Arkansas Tech at a glance

MASCOT Wonder Boys

COACH Kyle Shipp (first season)

LAST SEASON 3-8 OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH QB (Manny Harris/Carter Burcham/Mason Cunningham), RB Caleb Batie, WR Drew Wade, TE Tanner Gaines, OT Cole Fritschen

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH LB Gio Williams, LB Chris Kale, DE Carlos Gordon, CB Dio Williams, FS Alex Chambers, SS Deeandre Ervin

NOTEWORTHY The Wonder Boys were picked in the coaches’ poll to finish eighth in the Great American Conference. … There’s seven returning starters on offense and nine on defense. … Last year, Arkansas Tech averaged 14.5 points per game, last in the GAC. … The Wonder Boys averaged 334.4 yards per game, ninth in the GAC, but were last in red-zone efficiency, scoring on 20 of 35 trips inside the opponents’ 20. … Freshman Kicker Jesus Zizumbo made 5 of 17 field-goal attempts and was 4 of 12 on attempts inside the 20. … Quarterbacks Burcham and Harris combined to throw more than twice as many interceptions (18) than touchdown passes (8). … The defense — which must replace middle linebacker KJ Reid, the GAC’s leading tackler, and safety Cua Rose, a four-year starter — returns nine starters and is ahead of the offense at this point. … Shipp said he has challenged his team’s competitiveness by bringing in 65 new players, including a slew of transfers who will compete for immediate playing time — among them are RBs Caleb Batie (Missouri Southern) and Perry Seldon (West Georgia); CBs Kevin George (Colorado) and Uriah Guy (Fond de Luc Tribal (Kan.) Community College; DT Josh Little (Florida International); DE Lavall McNulty (Western Illinois); and QB Cunningham (Liberty); WRs Caleb Stokes and Jaelen Burroughs, DT Kaylond North and DE Derek Albers from nearby Central Arkansas University. … Memphis transfer Brennon Lewis is listed No. 1 at one of the WR spots, and Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College transfer Andrew Carter is his backup.