Transcript
Speaker: Welcome everybody in back for another episode of warm weather fans as always Zeke Palermo here with Brian Stone but we've got a special guest here today help us talk about the Arkansas State Red Wolves Kara Ritchie Kara tell us about yourself what do you do why Why are you here today, I guess?
Speaker: i I don't know. No, I'm kidding. my name is Kara Richie. I'm in Jonesboro, Arkansas. I cover Arkansas State. I wear a few different hats during the football season. One, I guess my day-to-day job, I host the Workday Red Zone on the Ticket Radio Network, Monday through Friday, noon to 2, Central. um I host the network pregame for Arkansas State football. So I lead off our coverage on the EAB Red Bull Sports Network. I also am the closer on our local coverage on 107.9 Cape Vine. I host a postgame show called Wolf House. So I get to open and close, which is a little bit unique. But I've i worn those hats for many years now and really looking forward to the season starting to to dive back into it.
Speaker: That's awesome. Did you, are you a grad? How did you get tied into Arkansas State? I went to Arkansas State. um So we'll just we'll just leave it at that. note One of these days, my dad will be very excited you know in my 60s when I go back and actually finish up my degree. but um But I'm born and raised in Jonesboro. Arkansas State has always been um in the periphery or, you know, I've gone to games since I was a kid with my dad, you know, going to then Indian Stadium to watch football, going to the convocation center to watch hoops. So it's always been a part of my life. And I did attend the institution briefly. And one day I will finish things up there as well.
Speaker: That's awesome. it's like It's great that you guys have like a radio presence because yeah I went to Georgia Southern. They have totally jettisoned any media around the team. like There is no radio that covers them. Even in Savannah, you're lucky to get like anything.
Speaker: I used to do, when I when when i wrote for... um underdog dynasty which is how zeke and i initially met i used to do like hits like radio hits like call-ins for espn coastal and i think they just totally jettisoned that network so there's like zero presence around and like unless it's the statesboro herald yeah which is the newspaper there's zero media presence around the team anymore it's crazy it's Disappointing to hear. i always like to hear that that teams in the conference are being covered well and have a good good media presence. We are really lucky in Jonesboro, and I'll talk specifically about about my stations for a moment. I work for East Arkansas Broadcasters is our is our parent company or EAB Media Group now. um Our owner is an Arkansas State alum and he's very, very passionate about local because let's face it, like these days, there's everybody streams everything. you get your music on Spotify or you've got Apple Music or whatever. But like local sports are still something that you're not going to be able to turn on Sirius and hear them necessarily talking about your team, whether it's college or high school or whatever.
Speaker: And our owner, Bobby Caldwell, is just all in on the local. So it's very important to him that we talk about Arkansas State and to talk about our local high schools and things like that. So um I'm grateful for that because that's why I'm employed. But but it's it's awesome. We do have that presence in Jonesboro. We've got ah a local newspaper, the Jonesboro Sun, and a writer there who's been covering A-State for 30 years. We've got ah a television presence. So There's a lot of media that covers Arkansas State. And and I love that because I learn things from my peers as well. So it's it's pretty cool.
Speaker: That's awesome. And obviously, as folks that are trying to catch up with stuff around the conference. Brian lives in Kentucky. I live in Georgia. So, you know, anything west of there, it's hard to really keep up with. So having you guys, um Southern Miss, Louisiana, um both have like pretty big presences. It's a huge help.
Speaker: um ah brian So Brian usually drives our episodes. um and He asked me to do this one today because I've got an extra grind with Butch Jones. As long as he's been...
Speaker: The coach at Arkansas State. We don't talk politics here, ah but you've heard of Trump derangement syndrome. I have the Butch Jones derangement syndrome. i i I didn't believe in it when it happened.
Speaker: I think Jalen Rayner saved his job. And without Jalen Rayner, I really, really worry. Am I wrong? Talk me off this cliff here from like a big picture situation. what what what What's the coaching situation here?
Speaker: i mean, what do you mean? What's the coaching situation? i'ing you six so i don't know I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just so I've been waiting quite literally years for someone to hear me out. Brian, could you?
Speaker: Are you a Tennessee fan? likes right here No, he he went to UGA. No, no. If anything, that might fuel his hate even more that he was. Butch Jones was ever the Tennessee coach. ah It's just been a weird like he like he said, he just has like a weird axe to grind like he's our former co-host. I'll tell you, it's unbased. it's It's not based in much.
Speaker: Look, i'm I'm not going to lie to you and tell you it started well in terms of the Butch Jones era at Arkansas State. You can look at the record and see that, right? Five wins over the first two years is not something that is that anybody is going to get excited about. And yes, your three brought Jalen Rayner. He was not the starting quarterback that year to start the season. But I think by game three,
Speaker: I can't remember if it was game three or game four that he made his first start and then things just changed. And of course that changed the trajectory of the season in the next couple of years as well. But I don't, I don't think that if, you know, it wouldn't have been Jalen Rayner, don't think it would have been outside the realm of possibility that it could have been someone else to come in and be able to have that success. But I'm not, I'm i'm still not really sure like what, what kind of response you are hoping to give. Right. he so Funny thing is he can't explain it either. so so he's like all right It's like this nebulous thing that he can't really get his arms around. um
Speaker: and So we when we've had a guest, I do want to ask this question. We can get off of Zeke's weird axe to grind. Yeah. What is sort of the feeling around Arkansas State? Because like we talked about, it's like Jalen Rayner finally moves on after three, two and a half years of starting, um kind of starting back over at the quarterback spot. You know, Zeke and I had mentioned this on previous episodes. It's like, I do remember the James Blackman, JT Shrout level teams where it was like,
Speaker: i'm i'm more I'm more shocked that Butch Jones is this offensive guy and these are the kind of quarterbacks that he's rolling out. And then he finds Jalen Rayner, which just seems to be like ah kind of what Zeke said, like a lifeboat for the program at the quarterback spot. I mean, he was one of the top three or four quarterbacks every year that we had in the conference. And and we had like a really loaded slate last year and it felt like Especially with the the downturn in the running game, he was doing a lot, like putting a lot on his shoulders and kind of carrying them to wins. So with his departure, what sort of the fan base I guess, feeling around this year's team? Are there like high expectations? is Is this viewed as like sort of more of a rebuilding season? Like where where are we at with that as far as Arkansas State?
Speaker: I think, so let me kind of kind of split this up. i'm I'm going to share my expectations. I'm going to share what I believe are maybe be internal expectations. And then I'm going to share fan expectations because I think, you know, a lot of times what is what is being discussed inside the building and outside the building are widely different. And sorry to throw out an expletive right out, right, like out of the gate. But I think for the fans, it's shit or get off the pot.
Speaker: Right. Yeah. Because you're entering your six and and again, the first two years were not great, but then it started to build. And now you've gone to back to back to back bowl games. You've won the past two bowl games, but a state has not played in the Sunbelt Conference Championship game in its entirety, in its existence. You know, the A-State had some great success with winning conference championships in the in the 2010s before that game was around. But since that game has been a thing, Arkansas State has not played in it. And this is a proud program with a proud fan base. And I think there are those expectations that that it can and should happen. And it needs to happen this year. You've got, you know, some continuity there with some of your coaching staff, with the defensive side of the ball in terms of the coach's. You've got some continuity there on the offensive side of the ball with pretty much all of the personnel except for quarterback. You've got double digit returning starters. A-State and Louisiana are the only teams in the conference that can say that. So you've got more FBS snaps played than anybody in the conference, according to Bill Connolly's continuity table. So you've got these things externally that point towards, you know, why not this year? One of the big takeaways from Sunbelt Media Day is that this conference feels wide open. And I'm sure we'll follow up more on that later. But that's kind of that general feeling. So the expectations for the fans are like now.
Speaker: ah My expectations, I feel like my expectations kind of point towards that direction because I do look at what is coming back. I do look at, you know, a new offensive coordinator and Garrett Altman and think there can be some big things that happen there. So I lean a little bit more towards that, that aspect, but yet at the same time, I can talk myself into like 10 and two and and four and eight pretty easily, just depending on my mood. But I think inside the building, I think there's optimism. i also think, know,
Speaker: that there's significant concern because the two areas with the least experience are are incredibly crucial. it's It's quarterback and defensive line. And if you don't have something that happens with one of those spots, if not both of those spots, if you don't have a guy who seizes the opportunity at quarterback in the fall, you're in trouble. If you don't have a defensive line that can come together in the fall because it it wasn't great in the spring, you're in trouble. So I think there's there's always like cautious optimism, but no coach is ever going to come out and say, oh, we're going to run through the conference and we're to dominate. You know, there are some big questions, but sometimes, you know, a fan base doesn't care about those questions. When it's been a few years, it's it's let's see something happen now.
Speaker: ah You mentioned being at ah Conference Media Day. were there any Was there anything that you gleaned that you didn't have before from an Arkansas State perspective? Or was that, you know, it's Media Day. It's ah it's a lot of talk. Was there anything, though, ah that you really took away from that?
Speaker: ah Not necessarily from an Arkansas State perspective, because, you know, i've um I went to a bulk of the spring practices. I was at the spring game, you know, had ah multiple opportunities in the spring to talk with Butch Jones, to talk with the players after practice. So wouldn't say I necessarily learned anything new. I'm super excited for the start of fall camp just to see what the difference is with this team, you know, at the end of spring camp versus this year. How well do they retain things? You know, what is the chemistry like now that they've had a summer? To go through all their player-led workouts, they also do have a new strength and conditioning coach. There have been there have been some significant gains in the weight room. i mean, Chauncey Cobb, who is um maybe smaller in stature but mighty, 15 pounds muscle And all of these guys have bulked up. So, so wouldn't say that there was something like groundbreaking. I learned in terms of Arkansas state, a big picture. And I just referenced this, the league just feels so wide open this year in terms of the big takeaway. ah James Madison is, is now a program that is built on success and, Billy Napier knows how to win in the Sunbelt Conference, but that is that is new. you know Some of the things he did there to have success at Louisiana was having powerhouse offensive lines and a really strong run game. Has he had time to get that offensive line together? I know they returned Zach Greenberg. Troy is is a team that of course, was picked to finish in the West. They have some guys coming back, but but the the theme throughout Sunbelt Media Day is every team coming out and saying, all right, we have this many newcomers, somewhere between 40 and 70, pretty much across the board. And you know everybody expects good things to happen, but
Speaker: How is that going to work out when you have that many new players? And, you know, there are teams that return their entire defense, but none of their offense or vice versa. So I don't know. That's a really long rambling answer to say, like, your guess is as good as mine when it comes to how this season will play out in the Sunbelt.
Speaker: ah You talked about the conference, Blake Anderson, Southern Miss. What's your read on that? I think that, you know, I saw what Blake did, obviously, it front row view at Arkansas State, some really incredible offenses, some great seasons, some great wins.
Speaker: they're starting over um and and that's it. You know, they are starting over and they have, you know, for for some of the people that go in and chart it, like Bill Connolly at ESPN. And then there was a CBS sports article that looked at the number of returning snaps across all of FBS. and And, depending on where you look um Southern Miss ranks either one hundred and thirty sixth or If you're factoring that in the two newcomers in North Dakota state and Sacramento state in terms of of terms of returning production um so so it's not that you know they can't have something click it's not that they they don't have you know the coaching to be able to to do so it's not that they don't have have the talent um i'm sure they're really excited about the guys that they've brought in it's just how in the world you gauge that they return they return they had to replace 80 percent of their roster
Speaker: I don't know, man. I mean, that's that's an insane challenge. That's an insane challenge. so So I'll be blunt. It's hard to have high expectations for a team that just has so much new to it. Can they get there in a couple years? Yeah, sure. Blake Anderson's a great coach. But this year, i'd be I'd be really stunned if they made some noise in the conference race. It could be one of those things where it takes them a while to get going, and maybe they're one of those teams that wins like three out of the last for or something like that because it it clicks there. but But I don't know how strong they can be out of the gate when there is so much to figure out.
Speaker: sure i ah i was I was pretty high on them coming into last year. And like we have Phil Steele on once a year. And one of the things that I talked about with Southern Miss, and we can get back to Arkansas State. But I was just like, with all of the players they have coming over from Marshall that are big-time contributors, like how is this team not viewed as more competitive? I think their win total was like four and a half heading into last year. And I was like...
Speaker: This seems like a total mistake by everybody. And, you know, Braylon Braxton gets hurt late in the season. They fade. They they have some bad ah losses toward the end. So I think the thing that i Zeke and I have taken away from doing these preview episodes because we start in like the reverse standings from last year. So we start with the worst and go to the best.
Speaker: It just feels like, especially what you said with the conference, it feels like the West is wide open for anybody to take. It's like, Troy is your assumed...
Speaker: you know, is the incumbent West champion. They're assumed to kind of be there at the top of the the standings at the end of the season. However, the teams we've looked at, it's like, personally, Zeke and I know nothing about Louisiana Tech. They come over from Conference USA. We didn't watch any Conference USA hardly last year unless they were playing a Sunbelt team.
Speaker: ah A lot of teams starting over, you talked about you know Southern Miss, those types of teams. You've got South Alabama who, can they put it together? I don't know. like they They had a really bad season last year too.
Speaker: And then you've got like the ULMs of the world slotting in underneath them. So I'm just like... Yeah, I kind of agree with you. It's like, if this is the year to make a push to win the West, like it needs to happen before these other teams have a chance to catch back up in the standings. And...
Speaker: With Troy, it's always, for me, like, Goose Crowder's one hit away from not playing for six weeks. Like, he's done that before where it feels like he takes unnecessary punishment back there. And and my mind immediately goes back to the Sunbelt title game last year where I i thought something bad was really going happen to him the way that he was getting hit. And i know Killcrease is an okay backup, like a league average backup, but...
Speaker: You know, it it feels like you can take advantage of them if you catch them on the right day. So, yeah, I feel like the West is wide open and I do feel like this is going to probably be the year for Butch Jones to try to make that push. So I don't know if there's there's a similar feeling like with media and stuff, but that's just the way that I've I've sort of read the tea leaves going into the season.
Speaker: The Sunbelt preseason poll was really interesting. and And look, these coaches have way other, you know, way bigger frik fish to fry. They're not sitting there like really doing a deep dive into every single team newcomers there.
Speaker: It's not that it's always copy and paste from the year before and not that it could be this year with with Texas State out and and Louisiana Tech in. But you usually do see preseason polls that are going to be somewhat similar to the final season standings the year before. And so, of course, we got the two teams that played in the conference championship game as the preseason favorites. I do think, you know, I can make a case for multiple teams and and to get off the the Homer us bandwagon for a moment and not talk about Arkansas State. I am kind, i I know they were picked second in the preseason poll, so it's not like they're necessarily getting slept on. But Louisiana last year had a bit of a down year. And one of the reasons for that is because
Speaker: within like two games, they had lost four fifths of their offensive line or something, something just absolutely insane. Like every single snap they were losing an O-lineman.
Speaker: And if you were to run the ball, that that makes life really, really difficult. But they returned, they're healthier. They returned their offensive coordinator. They returned their defensive coordinator. They returned their quarterback. I don't know how many teams in the country you can look at and say they return all three of those facets. It's not going to be a massive number. So that that is as I'm looking at the West race and not to not to downplay Troy and their success and what they are able to do. But but Louisiana is a team that that kind of scares me in the Sunbelt West because of those things that I mentioned. And then also. I think their schedule is a little bit favorable. You know, I know for a fact they host Arkansas State and A-State has had a real issue over the years being able to win in Lafayette. It has not gone well. um So that could be a huge game there in the West and they have the edge because they're at home. So, um you know, again, but if we I could make a case for just about every single team there in the West to to be a team that is is going to be a problem.
Speaker: hmm. So unless you have any other high-level thoughts, um you actually, let's talk real quick. You talked about a new offensive coordinator, Garrett Altman, comes over from Vandy, if I'm correct. Was the quarterback's coach, yeah. Yeah, what's the outlook for him? do you know like What is his scheme looking like? Is this a big shakeup for the offense? Yeah.
Speaker: it's It's not that it is it ist necessarily reinventing the wheel, um because with very few exceptions, like unless you're out there running at an air raid, everybody wants to be able to run the ball and you establish the run and then you use the pass out of that. and and I do think that, you know, not to to give away any secrets, Altman is going to use different things to get the ball in different playmakers hands. ah You know, we saw some really interesting things with the tight ends ah during spring camp. We saw, you know, a lot of of.
Speaker: We saw the running backs being used heavily in the past game. We saw running quarterbacks. We saw just so nothing was necessarily reinventing the wheel, but how they go about it is going to be a little bit different.
Speaker: um Saw a lot of explosive runs this spring, but yet at the same time, is that because your offense is going to be really good this year, returning four of your five starting offensive linemen in your top two running backs? Or is it because your D-line is completely brand new and has not come together yet and they're struggling? um I do lean...
Speaker: a little bit more towards the optimistic side of that and and think this team is going to be able to run the ball. But, you know, you have that big glaring question mark of who the hell is your quarterback? So, so there's, there's, I have optimism. I like what I saw this spring, but you know, also how much of it is stuff we're going to see this fall? How much of it is kind of throwing everything at the wall as you were evaluating your players' skill sets? What can they do? What can they do? Well, what can they not do at all? And then what will that look like in the fall versus versus the spring? So optimism, um especially looking at Vanderbilt's offense, you know, it was absolutely insane. Then again, Pavia is not in the A-State quarterback room. So it's not an apples to apples comparison. I don't know how much you can glean from their stats, but there are things that make me optimistic to continue to to reiterate that. But in terms of like any exact predictions on how many points this offense is going to up. Yeah.
Speaker: Well, as you said, who the hell is going to be the quarterback? the only Because the only guy we've seen like play at nauseam was Ethan Crawford, who was a part of a very unmiraculous Southern Miss era.
Speaker: um what's What's the race looking like? So you've got you've got a four-man race there for A-State. You've got two actual Vandy transfers. You've got Drew Dickey, who is, I believe he's a redshirt senior. So he is the vet in that room. And then you've got Jeremy St. Hilaire, who is a Vandy transfer. I think he's a redshirt freshman. So you've got kind of the two extremes there in terms of leadership experience.
Speaker: You've also got ah Ethan Crawford, as you mentioned, also a veteran guy, you know, not just a veteran and in terms of the number of years in his collegiate career, but again, because he has starting experience in the Sunbelt, because he has played at Southern Miss and because he is the only quarterback returning from a state's roster last year.
Speaker: But, you know, the guy who looked to be in the lead at the end of spring was Trey Owens, who is a Texas transfer who was probably in one of the most discussed quarterback rooms of the 2025 season, playing back up to Arch Manning. And, you know, all of these guys have somewhat similar ish skills in the fact that they can run it a little bit if they need to, in addition to, of course, being able to throw the ball. But one of the things that Butch Jones has said repeatedly is that the team will choose the quarterback in the sense that, you know, who is this team gravitating towards from a leadership perspective? If they can all get it done from the football aspect, that is ah ultimately what is what is going to win out. You know, who do these guys clearly have the most confidence in?
Speaker: Who do they believe can can get it done? Trey Owens was probably taking the most snaps with the ones at the end of the year, followed closely by Ethan Crawford. Trey Owens did start the spring game. um He was the first guy out there as QB1. And he played like three snaps and got took a hit. And they were like, nope, nope, nope, spring game. you You can sit on the bench and we can watch everybody else. ah but But we'll just have to wait and see for, I guess, like two, two and a half more weeks to see who's going to be the first guy out there taking the first snap of ball camp.
Speaker: Sure. ah To Butch Jones's credit, um we saw with Jalen Rayner, like a willingness to change because this conference, the coaches in this conference seem to be married to some of their quarterbacks.
Speaker: We saw this at Coastal. Brian knows it very well at Georgia Southern. It's like they st pick a guy and it's like, oh, I guess we have to start him for all 12 games. And obviously you go back to the JT Shrout year or where it was supposed to be JT Shrout and they switched to Jalen Rayner pretty early. um you You give him credit for that.
Speaker: is is ah So it sounds, I just want to confirm, you said Owens is probably the one going into week one. We've got a whole fall camp. He is probably the one going into the first snap of fall camp. Sure. I'm not going I'm not going to be quite bold enough to say he's going to take the first snap against Memphis. No, no, no, no, no. Fair enough. ah But he took, he took the first snap of the spring game.
Speaker: ah The last week of spring camp, he, he was usually out there first with the ones. Ethan Crawford took a boatload of snaps with the ones too. Everybody at some point time took snaps with the ones, but yeah. But if, if, if I had to say who's going to take the first snap a fall camp as QB one, I would, I would probably go with Trey Owens. Cool.
Speaker: Cool. Cool. And, and, you know, to that quarterback competition, like Marshall kind of did roughly the same thing last year where even, even in week one against Georgia, I think they played three or four different quarterbacks. So it's like, you just throw them out there early, you know, let's say,
Speaker: hypothetically the game's not going well for whatever reason and you just see what every single person has and then you kind of make a determination from there like again it was it was like Carlos Del Rio Wilson who now is apparently going to be offensive player the year which Zeke and I were sort of like tilting our heads like being like really uh but he He was not even the incumbent starter heading into last year. They had like a third place guy who I don't think took another snap after the Georgia game. So these these types of competitions do, i mean, they can work themselves out even during the regular season, which ah unless you get a head coach that is entrenched and and sort of anoints a guy and is like, I'm not taking this guy off the field no matter what, you know, but barring injury. So it'll be interesting to see.
Speaker: Yeah, back to back to Rainer for a quick second. You know, there was there were actually two quarterbacks that got starting opportunities before Rainer because he was just ah he was he was young. You know, they were a little bit nervous about throwing him in throwing him into the fire, as you can you can understand there. But, you know, there there were there was shrouds.
Speaker: You had oh, my gosh, i' I'm going blank here on the additional quarterback that started between trout and Rainer. and I'm so embarrassed about that. But It wasn't James Blackman, was it? No, because he was the year before. was before? Yeah, yeah, he was he was actually, ah he was the year before and the year before that. um And I am so embarrassed because this dude, Jackson Daly, he had the most epic, ah epic, like, mustache. So I'm not sure. Very embarrassed that it took me so long to to pull that name out of the other. but But, you know, tried a couple of things and it didn't work. Now, I don't really think schedule wise, you know, Ace State doesn't really have time to tinker. Memphis is a old rivalry game. um And
Speaker: A-State hasn't won in that series in a while, but it's a game of, of you know, it's kind of a point of pride with with the fans. It's called the Paint Bucket Bowl. And then also, you know, Charles Huff and Butch Jones are really good friends. So I'm sure that this is one of those things where neither one of them wants wants to lose this game. So ideally, you're you're not tinkering. If it if it happens in...
Speaker: you don't get it set in stone until conference play. I mean, it is what it is, but, um but this is, it's, it's an important game to start the season. And so it'd be really nice to have that settled. Oh yeah, definitely. um So one of the aspects that I don't know if this feeling was within like the Arkansas state fan base or media last year, but you know, I kind of alluded to it earlier where it felt like Jalen Rayner was really having to put the team on his back to like win certain games. I think that,
Speaker: You know, Devin Spencer was pretty efficient in the touches that he got at the running back spot. Kenyon Clay, not so much. do Do we anticipate continued growth out of the running back spot, especially with the quarterback situation up in the air? They could definitely use somebody to take the heat off of whoever wins that job.
Speaker: Are we anticipating that they keep growing in their roles as like the top two or running backs on this team? Well, I think with this question, the first thing you have to start with is the offensive line. Because the offensive line last year, and I don't ah didn't think to grab my stats, it just gave up too many tackles for loss. So when you're going back and you're looking at at the way the game's unfolded, there'd be an explosive play here there, just a successful play where you're getting like five yards on first down or whatever.
Speaker: But there were way too many plays where the defense was meeting the offense at the line of scrimmage or you know getting a tackle for loss. So That makes all of your stats look significantly worse on offense. When you're talking about yards per play, when you're talking about like Kenyon Clay's yards per carry, if you're steadily getting met at the line of scrimmage, it's, it's not good. i have a lot of, I have some, I have some real hope in this offensive line for a couple of but different reasons. One, this unit returns four of its five starters. So right there, you're going to have one of the most experienced offensive line. It's probably not just in the Sunbelt, maybe in college football,
Speaker: um You've also got a couple of those spots where there are pushes from the twos. And one thing that's been lacking in the Butch Jones ah era for the for a lot of the time in the trenches has been competitive depth. Maybe you got ones that can go out there and definitely get it done. But like if that starter gets hurt, you know, what do you got coming in next? And I don't think Butch Jones has quite said that this unit has depth, but he has repeatedly said they are deeper than they have been in years past. So when you get to start up front and you have high expectations for the guys in the trenches, then all of a sudden that's going to make what Devin Spencer and Kenyon Clay do easier. It does maybe give you a little bit of time if you have some questions and concerns at the end.
Speaker: yeah um quarterback position and then it just it just makes life easier on your offense so starting there you know I do expect a more successful offense because I expect the unit up front to be better and then I expect you know Devin Spencer having another year of experience Kenyon Clay closing out his career strong I do expect better numbers from both of those guys again because of the offensive line Is it going to be a relatively equitable split of carries between Spencer and Clay again? Does one of them from the spring look like they're a one versus a two or is this a committee type deal again?
Speaker: So we saw very little of Clay or Spencer in the spring because those guys are established guys. You know what you have with them. um They were getting, they would they would get a handful of of reps each, maybe not even a handful of reps each, um each live period. And then after that, they were plugging in some of the other guys because you can't get it done with just two, you know, somebody is going to tweak an ankle and you're going to have to have, you're going to have to have somebody else. So So there's a few different guys that are in the running for like that, that number three guy, whether it's a true freshman in Solomon Baggett, who really turns heads this spring or a transfer like Ezell Jolly or Corey Reddick. There's some guys that can come in and, and contribute there. I do think.
Speaker: it's kind of still going to be like that thunder and lightning timeshare, right? If you've got, if you've got a a third and two, it's probably going to be Kenyon Clay that is there. If you're maybe if it's first and 10, you see Devin Spencer, sometimes they'll, they'll change that up, but it's hard to make an exact prediction because not only does a state have a new offensive coordinator, they have a new running backs coach as well in, in Kenny Hill,
Speaker: um Kenny Trill, who is there at the, you know, coaching that group now. So, so we'll just have to wait and see. I do expect it to be a timeshare again, but what that looks like 50, 50, 60, 40, 40, 40, 20 with somebody else.
Speaker: don't know.
Speaker: One thing I'm interested to see as well is, you know, like these quarterbacks that are in this competition from at least from what I'm sort of hearing are not quite as mobile as where Jalen Rayner was. So I'm interested to see as well.
Speaker: if these running backs are utilized more as pass catchers out of the backfield as well? Because usually when you have a scrambling quarterback, they're more elected to just tuck it and run versus putting the ball in harm's way. But if you've got more of a pocket-type passer who's like less mobile, they might put it in the air and give it to Spencer, Clay.
Speaker: Do either of those guys profile more as a pass catcher, like a third-down type of back, or they just sort of equal in their their skill sets, do you think? Yeah. Because yardage-wise, they were roughly the same through the air last year.
Speaker: Okay, okay. I was about to say, I don't remember what they did in terms of receiving yardage. I know that they were both used in that aspect. i know I don't remember a significant amount of drops from either one. and so So I do feel like they were both able to to help out in that aspect. And I will point out that while the, while, you know, nobody in the quarterback room is, is Jalen Rayner, these, these guys are going to run. The first play of the spring game was like a 30 yard carry from Trey Owens, right. To get things started. And then additionally, one of the things that was a little bit different about this spring is Butch Jones made his quarterbacks live a lot, a lot, a lot. There were, there were, you know, quite a few running plays from the quarterbacks, um, just just so he could see how those guys would would handle the hits and and how that would unfold and and get a better representation of what everything looked like instead of you know somebody breathing on your quarterback and then you automatically blow the play dead you know what does that escapism ability look like what does that calm under pressure look like um so
Speaker: so We'll just we'll we'll wait and see in terms of how much those guys are helping out ah in terms of pass catchers. But they did a solid job of it of it last year. So I can't really see it it you know decreasing a significant amount. I'm not sure how much it might uptick.
Speaker: Mm hmm. ah Before we talk about this year's receiver group, I do have a question about Corey Rucker last year ah who caught on with the Raiders, right? Is that where he's playing ball now?
Speaker: He has unfortunately already suffered a season-ending injury. You're kidding. No, it sucks. It's a pile of suck. that's tough. He's a good kid. He is a good dude. I was so excited for him to get that opportunity, and and I just – I hope he gets that opportunity again. A-State has had some really crap luck over the past six or seven years of guys getting opportunities and then getting injured in camp.
Speaker: um I got to say right now, I know nobody from the Raiders is listening, but please stop signing our guys because this is exactly what happened. Tom Brady, please. Yeah, it was the exact same thing. The same thing happened two years ago. a great receiver, or maybe it it was two or three years ago, a great receiver named Jeff Foreman.
Speaker: He signed the UDFA. He got on there in the Raiders camp. And then I think it was an an ACL that he suffered in camp that that kept him from catching on. And now Rucker has suffered this injury. So I just hope...
Speaker: I hope Rugg gets healthy. I hope he gets another shot here. it's It's brutal from a timing standpoint, right? You're trying to make an impression, and now all of a sudden you're sidelined for Lord knows how how long. so um But yeah, sorry sorry. No, that's brutal. I didn't know that. oh Yeah, it stinks. But the the original question about Rucker – ah Well, I was curious if he was tweaked at all last year because, mind you, he finished with like 80 catches for 1,000 yards, but it took a while to really get in the groove.
Speaker: Once he was there, it was Corey Rucker, 10 catches, 110 yards every week. But it took a while to get – was he tweaked? Was it just a slow start for him? It was the fact that he was wearing defensive backs, like curtains most of the time. Like that was until, until it took a little bit for, it well Chauncey Cobb is being used out of this lot. So it's kind of a little bit of a different thing there, but it took a little bit for some other receivers to emerge, like Hunter Summers. And once Hunter Summers got going, that's when you saw that. But, you know, for, for the defense, for opposing defenses, that, that was it. All right. We're not going to let Corey Rucker beat us, you know?
Speaker: So he was covered incredibly well. In fact, you go back, I can't remember what game it was last year, but it was kind of the first breakout game of Hunter Summer's career. And I had the opportunity to talk with him afterwards. So was like, all right, you know, everything was clicking for you. And he was like, well, yeah, you know, I've, you know, I feel more comfortable with the offense, blah, blah, blah. But then he also pointed out,
Speaker: I was open a lot because they were always on Corey Rucker. So something that helped me. So again, once you saw some of those other receivers start to step up and make plays, then opposing defenses had more to navigate. You saw Ruck open a little bit more. And then you saw those numbers really start to skyrocket at the end of the season. So I'm, I mean, he's, he was 24 last year. I'm sure something was tweaked at some point because I was it not at that point in time. I can't even like sleep anymore without throwing out my shoulder or something, but, but it was pretty it had a lot to do with the way that that defenses were covering him early in the season. Sure. And again, I mean, he had an excellent year, was able to accrue enough yards, became the conference's all-time leading receiver.
Speaker: um You mentioned Chauncey Cobb. He's put on a lot of weight. Hunter Summers, who's number three in the room receiving-wise? and Jalen Benelli. And that is a guy who was on the roster last year and that we saw some some flashes from. i think there's also the potential for maybe some other guys to emerge. One guy I'm kind of intrigued by is a, I believe he's a redshirt freshman by the name of Romel Stevens, just because if you're kind of manifesting your ideal position,
Speaker: contributor there. He's at, because he's huge. He's six foot five. He's got the reach, you know, he is going to be able to absolutely tower over opposing Sunbelt defensive backs that are usually clocking in at corner at like five, 10, five, 11. So if I can like manifest a couple of guys into, into emerging and having huge seasons, it's probably Benelli and, and, and Stevens. But I think, I think if we're looking at the one, two, three, who are going to be out there on the field, you know, ah to get things started.
Speaker: you know, those, those Benelli and Cobb and, and Summers, probably those guys. And they'll need a couple more, of course, guys to step up and make plays. So I do still think that's one of those things that's going to be determined a little bit and in, fall camp.
Speaker: And then you had mentioned earlier, no, sorry. I was just going to ask. So we have a lot of teams around this conference, especially I feel like at the X receiver position, like the big physical ah receivers are departing from their teams. You know, Zeke's Georgia State Panthers. The Ted Hurst gets drafted by the Buccaneers. ah My Georgia Southern Eagles, Camden Brown caught on as a UDFA. I think with the Dallas Cowboys was where he ended up.
Speaker: Do you think this is going to be one of those things where, you know, Rucker has 75 catches for a thousand yards last year? Are they going to have to try to replace him kind of in the aggregate where a bunch of guys are are there? Or do you think Summers takes over that X role? Like where, where, where do you kind of see like the production, I guess, coming from, from those guys mainly?
Speaker: I mean, it is, it's going to have to be a group effort. Now i'd I would like to see summer's numbers skyrocket. I would like to him take on, if not necessarily like 100% statistically that load. Cause that's a huge ask, at least yeah that mentality, right. To be the guy who, who,
Speaker: feels like they are the playmaker in that wide receiver room to the guy who feels like opposing defenses are going to have the biggest challenge in covering him. You need it. You need an alpha there. and And by the way, Chauncey Cobb is like the leader of the entire team. He has worked so hard. There is so much respect for him. So we, we, he thinks he's that guy. He knows he's that guy. He knows you cannot catch him if he gets loose. But you also have to have other playmakers who are going to step up and like guys at outside wide receiver, a guy like Hunter Summers, like he needs he needs to have that mentality this year that he can go out and have a Rucker-esque season and he can beat the opposing defenses and and carry that load. But in terms of statistically, who's going to do it? it's It's all of the above, right? Everybody's goingnna have to step up. You're not going I'd be really surprised to see somebody be able to replicate Ruck's load this year in terms of statistically.
Speaker: Because one of the big things we always talk about, ah especially when we look around the conference you know this year, is if it's third and eight, we need a first down, we're throwing we're definitely throwing the ball. yeah who Who's the guy? And so some teams, you can kind of point and go, okay, it's him. Some are like, we're going to group effort it. And it's like... Sometimes that gets a little dicey because it's like, well, we don't really have a guy that we feel great about. So we just have three guys that feel okay about. So it's always interesting to see like how they approach the wide receiver position and like divvying up targets, like things like that. So that'll be something we'll keep an eye on.
Speaker: Sure. and And to kind of add to that as well, and and maybe this was the next group on your list anyways, I'm really interested to see what happens with the tight end group this year at A-State. And there's a couple reasons for that. ah One, I just think there's going to be different ways that Altman uses his tight ends versus Heggendorf last year. But then also too, and I do want to point this out, you know, you can go back and look at the stats last year and see that Fortenberry had a good number of catches and and yards for A-State. But That was a very, very beat up tight ends room last year. You didn't have a lot of opportunities to do a ton of two tight end sets because Tyler Little, who was originally going to be a state starting tight end at the beginning of the season, got hurt on the first play of the second game. um He wasn't able to come back until like week 10 somewhere in that that neighborhood. ah You had Jabari Bush, who they were going to count on a lot, that spent most of the year beat up. So so one of the reasons for Tyler Fortenberry's numbers being really good last year, because he's a good player and he's now at Iowa State. But the other reason is because like he was it in terms of the guys who are you know, the pass catching tight ends. There's still a good, a couple of good blockers in that room that we would see out there, but, but having a healthy Tyler Little, having a healthy Jabari Bush to start the season, having some additional guys in that room that can come in and help as a Burgess, a few others. I mean, that's, that's going to be huge. So I would expect that, you know, tight ends are always open. I would expect to maybe see a little bit bit bit more of that this season, assuming that group can, can be healthy this year.
Speaker: Sure. And just kind of looking at it last year, ah Vandy, who led them in receiving or in receptions, it was tight Andy Lice Stowers. He finished third in receiving yards, but led the group in ah total receptions.
Speaker: ah We talked about the offensive line incredibly deep. Are there any names you think are worth shouting out there? or I'm sorry, not incredibly deep, but rather incredibly experienced. um I just, I'm really excited to see what, what everybody does and kind of going from, you know, right, right to left.
Speaker: ah You've got, you know, Alaric Watson last year was his first year really starting. um He'll be back. He'll be great. You've got, I'm going to get my left and right guards mixed up. I can already tell you, but it is what it is. um Will Saxton started every game last year. I think he's back at guard. I'm going to skip center for a second. Tristan Smith started the first nine games of the season. I think he was the highest rated guard by pro football focus in the Sun Belt. He suffered a season-ending injury, and he was out Baker North. Came back in and played admirably. But but Smith is going to be the starter there.
Speaker: North is back if they need some more guard depth. And then at right tackle, Manasseh Attiti has transferred in, and I've gone blank on the name of the institution that he transferred from. It might have been Florida State. Florida State.
Speaker: Yeah. thank you Thank you. So he's a Florida state transfer. He was the guy at left tackle all throughout the spring. And then you have a returning starter there at at center and Mason Myers, but there was a little bit of ah a battle there. So when you have a really good player that's being pushed and he was being pushed by a transfer and talent Chandler, you know, again, it's not just, it's not just a starting five. You might have some competitive depth. You have other guys who have started. Now in that room, you have guys who are making a push to play, even though at the beginning of the spring, they might've been the two. So, um so really, you know, there's, there's a lot of good talent in that room. Obviously, ITT is probably the guy I'm most intrigued by simply because I know the least about him and because he is the left tackle. So, so I'm interested to see how he continues to develop this fall.
Speaker: Sweet. um I think unless you have any other big picture that wraps up the offense, we can swap over the to the defense, which is, again, to talk about my very unbased and amorphous beef is a lot of it does come from the defensive side. I've been for a while unimpressed with the defenses.
Speaker: Arkansas State has trotted out, at least numerically. um they turned in to like the best pass rushers the back third of last season which was incredible it felt like the james madison team of two years ago it's like you guys had two mike greens running out there for like four or five weeks um what what's your overview you know high level of the defense this year going to start with with last year because because it was it was obviously a work in progress. You can tell it by the scores. You can tell it by the stats. Going into last year, A-State had a completely overhauled defense from a coaching standpoint.
Speaker: New defensive coordinator, who was in his first ever defensive coordinator role, a guy who was like a defensive um quality control guy like three years ago. So a massively different workload than he was dealing with just a few short seasons ago. So you had a defensive coordinator change. You had a new safeties coach. You had a new cornerbacks coach. um You had a new interior defensive line coach. You had a new, d I mean, the entire defensive coaching staff was new. um You also had very little returning experience on the defensive line. The interior of the defensive line was pretty much all newcomers and new transfers. You had a little bit of experience at defensive end, but you had a guy like Ethan Hassler, for example, that hadn't been really been able to get healthy for a lot of his career. And so you had some other plays that had been um had been like pieces in the past, but not necessarily high impact starters. So it took a while. um There were some games that were unpleasant. Kennesaw State, the A-State defense, got punched in the mouth really early. They ultimately, they they settled in, but ultimately never recovered to win that game. It was one that was really frustrating for the A-State fan base. There were a couple of other things that just showed the defense was a work in progress. But then you get to Troy, which ultimately won the Sunbelt West, and A-State just made... I can't remember which quarterback was starting that game, but A-State made his night hell on earth, right? There nine or 10 sacks. And that was the way it was for the end of the season because the defense had figured it out and it was awesome.
Speaker: Well, now you're doing that all over again because the entire defensive line is gone. You've got some questions at linebacker. You've got some questions at cornerback. And the one thing that does give you a leg up this time versus last year is that almost the entirety of the defensive staff has returned. The Red Wolves did have to make a change with the defensive ends coach, Larry Knight, who ultimately is now at Georgia.
Speaker: um So that's probably a pretty significant pay increase. Just to put it mildly, like he's he's gone, you bring in a new guy in Malcolm Robinson, but the rest of that staff stays stays intact. So at least the coaches this year at least know how to communicate with each other and know each other's strengths and weaknesses as they get to know get to know that defense. And I'm sorry, I started rambling and I don't know if I answered your original question or not, but...
Speaker: Sometimes I just start talking. No, i was I was literally going to ask next. I was going to say, why did this team all of a sudden become sack machine? Yeah. yeah Because heading into last year, when we were doing the preview, I mean, again, ah most of this is on paper. and And, you know, you talked about all the new kind of faces that they had.
Speaker: Zeke and I going into last year was like, other than Brian Whitehead, like, who do Who do we talk about? Because it's like what none of these guys have really played. And so you're just doing a lot of projection at that point and trying to like, OK, we didn't know that they were going to have multiple eight sack guys on the on the defensive line. So that that becomes like a big breakthrough for them. And yeah, they they played really well, you know, right in the middle of the season when they had that four game winning streak, through Texas State all the way through through Troy. So yeah, it felt like things were weirdly clicking and it was the first time under Butch Jones that they've allowed fewer than 30 points per game in a season.
Speaker: um You know, from 2024 when they were like one of the least successful teams at getting to the quarterback had only like 19 sacks that year. You have almost 40 last year. So you double that. It was just me and Zeke were like, what, what clicked all of a sudden late in the season. So it's great to hear from somebody who has that perspective.
Speaker: i need to go back and actually look at the game by game s sack and tackle for loss totals last year, because you said 40 sacks at the end of the season, probably 30 of them were in the back half. So to have, oh yeah to have a team that's going out and averaging five sacks per game, you know, even, even at the back half of the season, it's just crazy. That defense was a lot of fun to watch at the end of the year for sure. But again,
Speaker: You you've got, I think safety is going be the strength of the defense. There's a lot of returners there. There's some questions at corner and like, we'll talk specifically about the defensive line here in a moment, but i'm going to tell you when we talk about these guys, like literally your guess is as good as mine on how anything is going to work out up front. There's a boatload of unknown there for sure.
Speaker: Yeah. It's unknown. What are the names to keep an eye on though? If you have any. Yeah, and and let me dig around in my backpack here for just a moment so I can find my depth. I'll vamp for you while you while you look. So um for me, at least an all-name team guy, defensive end Sultan Badmus, I think is how his name is pronounced. ju That's A-plus work from his mom. because that's it That's an incredible name for a defensive end especially. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, your defensive ah front, as far as Phil Steele, has it written out. Defensive end Tony Carter on one side, a sophomore, um appeared in 12 games, but you know was a rotational player.
Speaker: Ryan Reese, ah kind of the same thing, 12 tackles at defensive tackle. Elias Sherman is your nose guard. He comes over from Maine, where he had he had five and a half sacks as a nose guard. That's...
Speaker: you You don't see that very often. Yeah. And then ah again, Sultan at the other defensive end spot. i mean, what what more can you say? What a name. So so to to elaborate on on these guys. So we did not get to see Tony Parker this spring. He was recovering from, I'm not sure what the status was, but we didn't to see him. We saw Don Quarius Parker out there a lot um on the opposite side of Sultan Badmus, who is a FCS transfer. ah You mentioned Sherman, a main transfer. And I want to follow up on the FCS transfers in just a moment. And then Ryan Reese. Ryan Reese is going to be a true sophomore. And I'm really interested in what his year is going to look like. Because last year, A-State had one of the reasons the defensive line was so successful is because you had an eight-headed monster. You had a full two-deep across the front. where there was no drop off whatsoever. So even though you had four incredible interior defensive linemen, true freshman Ryan Reese still found some little moments where he got out there on the field and not just in in garbage time, right? Not just in games that were out of hand. he was He was actually put into some situations that were you know high leverage or high pressure and he was able to hold his own. They were really excited about him as a true freshman and now he's back and now he's kind of going to have to be one of the leaders of of that room. ah with With guys like Sherman and Parker and I just went, bla and Sherman and and Parker especially, one of the things that A-State did last year in rebuilding their defensive line is they went out and they got some really good FCS pieces. None more impactful than Cody Sigler, who was at North Alabama, West Alabama, some location in East Alabama, South Alabama, no, not South Alabama, but he was...
Speaker: Somewhere in in Alabama at an FCS program and A-State really liked him and lo and behold, he's going to start at Auburn ah next season. So he was an absolutely great find. So that's something we've seen his coaching staff do in the past couple of years is really look heavily at the FCS ranks and see what maybe uncovered gems they could find and guys that can come in and contribute at the D1 level. So I don't know if, if, you know, Elias Sherman is going to be the next Cody Sigler be really cool if he was, but that's, that's kind of what they were looking at. And I want to shout out a state interior defensive lines, coach Rashad Pittman for a moment, because one of the things there is, is prior to his time at a state, he was a juco coach. And of course, you know, they have to, you're completely overhauling the roster every two years.
Speaker: Every you're always you' always got guys coming in and coming out. And now that the transfer portal is here, that's kind of what it looks like at the FBS level as well. So he's had to rebuild units quickly. He did it last year. He's doing it this year. And so I ah because of that, you know, it does kind of give me a little bit of faith that even though there's there's a lot of new lot of new on that defensive line, they were able to go out and do some really good evaluations last year and and restock. So hopefully they can they can do that two years in a row. Sure.
Speaker: ah Move a level up to the linebackers. I know you guys have a a transfer in from Louisiana. What's Trace Stevens, right? What's the rest of the group or what does he look like and then what does the rest of the group look like?
Speaker: So the biggest story at linebacker this year is actually that they're going to move safety Joe Drew over to that position. Not going to move, did. They moved him over in spring, I would say. i would say probably at the beginning of the spring, he was still 50-50 safety linebacker. By the end of the spring, he was like 80-20 linebacker versus safety. ah Joe Drew got on the field late in the season last year, starting at safety due to some injury.
Speaker: And then this year, of course, they asked him to change positions. He said, let's do it. And I like to spring both on and off the field. He impressed me more off the field and on it and Not to say he didn't play well, but he is a true sophomore, I believe. And he is a very, very well-spoken young man at 19 years old. Your linebacker has to be the quarterback of your defense. And I can't remember if he was at actually at the Mike or if he, or if that's going be Nigel Nelson or Trey Stevens. So,
Speaker: Spring camp now feels like a million years ago, but but you have to have good communicators there in that group. And Joe Drew is able to do that. So he already has a little bit of the mentality to be able to make the move. I think he has the physicality as well. But that's going to be a huge story. you know Is he comfortable there? Can he make plays at linebacker after being recruited and brought in as a safety? um Nigel Nelson returns at linebacker. So that's big. I can't remember how many games he started last year, but at least a handful there. And then Trey Stevens being brought in. We saw him on the field a lot with the ones this spring. So you've got a couple of of options there at at linebacker. You know, it's kind of the 4-2-5-ish defense. They'll do some different looks like everybody will at this point in time, but that's kind of the base. So you need a couple of guys that you can really lean on there.
Speaker: So I wanted to ask a question about, you know, you kind of touched on how experienced and the safety room is going to basically be the leaders of the secondary just because of the amount of experience they have. um One of the areas we saw that Arkansas State struggled last season was opposing passers where Quarterbacks that face them completed on it an average of 68% of their passes.
Speaker: um They give up 245 passing yards per game as a defense. So it felt like they were either getting to the quarterback or quarterbacks were taking advantage of them down the field. what's What's the feeling around the cornerback room heading into this season? You know, you you talked about the safeties a little bit, but where where do like the cornerbacks sit as far as ah this team?
Speaker: there's There's some unknown there for sure. um i am I think the the addition that I'm probably the most excited about is is Noah Flores. We did see him quite a bit this spring, had an opportunity to talk with him once, well-spoken young man, but- Noah Flores is a Utah State transfer, and his position coach, Jalen Ortiz, was at Utah State the year before last and recruited Flores there. So Flores was still at at Utah State last year. Jalen Ortiz was here, and now they're all back together in Jonesboro again. So obviously there's already a trust level there if you're going out and you're getting that guy. you know He's capable of being able to come in and and contribute, but
Speaker: like it's an area where a state is going to have to play better. And and it's still probably a little bit up in the air in terms of who a state is going to have out there for for game one or, you know, how exactly that that rotation looks. You know, we saw nova Flores, we saw Henderson out there.
Speaker: Braden Jackson Williams. So I'd love to tell you, I know exactly what that's going to look like or how successful that cornerback unit is, but I'm really not sure at this point in time, that's kind of a little bit of a question mark for me. Yeah.
Speaker: But you are more excited about the safety room. Yeah. I mean, you've got, you've got A.G. McGee to start and A.G. McGee is entering his second year at Arkansas State, but he's a Marshall transfer. and he was there when they won that Sunbelt Conference championship. And by the way, just to be a complete homer here for a second, A.G. McGee was, was not at Sunbelt Media Day, ah but he got brought up a lot, which I thought was cool.
Speaker: um His cousin, Robbie Washington plays at Coastal Carolina. And so he told us some stories about, you know, growing up playing with A.G. McGee. ah One of his teammates, Daytuan Smith at Marshall, brought him up. These are, by the way, these are all like guys bringing him up on unprompted. Daytuan Smith brought him up, mentioned him. And then I'm drawing, ah but oh, Mathis Haygood at Southern Miss had played with him at Marshall as well before he transferred to USM. ask about So it's kind of, it feels good to know that one of your guys is like such a good teammate. Yeah.
Speaker: or you know family member, whatever, that people are bringing him up. But that's where it starts. He was the green dot last year. So he was A-State's primary you know veteran leader communicator. He's back to lead that room. Brandon Barnes missed the spring. Of course, he was A-State's player representative or one of the two along with Chauncey Cobb at Sunbelt Media Days. But he played a boatload last year as a true sophomore. So he's going to be back. He's going to be leaned on really, really heavily. You have Brandon Gryal in the mix as well.
Speaker: um You have some newcomers there at defensive back, and um there's probably going to be some versatility with with guys like Five Hamilton, Makai Shahid. But again, you've got three guys there in McGee, in Barnes, and Gryal that are so experienced in this defense, that are all good communicators, that are all strong leaders, that it makes you it gives you some optimism about that unit specifically.
Speaker: Yeah. Sure. ah Specialists. Go ahead. we don't We don't get folks often enough who are tapped in well enough to talk about specialists, special teamers. So we'll take the opportunity while we have you. ah Van Undel was an all Sunbelt guy last year, yes?
Speaker: if I'm trying to remember where he finished last. I think surely he was like all Sunbelt second team kicker or something. He's a preseason kicker this year. Great, great player, obviously. He is entering his third season as a state starting kicker. So to be able to hold on to him and and have a guy that you know can win in these clutch fights,
Speaker: late-plug situations. I mean, he is he has won the games against South Alabama the back to the last two seasons. I think the last two seasons, A-State's two wins over South Alabama have been decided by three total points, and it came down to like basically a walk-off field goal both times. So um when you have that that confidence in a kicker to go out and make – those high pressure kicks. A-State has that with Van Andel. He's very solid. A-State has a different guy for a kickoff specialist as well. That situation is going to be great. Punter is a question mark. They brought in a punter from North Illinois,
Speaker: and Northern Illinois as a transfer there. And he is the only punter on the roster. So you have a punter by default in Vukovic, if I pronounce that correctly. I don't think I did. So I apologize on that. ah but But you know what? I say punter by default.
Speaker: He had some good punts this spring. He looked good. It's not a situation where you're going to be holding tryouts, you know, week one of fall camp and begging anybody on campus who played soccer eight years ago to try and come punt for you. Mm-hmm. He's good.
Speaker: He's good. So you've got that. ah Those positions are all settled. There's not any backup. Then you've got your returners and you start with Chauncey Cobb. ah Chauncey Cobb was not the kickoff returner at the beginning of last season, but Jaquez Cross, who's now at App State, suffered a knee injury after game one in practice and it became Chauncey Cobb. What happened? You know, like the second time he touches the ball at the Arkansas game, he runs one back.
Speaker: yeah Nobody in the country had more than two kickoff return touchdowns last year. Chauncey Cobb had two. He was one of four players that did. ah He is so fast and he is so good. My big concern this year with with Cobb being able to replicate some of those numbers is like at a certain point, people just quit kicking it to you. and So there's going to be there's goingnna be games where he does not touch the football in that aspect because they're just not going to want want to deal with them.
Speaker: Punt return is probably going to be Jalen Benelli. and I think he's going to be good in that aspect, but I would not, I don't have that one like in pin on the depth chart.
Speaker: Like I, it's, I would say it's like 85, 15% that he'll be that guy, but, but you never know. i don't think they would make Cobb do double duty or ask him to do double duty, especially with how significant his load is going to be on ah offense as well.
Speaker: ah But it's not out of the realm of possibility, but I do, i do think it'll be Benelli. And I think that, you know, most of those spots are are pretty, pretty short up. Sure. Sure. Zeke, you want to get into the schedule? You got it, man. All you. Okay. So the first four off the schedule are all the out of conference slate. We talked a little bit about Charles Huff and his new Memphis Tigers in the opener.
Speaker: ah That's going to be an interesting sort of barometer for this Arkansas state team, just to kind of measure up. Also, Memphis fans would not be happy if Charles have lost the opener. i I just feel like that's that's an automatic given. um So we'll we'll see there. You get an FCS team in West Georgia week two.
Speaker: ah That should be a win for Arkansas State. At TCU, week three is going to be interesting. I have no idea what sort of team TCU is fielding this year. Don't really keep up with them. So I feel like they have a good team about once every four or five years that is like really, really competitive. But then Other years, they just sort of are like middling.
Speaker: um So we'll we'll see which one of those. And then you take on Kennesaw State again, which was which was a a tough loss last year. so what what is generally the feeling? would Would a two and two open be a positive sign? Or would that be because you you get the two power five teams with TCU and and Memphis to open. So would two and two be, I guess, satisfactory through four games of the season?
Speaker: It really would depend on the score of Memphis. If it's two and two and that game is 35, 32, people are going to be aggravated, but not inconsolable. If 45 to 10, it's...
Speaker: i it I don't want to say the rest of the season doesn't matter, but like you're going to have fans that drop off the bandwagon after game one, if if that's what it looks like. A state's entire schedule this year is full of some really awesome storylines. And and that's the case with, with all of the non con we've already mentioned, you know, Charles Huff and Butch Jones there and their relationship West Georgia, when it was agreed to was actually the then a state system president's like previous institution, but he's now now departed at week three, you know, both,
Speaker: Offensive coordinator, Garrett Altman and running backs coach Kenny Hill, that's they played at TCU. This will be their first time going into that facility as the opposition. So in their coaching stops since then, they've never been back. So so that will be a storyline inside the building. And then Kennesaw State is coached by.
Speaker: Jerry Mack, who is like a dual Arkansas state alum. His dad was an Arkansas state alum. They both played a state football. Mack's wife is an a state. They've got like seven a state degrees in their house. They've got more a state degrees and like the a state staff does. So that's ah a good storyline there and and an opportunity for payback because again, a state,
Speaker: when they played at Kennesaw state last year, didn't get off the bus until midway through the second quarter. And by that point in time, I think the Red Wolves were down 21 to nothing. So there's going be a lot of fans who went payback. Now, Kennesaw state ultimately went on to have a really good year last year, but still when you get punched in the mouth, like that against a team that prior to that had won like two FBS games in their entire history, nobody was happy last year. So there's going there's people are going to expect that now that that one's back at home to have a,
Speaker: Much better showing than they did when they played that game in Georgia. Sure. Yeah. Starting off with the conference slate, you get at Louisiana, October 3rd.
Speaker: Louisiana is an interesting team because we recently released our Louisiana preview and we had a guest on who used to cover Louisiana for a radio, an ESPN station in Lafayette. and he's lower on the team than the consensus like around the nation where, you know at least when you look at win totals, they were like the fourth highest in the Sun Belt this year at like seven and a half. So we were we were talking with him, and I was just like, I'm afraid of getting burned like we did last year where there was all this positive press coming out, and then all of a sudden...
Speaker: I understand they lost the offensive line over time. They looked bad in week one when they lost to Rice. Like, their quarterback that had transferred in, Walker Howard, threw like three interceptions and got injured in the same game. So it was – their season was kind of off the rails from the jump. So I'm i'm interested to see – lunch Winfield is back. He started most of last year. um You know, what does that continuity look like for them? I think that's going to be a really good litmus test to, to start conference play for Arkansas state, because it's just like, is Louisiana's offensive line actually better or are they just, is it more of the same? Like what, what kind of experience did they get at that unit last year? So that's going to be really interesting, especially with the new,
Speaker: defensive linemen for Arkansas State, like, are they going to be able to get to the quarterback? Like, those those types of questions. it This feels like maybe Kennesaw is the first real test that you can kind of Judger level, but Louisiana is going to be, you know, as far as Sunbelt play, like it's going to be the first true opponent. And then you play ah South Alabama on the eighth. That is a game on a Thursday night.
Speaker: South Alabama was not good last year. um Zeke and I have real reservations about Major Applewhite's like ability to to put together a team postseason. Gio Lopez's exit um didn't go well last year with Bishop Davenport. They lost their what top rusher or top two rushers off that team. um so they're they're sort of rebooting at their most important spots as well as number one receiver. um And then Southern Miss the on the 17th, that's another team that's some rebooting as well. And we we kind of talked about the the ties with Blake Anderson going back to when he was the Arkansas State coach and everything like that. So
Speaker: Do you think that once you run through the Louisiana, South Alabama, and Southern Miss that we will have kind of a real read on this Arkansas State team and like what their ceiling may be and what they can accomplish based on those types of opponents?
Speaker: I think you can kind of stop the conversation at Louisiana because... And not that the other games don't matter and and not that not that you can just have one huge performance and not worry about anything else. But but one of the reasons, again, that I... that i that if I was going to pick an on a state team in the West, it would be Louisiana is is because of the schedule. I believe they host both a state and Troy. So if you get to host your other two division front runners, then you're you're already you already have a significant advantage.
Speaker: A-State does not win in Lafayette, unfortunately. It has been a massive Achilles heel over the years. Trying to remember the last victory. And for a while, it was a very home-dominated series, period.
Speaker: For a while, Louisiana didn't win in Jonesboro either. But unfortunately, I think they've won maybe two out of the last three or even three out of the last four in Jonesboro. A-State did get one back a couple of of years ago. um But that's that's kind of it to me. like if you If you can't win there, are you going to be able to have the type of success that you need to be able to to win throughout the rest of the the season? um it's It's not the be-all, end-all. It's the conference opener. So, of course, there's no telling what could happen after that. But it's just...
Speaker: It's that's just the that's the one I have circled. Louisiana is also a game where while it is not a regional rivalry, it has been it has gone through some ups and downs of being a very kind of zesty fan rivalry over the years. It's cooled down a lot. But, you know, when Mark Hudspeth was there at the helm of Louisiana and Blake Anderson was at at a a state, those guys very much had a frenemies vibe where they wouldn't come back, where they wouldn't like go out and like say something really.
Speaker: bad about the other publicly, but you kind of wondered if maybe those guys really didn't like each other very much because the teams most definitely did not like each other when they played. There was one game and I'm getting on a tangent here that got like that unfolded so poorly that the Sunbelt had to reprimand everybody involved after the fact, like including the officiating crew, discipline, multiple coaches and players. It was, if you'll excuse the language here, a shit show. Yeah. And it's lessened significantly since then, but I still don't think anybody on that team is like besties. Right.
Speaker: but But that's I mean, that's it. You have to win there. If you if I mean, that's that's it to me. I could keep rambling about it, but that's it.
Speaker: Yeah, sure. um After you get those those slate of the West teams in a row, Louisiana, South Alabama, Southern Miss, ah the 24th October, right before your bye week, you face Georgia State. Zeke and I, Zeke covers Georgia State, like watches them. We almost have like a Dale McGee death pool for his his coaching tenure circled, so we're trying to bet on when he will be fired, and I think we'll do like a competition and see who's the closest. We... We we we we fully anticipate, like, by, what, Zeke, their bye week? Is there by, like, when Hugh Jackson would theoretically step in and be the coach then? i mean, that's just the most convenient. ah It's tough because, like, with Sean Elliott, obviously he wasn't fired. He left um on his own accord super late in the spring. Yeah.
Speaker: So there's not really a ton of precedent to look at, but yeah, it's just like, when is it going to be convenient for us to cut ties and then ride the Hugh Jackson train for the rest of the season?
Speaker: Yeah, that that doesn't seem like a good time for anybody. ah And then you get the week of ah Halloween off. um So that's your buy comes in a little later, you know, eight games in, ah give you some time to kind of get back in shape and, you know, work out any any lingering issues like injury wise.
Speaker: And then you come back the week after you play ULM. ah That's another team where it's like, when are they going to fire their coach? Like, it's just it's a it's a win, not an if almost situation there. Yeah.
Speaker: i i think I think the thing, too, with a lot of the West teams, and and Arkansas State, I think, falls into this boat, they have drawn a pretty good East slate as well because you play Georgia State, again, who's probably going to be out of the Dale McGee business before long, and then you get November 14th at Coastal.
Speaker: They're starting over with a brand-new head coach. Samari Collier, who was a revelation for them at the quarterback spot is done. I think eligibility wise, he, he, I think is still fighting the NCAA. So he's, he's not anywhere near the program anymore. so Are those expectations raised because of some of the teams that you've drawn? and And I know you play the whole West slate, you get the ULMs and the South Alabamas of the world, but you also get, again, Georgia State, us you know, and Coastal.
Speaker: Are the expectations raised because of how the the schedule has has shaken out a little bit, do you think? Maybe i would, I would caution anyone from automatically counting out coastal though. You know, Ryan beer brought 11 players with him from, from Missouri state. And so not that that's a, that, I mean, that's 10% of your roster. That's still a minuscule amount, but it's not like he is 100% starting over from scratch either. yeah,
Speaker: you know, anytime you've got a whole lot of new, every single team is going to be wildly different the first half of the season versus the second half of the season. So even if you've got some of these teams in the back half that are having monster rebuilds, you know, eight games is enough time for a team to gel. If they are going to be good, they've got time by then to put it together. So, so road games are tough. The surf turf is tough. I don't, I don't know how much success they state has had in Conway, even though every year is, is different. ah But, but,
Speaker: But look, if you're looking at expected win losses on paper, then yes, a state is going to be facing the, the two weakest teams in the East. And please know that I did that on, on air quotes, i'm not trying to talk trash. Somebody's got to be at the bottom at the end. You know what I mean? It's like Georgia state. And then who's, who's the second worst team probably going to be. Actually, I saw you shake your head when ah Brian mentioned Bryant Vincent, probably on his way out at ULM. Do you have strong opinions on that?
Speaker: ULM is in a different financial landscape than than anywhere else. um I know that that last year they did not have a successful year, but Bryant Vinson was the only coach probably in all of Division one let alone the FBS, who was also filling in the role of athletic director throughout his team's entire season. Now, not that I think that ULM is ultimately going to run rise up this year and and become the the top team to beat in the West. but But I do think that in places like that, you do get more leeway because of the finances behind the scenes. I don't know what they're, you know, for so many years, we talked about athletic budgets and facilities, and now it's it's a different measuring stick.
Speaker: What does your and n NIL look like? Where is ULM's n NIL compared to its Sunbelt West peers? Probably not that high. So if you're going in, if you're in a situation with significant disadvantages, ah you would think that there's a little bit more leeway involved there versus versus some other places, maybe like a James Madison where you're at the top of the n NIL pecking order and and you've had that sustained history of success. Now, I'm not saying that b Brian Vinson is 100% going to get it done. I'm not saying he's going to be there for the next five years, but I just...
Speaker: I think he's got, you know, a little bit more grace there at the the help of this program. I think it depends on how long he keeps rolling Aiden Armenta out and hoping it goes differently. I think that's the big thing. It's like, if he's willing to finally make a quarterback change and give somebody else like a legit shot, then then maybe you can buy yourself some some leeway. But I think the other question, and we asked ah the the guy that we did the Louisiana episode preview with, we were like,
Speaker: When the new AD comes in, is he going to want his own guy? You know, a lot of ADs come in and go, well, I didn't hire you. So I want my choice of head coach. And again, it's like if he just continues to do the same things at the quarterback spot every year, like there's only so many answers like you can give. It's like, OK, but we're doing the exact same things every year and it doesn't work.
Speaker: we're We're trying to establish the run and all this stuff, but Armenta is one of the lower efficiency quarterbacks in the entire conference. So I think it hinges a little bit on that where it's like, is the quarterback play ever going to get to a passable level there where it hasn't been the last couple years?
Speaker: Do they have better options? Quarterbacks are expensive. they have a They have a transfer from Clemson who, at least according to NCAA football, is one of the fastest players at the spot in the entire country. I i don't know. I haven't seen the guy play. Last year was kid club season for some reason at Clemson. um But yeah, I mean, they at least have other... Landon Graves is another guy that's played a little bit.
Speaker: So it's just like... and And I think they said coming in, it was a three-way competition. And I'm like, okay if if your quarterback's in, you're almost going into year three and you don't know if he's going to be the guy starting week one, then that's probably not a great sign internally, I would say.
Speaker: Um, So and then the last two games of the season, November 19th, you play at Louisiana Tech again. Zeke and I have no read on Louisiana Tech whatsoever. we We still are working to get a guest on for that to kind of walk us through what that program looks like coming over from Conference USA.
Speaker: um And then in the finale, you get Troy. If you're in the the race for the West at the end of the season, let's say you've beaten Louisiana and you've kind of held serve throughout the year. Troy is going to be the final boss, literally, I mean, on the schedule. So, uh,
Speaker: As it sits today, let's let's say they do let's say Arkansas State does beat Louisiana. They sort of you know beat the teams on their schedule. They should maybe trip up one time, but it's nothing like a death knell for the season.
Speaker: What would your confidence level be? I mean, I guess it's too early to say, but with Troy right now, like, would you give Troy the edge just because of like the experience that they have kind of at the quarterback spot with two guys coming back or you know, where where do you kind of gauge Arkansas State's chances against Troy?
Speaker: So one ah so there's two, there's one thing that I automatically like, and then one thing I would have a question about and have to see how it unfolded throughout the course of the season. One, that game is in Jonesboro, right? so So automatically you're just, you just, you know, A-State is not batting a thousand in terms of its win percentage in Jonesboro, but you, you there's home field advantage is a thing. Everybody knows that you've got greater success there. so So that gives you a little bit of a leg up on the competition right out of the gate. Second, I would want to see how Troy's offensive line played throughout the course of this year, because we've already talked about last year's game. But but again, a state beat them up in the trenches. And that's why a state was able to dominate that game at Troy last year, 23 to 10. So if you've got another situation, you know, coming into the end of 26 and Troy's offensive line is just OK, and we've got
Speaker: maybe not a 40 sack Arkansas state team, but a team that at least is like playing well defensively, then, then I would probably feel really confident in, in that game. But if Troy is taking some huge steps there, you know, it it might be, it, it can certainly be a back and forth battle, but again, I would, I would probably still lean, lean a state because of the fact that, that it's in Jonesboro. So you've got a huge break there with that, with that game being at home.
Speaker: I want to point out one thing about Louisiana Tech. That game is the 29th. Or excuse me, the 21st, not the 19th. theyn The Sunbelt originally put out that schedule. And I don't know if this is 100%, but I think a state said basically, hell no, we are not going to do this. Because A-State would have been the only team in the country to go on the road and then have another road game five days later, which would put the team in a horrible disadvantage because you'd be going to Coastal Carolina, getting back on a Sunday morning at 4 a.m. and then having to leave and go to Louisiana on louisiana Tech and go to Ruston at like noon on a Thursday. You would have 80 hours in Jonesboro.
Speaker: Massive competitive disadvantage. So I think A-State pushed back on that and said no. so And that's more than fair. Yeah. yeah I mean, you're you're not, you're not only worried about from like a fatigue perspective, but you know, the NCAA claims they care about these kids and like their wellbeing and everything. And it's like, okay, but what part of that is putting two games on the schedule, five days apart, both on the road, you know? So I, I, I, I see the the logic there, you know? Yeah. I'm very, I'm very glad that that, that game is on a Saturday and not a Thursday. Yeah.
Speaker: Zeke, do we have anything else? I think we've kind of hit it all. And um yeah, think this has been as comprehensive of a preview as we've done. No, this has been incredible. Thank you so much for being here.
Speaker: um Tell folks where they can find you, where they can listen to you. Sure. I spend too much time on Twitter. I said a lot. At Kara underscore Richie is the easiest place to find me. DMs are open as long as you're not you know trying to tell me something awful. But you can you can shout at me there if you think I have a bad opinion. That's fine. I know I do.
Speaker: I have several of those. I'm on air monday to Monday through a Friday, noon to two on the Ticket Radio Network. If you're in Northeast Arkansas, that's at 95.396.9 on your radio dial. If you're not, you can stream us online at 95.3theticket.com. Also, I'll go ahead and mention as well, we have all of our Sunbelt Media Day coverage up, 95.3theticket.com. We did 29 interviews over the course of the two days. So um if there's somebody you wanted to hear from and they're not there, i don't really know what to tell you. Yeah. I thought our coverage was pretty comprehensive. So and in fact, I've got to go back and listen to a lot of it because it has a tendency to kind of all blur together after a little bit. But but yeah, that's it. couple different spots there. So if anybody who wants to shout, go for it.
Speaker: Sure. We're, I guess, an hour and a half. i I saw on your Twitter that you, soccer fan, watching the World Cup, as we all are, we're an hour and a half from kickoff. Do you have a pick? This will come out several days later, so yeah you're going to sound stupid either way.
Speaker: so so i I am... I'm a bandwagon every four years soccer fan, right? Like I can talk myself into the U.S. men's national team not being garbage. And they weren't garbage this year, but they also did not live up to expectations. And I'll get back on the bandwagon next year for the Women's World Cup. But so that's really a basically a long way of saying that I am not knowledgeable when it comes to soccer whatsoever. I'm picking Argentina just because I want to see Messi do something incredible in what is probably going to be like the final ballpark big stakes game of of his international career. I know he's under contract with MLS until like 28 or whatever, but but I want to see the best player do something amazing on the biggest stage. So I'm trying to manifest a a messy hat trick and an Argentina win today.
Speaker: Can I ask just one quick question of you guys? and And if you've been keeping up with the World Cup at all. Yeah. Have you guys seen the photo of Messi giving Yamal Amin a bath but or something when he was less than one year old? That was the strangest photo I've ever seen in my entire life.
Speaker: It's funny because it's popped up repeatedly through through the World Cup. Like somebody new discovers it and they're like, oh, my God, god is this AI? yeah Actually, this morning, like as soon as I i checked Twitter, I actually... ah saw a a tweet from the AP about the origins of that picture. So I've got that bookmarked to read as soon as, as soon as we're done, because I want to learn more about it because just, I mean, that's weird. That's crazy. Yeah. i mean, that is like, so that is Jesus washing the feet of the disciples type thing for soccer fans. It really is. It's so incredible.
Speaker: And just what are the odds? Yeah. is wild It's awesome. it. i love it Zeke, let everybody know where they can find you on socials, and then I'll do the same, and then we'll get out of here. Yeah, you can. ah I've been tweeting out at Moe's pretty recently. they They've been skimping out on my ah my portions, man. They just built a Chipotle right next to the Moe's here, so like they got they gotta to tighten it up. So if you're you know with me on this, guys, at Zeke Palermo, Z-E-K-E-P-A-L-E-R-M-O.
Speaker: I've always been a Barbaritos boy. ah You can find me on X at WatchTheStone and the show on X and TikTok at WarmWeatherFans. We will be back next week. We will have a chat with the guys from the Strut podcast to talk over Coastal Carolina's upcoming season.
Speaker: This has been another edition of WarmWeatherFans.
