Arkansas State Football: Will Red Wolves become threats in 2021?
Front-Seven Looks Solid While Secondary Remains Questionable
While the offense was putting points on the board, the defense for the Red Wolves last season was constantly allowing the same for their opponents. Through the first five games of the 20202 season, the Red Wolves gave up an average of 39.8 points per game.
During the first five games, the defense gave up 52 points twice to Coastal Carolina and Georgia State. This forced the removal of David Duggan as the defensive coordinator, which forced Nick Paremski to step up as the interim defensive coordinator. In the last six games, the defense allowed an average of 35 points per game.
Coach Jones hired Rob Harley to be the new defensive coordinator of the Arkansas State football this season. Harley spent the last six seasons as the linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Panthers and the last four as their recruiting coordinator. Coach Harley has helped develop high-caliber linebackers who have gone to the NFL and will attempt to boost this Red Wolves defense.
Last season, Arkansas State was ranked 111th in the nation (eighth in the Sun Belt) in points allowed per game (37.2) and 126th in the nation (last in the Sun Belt) in passing yards allowed per game (314). Coach Harley will have a big task already in his tenure as defensive coordinator.
Coach Harley is transitioning the defense from a 3-4 front to a 4-3 scheme this season. This will allow some of their defensive linemen to play their more natural positions and potentially get a more effective pass rush.
Arkansas State returns two defensive linemen in defensive tackle Terry Hampton and defensive end TW Ayers. Hampton accounted for 35 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks last season. Ayers will be a full-time defensive end after playing both tight end and defensive end last season. Ayers accounted for 35 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks in 2020. The Red Wolves will have some key transfers filling the other two spots on the defensive line.
Former West Virginia Mountaineer Quay Mays will start at the nose tackle. Former Tennessee Volunteer Kivon Bennett will start at the second defensive end. Last season for the Volunteers, Bennett accounted for 22 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.
The Red Wolves have a much more experienced linebacker corp with all three of their starters returning. Last season, Arkansas State was ranked 53rd in the nation (fifth in the Sun Belt) in rushing yards allowed per game (156.1).
Senior Jeffmario Brown returns as the starting middle linebacker for Arkansas State. Last season, Brown accounted for 44 total tackles, 27 solo tackles, four tackles for loss, and four pass breakups. Senior linebacker Caleb Bonner is a player that can quickly read the plays and get into the backfield. Last season, he accounted for 24 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and a sack. He will be the strongside linebacker going forward while sophomore CJ Harris will be the weakside linebacker. Harris might also see some action as the star position player in different defensive packages with a focus on defending against the passing game.
Speaking of defending against the passing game, the Red Wolves secondary needs serious adjustments the rest of the offseason. After allowing one of the worst passing performances all season, the Red Wolves are having to decide carefully on who will be their starting cornerbacks in 2021. Junior Samy Johnson remains a favorite to win the starting job again, but he will need to be more consistent against man coverage. Other competitors for the starting job of cornerback are senior Booker Ficklin, junior Leon Jones, and junior Jarius Reimonenq.
The Red Wolves have two good senior safeties in Elery Alexander and Antonio Fletcher to rely on in the upcoming season. Last season, Alexander and Fletcher accumulated 94 total tackles, 68 solo tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and eight pass breakups.