(Photo Credit: John Rivera/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
WR Jeff Foreman, OG Mekhi Butler, OT Makilan Thomas, DE Ethan Hassler, DE Thurman Geathers, DT John Mincey, LB Melique Straker, CB Leon Jones, FS Eddie Smith, SS Trevian Thomas, KR Reagan Ealy and PK Dominic Zvada.
Key Players Departing:
QB James Blackman, RB/RS Johnnie Lang, WR Champ Flemings, WR Seydou Traore, TE Reed Tyler, OC Ethan Miner, OG Jordan Rhodes, OT Robert Homes, DE Kivon Bennett, NT TW Ayers, LB Jordan Carmouche, LB Jaden Harris, CB Kenneth Harris, DS Taylon Doss and PT Ryan Hanson.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR Clyde Curry (Gadsden, Alabama), EDGE Brian Alston (Birmingham, Alabama), WR DeAndra Burns (El Dorado, Arkansas), QB JT Strout (Colorado transfer), WR Tennel Bryant (Cincinnati, Ohio), LB Wendell Davis (Northwestern transfer), WR Khmari Thompson (Illinois transfer), OT Hamilton Hall (Ole Miss transfer), EDGE Terrell James (Lake Wales, Florida) and CB Deaubry Hood (Harker Heights, Texas).
2022 Results:
G01 GRAMBLING W 58-3
G02 @ #3 Ohio State L 12-45
G03 @ Memphis L 32-44
G04 @ Old Dominion L 26-29
G05 UL-MONROE W 45-28
G06 JAMES MADISON L 20-42
G07 @ Southern Miss L 19-20
G08 @ LOUISIANA L 18-38
G09 SOUTH ALABAMA L 3-31
G10 UMASS W 35-33
G11 @ Texas State L 13-16
G12 TROY L 19-48
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 3-9 (7th in SBC West)
Home: 3-3
Away: 0-6
Neutral: 0-0
SBC: 1-7
Non-SBC: 2-2
Head Coach: Butch Jones
Arkansas State: 5-19
Career: 89-73
Bowls: 4-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Jaxon Dailey (5-10, 34 yards, 50.0%, 3.4 avg., 0 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Johnnie Land (119 car., 419 yards, 3.5 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: Champ Flemings (41 rec., 492 yards, 12.0 avg., 1 TD)
TD’s Scored: Brian Snead (6)
Sacks: Ethan Hassler (3)
Tackles: Melique Straker (81)
Interceptions: Eddie Smith (2)
Pass Deflections: Leon Jones/Eddie Smith (6)
Tackles For Loss: Melique Straker (8)
Forced Fumbles: 6 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Reagan Ealy (10 ret., 171 yards, 17.1 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Reagan Ealy (1 ret., 15 yards, 15.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Dominic Zvada (17-18 fg/fga., 94%, 30-31 xp/xpa., 81 pts.)
Punting: William Przystup (21 punts, 913 yards, 43.5 avg., 5 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 5 JT Shrout (RS SR/TR)
RB: 2 Ja’Quez Cross (RS SO/TR)
WR: 7 Corey Rucker (RS SO/TR)
WR: 14 Jeff Foreman (SR)
WR: 9 Courtney Jackson (RS JR/TR)
TE: 12 Emmanuel Stevenson (JR)
LT: 78 Hamilton Hall (RS SR/TR)
LG: 71 Mehki Butler (RS JR/TR)
OC: 73 Jacob Bayer (JR/TR)
RG: 51 Jalen Conningham (RS SR/TR)
RT: 77 Makilan Thomas (RS SO)
KR: 2 Ja’Quez Cross (RS SO/TR)
PK: 33 Dominic Zvada (SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 32 Ethan Hassler (JR)
NT: 55 Micah Bland (RS SR/TR)
DT: 90 Tim Hardiman (RS SO)
DE: 25 Thurman Geathers (RS SR/TR)
LB: 36 Charles Willekes (RS JR/TR)
LB: 24 Javanta Mackey (RS FR)
LB: 21 Melique Straker (SR/TR)
CB: 1 Samy Johnson (SR)
CB: 00 Justin Hodges (SR/TR)
FS: 8 Eddie Smith (RS SR/TR)
SS: 9 Trevian Thomas (JR)
PR: 9 Courtney Jackson (RS JR/TR)
PT: 92 Williams Przystup (RS SR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kicking: A
Punting: B
Schedule:
09/02 @ Oklahoma Sooners | Arkansas State trails the series 0-2. The Red Wolves lost (7-45) the last meeting between schools in 2000.
09/09 MEMPHIS TIGERS | Arkansas State trails the series 24-31-5. The Red Wolves are 0-4 since 2013 and their last series win (33-28) dates back to 2008.
09/16 STONY BROOK SEAWOLVES | First meeting between schools.
09/23 SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES | Arkansas State trails the series 2-10. Last season’s 29-30 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2008.
09/30 @ UMASS Minutemen | Last season’s 35-33 win was the first meeting between schools.
10/07 @ Troy Trojans | Arkansas State leads the series 11-8. The Red Wolves are 3-3 since 2013 and their last series win (50-43) was in 2019.
10/21 COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS | Arkansas State leads the series 3-2. The Red Wolves lost (20-52) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
10/28 @ UL-Monroe Warhawks | Arkansas State leads the series 30-14. The Red Wolves are 10-0 since 2013 and their last series loss (10-16) was in 2009.
11/04 LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS | Arkansas State trails the series 21-29-1. The Red Wolves are 2-8 since 2013 and their last series win (47-3) was in 2017.
11/11 @ South Alabama Jaguars | Arkansas State leads the series 6-5. The Red Wolves are 5-5 since 2013 and their last series win (38-14) was in 2018.
11/18 TEXAS STATE BOBCATS | Arkansas State leads the series 6-4. The Red Wolves are 6-4 since 2013 and their last series win (38-14) was in 2019.
11/25 @ Marshall Thundering Herd | First meeting between schools.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
SBC: 4-4
Non-SBC: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (3rd in SBC West)
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