Rarely is anybody happy with a Spring Game. The format is bizarre. The action is sporadic. Lots of guys are hobbling on crutches. It’s too hot. It’s too cold. The pretzels are left over from last season. If the offense does well, you worry about the defense. If the defense dominates, you’re on social media making unsolicited recommendations for portal quarterbacks to the offense coordinator. Nobody wins a Spring Game.

However, this year’s Red Wolves Spring Game (Saturday, April 26) will offer plenty of intrigue for those who know where to find it. Serving as preamble to what will be among the most unique season’s in program history (just trust me on this), the Spring Game won’t likely provide answers to our questions, but it might offer a few tea leaves for predicting the future.

Will Jaylen Raynor Be Challenged at Quarterback?

Jaylen Raynor followed his electric freshman campaign with an inconsistent sophomore season that saw him throw double digit picks. While the 6’0″ junior from Kernersville, North Carolina still has his name stenciled on the driver’s seat, Raynor does have compelling competition. Redshirt freshman Josh Flowers, a highly recruited 6’3″ prospect, waits in the wings. Adding another layer of pressure, redshirt junior and Southern Miss transfer Ethan Crawford, a dual threat QB who, like Flowers, entertained a bevy of P5 offers. Red Wolves fans saw a bit of Crawford last year when he ran for 80+ yards and two touchdowns in a 44-28 loss to A-State.

Both Crawford and Flowers have their issues; Flowers has yet to see college-level action and Crawford, while a prolific runner, tossed seven picks and zero touchdowns in limited time behind center. Red Wolves fans will watching all three QBs closely on April 26th.

Did the Defensive Line Get Any Deeper…or Better?

Last season, injuries depleted what was already a shallow defensive line, resulting in one of the lowest sack totals (19) in the FBS. Not helping matters is contributing defensive linemen Jayden Jones, Ian Jeffries, Brian Alston and Tim Hardiman jumping in the transfer portal.

Coach Butch Jones has been busy, adding a lot of defensive beef from the FCS and CC ranks, including Cody Sigler (West Alabama), Simeon Mitchell (McNeese), Jakwon McGinney (Hutchinson CC) and Orlando Daniels (Albion College). All have experience, but McGinney might have the biggest upside.

Jones also boosted this position through high school recruiting, adding five more to the lot, including three star talents Ryan Reese and Antonio Carter Jr. These talents will be joining A-State stalwarts Ethan Hassler, Timothy Gulley and Bryan Whitehead. Do Jones and new defensive coordinator Griff McCarley have enough horses in the stable to produce more havoc behind the line of scrimmage?

New Look Linebacker Corps

Last season, the linebacker room was anchored by veterans Charles Wilekes, Justin Parks and Marvin Ham. Those guys are gone and are replaced by a crew of fascinating transfers like Aaron Alexander (Michigan), Wyatt Wright (North Carolina State) and Javante Mackey, originally a rising star for Arkansas State is freshman season before spending a year injured at Memphis. If Mackey is at full health, he could be a significant force in the flat. Chris Pearson and Jordan Sample, key contributors from last season, return for veteran flavor. It will be interesting to see which of these players become starters.

Who’s Going to Stand Out?

Everybody will be boring laser holes into Jaylen Raynor next Saturday, but we’ll also be paying special attention to surprise returning WR Corey Rucker, who enters the season with the most career receiving yards in Arkansas State history (3037), second-most career touchdown catches (23), and second-most career receptions (180).

Many fans will also get their first look at A-State’s top 2025 recruit, Demarcus Baker, who is set to do his magic at safety. Also getting receiving an exclusive look, JJ Harrell, formerly a 4-star prospect transferred from Mississippi State. Harrell is thought to have the speed and skills to line up with Rucker and rising star Hunter Summers.

A low key study? The entire offensive line, which took some portal blows with the departures of Makilan Thomas and Elijah Zollicoffer, plus the graduations of Jacob Bayer and Mehki Butler. The Red Wolves get some portal help with Will Saxton from Southern Miss, but fans will be looking for familiar faces to step up, like Aleric Watson, Noah Smith, Ryan McGehee and Cameron Ambrose.

Photo Credit is mine