind three solo home runs, Georgia Southern baseball heads west to take on Louisiana-Monroe in a Sun Belt Conference matchup. GS sits at 13-11 on the season after winning their last two games, and look to improve their 4-2 SBC record against a bad Warhawks squad. ULM comes into the series with a two-game winning streak much like GS, but at 0-6 in conference and 9-16 overall has produced a season that fans aren’t happy about.
McWhorter continues to look to help his team where ever he can
While the Georgia Southern baseball team has been going through a transitional period, having one of the youngest rosters in the Sun Belt over the past few seasons, one player in particular has been a leader since coming to Statesboro. Junior outfielder Mason McWhorter has been a stronghold in the GS lineup, both offensively and defensively, ever since his arrival from West Forsyth High School in 2017.
Preview: Eagles to host another home game series against UNC-Ashville
Georgia Southern baseball hosts UNC-Asheville looking to get to .500 for the first time of the young season. After starting 5-6 due to a strong schedule, GS continues their home stand where they host UNC-Asheville, amidst an action-packed sports weekend in Statesboro.
Georgia Southern women's basketball travels to Arkansas, falls to Little Rock 51-80
Georgia Southern women's basketball fell to Little Rock on the road Thursday 51-80, moving their conference record to 2-14 with a 7-20 overall record. Coming into the game with a five game losing streak, the Eagles pushed that number to six, despite 12 points from junior forward Hailey Dias-Allen, who was the only GS player to break double digits. The Trojans started the game on an 8-0 run and never looked back, forcing 22 Eagle turnovers and building their lead to an insurmountable number.
Georgia Southern drops three-game series to West Virginia, gets first home win of the season
The Eagles fell in two of their three games of the home-opener to the Mountaineers of the Big-12, despite stellar pitching throughout the weekend. The bats for GS just couldn't come alive, scoring just three runs in the series. Here's the breakdown for how each game went. Game one, Friday, Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m.: GS 1 WVU 5 Junior starting pitcher Seth Shuman went head-to-head with WVU starter Alek Manoah, who was hitting 98 on the radar gun consistently all night.
Preview: Women's basketball looks to break three-loss streak at home
The Georgia Southern Women's basketball team returns home for their final two home games of the season, hosting Coastal Carolina on Thursday. After beating the University of Louisiana back on Feb. 7, the Eagles have since gone on a three-game losing streak coming into Thursday's matchup against the Chanticleers. Sitting at 2-11 in conference and 7-17 overall, GS continues to rely on the duo of junior guard Alexis Brown and sophomore guard Tatum Barber.
Rosemary Kramer becomes first Georgia Southern student-athlete to be selected to appear at the NCAA Rifle Championships
Senior markswoman Rosemary Kramer will become the first GS student-athlete to appear at the NCAA Rifle Championships, being selected to represent the Eagles in Air Rifle. Kramer has been nothing but excellent in her senior campaign, with an average of 593.364 on the season. In addition to her high average, Kramer has taken first place in eight out of the 11 events she's participated in. The NCAA Championships are scheduled for March 8-9 at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, WV.
Preview: Eagles hit the road to compete for a conference win
Georgia Southern Women's basketball heads south to take on South Alabama for a Valentine's Day Showdown in Mobile. With the 2018-19 season beginning to wind down, GS travels to Mobile where they face the Jaguars in a conference matchup. At 7-15 on the season with a 2-9 conference record, the Eagles look to hit the road and steal a win from a marginally better USA squad.
Georgia Southern Women's basketball downs Louisiana at home, gets elusive conference win
Georgia Southern Women's basketball hosted Louisiana on Thursday and came out with a 79-71 lead behind 20 points from sophomore guard Tatum Barber. The first quarter of play started off slowly for both teams who both couldn't seem to hit a three-pointer, but it was GS who was able to take advantage of the low post, finishing with an 18-14 lead. The Eagles would go 2-10 from behind the arc, but despite the early shooting deficiencies remained persistent and willing to take long shots.
Eagles fall to rival Georgia State at home
Georgia Southern Women's Basketball loses to rival Georgia State 66-83 in route to their fourteenth loss of the season. The Eagles couldn't upend the rivals from the north in Saturday's affair, and with just one win in conference, things aren't getting better. The offense started off slow in the game, allowing the Panthers to cultivate a lead they would not give back. GS got down early, scoring just 25 points in the first half of play alone, in comparison to GSU's 47.
Georgia Southern baseball to begin in two weeks, Eagles look to take on tough schedule
As February and Opening Day approaches, Georgia Southern Baseball is gearing up for what should be a challenging, yet exciting 2019 campaign. A year after finishing at 30-26 overall the Eagles are back for more, this time with a significantly tougher non-conference schedule. As per usual, GS will face Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Mercer and The College of Charleston in home-and-home affairs, as well as welcoming the University of Georgia to Statesboro for a three-game series.
Eagles look to claim first conference win
Georgia Southern Women's basketball squares off with the Sun Belt Conference-leading Troy Trojans on Thursday, Jan. 17 as they still look for their first win in-conference. The Eagles come into their 16th game of the season with a 5-10 record and more importantly, an 0-4 conference record. Looking to end a five-game losing streak, GS faces a tough test from the Trojans. GS has struggled offensively at times this season, but have two players who average double-digit points.
Opinion: From 2-10 to 10-3 in just one season
Few fans of the Georgia Southern Eagles saw this turnaround coming, but supported their team from beginning to end. Fresh off the 9-4 season in 2015, where GS won the GoDaddy Bowl for their first bowl victory in program history, Tyson Summers, the then Colorado State defensive coordinator, was tasked the job of replacing Willie Fritz who left to take the Tulane job.
Georgia Southern outlasts the Eagles of EMU, winning the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in dramatic fashion, 23-21.
In a game that was contested from start to finish, the Georgia Southern defense outplayed that of Eastern Michigan, leading the Eagles to their second bowl victory in program history with a 23-21 win. GS shut out EMU in the first half, and limited the Eagles from the north to just seven points in the first half overall, all while the team lead 17-7.
Georgia Southern travels to Montgomery for the battle of Eagle supremacy in Camellia bowl
Georgia Southern heads south to just their second bowl game in program history, this time to Montgomery, Alabama for the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. Much like the GoDaddy Bowl in 2015, GS will be facing off against a Mid-American Conference team against the Eastern Michigan Eagles. EMU comes into the game at 7-5, knocking off Purdue in the process. The Eagles went 5-3 in MAC play, winning five of their last six games.
Richardson humble in return to where college career began
For Georgia Southern's option ground attack, passing attempts are few and far between. While often overlooking talented pass catchers, at tight end the Eagles have a good one. Redshirt-senior tight end Ellis Richardson has had an up and down year for the Eagles. He had two touchdowns on Senior Day against Troy, but the game resulted in a loss. “It’s always good to score a couple touchdowns, but in the end it wasn’t enough to win us the game,” Richardson said. “I wish it was better timing.
Five takeaways from Georgia Southern's 35-14 win against Georgia State
The Eagles hailed victorious in the latest installment of the Southern-State series, downing the Panthers 35-14 in GS' first trip to the stadium formerly known as Turner Field. Here are five takeaways from GS' ninth win of the season. The offense is back to vintage form A week after dropping 41 points in a victory against Coastal Carolina, the Eagles' offense put up a crooked number yet again, this time scoring 35 points to beat rival GSU.
What the Eagles need to do to avoid four losses in a row to the Panthers
Georgia Southern heads north to Atlanta where they square off against rival Georgia State, looking to end their three-game losing streak to the Panthers. A year after finishing 2-10, the Eagles have an opportunity to get their ninth win on Saturday against rival GSU in the fifth installment of the young series.
Georgia Southern blows out Coastal Carolina 41-17 to improve to 8-3 on the season
The Georgia Southern Eagles traveled to Conway on Saturday, where they upended the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 41-17 in blowout-fashion. GS won the toss and elected to defer for the second half. Coastal took advantage of this, going 75 yards while eating over seven minutes off the clock to score the first points of the game.
Georgia Southern's defense allows 454 yards in Senior Day loss to Troy
On Senior Day, a heavily senior-led Georgia Southern defense was thrashed by Troy, 35-21, as the Eagles fell to 7-3 on the season. The GS defense came out and punched Troy in the mouth in the first quarter, holding the Trojans to just three points. It was senior defensive end Logan Hunt who forced a fumble, which was recovered by redshirt-freshman safety Kendrick Duncan Jr. Already leading 7-3 at the time, GS drove down the field and scored a few plays later after the Trojan turnover.
Reese expects to continue hard-hitting impact on Senior Day
Sitting at 7-2 (4-1 in conference) the Eagles can move back into first with a win on Saturday and will rely on the senior leadership that has got them there. Senior inside linebacker Tomarcio Reese has been the captain on the defensive side all season long. Like most collegiate football players, Reese played football at a young age, but the senior mentioned he had a brief stint in wrestling, but did not like it. The linebacker talked about the role football has played in his life.
Tyler Bass named semi-finalist for Lou Groza Award
On Thursday it was announced that redshirt-junior kicker Tyler Bass was one of the 20 finalists for the Lou Groza Award, the award given to the nation's best kicker.Bass has been nothing but excellent for Georgia Southern in 2018, going 11 for 11 on field goals, with six of those coming from 40+ yards or deeper. In addition to not missing a field goal, Bass has yet to miss a PAT as well, going 33 for 33 on those kicks.
Four things we know about the ninth game of the season against Louisiana-Monroe
A week after knocking off No. 25 Appalachian State at home, Georgia Southern travels west to take on Louisiana-Monroe, in a conference game with a lot of importance.The Eagles lead the East division at 7-1, and the Warhawks are tied on top of the West with Louisiana, so this matchup could very well be a preview of the inaugural Sun Belt Championship.Here's four things to know: Both teams are at the top of their divisionsAs previously stated, GS leads the East division of the Sun Belt at 7-1,...
Five takeaways from Georgia Southern’s 34-14 win over Appalachian State
The Georgia Southern Eagles improved their record to 7-1 by earning their first win over a ranked opponent in the form of arch-rival Appalachian State. Here are five takeaways from the upset victory:Shai Werts continues MVP seasonShai Werts continued to show why he's a dual-threat quarterback in GS' triple-option offense. The redshirt-sophomore quarterback completed one pass during the game, a 57-yard bomb to redshirt-sophomore Darion Anderson for the score.
Six players to watch in Thursday night’s primetime game
As you have probably heard by now, Appalachian State travels into Statesboro as a ranked opponent (No. 25) for the first time in program history. At 5-1, the Mountaineers have continued their success from recent years.Just as App State is off to a hot start in 2018, Georgia Southern is on just as much of a tear, becoming bowl eligible in just seven games this season.
Bowl Bound: Eagles become bowl eligible after 48-31 pummeling of New Mexico State
Georgia Southern rolls over New Mexico State 48-31 en route to their sixth win of the season, giving the Eagles a postseason for the first time since 2015.GS trailed NMSU early after surrendering touchdowns on each of the first two Aggies drives, making it a 3-14 game, the biggest deficit the Eagles have faced all season minus the Clemson game.It was a late touchdown in the first quarter by sophomore slot back Wesley Kennedy III that changed the momentum.
At the center of the offense, Rainey using more than just a celebration in successful senior season
In football, the center position is the only position that touches the ball on every play they're in.
Four things we know about the seventh game of the season against New Mexico State
Georgia Southern travels to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where they square off against the Aggies in a game that can clinch bowl eligibility for the Eagles.Here are four things we know about Saturday's road contest.GS leads the series 3-1This game is the fifth meeting in five years between the two teams, with New Mexico State winning most recently in 2017.With the exception of 2015, where the Eagles drubbed the Aggies by 30 points (56-26), each game has been won by one possession.
Eagles defense, Tyler Bass hunker down in gritty 15-13 win over Texas State
Georgia Southern narrowly edged Texas State 15-13, but improves to 5-1 and remains undefeated within the conference.The Eagles relied on their defense throughout the duration of the game, but the biggest play, perhaps, took place on the first drive of the game.After driving the ball all the way to the one-yard line, TSU faced a fourth and goal with inches to go.
Eagles improve to 4-1 behind stellar run game and defensive stranglehold
Georgia Southern blows out South Alabama for the second year in a row, 48-13 behind two rushing touchdowns from both senior running back Wesley Fields and redshirt-sophomore quarterback Shai Werts.Offensively GS stalled on their first two drives, but an interception returned by junior cornerback Monquavion Brinson to the one-yard line got the Eagles in scoring position.
Jaguars come to Statesboro looking to put last year's blowout behind them
After their thrilling win at home against Arkansas State, a game that went back-and-forth and down to the wire until the very end, the Eagles look to continue their winning ways as they welcome in Sun Belt foe, South Alabama.South Alabama travels to the friendly confines of Paulson Stadium leading the West Division of the conference, despite a 1-4 record, and look to slow down the upstart Eagles.Georgia Southern leads the all-time series 4-0, including a 52-0 drubbing of the Jaguars by a...
Now with a walk-off touchdown in hand, Kennedy III plans to continue his role at slotback
Behind Georgia Southern's resurgence are many individuals getting their chance to better the team on both sides of the ball. Among the playmakers on the offensive side of the ball is sophomore receiver Wesley Kennedy III.Kennedy III attended Benedictine Military School in Savannah, and has been involved in sports his entire life. He talked about his involvement in sports since just a young age."I played flag football since I was four," Kennedy III said.
Raymand Johnson III excited to return to home state for clash with Clemson
Raymand Johnson III is one of the up-and-comers on the defensive side of the ball for the Eagles, starting at defensive end as a sophomore.Johnson recorded one tackle and recovered a fumble in GS' 34-13 win over UMass on Saturday, and has been part of the defensive stronghold that has only given up 19 points so far this season.
Eagles win convincingly over South Carolina State in the first game of the Lunsford Era
Entering Head Coach Chad Lunsford's first full season, there were questions about what to expect from this team and would they be able to bounce back from 2017's abysmal two-win season.The Eagles quieted the critics, for now at least, with their 37-6 victory over South Carolina State, showing that they could effectively run the option, and throw if necessary.GS started the game a little slow, it wasn't until 3:55 left in the first quarter that Monteo Garrett rushed in for a one-yard score.
Preview: Defense
With the 2018 College football season just days away, Georgia Southern looks to right the ship and return back to the tradition of winning they once new and loved.A season after finishing 2-10, which put the Eagles at 117th overall (out of 130 FBS teams), a new coaching staff and a new culture is finding its way into Statesboro, an idea that gives fans hope everywhere around.How the team finishes in the upcoming season has a lot to do with how the defense plays.
Assessing the Eagles post-scrimmages
The Georgia Southern football team completed their second and final preseason scrimmage over the weekend, as they continue to roll towards the season opener against South Carolina State.The first scrimmage was a defensive manifest, with only two touchdowns being scored in total, with both of them coming via turnovers, leaving fans to question what they may see from the offense in the upcoming season.
Eagles use seven pitchers in blowout loss to Mercer
The explosion of offense against the Citadel Tuesday night seemed like an encouraging sign moving forward for the Georgia Southern baseball team, but unfortunately they weren’t able to carry it over into Wednesday night’s matchup against Mercer.To put it lightly, the Bears were rather easily able to take care of business against the Eagles, leaving J.I. Clements Stadium with an 11-3 victory.The game saw the Eagles use seven pitchers, including three to get out of the third inning alone.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Ryan
Contact Ryan, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack