(QB Jaylen Raynor – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Jaylen Raynor, RB/KR Ja’Quez Cross, RB Zak Wallace, WR/PR Courtney Jackson, WR Corey Rucker, TE Manny Stevenson Jr., OC Jacob Bayer, OG Mekhi Butler, OT Noah Smith, OT Makilan Thomas, DE Ethan Hassler, DT Tim Hardiman, DT Nate Martey, LB Charles Willekes, CB Justin Hodges, NB Cam Jeffery, and SS Trevian Thomas.
Key Players Departing:
WR Jeff Foreman, OG Jalen Cunningham, DE Keyron Crawford (Auburn transfer), DE Thurman Geathers, DT Blaine Toll, LB Javante Mackey (Memphis transfer), LB Gavin Potter (Tulsa transfer), CB Samy Johnson, CB Leon Jones, NB Melique Straker, FS Eddie Smith, PK Dominic Zvada, and PT William Prystup.
(QB Timmy McClain – USA Today Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: ATH AJ Wallace (South Pittsburg, Tennessee), QB Timmy McClain (UCF transfer), LB Jaylen Boardley (Texarkana, Texas), WR Goldie Lawrence (UCF transfer), QB Josh Flowers (Mobile, Alabama), CB Braden Jackson (Gulf Shores, Alabama), LB Marvin Ham II (Colorado transfer), WR Malik Hornsby (Texas State transfer), CB Jordan Mahoney (UMASS transfer), and EDGE Drew Collins (Adamsville, Alabama).
2023 Results:
G01 @ #20 Oklahoma L 0-73
G02 MEMPHIS L 3-37
G03 STONY BROOK W 31-7
G04 SOUTHERN MISS W 44-37
G05 @ UMASS W 52-28
G06 @ Troy L 3-37
G07 COASTAL CAROLINA L 17-27
G08 @ UL-Monroe W 34-24
G09 LOUISIANA W 37-17
G10 @ South Alabama L 14-21
G11 TEXAS STATE W 77-31
G12 @ Marshall L 21-35
BOWL vs. Northern Illinois L 19-21
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 6-7 (4th in SBC West)
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-1
SBC: 4-4
Non-SBC: 2-3
Head Coach: Butch Jones
Arkansas State: 11-26
Career: 95-80
Bowls: 4-3
(RB Ja’Quez Cross – Arkansas State University Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Jaylen Raynor (166-285, 2550 yards, 58.2%, 8.9 avg., 17 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Ja’Quez Cross (128 car., 716 yards, 5.6 avg., 7 TD)
Receiving: Courtney Jackson (39 rec., 689 yards, 17.7 avg., 7 TD)
TD’s Scored: Courtney Jackson (8)
Sacks: Nate Martey (6)
Tackles: Trevian Thomas (91)
Interceptions: Trevian Thomas (2)
Pass Deflections: Justin Hodges (5)
Tackles For Loss: Nate Martey (9)
Forced Fumbles: Justin Hodges/Courtney Jackson/Trevian Thomas (1)
Kick Returns: Ja’Quez Cross (23 ret., 654 yards, 28.4 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Courtney Jackson (16 ret., 161 yards, 10.1 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 1 Jaylen Raynor (SO)
RB: 2 Ja’Quez Cross (RS JR/TR)
WR: 15 Reagan Ealy (SR)
WR: 7 Corey Rucker (RS JR/TR)
WR: 9 Courtney Jackson (RS SR/TR)
TE: 12 Manny Stevenson Jr. (SR)
LT: 65 Noah Smith (RS JR)
LG: 71 Mehki Butler (RS SR/TR)
OC: 73 Jacob Bayer (SR/TR)
RG: 75 EJ Ndoma-Ogar (RS JR/TR)
RT: 77 Makilan Thomas (RS JR)
KR: 2 Ja’Quez Cross (RS SR/TR)
PK: 32 Aidan Ellison (RS JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 80 Kamari Stephens (RS SR/TR)
DT: 45 Nate Martey (SR/TR)
DT: 90 Tim Hardiman (RS JR)
DE: 1 Marcus Bradley (RS JR/TR)
LB: 36 Charles Willekes (RS SR/TR)
LB: 23 Dane Motley (RS SR)
NB: 29 Justin Parks (SR)
CB: 7 Jordan Mahoney (SR/TR)
CB: 0 Justin Hodges (SR/TR)
FS: 3 Adrian Cole (RS SR/TR)
SS: 9 Trevian Thomas (SR)
PR: 9 Courtney Jackson (RS SR/TR)
PT: 47 Ryan Heicher (SR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: A
Kicking: C
Punting: C
Schedule:
08/31 CENTRAL ARKANSAS BEARS | Arkansas State trails the series 12-13-2. The Red Wolves won (40-21) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/07 TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE | The series is tied 3-3. The Red Wolves lost (34-41) the last meeting between schools in 2021, and they won (29-20) the prior meeting in 2018.
09/14 @ Michigan Wolverines | First meeting between schools.
09/21 @ Iowa State Cyclones | First meeting between schools.
10/05 SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS | The series is tied 6-6. The Red Wolves are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series win (38-14) was in 2018.
10/12 @ Texas State Bobcats | Arkansas State leads the series 7-4. The Red Wolves are 6-4 since 2014, and their last series loss (13-16) was in 2022.
10/19 @ Southern Miss Golden Eagles | Arkansas State trails the series 3-10. The Red Wolves won (44-17) last season’s meeting between schools, and they lost (19-20) the prior meeting in 2022.
10/26 TROY TROJANS | Arkansas State leads the series 10-9. The Red Wolves are 2-4 since restarting the series in 2016, and their last series win (50-43) was in 2019.
11/09 @ Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns | Arkansas State trails the series 21-28-1. The Red Wolves are 3-7 since 2014, and their last series loss (08-38) was in 2022.
11/16 @ Georgia State Panthers | Arkansas State leads the series 6-2. The Red Wolves lost (20-28) the last meeting between schools in 2021, and their last series win (59-52) was at the prior meeting in 2020.
11/23 UL-MONROE WARHAWKS | Arkansas State leads the series 30-14. The Red Wolves are 10-0 since 2014, and their last series loss (10-16) dates back to 2009.
11/30 OLD DOMINION MONARCHS | Arkansas State lost (26-29) the only prior meeting between schools in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-0
SBC: 6-2
Non-SBC: 2-4
Overall: 8-4 (2nd in SBC West)
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