As a fan, what is more painful to watch: bad offense or bad defense? We maintain that there are significant levels of horror to witnessing both, and if you endured Arkansas State football in 2021 and 2022, you are an expert by exposure. But if we were forced to categorize one being worse than the other, we go with bad defense, as bad defense drags with it hopelessness and dread. After all, in there anything more demoralizing than watching an opposing team line up on fourth down and convert? Is there a deeper chagrin than seeing your punter pin the opposing team on their own one yard line, only to see that team cross the goal line one play later?

Two seasons ago, A-State defense was a Wes Craven production of infinite terror. 99-yard scoring drives were so common that they became ineffective as jump-scares. It was expected. Running backs and tight ends (!) dashed passed A-State defenders who seemed to bear the speed of Michael Myers.

Something clicked last season, however. The Red Wolves still ranked 102nd in scoring defense, but it was a manageable 102nd. The secondary, led by import safety Eddie Smith, put a cork in allowing big plays. Most importantly, the defensive line and linebackers matured under the guidance of DC Rob Harley, sticking with their lanes and stopping RBs in their tracks.

Part of the success was playing the proper players in their proper spots. In 2022, coaches were compelled to start the seasoned and courageous TW Ayers at nose tackle – Ayers, a multi-functional player who was primarily a defensive end, was listed as weighing 275 pounds. Last season, the Red Wolves placed the 6’1″ 318-pound Micah Bland in that role.

Furthermore, linebacker play dramatically improved in 2023 under the leadership of Charles Willekes and Melique Straker, and the rising abilities of young stud Javante Mackey. Willekes and Straker would lead the Red Wolves in tackles last season, with Mackey right behind.

While the defense made significant gains at the trench’s core in 2023, the team saw critical losses at season’s end that makes 2024 somewhat of a question mark. Much will rely on veterans like Willekes and Cam Jefferey – and the abilities of young and unknown talent.  

Significant Departures (LB) : Javante Mackey, Melique Straker, Gavin Potter and Cruz Temple

After enjoying a season of decent stats and high praise at Arkansas State, redshirt freshman Javante Mackey returned to his native town and join the Memphis Tigers. Melique Straker, who finished second to Willekes in tackles last season, rather unexpectedly failed to gain another year of eligibility and has moved on towards his post-football life.

Gavin Potter, who began his career at Kansas and provided experience and depth for A-State, transferred to Tulsa, who visits Jonesboro in Week 2. Cruz Temple, who had transferred to Arkansas State from East Carolina in 2022, never seemed to crack the two-deep and entered the transfer portal again.

Significant Departures (DL): Terion Sugick, Ashtin Rustemeyer, Treviance Bronson and Micah Bland

You can’t teach big, so losing any weight on the defensive line hurts to some degree. At 6’3″, 300-pounds, Treviance Bronson’s move to North Texas was a bit of a bummer, along with Terion Sugick’s move to Murray State. Rustemeyer also transferred (Lindenwood), while Micah Bland participated in Red Wolves Pro Day is still waiting for a pro-call.

Big Retentions (LB): Charles Willekes, Cam Jeffery, Dane Motley, and Justin Parks

Losing Mackey and Straker hurt, but Charles Willekes (6’1″ 225-pounds) delivered 89 tackles last season – eight for a loss. Originally rostered by Michigan State, Willekes has provided excellent leadership and dividends since arriving to Jonesboro in 2021.

Who was the top rated athlete in the 2021 class? You’re right, it’s Cam Jeffery (5’11” 1999-pounds), who has been a fixture on the A-State defense since appearing in all 12 games in 2021. In his senior year, look for Jeffery to build on his 35 total tackles from last season, at last becoming the starter he was projected to be.

Good news, senior Dane Motley (5’11 221-pounds) is back after a very productive back-up season, where he recorded his very first Pick 6 against Texas State. Like Jeffrey, Motley is a true Arkansas State Man™, having played his entire career for the Scarlet and Black.

So you might be wondering what the heck is safety Justin Parks (6’0″ 197-pounds) doing here with the linebackers? Parks, yet another 2021 Arkansas State Man™, recorded 44 tackles out of the backfield last year, but rumor has it that Jones and Harley are interested in moving him closer to the trench.

Big Retentions (DL): Nate Martay, Tim Hardiman and Timothy Gulley

Nate Martay (6’2″ 288-pounds) transferred to the “Princeton of Northeast Arkansas” from the actual Princeton in 2023, where he immediately ranked 17th in the Sun Belt Conference by PFF among defensive tackles with a defensive grade of 61.2 and sixth in the PFF rankings among SBC players (44th among the Group of Five) with a pass rush grade of 65.0. We expect to see more in 2024.

Tim Hardiman (5’11” 294-pounds) was lightly recruited in 2021 but will be a fixture on the A-State defensive line this year. Last season, Hardiman logged 28 tackles and finished fifth on the team with 7.0 TFL.

Timothy Gulley (6’1″ 298-pounds) is a very large man who redshirted his freshman season and is looking to make up for lost playing time with a relentless barrage of punishing pancake tackles.

Valuable Imports (LB & DL): Chris Pearson, Kyle Taylor, Marvin Ham, Lucas Banks, Micaiah Overton

Chris Pearson (Houston, 6’2″ 201-pounds) is an interesting find a linebacker. A 3-star prospect out of Orange Beach, Pearson appeared in all 12 games for Houston as a freshman last season. Kyle Taylor (Tarleton, 6’1″ 240-pounds) appeared in 22 games in two seasons at Tarleton State and finished with 109 career tackles, 46 solo stops, 8.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks. Finally, Marvin Ham (Colorado 6’1″ 231-pounds) was a 4-star prospect, 3-star transfer who delivered 24 solo tackles for the Buffalo los season. Ham, Pearson and Taylor represent a nice size upgrade for the linebacker position.

Lucas Banks (MVS.6’2″ 287-pounds) is a three-year letter winner at Mississippi Valley State, where he busily acquired an ass-ton of tackles. Micaiah Overton (Texas A&M, 6’4″ 304-pounds) is a big body who may play more on the edge than in the middle.

NOTE: Overton is now officially listed as a defensive end

Future Star: Ian Jefferies

Look out for this 3-star talent who redshirted last season. Ian Jefferies (6’4″ 288-pounds) gained twenty pounds over the off season and still has room to grow.

Freshman Watch: Alex Martin

Alex Martin (6’2″ 291-pounds) is a 3-star talent local product from Parkview High who dismissed offers from Memphis, Cincinnati and Kansas State to ply his wares in Jonesboro. You can’t coach size, and Martin is as big as it gets.

Verdict

The concern isn’t experience or ability – its depth. At positions where injuries are simply ingrained into the game, the Red Wolves could use more plug-in ready bodies, especially at defensive line. For what it’s worth, Phil Steele ranks the A-State defensive line and linebackers a troubling 12th.

But one does have to like the senior experience at linebacker and the size Jones imported from the portal. Honestly, we think the linebackers are underrated. The defensive line, however, will be a complicated Rubik’s Cube for Rob Harley to solve, mixing in guys where he feels the matchups play best.

GRADE: C+