As Week 1 approached, the consensus opinion among most Red Wolves football fans was that Arkansas State was in for a season of pain and chagrin. The game against Oklahoma (73-0) confirmed it, and the 37-3 loss to Memphis underscored it. The team had no playmakers, no offensive identity, and it hadn’t made enough gains to defense to make up for it.

Suddenly, the Titanic reverse course. The Red Wolves would go 3-1 before entering the Bye week, chalking up a conference/revenge win over Southern Miss and a road victory of Massachusetts before falling to Troy and evaporating much of the rosy outlook many Red Wolves fans had talked themselves into adopting.

What have we learned after six weeks of football? I haven’t a scientific term to measure it, but I should think well north of plenty. After all, the questions regarding the team were both many and profound. Now we know a few things.

#1 The Red Wolves Win When The Red Wolves Discover the End Zone

Arkansas State didn’t puncture the touchdown membrane until eight minutes remaining in the first quarter of Week 3, when Zac Wallace rumbled into the end zone against hapless Stony Brook. Wallace’s run would be the first of seventeen touchdowns in the team’s next three games – fifteen of which led by true freshman quarterback Jaylen Raynor. The TD parade ended in Troy, when the Trojans powerful defense limited A-State to a field goal.

#2 The Combined Record of the Red Wolves Defeated Foes is 2-16

Stony Brook has yet to collect a victory, Massachusetts has lost every game since defeating New Mexico State in Week Zero, and Southern Miss is without victory since trouncing Alcorn State in Week 1. Arkansas State isn’t exactly defeating quality opponents, but then again, you’re supposed to win the games you’re supposed to win.

#3 The Combined Record of Foes Who Triumphed Over A-State is 14-2

Oklahoma, ranked #20 when they met the Red Wolves, are 6-0 today and ranked 5th in the nation by the corrupt AP Top 25 poll. Memphis was supposed to be struggling this season, but they’re a surprising 4-1. Troy, 4-2, has allowed just ten points to its last two opponents – Georgia State and Arkansas State. Arkansas State may not be overpowering major foes in its victories, but they’re not losing to cream-puffs either.

#4 The Red Wolves Needed Playmakers and Found Them Some

In the last four weeks, we’ve seen a number of Red Wolves rise to the playmaker’s challenge. Since being shut out against both Memphis and Oklahoma, Jeff Foreman has suddenly become Mr. Hands, securing 10 receptions for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Ja’Quez Cross is a revelation at running back (353 yards, three touchdowns) and linebacker Javante Mackey has more solo tackles than anyone in the Sun Belt.

But nobody has rocketed to playmaker status with fiercer intensity than quarterback Jaylen Raynor. Inserted into the third quarter in Week 3, Raynor has completed 63% of his passes for 850 yards and 10 touchdowns. He can run, too (194 yards and two scores). Raynor, NIL willing, is the future of the Red Wolves – along with Cross, Mackey, and a score of other young guns.

#5 Arkansas State isn’t Ready for the Big Stage Yet

Despite the promise displayed by the wealth of young talent on the team, Arkansas State isn’t quite ready to punch a dent in the Sun Belt universe. The defense is too shallow on the front line, Raynor is still finding his grove, and the play-callers don’t always seem to know how best to deploy their assets. Opponents like Coastal Carolina, ULM, Texas State and Louisiana should give fans a perfect window to where this team stands now, and where it will stand in the near future.

IMAGE CREDIT: Sun Belt Sports