Arkansas State Red Wolves Football: 2015 Season Preview

Sep 13, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) throws a pass over Arkansas State Red Wolves defense during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Miami won 41-20. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Outlook

For all the excitement about the offense going into next year, there is an equal amount of pessimism surrounding the defense, which ranked 92nd in points allowed with 30.5 and now loses more than half of its starters. Oh, and they closed out the year allowing 63 points to Toledo.

But hey, perhaps the good news is that losing so many guys means they won’t be as bad.

Anyway, the worst part of this 4-2-5 defense was the rush defense, giving up 205 yards per game last year, and with defensive tackle Dexter Blackmon gone, transfer Robert Mondie from UAB should be able to step in and make a quick upgrade. Sophomore Chuck Ota is also back in the middle, and Chris Stone and Ja’Von Rolland Jones combined with two more transfers should mean more depth, talent, and experience on the line.

But with only the return of second-leading tackler Xavier Woodson to a pathetic linebacker corps. that loses its top player, the first line of defense will have to do all the work for the Red Wolves.

The secondary loses pretty much everybody that mattered last year except for safety Money Hunter. But the good news is that senior safeties Charleston Girley and Chris Humes are expected to be fully back to health, leaving possibly some talent back. But with no starting cornerbacks back, expect a drop-off here.

Altogether, the defense should have a solid first line of defense, and the secondary should not be terrible, but it will once again be vulnerable to big plays just like it was last year.

That means senior punter Luke Ferguson, who averaged 41.5 yards per punt last year and put 22 inside the 20, will have to help the guys out a lot with field position.

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