With about three and a half minutes remaining in the 2019 Camellia Bowl, the Red Wolves were holding on to a one point lead over FIU, but were knocking on the door to a close-out touchdown just 12 yards from the goal line. First and ten, RB Jamal Jones is stuffed for a one-yard loss. Next set up, FIU calls a time out, and A-State WR Jay Adams is clearly agitated. He’s throwing up his hands, gesturing frantically at the coaching staff even before the TO is called.

I figure Adams is throwing some kind of tantrum, which isn’t good. Nobody wants to see a player lose his composure when his team is sitting on the goal line. I can see Adams and then head coach Blake Anderson jawing, waving hands. When the time out breaks, Adams jogs back into position. Seconds later, Layne Hatcher connects with Jay Adams for a touchdown in the end zone.

Adams wasn’t agitated. He wasn’t jawing. Adams had seen a breakdown in the opposing defense, and he wanted the damn ball. And he wasn’t about to let that opportunity slip by. Jay Adams: Playmaker.

**

In years past, I kind of smirked whenever I heard somebody breathlessly talk about “playmakers” as in “GEORGIA BULLDOGS JUST HAS MORE PLAYMAKERS IN THAT HUDDLE!” Okay, sure. I really didn’t appreciate what that meant. If you’re big and fast and can play football, you’re a playmaker, correct? After watching last year’s Red Wolves stagger through a full season season of football, I fully understood what a Playmaker is to a team.

A Playmaker simply does the things that, statistically and physically speakings, should be impossible but are absolutely necessary. Justice Hansen? Playmaker. Omar Bayless? Playmaker. JaVon Rolland-Jones and Blaise Taylor? Playmakers. Adam Kennedy? Damn right he was a Playmaker. These guys took it upon themselves to determine the trajectory of the game, often sacrificing their body for one more yard.

Last season’s Red Wolves had plenty of guys who could play the game of football, but nobody seemed to rise to the level of Playmaker. However, Arkansas State certainly fell victim to Playmakers. Remember when Frank Gore Jr. took control of the fourth quarter for Southern Miss? Or when South Alabama’s La’Danian Webb buried A-State beneath 160 rushing yards and three touchdowns? Or when Isaac Ukwu crushed the Red Wolves offensive line for two sacks and 2.5 TFLs?

Meanwhile, you can’t think of many instances when a single Red Wolf took it upon himself to will the team to victory. For a moment, it appeared that wide receiver Champ Flemings could have been that guy – before his daredevil style of play caught up with him. Tight end Seydou Traore led the team in receiving, and did at times make some big plays, but he didn’t seem to consistently ring the bell enough to rally the team to victory.

Last year, there weren’t enough momentum-changing interceptions. Too few finger-tip catches. Not nearly enough broken tackles or QB-rattling sacks. Where were all the dope plays?

Who well accept the role of Playmaker for the Red Wolves? It’s a question Butch Jones is likely asking, in one form or another. Corey Rucker has already been seen at practice making athletic end zone catches. Rucker could be our Playmaker. Justin Parks has drawn raves for his leadership on the gridiron and the locker room. Perhaps Parks will be our Playmaker. How about the quarterback position? Whether it’s the highly recruited Jaxon Dailey, the shrewd JT Shrout, or the versatile Jaylon Raynor, it would be terrific if one would emerge a playmaker.

The Red Wolves don’t necessarily need 11 playmakers on the field at one time. Just one would be a good start.

PHOTO CREDITS: me