ATLANTA -- Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott and his staff completed the Panthers' 2018 recruiting class with the signing of nine prospects on Wednesday's National Signing Day, to go along with the 17 prospects inked in the December early signing period.

Wednesday's haul features the first four-star high school recruit that Georgia State has signed in its 10-year history in quarterback Swift Lyle of Mobile, Ala., St. Paul's Episcopal, who received a four-star rating from ESPN.com. The overall class includes 11 prospects who earned three-star ratings from 247 Sports.

With the addition two running backs, two linebackers, two linemen, one quarterback, one receiver and one safety on Wednesday, the final class of 26 consists of five defensive linemen, four offensive linemen, four linebackers, four defensive backs, three receivers, three running backs, two quarterbacks and one tight end. Three of the 26 are junior college transfers.

"What a great job our staff did in recruiting this class," Elliott said. "It was a little different recruiting this '18 class with the early signing period in December and now the late signing period. But we met all our needs from running back to d-line to o-line to wide receiver...you name it, offensively and defensively. We did a really good of getting the necessary tools in place and the character in place to build this program to where we want to be.

"We couldn't have done it without a lot of great high schools coaches who gave us the opportunity to meet these young men and develop relationships with them, so our hats are off to those coaches," Elliott added.

The Panthers signed student-athletes from eight different states, all in the Southeast as Georgia State welcomes players from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi and Louisiana.

"Our staff did a tremendous job of getting out and spreading the message of "Be The Change" here at Georgia State," Elliott said.

In addition to signing four offensive linemen, the Panthers addressed the skill positions with the addition of three highly-regarded running backs, three receivers and two quarterbacks.

"I think we needed to bolster our skill positions," Elliott said. "Of course you want that offensive line to open holes, but you have to go get those playmakers. We need somebody who can make guys miss and take it the distance, so we went out and attacked those positions."

Elliott was asked if the success of former Panther receivers Albert Wilson and Robert Davis, now in the NFL, and current standout Penny Hart, helped in attracting quality players at that position.

"When you can go into a home and say, 'We've been in existence for eight years and we've got two receivers in the NFL right now and we've got one whose heading in the direction to top them both in catches and yardage' then you're not selling anything; these are facts. So that's a big help," he said.

The two quarterback signees, Lyle and junior college All-American Dan Ellington (Itawamba C.C.), will join the quarterback competition where the Panthers graduated two-year starter Conner Manning and return junior Aaron Winchester, senior Jaquez Parks and redshirt freshman Jack Walker.

Ellington is one five December signees who enrolled at Georgia State this semester and will participate in spring practice, along with junior WR Diondre Champaigne as well as three high school signees in OL Despelado Alexandre, S Jacorey Crawford and CB Tyler Gore.