2021 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team explained

Year:2021
Team:Arkansas State Red Wolves
Sport:football
Conference:Sun Belt Conference
Short Conf:Sun Belt
Division:West Division
Record:2–10
Conf Record:1–7
Hc Year:1st
Oc Year:3rd
Def Coach:Rob Harley
Dc Year:1st
Stadium:Centennial Bank Stadium

The 2021 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team represented Arkansas State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Red Wolves played their home games at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference.

Prior to the season, Arkansas State hired Butch Jones as head coach after Blake Anderson departed for Utah State.[1] The team announced Rob Harley as their new defensive coordinator shortly after Jones' arrival.[2]

Preseason

Recruiting class

|}Source:[3] [4] [5]

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Preseason

Maxwell AwardLayne HatcherQBRS-SO
Doak Walker AwardMarcel MurrayRBJR
Ray Guy AwardRyan HansonPRS-FR
Sources:[6] [7] [8]

Sun Belt coaches poll

The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 20, 2021. The Red Wolves were picked to finish second in the West Division and fourth overall in the conference.[9]

West Division
1Louisiana 49 (9)
2 Arkansas State 38 (1)
3 South Alabama 27
4 Texas State 25
5 Louisiana–Monroe 11
East Division
T1 Coastal Carolina 44 (6)
T1 Appalachian State 44 (4)
3 Georgia State 24
4 Georgia Southern 20
5 Troy 18

Schedule

The 2021 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Red Wolves will travel to Sun Belt foes Georgia Southern, South Alabama, Louisiana–Monroe, and Georgia State. Arkansas State will play host to Sun Belt foes Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, Appalachian State, and Texas State.

Troy will host two of the four non-conference opponents at Centennial Bank Stadium, Central Arkansas, from NCAA Division I FCS ASUN Conference and Memphis of the American Athletic Conference, and will travel to Washington of the Pac-12 Conference and Tulsa of the American Athletic Conference.

[10] [11] [12]

Game summaries

Central Arkansas

See also: 2021 Central Arkansas Bears football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
ARST –13.5 64
Statistics Central ArkansasArkansas State
First downs 15 25
Total yards 338 513
Rushing yards 42 194
Passing yards 296 319
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 25:58 34:02
Team Category Player Statistics
Central Arkansas Passing Breylin Smith 23/42, 296 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing Darius Hale 13 carries, 28 yards
Receiving Tyler Hudson 7 receptions, 118 yards
Arkansas State Passing 16/26, 169 yards
Rushing Alan Lamar 18 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Corey Rucker 9 receptions, 138 yards, 3 TDs

Memphis

See also: 2021 Memphis Tigers football team and Paint Bucket Bowl.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
MEM –5.5 65
Statistics MemphisArkansas State
First downs 24 35
Total yards 680 680
Rushing yards 263 98
Passing yards 417 582
Turnovers 2 0
Time of possession 24:04 35:56
Team Category Player Statistics
Memphis Passing 22/33, 417 yards, 5 TDs
Rushing Brandon Thomas 18 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving 6 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TDs
Arkansas State Passing James Blackman 19/28, 306 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing Lincoln Pare 6 carries, 36 yards
Receiving Jeff Foreman 8 receptions, 198 yards, 1 TD

At Washington

See also: 2021 Washington Huskies football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
UW –17.5 59
Statistics Arkansas StateWashington
First downs 15 30
Total yards 268 598
Rushing yards 48 200
Passing yards 220 398
Turnovers 3 3
Time of possession 25:06 34:54
Team Category Player Statistics
Arkansas State Passing James Blackman 16/38, 176 yards
Rushing Johnnie Lang Jr. 6 carries, 18 yards
Receiving Lincoln Pare 7 receptions, 69 yards
Washington Passing 23/39, 367 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing Richard Newton 10 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD
Receiving 10 receptions, 175 yards, 1 TD

At Tulsa

See also: 2021 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
TUL –14.5 65
Statistics Arkansas StateTulsa
First downs 20 26
Total yards 359 663
Rushing yards 38 308
Passing yards 321 355
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 25:36 34:24
Team Category Player Statistics
Arkansas State Passing James Blackman 23/37, 321 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Johnnie Lang Jr. 4 carries, 27 yards
Receiving Corey Rucker 4 receptions, 115 yards
Tulsa Passing 17/25, 355 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Shamari Brooks 22 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Josh Johnson 9 receptions, 127 yards

At Georgia Southern

See also: 2021 Georgia Southern Eagles football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
GASO –2.0 67
Statistics Arkansas StateGeorgia Southern
First downs 34 20
Total yards 524 540
Rushing yards 81 503
Passing yards 443 37
Turnovers 4 0
Time of possession 31:04 28:56
Team Category Player Statistics
Arkansas State Passing James Blackman 28/43, 292 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing Lincoln Pare 7 carries, 54 yards
Receiving Jeff Foreman 6 receptions, 83 yards
Georgia Southern Passing Cam Ransom 2/5, 29 yards
Rushing Logan Wright 10 carries, 214 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Khaleb Hood 2 receptions, 19 yards

Coastal Carolina

See also: 2021 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
CCU –20 73
Statistics Coastal CarolinaArkansas State
First downs 2316
Total yards 685 273
Rushing yards 294 18
Passing yards 391 255
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 36:27 23:33
Team Category Player Statistics
Coastal Carolina Passing 18/23 365 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing Shermari Jones 10 carries 113 yards, 1 TD
Receiving 8 receptions 232 yards, 4 TDs
Arkansas State Passing 13/29 185 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Lincoln Pare 6 carries 29 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Te'Vailance Hunt 6 receptions 138 yards, 1 TD

Louisiana

See also: 2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
LA –18.0 70
Statistics LouisianaArkansas State
First downs 26 22
Total yards 546 413
Rushing yards 424 113
Passing yards 122 300
Turnovers 2 0
Time of possession 32:47 27:13
Team Category Player Statistics
Louisiana Passing 11/20, 122 yards, 1 INT
Rushing 24 carries, 238 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Dontae Fleming 2 receptions, 47 yards
Arkansas State Passing Layne Hatcher 16/31, 300 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing Lincoln Pare 11 carries, 52 yards
Receiving Te'Vailance Hunt 3 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD

At South Alabama

See also: 2021 South Alabama Jaguars football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
USA –9.0 66
Statistics Arkansas StateSouth Alabama
First downs 14 23
Total yards 224 421
Rushing yards 38 173
Passing yards 186 248
Turnovers 4 1
Time of possession 24:19 35:41
Team Category Player Statistics
Arkansas State Passing Layne Hatcher 19/37, 186 yards, 3 INTs
Rushing Lincoln Pare 8 carries, 32 yards
Receiving Corey Rucker 4 receptions, 67 yards
South Alabama Passing 29/39, 248 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Terrion Avery 22 carries, 113 yards
Receiving 8 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TDs

Appalachian State

See also: 2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
APP –21.5 68
Statistics Appalachian StateArkansas State
First downs 28 13
Total yards 461 199
Rushing yards 264 62
Passing yards 197 137
Turnovers 1 3
Time of possession 35:33 24:27
Team Category Player Statistics
Appalachian State Passing 15/26, 163 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Nate Noel 23 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Thomas Hennigan 4 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD
Arkansas State Passing Layne Hatcher 17/30, 137 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing Johnnie Lang Jr. 6 carries, 43 yards
Receiving Te'Vailance Hunt 3 receptions, 35 yards

At Louisiana–Monroe

See also: 2021 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
ULM –3.0 66.5
Statistics Arkansas StateLouisiana–Monroe
First downs 22 18
Total yards 538 372
Rushing yards 94 177
Passing yards 444 195
Turnovers 2 2
Time of possession 32:23 27:37
Team Category Player Statistics
Arkansas State Passing Layne Hatcher 34/50, 444 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing Lincoln Pare 22 carries, 73 yards
Receiving Corey Rucker 7 receptions, 103 yards
Louisiana–Monroe Passing Rhett Rodriguez 12/29, 160 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing Malik Jackson 22 carries, 166 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Boogie Knight 5 receptions, 76 yards

At Georgia State

See also: 2021 Georgia State Panthers football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
GSU –15.5 66
Statistics Arkansas StateGeorgia State
First downs 16 21
Total yards 270 434
Rushing yards -3 282
Passing yards 273 152
Turnovers 2 3
Time of possession 30:52 29:08
Team Category Player Statistics
Arkansas State Passing Layne Hatcher 28/48, 273 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing Lincoln Pare 13 carries, 33 yards
Receiving Lincoln Pare 6 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD
Georgia State Passing 10/21, 152 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Jaymest Williams 16 carries, 125 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving 4 receptions, 103 yards

Texas State

See also: 2021 Texas State Bobcats football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
ARST –2.0 62.5
Statistics Texas StateArkansas State
First downs 14 25
Total yards 333 471
Rushing yards 203 194
Passing yards 130 277
Turnovers 0 0
Time of possession 24:51 35:09
Team Category Player Statistics
Texas State Passing Tyler Vitt 11/25, 121 yds, 1 TD
Rushing Calvin Hill 13 car, 125 yds, 1 TD
Receiving Trevis Graham Jr. 4 rec, 67 yds, 1 TD
Arkansas State Passing Layne Hatcher 25/37, 277 yds, 2 TD
Rushing Alan Lamar 12 car, 88 yds
Receiving Corey Rucker 8 rec, 85 yds, 1 TD

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Butch Jones credits Alabama experience for helping him land Arkansas State head-coaching job. December 12, 2020. May 7, 2021. Chris. Low. ESPN.com. ESPN.
  2. Web site: Rob Harley. astateredwolves.com. Arkansas State University.
  3. Web site: College Football Recruiting Classes - ESPN . ESPN.com . 6 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Arkansas State 2021 Football Commits . 247Sports . 6 July 2021.
  5. Web site: A-State Football Adds Four to 2021 Recruiting Class . Arkansas State University . 6 July 2021 . en.
  6. Web site: Hatcher Named to Maxwell Award Watch List . Arkansas State University . 27 July 2021 . en.
  7. Web site: Murray Named to Doak Walker Award Watch List . Arkansas State University . 27 July 2021 . en.
  8. Web site: A-State's Hanson on Ray Guy Award Watch List . Arkansas State University . 7 August 2021 . en.
  9. Web site: Sun Belt Announces Football Preseason Awards & Poll . sunbeltsports.org . 26 July 2021 . en.
  10. Web site: . Arkansas State Red Wolves Schedule 2021 . . September 27, 2023 .
  11. Web site: . 2021 Arkansas State Red Wolves Schedule and Results . College Football @ Sports-Reference.com . . September 27, 2023 .
  12. Web site: . 2021 Football Schedule . Arkansas State University Athletics . September 27, 2023 .