Arkansas State Red Wolves: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, looking ahead to the Arkansas State football season with what you need to know

Arkansas State Red Wolves College Football Preview 2021: Defense

The offense will be more than fine. The defense is where things need to pick up after having a nightmare of a time against decent passing teams – allowing 314 yards per game – and finishing second-to-last overall in the Sun Belt. Start with …

The defensive line. It was great at getting into the backfield and statistically it wasn’t too bad against the run, but that’s partly because everyone spent so much time bombing away.

The end pair of TW Ayers and Terry Hampton return – the 293-pound Hampton is really a tackle – and here’s where the reinforcements will really help. Pass rusher Kivon Bennett and tackle John Mincey are coming in from Tennessee, and Quay Mays is coming over from West Virginia.

Losing top tackler and all-star LB Justin Rice to Utah State hurts. He was the main man for the defense, and now it’s up to Jeffmario Brown and CJ Harris to use their athleticism and experience to be more disruptive. The incoming linebacker transfers aren’t as strong as they are for the defensive line, but at least there are more options.

– The secondary might have been awful, but at least it’s experienced with all four starters expected back. CB Samy Johnson and S Antonio Fletcher each picked off two passes, and veteran Eley Alexander was second on the team with 54 stops.

– What You Need To Know: Offense
Top Players | Keys To The Season
What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
Arkansas State Football Schedule

NEXT: Arkansas State Red Wolves College Football Preview 2021: Top Players