Georgia Southern names starting QB for season opener against Auburn

Georgia Southern head coach Tyson Summers announced on Monday that Shai Werts will start at quarterback for the Eagles in Week 1.

That’s significant to the SEC as Auburn hosts Georgia Southern to open the season on Sept. 2.

Werts, a redshirt freshman, has taken the majority of the first-team snaps in fall camp, according to a report from CBS affiliate WTOC-TV in Savannah, Ga.

The news was announced by Savannah Morning News reporter Nathan Deen on Monday afternoon.

Breaking: Tyson Summers announces Shai Werts as Georgia Southern’s starting quarterback

— Nathan Deen (@NathanDeenSMN) August 21, 2017

Werts served as one of the Eagles’ backup quarterbacks in 2016, but didn’t see the field.

“Werts was named the 2015 HSSR-SCHSL Division I AA Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,308 yards and passing for 1,204 yards with 32 total touchdowns,” the WTOC-TV report said.

This year’s Eagles squad will be quite familiar with the SEC.

Georgia Southern played Ole Miss last year, losing 37-27. In 2015, the Eagles took Georgia to overtime but ended up losing 23-17. And of course in 2013, Georgia Southern upset Florida in Gainesville 26-20 without completing a pass.

Cody McClure

Cody McClure is an SEC Football Writer for Saturday Down South. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. Cody previously worked for Athlon Sports.