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Athlon Sports
Arkansas State Football: 2024 Red Wolves Season Preview and Prediction
By Athlon Sports,
3 days ago
Optimism is understandably high at Arkansas State after last season. A talented young quarterback returns in Jaylen Raynor, with a team of supporting players who are an- other year wiser gives plenty of reason for it. The postseason should once again be the goal for the Red Wolves, alongside their first winning season under coach Butch Jones, who is 11-26 entering his fourth season in Jonesboro.
Under head coach Butch Jones, the Red Wolves have been making small steps back towards competitiveness. Last season’s 6-7 squad was just a few small mistakes away from a winning season and a bowl victory.
A huge reason for A-State’s mini-resurgence in 2023 was the emergence of quarterback Jaylen Raynor. A true freshman in 2023, Raynor was the Sun Belt’s Freshman of the Year after completing 58.3 percent of his passes for 2,543 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Raynor also ran for five touchdowns and 380 yards. He’ll be throwing to a group that includes talented leading receiver Corey Rucker and athletic converted quarterback Malik Hornsby.
With 10 returning starters, the offense is brimming with talent and experience. Unfortunately for the Red Wolves, the biggest question mark is All-Sun Belt starting center Jacob Bayer, who tore his ACL in spring practice. Coaches expect Bayer to return at some point this season, but finding an adequate substitute in the interim will likely lead to some shuffling up front in the early weeks of the season.
Simply put, Arkansas State has to do a better job of keeping opponents out of the end zone in 2024 under fourth-year defensive coordinator Rob Harley. Last season, the Red Wolves held only one FBS opponent under 21 points. They allowed an average of 30.4 points per game and allowed opponents to score on 80.7 percent of their red-zone trips.
Senior defensive tackle Nate Martey will be one of the leaders of the group. Martey had six sacks with nine tackles for a loss in 2023. Linebacker Charles Willekes earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention honors last season with 89 total tackles.
Transfers like defensive back Jordan Mahoney from UMass and edge rusher Bryan Whitehead from Liberty also look to make their mark on a defense that needs a spark in key moments.
Coach Butch Jones needs an improved defense (30.4 points a game allowed in '23) to compete for the Sun Belt title.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Previewing Arkansas State's Specialists for 2024
Running back Ja’Quez Cross was a third-team All-Sun Belt selection last season as a return specialist. Both he and punt returner Courtney Jackson had returns for touchdowns last season. Both the presumptive starting kicker (Aidan Ellison) and punter (Magnus Haines) will have to step up after their predecessors have moved on.
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