Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

QBs shine in ASU’s scrimmage

- By Mitchell Gladstone

JONESBORO — James Blackman and Jaxon Dailey exist on drasticall­y different planes.

The former is entering his sixth year of college football at his second school, once again looking to stake his claim to a starting spot. The latter is an early enrollee who could just have easily spent this weekend at his senior prom instead of Arkansas State’s spring game.

On a day that provided few highlights, most of the attention was on the two guys in white — quarterbac­ks wore white jerseys rather black or red as the rest of teammates did — as the Red Wolves wrapped up the last of their 15 spring practices with a full-length intrasquad scrimmage at Centennial Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Blackman’s Black squad, comprised of the first-team offense and second-team defense, grabbed a 30-28 win in overtime, and ASU Coach Butch Jones praised the 6-5 redshirt senior not only for his play but also for his leadership in completing a game-tying drive, adding the necessary two-point conversion and then converting another in the overtime period.

“He’s very calm, he’s been very collected and he’s on a mission,” Jones said of Blackman. “We’ve spoken about being a CEO quarterbac­k … an individual who owns the team, owns the offense and has high demands. He’s the leader.”

Blackman completed 26 of 39 passes for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 40-yarder to Jeff Foreman with less than two minutes remaining.

It was the first time Blackman had played in front of fans since early October 2021 when he suffered a shoulder injury against Coastal Carolina.

At halftime Saturday, Blackman was given the Red Wolves’ leadership award along with transfer safety Eddie Smith.

“I’m thankful that my teammates and my coaches picked me, but in my book, [leading is] just the standard for me,” Blackman said. “Being a great leader, you have to learn how to be a great teammate first. … I know it’s my time to give that to the young guys.”

One of those young players is Dailey, who was efficient with 23 of 35 passing for 185 yards and 3 touchdowns.

As much as the need to get Wyatt Begeal onto the field precipitat­ed the sophomore’s move from quarterbac­k to wide receiver last week, ASU might not have done so if not for Dailey’s swift arrival as a legitimate No. 2 quarterbac­k.

Jones described the true freshman’s developmen­t as “remarkable” but added that he and his staff weren’t necessaril­y surprised by the Iowan’s progressio­n.

“Jaxon is very poised as a quarterbac­k,” Blackman said. “He sits back there, he waits, he goes through his reads. … He doesn’t carry himself like a freshman quarterbac­k. He’s trying to be the CEO of the offensive as we speak.”

 ?? ?? Quarterbac­k James Blackman completed 26 of 39 passes for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns in Arkansas State’s spring game Saturday afternoon at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro. Blackman is returning from shoulder surgery last season. (Photo courtesy Arkansas State Athletics)
Quarterbac­k James Blackman completed 26 of 39 passes for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns in Arkansas State’s spring game Saturday afternoon at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro. Blackman is returning from shoulder surgery last season. (Photo courtesy Arkansas State Athletics)

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