Arkansas State Red Wolves College Football Preview 2023: Keys To The Season, Top Players, What Will Happen
Arkansas State Preview 2023: Keys To The Season, Top Players, What Will Happen
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Arkansas State Preview, Offense, Defense
- Arkansas State Schedule, Picks For Every Game
Arkansas State Red Wolves Key to the Season
Convert a third down play already. Even when Arkansas State was rocking and rolling it wasn’t great at converting on third downs. There were a few good seasons, but that was never really a big key to success. After getting the job done just 29% of the time last year, now it matters.
The Red Wolves had a few okay moments - they were 2-1 when hitting 50% of their tries, and came close to Memphis in the loss and pushed Southern Miss when converting 43% of the time. They only got over 25% once against everyone else, and bottomed out against Louisiana going 0-for 11 in the loss.
Arkansas State Red Wolves Top Transfer, Biggest Loss
WR Corey Rucker in from South Carolina, CB Kenneth Harris gone to Oklahoma State. The Red Wolves didn’t lose too many key parts to the transfer portal, but Harris is a big baller of a corner with 22 broken up passes over the last three seasons.
Rucker broke through for Arkansas State in 2021 with 59 catches for 826 yards and nine scores, left four South Carolina, caught one pass for a 52-yard touchdown against Charlotte, was lost for the year with a foot injury, and now he’s back in Jonesboro as the No. 1 target.
Okay, Rucker doesn’t really feel like a transfer, so …
Arkansas State Red Wolves Key Player
JT Shrout, QB, Sr. A good prospect who was supposed to be a factor at Tennessee, he got in a little bit of work throwing for 494 yards and five scores in a limited role. He left for Colorado and didn’t do much in a rough situation, and now he’s coming into Arkansas State with good size, enough experience to matter, and a solid receiving corps. If he’s great, the season should be a good one.
Arkansas State Red Wolves Key Game
Southern Miss, Sept. 23. The Red Wolves were seemingly in control up 19-7 last year midway through the fourth quarter, but two Southern Miss scoring drives and a final stop pulled out a 20-19 win. This year it’s the Sun Belt opener for ASU, and it doesn’t get any easier in conference play the rest of the way. However, with Stony Brook before and a trip to UMass after, there’s a chance to match last year’s three-win total before October with a win over the Golden Eagles.
Arkansas State Red Wolves 10 Best Players
1. Corey Rucker, WR Soph.
2. Melique Straker, LB Sr.
3. Trevian Thomas, S Jr.
4. Eddie Smith, S Sr.
5. Micah Bland, DT Sr.
6. Jaden Harris, LB Sr.
7. Dominic Zvada, PK Soph.
8. JT Shrout, QB Sr.
9. Gavin Potter, LB Jr.
10. Mekhi Butler, OG Jr.
Arkansas State Red Wolves 2022 Fun Stats
- Sacks Opponents 38 for 274 yards, Arkansas State 23 for 122 yards
- Rushing Yards Per Carry: Opponents 4, Arkansas State 2.8
- Fumbles: Opponents 22 (lost 5), Arkansas State 14 (lost 4)
Arkansas State Red Wolves Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Set The Win Total At: 5
Eventually this is going to turn around.
Arkansas State is too good a program, Butch Jones is too good a football coach, and there’s just enough talent up and down the board among the starting 22 to keep losing so many close games. Last year’s 3-9 team dropped three games decided by three points and lost eight games by eight points or fewer over the last two seasons.
The three close losses last year were to Old Dominion, Texas State, and Southern Miss - all on the road. This year ASU misses ODU, but gets the Bobcats and Golden Eagles at home. It also gets Stony Brook at home, and there’s a good shot at getting a win at UMass, even after struggling to win 35-33 last year.
At ULM is winnable and so is the home date against Louisiana, but at Oklahoma, Memphis, at Troy, Coastal Carolina, at South Alabama, at Marshall - ASU will be the underdog in all six of those.
Take down the winnable games, pull off a win or three in the tough battles, and push for a bowl season to break this rough three-year streak of losing.
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2023 Arkansas State Preview, Offense, Defense
- Arkansas State Schedule, Picks For Every Game
