NWADG College Football

2019

Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1159352

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 40 of 47

RAD FOOD YOU LIKE IT j u st t h e way F A Y E T T E V I L L E | R O G E R S E A T A T T H E G A R A G E . C O M THE BIG G NEW Order Online now Available Download Our App TodaY SEARCH "SMITTY'S GARAGE" IN THE APP STORE and and Celebrating 52 years as an Arkansas Gameday tradition! Your full-service liquor store at Exit 41 on I-40. Celebrating 52 years as an Arkansas Gameday tradition! Reservations & Information 479.GOT.WINE 4 7 9 . 6 6 7 . W I N E Wiederkehr Village, Arkansas Open 7 Days! 1880 Gift 1880 Gift 3324 Swiss Family Drive Wiederkehr Village, AR www.wiederkehrwines.com Celebrating 52 years as an Arkansas Gameday tradition! Sunday, August 25, 2019 41 NWA College Football Preview 2019 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette File Photo Logan Bonner is expected to be the starting quarterback for Arkansas State this season. "Our red-zone offense last year, it did cost us some football games," junior cen- ter Jacob Still said. "When we got back in January, the O-line kind of took it upon ourselves that when we get in the red zone, we got to be able to get the ball in the end zone. It's more of a mentali- ty when you get down there, to just put your hand in the dirt and move them. We shouldn't have to rely on anything other than running the ball in there." How far ASU goes in 2019 will de- pend largely on redshirt junior quarter- back Logan Bonner, who is expected to be the starter after sitting behind Hansen the past three seasons. "You can't play in this system that we play in without it being critical," Ander- son said of the quarterback position. "We chose this system a long time ago — you live and die with the quarterback play. We know that. Those guys choose to come be a part of it, knowing that's the level of pressure." Bonner has been steady through- out fall camp, and Anderson has been pleased with his progress as he prepares for his new starting role. "He's got command of the offense," Anderson. "He obviously understands what we're doing." On the defensive side, Duggan has an explosive group with playmakers everywhere, including a defensive line stacked with senior Kevin Thurmon and juniors Forrest Merrill and William Bradley-King, all of whom can get in the backfield. "I think our D-line in general is one of the best in the country," Anderson said. Said senior cornerback B.J. Edmonds: "Those guys are nasty. … They're super aggressive." Two of the Red Wolves' top three leading tacklers from last year — junior linebacker Tajhea Chambers and senior defensive back Darreon Jackson — re- turn, as well as key secondary pieces in Edmonds and junior Jerry Jacobs, who combined for seven interceptions in 2018. On paper, ASU, which was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt West division in the preseason coaches poll, has the makings of a team that should contend for the Sun Belt title, but there's always much more that goes into actu- ally winning it. The Red Wolves know that well and found it out the hard way last season. Asked at the start of fall camp wheth- er ASU can get back over the hump and claim another Sun Belt championship, Anderson gave a resounding "absolute- ly." "We need to stay healthy, but talent wise, yeah, we're as talented as any- body in the league at some positions, [even] more talented," Anderson said. "The spots that we're inexperienced, I feel good about what we've recruited. We need to eliminate a few mistakes that cost us [in] some close losses in one-possession games. We need to keep our head on straight and focus on the here and now. "But I absolutely think we can [win it]. That's exactly what I expect us to do." v Continued from preceding page

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of NWADG College Football - 2019