Red Wolves ready to launch from 2016 finish

Arkansas State clinched its second-straight Sun Belt Conference title under coach Blake Anderson last season, but it wasn’t an easy road to get there.

The Red Wolves opened the season on a four-game losing streak, including a humbling 28-23 defeat to Football Championship Subdivision Central Arkansas, before rebounding with a 7-1 conference record to earn the school’s fifth league title in six years.

Spirits are high after a 31-13 Cure Bowl win over Central Florida, but Anderson’s squad starts the season in a familiar spot. Sun Belt coaches picked the Red Wolves to finish third behind Appalachian State and Troy, the Red Wolves receiving one first-place vote compared to seven for Appalachian State and two for Troy.

With a rigorous nonconference slate that includes matchups with Nebraska, Miami and SMU, Arkansas State will need another midseason surge to ensure the Sun Belt crown remains in Jonesboro.

After competing with Pittsburgh graduate transfer Chad Voytik for the first four games last year, redshirt junior Justice Hansen is the undisputed starter at quarterback.

The former Oklahoma recruit passed for 2,719 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, adding 131 yards and one score rushing to earn honorable mention All Sun Belt honors.

Junior Warren Hand headlines the backfield after rushing for 879 yards and seven touchdowns along with 24 catches for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Seniors Armond Weh-Weh and Johnston White will also see time at running back.

Seniors Chris Murray and Dijon Paschal project as starters at wide receiver. Murray had 327 yards receiving with one touchdown last season while Paschal hauled in 22 passes for 308 yards and three scores.

Sophomore Omar Bayless, senior Christian Booker and Arkansas transfer Kendrick Edwards provide depth at receiver with prized recruit Jonathan Adams Jr., of Jonesboro.

Senior tight end Blake Mack was the team’s leading receiver last year with 652 yards to earn second-team All-Sun Belt honors.

Sophomore right guard Troy Elliott

(6-5, 297) is the only Red Wolf with starting experience on a new-look offensive line. Junior-college transfer Lanard Bonner (6-5, 330) anchors the unit at left tackle, flanked by junior Nour-Eddine

(6-5, 300) Seidnaly on the right side. Reshirt freshman Jacob Still (6-1, 288) lines up at center with Iowa State graduate transfer Jaypee Philbert (6-5, 314) rounding out the line at left guard. Junior college transfer Marvis Brown (6-3, 337) will also see time at guard with redshirt freshman Jacob Atnip (6-5, 325) and redshirt sophomore Tyrell Reed (6-5, 332) providing depth.

Allowing 21.5 points and 362.8 yards per game, the Red Wolves boasted one of the top defenses in the Sun Belt last season. Led by reigning conference Player of the Year Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, Anderson believes the unit should remain a strength despite losing seven starters.

Rolland-Jones returns at defensive end after registering 11.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss last season. With 30.5 sacks, the senior enters this season as the active career leader in the Football Bowl Subdivision and projects as a high pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

Senior defensive tackle Dee Liner totaled 34 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and one sack after transferring from Alabama. Juniors Tony Adams and Donovan Ransom rotate at noseguard while senior Caleb Caston flanks Rolland-Jones at defensive end after recording two sacks last season.

Junior college transfer Ronheen Bingham, redshirt freshman William Bradley-King and sophomore T.J. Harris provide depth for the stout defensive line.

Senior Kyle Wilson registered 79 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and three sacks at middle linebacker last season. Sophomore Trent Ellis-Brewer takes over at weakside linebacker after racking up 22 tackles and two sacks as a true freshman.

Redshirt sophomore Tajhen Chambers and redshirt senior Ben Gallagher will also see time at linebacker as the Red Wolves look to replace Xavier Woodson-Luster, who signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent.

Junior Justin Clifton returns at nickel

safety after a standout sophomore season. Clifton finished with 87 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two interceptions, earning second-team All-Sun Belt honors.

Seniors Blaise Taylor and Nehemiah Wagner project as starters at cornerback. Taylor tied for the team-lead with three interceptions and nine pass deflections last season, and earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors as a return specialist.

The senior is Arkansas State’s all-time leader with 781 punt return yards, returning three punts and one kickoff for touchdowns in his career.

Sophomore B.J. Edmonds and junior-college transfer Darreon Jackson round out the secondary at safety. Edmonds had two pass deflections in a limited role last season while Jackson racked up 94 tackles and five interceptions at Coffeyville Community College.

Juniors Jeffrie Gibson and Michael Johnson will also see time at defensive back with senior Kyle Martin.

The Red Wolves open the season Sept. 2 at Nebraska before hosting Miami, preseason No. 18 in the Amway Coaches Poll, a week later in the home opener at Centennial Bank Stadium.

Arkansas State begins conference play with an Oct. 4 trip to Georgia Southern, televised on ESPN2.