Arkansas State Red Wolves College Football Preview 2021: What Will Happen, Season Prediction
Arkansas State might have pulled off one of the better coaching hires in the last cycle.
It’s not like Tennessee lit it up after firing Butch Jones.
Granted, his Vols were 0-6 to start the 2017 SEC season and things were trending down with a few off-the-field issues to go along with the problems on it, but he won 34 games in his five seasons and went 3-for-3 in the bowls, and since he was canned the program has gone 15-22 and now has a new coach.
Jones spent the last three years as part of the Alabama juggernaut, finding a role on the staff as an offensive assistant, and now he’s getting another shot at a head coaching gig.
He won two MAC championships at Central Michigan, two Big East titles at Cincinnati, and now he’s getting a program that’s used to being in the mix for conference championships.
He can do big things right away.
Arkansas State is doing this in reverse. From Gus Malzahn, Hugh Freeze, Bryan Harsin and now Blake Anderson – who left to take the open job at Utah State – coaches have used ASU as stepping-stone to something else.
Jones might be back in the Power Five world with a little success in Jonesboro, but first he has to get the Red Wolves back in the Sun Belt title hunt.
Set The Arkansas State Red Wolves Regular Season Win Total At … 6.5
The offense is going to be fantastic, the defense can’t help but be better with eight returning starters and a slew of good transfers, but the schedule in an improved Sun Belt is a big, big issue.
Memphis, at Washington, at Tulsa, at Georgia Southern. After starting against Central Arkansas, that’s the start of the season – and then the schedule gets difficult.
Coastal Carolina, Louisiana and Appalachian State all have to come to ASU, but all of them are loaded.
The Red Wolves should have the firepower to keep up with the better teams, but they should have the experience, the talent, and now the coaching to at least get back to a winning record and bowl appearance.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– Arkansas State Football Schedule