'09 Football Opponent Preview: Arkansas State
August 27, 2009 | Football
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As college football fans across the country gear up for another exciting season of action on the gridiron, UofLSports.com will give Louisville fans breakdown, analysis and things to watch for on each of the Cardinals' 2009 opponents leading up to the start of the season.
The staff of UofLSports.com continues its 2009 football season preview with an in-depth look at the Cards' final non-conference game against Arkansas State.
 | Game Buildup |
The Cardinals will meet Arkansas State for the first time in school history on October 31. UofL will return the trip in 2010.
| Season Outlook |
Expectations are running high in Jonesboro as Arkansas State enters the 2009 season with a promising outlook. The Red Wolves have been bowl eligible three of the last four years and this team will once again have bowl aspirations as they are a favorite to win the Sun Belt Conference title.
Arkansas State returns 50 lettermen and 17 starters from a 6-6 squad a year ago that featured 11 players selected to the All-Sun Belt Conference Team, the most choices to any all-conference team in over 12 years. The Red Wolves also made history in the process with their first ever win over a BCS school as they triumphed over Texas A&M in the 2008 season opener.
If the recent run of success is any indication, Arkansas State has plenty of reasons to look forward to the 2009 season.
| Players to Watch |
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Corey Leonard | QB | No. 1 | R-Senior
Corey Leonard will be taking snaps again this year as the Arkansas State Red Wolves Quarterback. Leonard, a redshirt senior, was named preseason Sun Belt Co-Offensive Player of the Year. Last year, Leonard completed 166-306 for 2,347 yards with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 516 yards on 157 attempts for four touchdowns. Entering his senior year, Leonard ranks second in school history in completions, passing yards, touchdowns, and total offense, which he ranked fourth in the Sun Belt and 38th in the nation last year. He also broke his own school record for total offense and tied a program best with 16 passing touchdowns. Leonard is one of 38 players selected for the 2009 Manning Award Watch List, as well as a nominee for the Johnny Unitas Award.
Other Key Players
| Scouting Opponent's Offense |
While the No. 2 quarterback has yet to be determined, ASU is in good hands with Corey Leonard back to take the snaps with the first unit. The 2008 All-Sun Belt Conference selection is on pace to break Red Wolves' records in four categories. Leonard is essentially the only quarterback on ASU's roster with game experience.
Including Leonard, ASU had four quarterbacks on its spring roster. Neely Sullivent, Ryan Aplin and Andre Smith all competed at the position during the spring with Aplin and Smith taking the majority of the snaps in the back-up role. ASU also signed highly-touted Phillip Butterfield as part of its 2009 recruiting class.
A talented group of ASU running backs is led by Reggie Arnold, who enters his senior season as a three-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection and former Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year. Arnold could become just the eighth running back in NCAA history to rush for over 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons. Arnold currently stands second all-time at ASU in career rushing yards.
The Red Wolves also return sophomore Derek Lawson, who emerged as an option last season. ASU has plenty of depth at the position with redshirt freshman Don Jones, sophomore Jermaine Robertson and sophomore Najel Byrd all figuring into the mix. The Red Wolves had seven running backs on their spring roster, which also included redshirt freshman Gavilan Bland and redshirt freshman Tim Dunn.
ASU also returns starting fullback Jeff Blake, while Robertson has also seen time at the position.
Arkansas State returns all-conference choice J.T. Jordan and Trevor Gillott, who was fifth on the team in receptions last season, at tight end. Jordan, a senior, was a consistent blocker up front for the Red Wolves and his presence in the blocking game has been critical to ASU's success.
Redshirt freshmen Kedric Murry and Justin Schoemehl also saw a lot of action during ASU's spring camp and give ASU additional depth at the position. Both players had a solid spring both catching the football and blocking and were highly touted recruits in 2008.
ASU returns two starters from its offensive line in guards Dominic Padrta and Drew Hilton. ASU's situation along the offensive line this year is similar to 2008 in that it is replacing the majority of its starters up front. Also much like last season, ASU has several upperclassmen with a wealth of maturity that could possibly step into a starting role.
This year three seniors and two juniors are currently at the top of the depth chart. While Padrta and Hilton are the only two returning offensive linemen with extensive playing experience at ASU, senior tackles Kiano Prater and Derek Newton, who saw a lot of work with the first team during the spring, have been in ASU's system for a year and have experience at the junior college level.
Tom Castilaw, a redshirt junior, has had three years to work with ASU's offensive scheme and is currently listed as the No. 1 center. Eric Allen is a redshirt freshman that will also factor in at the center position.
At the guard position, Sifa Etu, a transfer from Chabot (Calif.) Junior College, could possibly make an immediate impact and has turned in a solid effort this spring. Alfred Louis is listed as the No. 2 left guard and started two games last season.
Redshirt freshman Brian Evans and redshirt sophomore Delano Moore are competing at tackle. ASU added four high school players to its offensive line in the 2009 signing class as well.
ASU returns its top two leading receivers from last year's team and has a wealth of experience and depth at the position. Seniors Brandon Thompkins and Jahbari McLennan were tied for the most receptions last year.
Taylor Clements also returns in 2009 for his senior season and Anthony Robinson will be a junior, adding to ASU's experience at the position. Clements and Robinson all saw extensive playing time last season and give ASU two more players that have made contributions to the passing game in the past. The Red Wolves also have a pair of highly-touted recruits in true freshman Allen Muse and redshirt freshman Taylor Stockemer who both stand 6-4 and provide some bigger targets.
| Scouting Opponent's Defense |
ASU returns three starters along the defensive line, including tackles Bryan Hall and Khari Mays and senior defensive end Alex Carrington, who was the 2008 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Those three players are expected to anchor the defensive line.
In addition to being named the league's defensive player of the year in 2008, Carrington was a Second Team Midseason All-America selection by CollegeFootballNews.com, making him the most decorated player returning along the defensive line.
Hall, a junior, was a strong candidate for All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2008 as well.
Senior Stanley Wakwe is currently listed as a starter at defensive end on the depth chart and he has two years of playing experience at ASU under his belt. Sophomore Jeremy Gibson and redshirt freshman Timothy Starson will also compete for playing time and add depth at the position.
At defensive tackle, sophomores Dorvus Woods and Greg McCall and juniors Levi Thompson and Stanley Porter all saw playing time last year and will give ASU additional experience inside.
ASU has a group of talented linebackers that makes the position one of the deepest on the team. Senior Greg Hardy, juniors Darius Glover and Javon McKinnon, sophomores Demario Davis, Michael Adams and Elroy Brown and redshirt freshman Nathan Herrold all figure into the rotation heading into fall camp.
Hardy and Glover are currently listed as the starters at outside linebacker, but will be pushed for a starting role by Davis, McKinnon and Brown. Hardy has played middle linebacker throughout his career at ASU, but was moved to the outside during spring camp. McKinnon and Glover were both starters last year at the position. Adams and Herrold both had an outstanding spring at middle linebacker, leading to the move for Hardy.
The ASU secondary returns junior safety M.D. Jennings, senior cornerback Daylan Walker and senior safety Evan Van Dolah from last year's team. Three of ASU's four leading tacklers in 2008 were defensive backs and all three of those players return in 2009. Jennings led the team with three interceptions and was second in tackles, while Walker was the third in tackles and fellow senior Marcus Brown was fourth from his safety position.
Senior Cordarious Mingo is listed as the No. 1 corner position opposite Walker heading into ASU's 2009 fall camp. Jaquan Kilcrease is listed as the no. 2 strong safety, Kelcie McCray the no. 2 free safety and Walter Moody the no. 2 corner behind Walker, giving ASU plenty of experience in the secondary.
| Scouting Opponent's Special Teams |
Josh Arauco headlines the special teams players as a returning All-Sun Belt Conference selection and Lou Groza Award Finalist in 2008. He has been the model of consistency throughout his career, making 44-of-59 field goal attempts and holding the school record for consecutive field goals made. His 44 field goals are the most in ASU history.
ASU will have to find a new punter this season. While sophomore Ryan Wilbourn has no game experience at punter, he had an outstanding spring at the position and handled kickoff duties for the Red Wolves last season.
ASU returns Marcus Brown and Brandon Thompkins to return kickoffs and both have had some success.
The Red Wolves will look to fill out the punt returner role with Daylan Walker who has fielded punts throughout his career or Thompkins.
| Game Implications |
This marks the final non-conference game of the season for the Cards and it could go a long way to determing their bowl fate.
The countdown to the start of the season marches on as UofLSports.com provides and in-depth look at the Cards' BIG EAST game against West Virginia in its next installment.
