The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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124 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Arkansas State is a Group of Five pro- gram on the rise. After totaling just nine wins in three years from 2020-22, the Red Wolves made a bowl game a year ago for the first time since 2019, losing 21-19 to Northern Illinois in the Camellia Bowl and finishing with a 6-7 record. Head coach Butch Jones endured 2-10 and 3-9 campaigns his first two years ahead of last season's breakthrough. Recruiting is trending in the right direction, too, with top-two classes in the Sun Belt in 2022 (second) and 2023 (first). The Red Wolves have an opportunity to build on the success they had when going 4-4 in conference while tying for a second-place finish in the Sun Belt's West Division last season. Arkansas State has 15 starters returning, including nine on the offensive side of the ball. Sophomore quarterback Jaylen Raynor will have three returning starting offen- sive linemen in front of him — includ- ing senior and first-team All-Sun Belt honoree Jacob Bayer at center — and weapons all around the field. The 6-foot, 204-pound signal-caller was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year last season, throwing for 2,543 yards and 17 touch- downs with 7 interceptions while com- pleting 58.3 percent of his passes. "His maturity is beyond his age," Jones said last season. "He just has those lead- ership characteristics, those intangibles. We talk about being a 'CEO' quarter- back." The Red Wolves' offense has big-play ability, ranking 30th in the nation with 24 passing plays of 20-plus yards in 2023. Raynor ranked tied for 23rd with 24 com- pletions on throws of 20-plus air yards, per PFF. The team's top two leading wide re- ceivers are slated to return in redshirt junior Corey Rucker and redshirt senior Courtney Jackson. That pair combined to haul in 75 catches for 1,394 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. Raynor threw 7 picks and the team to- taled 13 turnovers, the 18th-fewest in the land. That helped the Arkansas State of- fense score 27.1 points per game (67th). That said, Arkansas State scored touch- downs on just 51.1 percent of its red-zone trips, ranking 117th in the country. Defensive coordinator Rob Harley has his work cut out for him entering the 2024 campaign. While five starters are back, the Red Wolves have an abundance of key players to replace, including both of their top two edge rushers — Thur- man Geathers (graduation) and Keyron Crawford (transfer to Auburn). Those two combined for 24 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and 19 quarterback hurries last season, and that was on a defensive unit that had its difficulties. The Red Wolves ranked worse than 100th in the country in scor- ing defense (104th), total defense (127th), rushing defense (116th) and passing de- fense (122nd). They did check in 22nd with 6.8 tackles for loss per game but will need breakout players to emerge in order to match that production. Two of three starting cornerbacks are also no longer with the program. Senior defensive tackle Nate Martey (6-1, 288) racked up 9 stops for loss and 6 sacks a year ago. He and redshirt se- nior linebacker Charles Willekes — a Rockford, Mich., native and Michigan State transfer — are the headliners in the front seven. Willekes earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt honors and slotted second on the squad with 89 tackles (8 for loss, 1.5 sacks) in 2023. Leading tack- ler and senior safety Trevian Thomas (91 tackles) is a standout on the back end. Special teams were a plus for the Red Wolves, who returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns and had a great kicking game. Placekicker Dominic Zvada, who made 17 of his 22 field goals, entered the portal and is now with Michigan, while punter William Przystup, who pinned op- ponents inside their own 20-yard line on 22 of 61 boots, has moved on as well. ❑ Arkansas State Is On The Ascent Red Wolves sophomore quarterback Jaylen Raynor was named to the On3 True Freshman All-America Team in 2023. PHOTO COURTESY ARKANSAS STATE ATHLETICS 2024 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2023 Result Aug. 31 Central Arkansas — Sept. 7 Tulsa — Sept. 14 at Michigan — Sept. 21 at Iowa State — Oct. 5 South Alabama L, 21-14 Oct. 12 at Texas State W, 77-31 Oct. 19 at Southern Miss W, 44-37 Oct. 26 Troy L, 37-3 Nov. 9 at Louisiana W, 37-17 Nov. 16 at Georgia State — Nov. 23 ULM W, 34-24 Nov. 30 Old Dominion — REASONS FOR OPTIMISM • QB Jaylen Raynor is the real deal • Bowl appearance inspires confidence • Defense has nowhere to go but up Having a quarterback like Raynor, one of the best in the Sun Belt, is a great place to start. He and other returnees gained valuable experience in 2023. REASONS FOR CONCERN • Special teams losses • Lack of pass rush • Need defensive backs to emerge It's hard to figure that the defense will be much better than last season, and the special teams were a real plus but lost their key performers, including placekicker Dominic Zvada to Michigan. GAME 3 • ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES • SEPT. 14 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: 0-0 Head Coach: Butch Jones, 11-26 (third year) at Arkansas State, 95- 80 overall (15th year) 2023 In Review: 6-7, 4-4 Sun Belt (T-2nd West) Final 2023 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 15 (9 offense, 6 defense) Last Bowl Appearance: 2023 (Camellia Bowl vs. Northern Illinois, L 21-19) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Jaylen Raynor (2,543 yards, 17 TD) Rushing: Ja'Quez Cross (716 yards, 7 TD) Receiving: Corey Rucker (705 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: Trevian Thomas (91) Sacks: Nate Martey (6) Interceptions: Trevian Thomas (2)