# 2021 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team

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. The team announced Rob Harley as their new defensive coordinator shortly after Jones' arrival.

## Preseason
### Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Wyatt Begeal QB | Cibolo, TX | Steele HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 189 lb (86 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Dennard Flowers DE | Fairburn, GA | Creekside HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Thurman Geathers DE | Acworth, GA | North Cobb HS Louisville | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Ethan Hassler LB | Collierville, TN | Collierville HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Te'Vailance Hunt WR | Texarkana, TX | Texas HS TCU | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Cam Jeffery S | Tuscaloosa, AL | American Christian | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Leon Jones CB | Hattiesburg, MS | North Forrest HS Mississippi Gulf Coast CC | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: |||||||
| Alan Lamar RB | Olive Branch, MS | DeSoto Central HS Yale | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 202 lb (92 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Bobby Mcmillian RB | Vero Beach, FL | Vero Beach HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jalil Muhammed DL | Fairburn, GA | Creekside HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Joe Ozougwu DE | Alief, TX | Taylor HS North Texas | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 238 lb (108 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Justin Parks S | Gardendale, AL | Gardendale HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Tristan Shorter LB | Oxford, MS | Oxford HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Nason Simmons OL | Canton, GA | Cherokee HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Emmanual Stevenson TE | Eufala, AL | Eufala HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Makilan Thomas OL | Little Rock, AR | Central HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Seydou Traore TE | London, England | Clearwater Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Khyheen Waleed WR | Queen Creek, AZ | Casteel HS Boise State | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 199 lb (90 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Omari Walker WR | McKinney, TX | McKinney HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Dec 16, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
Source:

### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

#### Preseason

| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| Maxwell Award | Layne Hatcher | QB | RS-SO |
| Doak Walker Award | Marcel Murray | RB | JR |
| Ray Guy Award | Ryan Hanson | P | RS-FR |
Sources:

### 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.
West Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| 1 | Louisiana | 49 (9) |
| 2 | Arkansas State | 38 (1) |
| 3 | South Alabama | 27 |
| 4 | Texas State | 25 |
| 5 | Louisiana–Monroe | 11 |
East Division :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| 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.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 14 (FCS) Central Arkansas* | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN3 | W 40–21 | 15,662 |
| September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | Memphis* | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR (Paint Bucket Bowl) | ESPN+ | L 50–55 | 19,501 |
| September 18 | 3:15 p.m. | at Washington* | Husky StadiumSeattle, WA | P12N | L 3–52 | 58,772 |
| September 25 | 4:00 p.m. | at Tulsa* | Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK | ESPN+ | L 34–41 | 14,881 |
| October 2 | 3:00 p.m. | at Georgia Southern | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | L 33–59 | 16,377 |
| October 7 | 6:30 p.m. | No. 15 Coastal Carolina | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPNU | L 20–52 | 12,086 |
| October 21 | 6:30 p.m. | Louisiana | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPNU | L 27–28 | 7,138 |
| October 30 | 4:00 p.m. | at South Alabama | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPN+ | L 13–31 | 15,043 |
| November 6 | 1:00 p.m. | Appalachian State | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN+ | L 14–48 | 9,762 |
| November 13 | 4:00 p.m. | at Louisiana–Monroe | Malone StadiumMonroe, LA | ESPN+ | W 27–24 | 12,010 |
| November 20 | 1:00 p.m. | at Georgia State | Center Parc StadiumAtlanta, GA | ESPN3 | L 20–28 | 14,273 |
| November 27 | 1:00 p.m. | Texas State | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN+ | L 22–24 | 3,116 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Central Arkansas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 14 (FCS) Bears | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| • Red Wolves | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 | 40 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ARST –13.5 | 64 |
| Statistics | Central Arkansas | Arkansas 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 |
| Central Arkansas | Rushing | Darius Hale | 13 carries, 28 yards |
| Central Arkansas | Receiving | Tyler Hudson | 7 receptions, 118 yards |
| Arkansas State | Passing | James Blackman | 16/26, 169 yards |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Alan Lamar | 18 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 9 receptions, 138 yards, 3 TDs |

### Memphis

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Tigers | 20 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 55 |
| Red Wolves | 10 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 50 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| MEM –5.5 | 65 |
| Statistics | Memphis | Arkansas 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 | Seth Henigan | 22/33, 417 yards, 5 TDs |
| Memphis | Rushing | Brandon Thomas | 18 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 6 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Passing | James Blackman | 19/28, 306 yards, 4 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 6 carries, 36 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Jeff Foreman | 8 receptions, 198 yards, 1 TD |

### At Washington

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| • Huskies | 14 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 52 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UW –17.5 | 59 |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Washington |
| 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 |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Johnnie Lang Jr. | 6 carries, 18 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Lincoln Pare | 7 receptions, 69 yards |
| Washington | Passing | Dylan Morris | 23/39, 367 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Washington | Rushing | Richard Newton | 10 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD |
| Washington | Receiving | Jalen McMillan | 10 receptions, 175 yards, 1 TD |

### At Tulsa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 14 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 34 |
| • Golden Hurricane | 7 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 41 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TUL –14.5 | 65 |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Tulsa |
| 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 |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Johnnie Lang Jr. | 4 carries, 27 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 4 receptions, 115 yards |
| Tulsa | Passing | Davis Brin | 17/25, 355 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Tulsa | Rushing | Shamari Brooks | 22 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD |
| Tulsa | Receiving | Josh Johnson | 9 receptions, 127 yards |

### At Georgia Southern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 3 | 16 | 0 | 14 | 33 |
| • Eagles | 10 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 59 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| GASO –2.0 | 67 |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Georgia 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 |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 7 carries, 54 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Jeff Foreman | 6 receptions, 83 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Cam Ransom | 2/5, 29 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Logan Wright | 10 carries, 214 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 2 receptions, 19 yards |

### Coastal Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 15 Chanticleers | 10 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 52 |
| Red Wolves | 0 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 20 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CCU –20 | 73 |
| Statistics | Coastal Carolina | Arkansas State |
| First downs | 23 | 16 |
| 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 | Grayson McCall | 18/23 365 yards, 4 TDs |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | Shermari Jones | 10 carries 113 yards, 1 TD |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Isaiah Likely | 8 receptions 232 yards, 4 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 13/29 185 yards, 2 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 6 carries 29 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Te'Vailance Hunt | 6 receptions 138 yards, 1 TD |

### Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • RV Ragin' Cajuns | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Red Wolves | 0 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 27 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –18.0 | 70 |
| Statistics | Louisiana | Arkansas 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 | Levi Lewis | 11/20, 122 yards, 1 INT |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 24 carries, 238 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Dontae Fleming | 2 receptions, 47 yards |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 16/31, 300 yards, 3 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 11 carries, 52 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Te'Vailance Hunt | 3 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD |

### At South Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| • Jaguars | 14 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USA –9.0 | 66 |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | South 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 |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 8 carries, 32 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 4 receptions, 67 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 29/39, 248 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Terrion Avery | 22 carries, 113 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 8 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TDs |

### Appalachian State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Mountaineers | 14 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 48 |
| Red Wolves | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP –21.5 | 68 |
| Statistics | Appalachian State | Arkansas 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 | Chase Brice | 15/26, 163 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Nate Noel | 23 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Thomas Hennigan | 4 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 17/30, 137 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Johnnie Lang Jr. | 6 carries, 43 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Te'Vailance Hunt | 3 receptions, 35 yards |

### At Louisiana–Monroe

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Red Wolves | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| Warhawks | 0 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ULM –3.0 | 66.5 |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Louisiana–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 |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 22 carries, 73 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 7 receptions, 103 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Rhett Rodriguez | 12/29, 160 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Malik Jackson | 22 carries, 166 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Boogie Knight | 5 receptions, 76 yards |

### At Georgia State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 3 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| • Panthers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| GSU –15.5 | 66 |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Georgia 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 |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 13 carries, 33 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Lincoln Pare | 6 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia State | Passing | Darren Grainger | 10/21, 152 yards, 1 INT |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Jaymest Williams | 16 carries, 125 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Jamari Thrash | 4 receptions, 103 yards |

### Texas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bobcats | 14 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| Red Wolves | 7 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 22 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ARST –2.0 | 62.5 |
| Statistics | Texas State | Arkansas 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 |
| Texas State | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 13 car, 125 yds, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Trevis Graham Jr. | 4 rec, 67 yds, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 25/37, 277 yds, 2 TD |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Alan Lamar | 12 car, 88 yds |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 8 rec, 85 yds, 1 TD |