The NCAA spring transfer portal cycle for the 2024 college football season officially opened in April 16, ending April 30. For the Group of Five (and fringe P4), this is 14 days of dread and horror as the Transfer Portal relentlessly sucks talent off the rosters. No use complaining. Like Thanos, college football’s destruction was inevitable.

However, the most humbling aspect of death is that life goes on. Though the Group of Five (and fringe P4) face an uncertain future, the business of roster building in preparation for the season continues, and Butch Jones is no exception. Jones, who is doggedly building the Arkansas State roster through old-fashioned high school recruiting, has batted well against Portal pitching, smacking a number of extra base hits and home runs. Where will he be focused moving forward?

Quarterback

Even before April 16, the quarterback room was awfully echo-y, with only returning starter Jalen Raynor, the true freshman Josh Flowers, and talented backup Will Pritchard watching tape. However, Pritchard and Jaxon Dailey have opted to seek fortune elsewhere. While converted WR Malik Hornsby can be used behind center when necessary, the odds seem pretty good that Butch Jones will seek a more practiced hand to motivate and instruct.

Defensive End/Line

The Red Wolves appeared to have an emerging star at defensive end in the form of Keyron Crawford, who led the team in sacks last season. However, he and defensive end contributors Dennard Flowers and Kadan Lewis have opted to find greener green elsewhere. Terion Sugick, Ashtin Rustemeyer, and Terrel James have also shuffled off. Currently the Red Wolves have four senior defensive ends on the roster, including Blayne Toll and and Georgia Tech transfer Noah Collins. Jones would likely want to see at least one more pass rusher join the huddle.

Center/Offensive Line

Upon the departure of Saidou Ba, the Red Wolves now have 13 offensive lineman on the roster, nine of which are juniors or seniors. That’s good! What’s not good is that all-Sun Belt center Jacob Bayer is rehabbing a torn ACL, and seasoned junior lineman Noah Smith is hobbling on a busted ankle. Perhaps both will be ready to suit up sometime this season. Don’t look for Jones to twiddle his thumbs, though. I expect Jones to add at least two more beef slabs to the locker room.

Wide Receiver

The Red Wolves bring back Courtney Jackson, Corey Rucker, Reagan Ealy, Adam Jones and promising sophomore Tennel Bryant. Jones has excelled at finding pass catcher sparks inside the portal, such as Jackson last year and Champ Flemming the season before. Will Jones be tempted to add one more veteran weapon for Raynor?

Tight End

Fielding reliable tight ends has been a zesty challenge since Traore Seydou left a few seasons ago. We’ve seen a great deal of talent from both Miller McCrumby and Tyler Little last season, and senior Manny Stevenson looked good last season, catching two TD passes. But those three are the only tight ends listed on the roster. Stevenson is returning from injury, but hopefully he’s good to go. It wouldn’t be out of Jones’ nature to shore up the position with a veteran presence, though.

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