QuarterbacksArkansas State coaches made a surprising move this offseason in shifting former starting QB, Drew Fernandez, over to HB. The purpose behind that was a very good one... incoming Freshman Greg Childress. Childress has all of the gifts to be a top-tier QB for the future. He has top-rated speed (4 points higher than the fastest QB in 2016) and also a very strong arm. He will still need to work on his accuracy but coaches feel as though he'll be able to overcome any issues. Behind him returns the best clipboard holder in the country in senior DJ Pearson; Pearson may be used in a leadership role when needed, particularly when traveling to hostile stadiums. Statuesque QB Bob Lawson may also find himself in the mix if a true passer is needed to sling the ball around from time to time. All in all, Red Wolves fans have something to be very excited about at the QB position despite their former starter being demoted.
Pos Name Year Class OVR Ht, Wt Rating Rank Comp Att Yds TD INT Comp% YPA QB Greg Childress Fr 2016 79 6-0, 199 #52 QB DJ Pearson SrRS Orig 95 6-3, 196 #981 1 1 13 1 0 100.00% 13.00 QB Bob Lawson JrRS 2013 90 6-4, 222 14 21 164 2 0 66.67% 7.81 QB Bryan Reed FrRS 2015 80 6-1, 230 #340 RS HB Drew Fernandez Jr 2014 84 6-2, 230 #514 231 329 2933 19 16 70.21% 8.91
RunningbacksAt Runningback, bruiser HB Alex Turner returns for his senior season and will help relieve some of the role off of the true Freshman QB. Behind him will be two change-of-pace HBs in Hunter & Simmons; Simmons looks to be flashier but Hunter looks to be more reliable overall... the competition to see who is first off the bench will be interesting to watch. Also interesting will be to see how well Drew Fernandez transitions from QB to HB; he's a bruiser like Turner but he'll redshirt a year to become more familiar with the position.
Pos Name Year Class OVR Ht, Wt Rating Rank Rushes Yards TD YPC FUM Long HB Terrance Hollingsworth Grad Orig 1 -1 0 -1.00 0 0 HB Chris Ferwerda Cut 2015 RS WR Trey Quinn Grad Orig 4 31 1 7.75 0 11 HB Alex Turner Sr 2013 90 6-2, 217 211 1132 15 5.36 1 38 HB Andrew Hunter SoRS 2014 78 6-0, 202 #501 51 251 5 4.92 1 43 HB Kevin Simmons FrRS 2015 77 5-11, 202 #166 RS HB Earl Harrison SrRS Orig 86 5-10, 179 0 0 0 0 0 HB Drew Fernandez Jr 2014 84 6-2, 230 #514 143 559 13 3.91 2 73 HB Louis Rawls Fr 2016 76 6-1, 196 #56 FB Danny Harrison JrRS 2013 79 6-5, 265 10 23 0 2.30 0 9 FB Pierre Hughes JrRS 2013 76 6-5, 278 0 0 0 0 0 WR Jake Davis So 2015 78 6-3, 216 11 26 0 2.36 1 13
ReceiversAt the WR position is where ASU takes it's biggest hit on the offensive side. Quinn & Mack both proved very reliable over their career and will be missed. Replacing them will be Hendrix who has been used sparingly but does appear ready to step up into a larger role and also the big target in 6'7 WR Brad Wright. Wright didn't work out at TE like coaches had hoped but he's still more than capable to be a steady receiver outside. In the slot will be Sophomore Jake Davis who proved to coaches why they had a need for a deep threat. Behind the starting three, coaches aren't sure who will step up most... Goins will be a good target with decent speed but Dykes & Hines may prove more reliable in a gotta-have-a-catch role.
Pos Name Year Class OVR Ht, Wt Rating Rank Catches Yards % of Team TD YPC Drops Long WR Trey Quinn Grad Orig 57 810 26.13% 1 14.21 3 55 WR Blake Mack Grad Orig 39 600 19.35% 5 15.38 7 41 WR Kyle Campbell Cut 2015 RS 0.00% WR Allen Hendrix SrRS 2014 87 6-2, 206 #1073 16 166 5.35% 3 10.38 0 24 WR Brad Wright FrRS 2015 83 6-7, 230 #940 RS 0.00% WR Jake Davis So 2015 78 6-3, 216 51 771 24.87% 7 15.12 9 66 WR Thurman Goins FrRS 2015 79 6-1, 225 #79 RS 0.00% WR Michael Dykes SoRS 2014 75 6-0, 188 #304 14 153 4.94% 2 0 28 WR Michael Porter Sr 2013 82 6-0, 196 3 38 1.23% 0 12.67 0 19 WR Joe Hines FrRS 2015 71 5-11, 186 #413 RS 0.00% WR David Stewart Fr 2016 72 6-2, 192 #460 HB Alex Turner Sr 2013 90 6-2, 217 7 9 0.29% 0 1.29 0 8 HB Andrew Hunter SoRS 2014 78 6-0, 202 #501 14 107 3.45% 1 7.64 0 17 FB Danny Harrison JrRS 2013 79 6-5, 265 4 18 0.58% 0 4.50 2 9
Tight EndsAt the Tight End position. coaches are very excited to welcome Freshman Brad Williams. He's an excellent blocking TE but also has surprising hands that will get plenty of use. Behind him returns Rutledge who had an exceptional 2016 season and Scott who will likely redshirt to give him an extra year with the team.
Pos Name Year Class OVR Ht, Wt Rating Rank Catches Yards % of Team TD YPC Drops Long TE Brad Williams Fr 2016 78 6-5, 232 #76 TE Jeff Rutledge SoRS 2014 78 6-5, 252 #1128 36 386 12.45% 3 10.72 2 23 TE Christian Scott So 2015 75 6-5, 257 #550 4 42 1.35% 0 10.50 1 23
Offensive LinemanDespite losing starters Glover & Bell on the OL, coaches are still very excited for the group that returns. Cameron Davis slides over to C after only seeing sparse time behind McCoy and Brad Sharpe is set to take over at LT and possibly will be better than Glover was. Vincent and Moore return after a very good Freshman year and will only improve with a year under their belts. Coaches also feel good about the players available to come off the bench... all appear to be just as good (if not better) than the starting line was a year ago.
Pos Name Year Class OVR Ht, Wt Rating Rank 2016 Starts PCake Sacks LT Keith Glover Grad 2014 13 C Jhamal Bell Grad Orig 13 LT Brad Sharpe JrRS 2013 84 6-5, 293 0 LG Quintin Vincent So 2015 84 6-3, 294 #444 13 C Cameron Davis SrRS Orig 87 6-4, 264 #1425 0 RG Jared McCoy JrRS 2013 86 6-2, 301 13 RT James Moore So 2015 83 6-4, 296 #187 13 C Chris Anderson SoRS 2014 82 6-7, 320 #1499 0 LG John Landry JrRS 2013 82 6-1, 282 0 RG Mike Thompson SoRS 2014 81 6-5, 278 #750 0 RT Justin Hoffman JrRS 2013 81 6-3, 254 0 LT Marcus Fisher SoRS 2014 78 6-6, 309 #1100 0 LT Dan Williams Fr 2016 75 6-2, 261 #1143
Defensive LinemanOn Defense, without question the biggest loss will be at DT in Courtney Garnett. Garnett was a monster in the middle racking up 11 sacks on the season and leading all DLs in all stat categories. Replacing him will be very difficult; coaches will slot weight-room stud Manny Drew and Andrew Wright to try to fill up the middle of the line but it will remain to be seen whether they can come even near the production of last season. At the DEs returns Franklin & Jones who performed solidlly in 2016 but will need to be even better this season to make up for the loss of Garnett. Behind them, coaches are excited about Jackson coming off a redshirt but also expect to see incoming true Freshman Jonathon Jones find playing time with his top-end speed for a DE.
Pos Name Year Class OVR Ht, Wt Rating Rank Tackles % of Team TFL Sacks INT FF FR DT Courtney Garnett Grad Orig 27 5.81% 13 11 0 1 1 DT Eugene Sutton Grad Orig 8 1.72% 4 1 0 0 0 LE Caleb Caston Grad Orig 2 0.43% 2 2 0 0 0 LE Erik Franklin SoRS 2014 84 6-4, 257 19 4.09% 6 5 0 1 1 DT Manny Drew JrRS 2013 83 6-3, 285 0 0.00% 0 0 0 0 0 DT Andrew Wright SrRS 2014 82 6-3, 264 #1346 0 0.00% 0 0 0 0 0 RE Nick Jones JrRS 2013 74 6-3, 213 12 2.58% 6 5 0 0 0 RE Kevin Jackson FrRS 2015 78 6-1, 257 #656 RS DT Joey Marshall FrRS 2015 77 6-4, 270 #786 RS DT Eddie Nobles JrRS 2014 76 6-2, 269 #1649 0 0.00% 0 0 0 0 0 LE Jonathon Jones Fr 2016 71 6-4, 252 #111 RE Troy Patterson Jr 2016 80 6-5, 244 #846 DT Sean Foster Fr 2016 76 6-6, 297 #102
LinebackersAt Linebacker, MLB Jacob Robbins had a very exciting Freshman season coming in second on the team in tackles with 61; he'll need to continue to be a dominant force in the middle of the defense. Alongside him is Justin Holmes who lived in the offense's backfield recording 14 TFLs. Coaches expect the two will be starting together for four years and will only get better and better. Behind them, specialist LBs Reed & Wheeler have been causing chaos in the backfield during the two years they've been with the team and that will only improve with the two of them being able to split time. Horner and Denman also look to be primed to be good, they'll just struggle to find time on the field with Robbins & Holmes in front of them; things won't be much better next year with Fitzpatrick looking amped to get playing time.
Pos Name Year Class OVR Ht, Wt Rating Rank Tackles % ofTeam TFL Sacks INT FF FR ROLB Khari Lain Grad Orig 6 1.29% 2 1 0 0 0 MLB Jacob Robbins So 2015 85 6-1, 220 #61 61 13.12% 9 4 0 0 0 ROLB Justin Holmes SoRS 2014 83 6-1, 227 #326 46 9.89% 14 3 1 2 1 MLB Brian Horner SoRS 2014 78 6-0, 213 3 0.65% 2 2 0 0 0 MLB Ryan Denman FrRS 2015 78 5-9, 229 #311 RS ROLB Matthew Butler SoRS 2014 77 6-3, 222 #590 7 1.51% 3 3 0 0 0 MLB Kirk Louis Jr SrRS Orig 79 6-2, 238 #2152 0 0.00% 0 0 0 0 0 LOLB Xavier Reed SrRS 2014 75 6-2, 225 #1959 RS LOLB Daniel Wheeler SoRS 2014 74 6-1, 222 #1556 15 3.23% 8 7 0 0 1 ROLB Matthew Fitzpatrick Fr 2016 77 6-2, 220 #208
SecondaryAt DB, the loss of SS Grant will surely be felt but as always in the Red Wolfes' defense, it's next man up. Aside from Grant, all other DBs return for 2017 including blue-chipper Donte Jackson who played a Nickel role last season and will likely do much of the same this season to help cause chaos in the box. Helping Jackson will be burner Jacob Gray who played well for his first college season. Also spending time at CB will be both Caleb Roberson who looks the part of a lock-down corner and Terrance White who surprised everyone last season by leading the team in interceptions. Returning at FS for his fourth straight season starting is Brandon Young who has been exceptional throughout his career, though last year there was a slight drop-off in tackles recorded. At SS, coaches currently have Justin Clifton tabbed to replace Grant, however coaches aren't certain he's suited for a starting role at this point and may look to backups Cox and Martin.
Pos Name Year Class OVR Ht, Wt Rating Rank Tackles % of Team TFL Sacks INT FF FR SS Charles Grant Grad Orig 62 13.33% 14 3 0 0 0 FS Marques Whitehead Cut 2013 0 0.00% 0 0 0 0 0 CB Donte Jackson SrRS Orig 96 5-11, 176 #56 55 11.83% 6 0 3 0 2 CB Jacob Gray So 2015 86 6-0, 191 #180 31 6.67% 1 0 2 0 1 CB Caleb Roberson JrRS 2015 84 6-1, 181 #1685 RS FS Brandon Young Sr 2013 87 6-0, 179 53 11.40% 8 0 1 0 0 SS Justin Clifton SrRS Orig 87 6-0, 209 #2346 11 2.37% 4 0 1 0 0 SS Samson Cox SoRS 2015 82 6-0, 197 #801 RS CB Terrance White SoRS 2014 83 6-0, 178 31 6.67% 2 2 5 1 0 SS Bubba Martin JrRS 2014 83 6-2, 194 0 0.00% 0 0 0 0 0 CB Paul Stephens SrRS 2013 82 5-10, 174 16 3.44% 1 1 1 0 0 CB Ron Vaughn FrRS 2015 77 6-0, 173 #449 RS FS Brandon Scroeder JrRS 2015 77 6-2, 177 #2262 RS FS Nate Gilmore Fr 2016 78 5-11, 171 #331 CB Tyler Young Fr 2016 77 6-1, 204 #131 CB George Harris Fr 2016 72 6-2, 184 #730
KickersPunters
Pos Name Year Class OVR Ht, Wt Rating Rank FGM FGA FG% LONG XPM PTS K Andy Foster Fr 2016 84 5-10, 178 #593
Pos Name Year Class OVR Ht, Wt Rating Rank Punts Yards AVG Net Inside 20 Long P Michael Lott Jr 2014 86 6-0, 200 #1602
Lott returns at punter after a mediocre 2016 season saw him failing to drop kicks inside the 20 as often as coaches would have liked. However, that mostly is due to Lott's strong leg leading to the ball traveling more than coaches are used to. Look for his stats to improve in 2017 if coaches can reign him in like they want.
ReturnersWhen a player wins the award for best player at his position, you don't typically make a change. Davis won for best returner in 2016, particularly due to his 6 kicks returned for touchdown. However, coaches would like to provide him some relief so that he can stay on the field with the offense more often. That passes the torch to speedster HB Kevin Simmons who is just as fast as and will not have quite as big of a role in the offense as Davis. Look for little or no fall-off this season.
Pos Name Year Class OVR Ht, Wt KR YDS AVG TD PR YDS AVG HB Kevin Simmons FrRS 2015 77 5-11, 202 #166 RS WR Jake Davis So 2015 78 6-3, 216 43 1666 38.74 6 28 297 10.61 HB Andrew Hunter SoRS 2014 78 6-0, 202 #501
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Originally Posted by steelerfan
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