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| ASU Coach Gus Malzahn |
Arkansas
State Head Football Coach Gus Malzahn held his first press conference of
the regular season here Monday, with one of the biggest things coming out today
was the release of a two deep depth chart.
It’s
no secret that Malzahn Red Wolves will be major underdogs against the No. 5 Oregon Ducks
this coming Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Some are predicting Oregon to be favored by
more than 35 points.
Malzahn
told the ASU local media Monday that he is convinced that the Duck’s defense is
better than it was two years ago when Auburn defeated Oregon for the
National Championship.
“I
think their defense is better than it was in 2010,” Malzahn said. “I thought
they were pretty good then, they are even better now. They are really big and
physical.”
Oregon
has three defensive linemen listed over 6’7 and taller, giving Arkansas State’s
offensive line coach J.B. Grimes a tough assignment this week.
“I
didn’t know they grew defensive line that big,” Grimes said after Sunday’s
Practice. “There is no doubt that they are very talented, very big and very
physical. They will give us a tremendous challenge.”
According
to Grimes, his group must be fundamentally sound against a bigger Oregon team.
“It
will be a challenge,” Grimes said. “Against a two gap team like these guys, we
have to be down in our steps.
You
can’t take a bad step. We all have to be on the same page on our footwork. We
are going to have to use a lot of good technique against these guys.”
Malzahn
released the season’s first official two deep depth chart, but was quick to
mention that this was just a starting point for his team.
“Several
of these guys will see action on Saturday,” Malzahn said. “We will be really
specific with all three running backs, all three of them are still learning our
offense. A lot of guys on our two deep will get some playing time. There is
still some competition going on at certain positions.”
One
position that has been up for grabs is the running back position.
Junior
transfer from the University of Tennessee is listed as the starter with Frankie
Jackson and Sirgregory Thornton both listed at No. 2.
Another
battle during fall camp has been at Quarterback for the No. 2 position behind
Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year Ryan Aplin. The battle
has been between Phillip Butterfield and Fredi Knighten, with
the red-shirt junior being listed first on today’s depth chart.
ARKANSAS STATE
v.OREGON SERIES:
Saturday’s game will mark the first ever meeting between Arkansas State and
Oregon. It will also be the first time that an ASU football team has played a
game in the state of Oregon.
A-STATE vs. THE PAC-12: This will be
Arkansas State’s first ever meeting against a Pacific-12 school.
STARTING STRONG: Guz Malzahn will have the opportunity to
accomplish something that hasn’t been done by an ASU coach since 1979 when the
Red Wolves play Oregon, and that’s to win his first game. Larry Lacewell was
ASU’s last coach to win his debut game, leading A-State to a 24-14 victory over
east Texas State 33 years ago. ASU’s previous six head coaches all suffered
setbacks in their first game, including Al Kincaid, Ray Perkins, John Bobo, Joe
Hollis, Steve Roberts and Hugh Freeze.
LITTLE ROCK GAME IN PROGRESS: Gus Malzahn said in today’s press conference that game in
Little Rock in the near future was something that was being worked on as he spoke.
He stated that they were working on securing an opponent for game there as soon
as next season.
COACHING RECOGNITION:
First-year Arkansas State Head Football Coach Gus Malzahn was recognized
as one of the top hires in the nation this offseason, named as the No. 4 best
hire and No. 2 most intriguing hire in the nation by CBSSports.com. He
was also one of two head coaches in the nation to receive a grade of A+ among
new hires for the 2012 season by the Sporting News. Bleacher Report’s
“Over/Under Victories” for every new head coach places A-State at nine
victories, one of the tops listed in the report.
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS: A-State returns five 2011 All-Sun Belt Conference
players this season, including the league’s Player of the Year in senior
quarterback Ryan Aplin. Aplin was a first-team selection and was joined
by second-team choices Josh
Jarboe (Sr., WR) and Nathan Herrold (Sr.,LB). Returning as honorable
mention choices are senior wideout Taylor Stockemer and senior punter Neely
Sullivent.
APLIN ON NUMEROUS WATCH LISTS: An All-America and Heisman candidate, senior
quarterback Ryan Aplin has garnered a significant amount of national attention
this preseason as he is listed on the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch
List, Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, Johnny Unitas Award Watch List and the
Manning Award Watch List. Video, action photos and biographical
information for Aplin are all available on a Facebook Page, maintained by the
ASU?Sports Information Department, called “Ryan Aplin All-America and Heisman Campaign.”
Fans and media will be able to follow Aplin’s 2012 season on the page,
where updates will be posted throughout fall camp and the upcoming season.
OREGON TO MAKE HISTORY SATURDAY: It will be the first time in 21 years a freshman has
started at Quarterback for the Ducks. Red-shirt Freshman Marcus Mariotta was
named as the starter by Chip
Kelly last Friday.
DUCKS ARE TWEETING:
Former Duck standout running back LaMichael
James tweeted out that Mariotta will be the best quarterback in the history
of Oregon. James probably wasn’t born when Dan Fouts played the game for the
Ducks.
Offense
Two Deep Arkansas State
LT-
Aaron Williams-Kevin Galindo
LG-Steven
Haunga-Tyler Greve
Center-Eric
Allen-Bryce Giddens
RG-Cliff
Mitchell-Alan Wright
RT-Zach
McKnight-Steven Stevens
QB-Ryan
Aplin-Phillip Butterfield or Fredi Knighten
Running
Back- David Oku- Frankie Jackson or Sirgregory Thornton
WR
Josh Jarboe-Derek Keaton
WR
Taylor Stockemer-J.D. McKissic
WR
Carlos McCants or Allen Muse
TE-HBack-Anthony
Kincy or Andre Smith or Darrion Griswold or Kenny Raines
Defense Two Deep
Arkansas State
DE
Tim Starson-Darius Dunaway
DT
Amos Draper-Ronnell Wright
DT
Ryan Carrethers-Dexter Blackmon
DE
Shervarius Jackson-Chris Stone
WLB
Nick Nelms-Eddie Porter
Mike
LB Nathan Herrold-Qushaun Lee
Sting
LB Don Jones-Kyle Coleman
Cornerback
1 Chaz Scales- Jonathan Victorian or Terrioius Triplett
FS
Sterling Young-Cole Lorigan
SS-Chris
Humes or Tausean Holmes
Cornerback
2 Andrew Tyron, Artez Brown or Rocky Hayes
This game against Oregon which is a
national televised game on ESPN will be the true testimony of where Arkansas State
and new head coach Gus Malzahn match up in non-conference play, and where they
are heading in the future.
