Georgia Southern's new football coach Clay Helton adds wide receivers coach to staff

While Georgia Southern's new head coach Clay Helton is assembling his staff and added another position coach Monday, he might have to replace one of the new hires, according to a report.

Marcus Davis, who played in the Southeastern Conference at Auburn and has coaching stops at Florida State, Auburn and Hawaii, has been named as the wide receivers coach for the Georgia Southern football program.

Meanwhile, running backs coach Effrem Reed is reportedly considering going back to Michigan State, where he was an offensive analyst in 2020-21, according to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports. Reed, 29, was announced as an Eagles assistant on Dec. 7, but since then, MSU lost running backs coach William Peagler to Florida as a tight ends coach on Dec. 24. Reed could replace Peagler for the Spartans.

Commentary:Change is a constant in coaching college sports. Ask Georgia Southern and SSU

On Monday, Helton said he is thrilled to add Davis to the staff.

"Marcus knows what it takes to compete at the highest level, having played in the SEC at Auburn," Helton said in a press release. "He has also served as an assistant for Auburn, Florida State and Hawaii during his coaching career and has helped produce impressive receiving units wherever he has been.

"Growing up in Florida and having the majority of his college career in the Southeast, Marcus was a perfect addition for us when it comes to recruiting," Helton continued. "The energy, passion for the game and knowledge he brings to the position will no doubt take our receiving unit to elite standards."

Davis, 27, said in a statement that he is "truly blessed and honored" for the opportunity to work with Helton and the staff at Georgia Southern.

"I am extremely excited to get to Statesboro and be a part of its winning traditions," Davis said. "Let's get to work, Eagle Nation!"

Davis comes to Statesboro after a season as the wide receivers coach for Hawaii, where he coached all-conference selection Calvin Turner Jr. of Savannah, a New Hampstead High School graduate. After a standout season under Davis, Turner earned an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl, America's longest-running college football all-star game.

A second-team All-Mountain West selection, Turner ranked fourth in the league in all-purpose yards (1,523) and touchdowns (12) and was sixth in receptions (73) and receiving yards (876). He was the team's fourth-leading rusher (316) and scored at least one touchdown in nine of 13 games.

The Rainbow Wahine had 3,916 yards receiving and 21 touchdown catches in an offense that averaged over 300 passing yards per game.

A graduate assistant at Florida State in 2020, Davis had sprent two prior seasons on Gus Malzahn's staff at his alma mater Auburn. He assisted the Tigers to two bowl games, the Music City Bowl and Outback Bowl, while back on The Plains.

More hires:Make it three former Huskies coaches as Clay Helton builds Georgia Southern football staff

In 2019, Davis helped oversee player personnel and development for a squad ranked as high as No. 7 nationally. As an offensive analyst in 2018, he helped guide the running backs and kick returners. In 2020, he worked with the wide receivers and assisted with recruiting in his lone season at Florida State.

A four-year receiver at Auburn, Davis played a part in four bowl teams, including as a starter in the 2014 BCS National Championship game against Florida State. He was selected as team captain for the 2016 squad.

Commentary:Give Clay Helton an opening, and he will seal the deal for Georgia Southern football

Davis played in 50 career games with 15 starts. He finished his career with 83 receptions and was eighth all-time at Auburn in punt return average (9.76) when he left.

A native of Boynton Beach, Florida, he graduated from Auburn with a degree in communication in 2016 and earned a master's in education from Auburn in 2017.

Nathan Dominitz is the Sports Content Editor of the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com. Email him at ndominitz@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @NathanDominitz