College Football Previews #5 and #6 - Troy and Arkansas State

Troy Head Coach Jim Sumrall enters his 1st season with modest expectations with the Trojans coming off a 5-7 finish in 2021. Troy welcomes back nine starters on Offense including four starters on the Offensive Line. The Wide Receiving Unit brings back two starters and will be led by senior RaJae' Johnson. Senior Quarterback Gunnar Watson will be joined in the backfield by junior Running Back Kimani Vidal - both players are returning starters. The final returning starter on Offense - junior Tight End Deyunkrea Lewis - gives the team another reliable option in the passing game. Troy brings back eight starters on Defense but only one starter on the Defensive Line in senior Defensive Tackle Will Choloh. The Linebacking Unit brings back all four starters and will be carried by senior Middle Linebackers Carlton Martial and Jayden McDonald. The Secondary returns three starters and will lean on a pair of shutdown Cornerbacks in senior Reddy Stewart and junior Elijah Culp. The Special Teams Unit returns intact with both senior Kicker Brooks Buce and senior Punter Luke Magliozzi both back. Troy hopes their new Head Coach can get the program moving back in the right direction. It will take some time but a Bowl Game appearance this season is possible. I predict Troy to go 6-7, finish in 3rd place in the Sun Belt West Division, and make it back to a Bowl Game. They will lose the Bowl Game but set the tone for the program going forward. The Trojans will be extremely tough to beat in 2023 and beyond.

Arkansas State had a season to forget in 2021 as the Red Wolves finished 2-10 and lost 10 of their final 11 games. Head Coach Butch Jones enters his 2nd season at the helm with modest expectations. Arkansas State welcomes back five starters on Offense but only one starter on the Offensive Line. The Wide Receiving Unit brings back two starters in senior Te'Vailance Hunt and junior Jeff Foreman. Senior Quarterback James Blackman (Florida State transfer) - another returning starter - will benefit tremendously from one season in the ASU system. Sophomore Tight End Emmanual Stevenson is the final returning starter on Offense and was honorable mention All-Sun Belt last season. The Red Wolves will use a Running Back by committee approach this season with senior Johnnie Lang and junior Marcel Murray expecting to get the most carries. Arkansas State only returns four starters on Defense and no starters on the Defensive Line. The Linebacking Unit brings back two starters in senior Linebacker Kivon Bennett and junior Linebacker Jaden Harris. The Secondary has two starters returning in junior Cornerbacks Samy Johnson and Leon Jones. There is plenty of experience at the Safety position as well. The Special Teams Unit will be led by sophomore Punter Ryan Hanson while freshman Kicker Aidan Ellison will most likely handle the Kicking duties this season. Arkansas State will make some progress this season and the Red Wolves secured the Sun Belt's best recruiting class according to several outlets which will definitely help matters. They are still at least a year away from challenging the big dogs in the Sun Belt West Division though. I predict Arkansas State to go 4-8 this season and finish in 6th place in the West Division. They won't qualify for a Bowl Game in 2022 but there is a strong possibility that they will do so in 2023 and for many years after.

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