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22 NWA COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.29.2021 ELI LEDERMAN ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE When Arkansas State University begins its season Sept. 4 hosting the University of Central Arkansas, the Red Wolves will have more than 50 new faces on their roster. With transfers, freshmen from the Class of 2021 and walk-ons, ASU has been transformed under first- year Coach Butch Jones. "Roster management has been at the forefront of building the program," Jones said. "I've been really pleased and really impressed with our current team. The way they've embraced our newcomers and our culture — our mentality, our capacity for work." The Red Wolves are under the leadership of Jones and his staff after a 4-7 finish during Blake Anderson's seventh and final season in Jonesboro. With a bevy of newcomers and 15 returning starters, ASU was selected to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division after suffering its first losing season since 2010. Jones, 53, was hired to replace Anderson in December. Since his arrival, the Red Wolves have bulked up in the weight room and developed under Jones' "4th and 1" program, a curriculum centered on personal growth. "It feels like a whole new program in a positive way," redshirt junior offensive lineman Andre Harris said. "We're all here for the same goal. We all went 4-7 last year. We don't want to do that again." Under center, redshirt junior Layne Hatcher is no longer tethered to platoon JONES SETS OUT TO RIGHT ASU'S SHIP IN FIRST YEAR See WOLVES, Page 26 Butch Jones, the former Tennessee coach, will lead the Red Wolves in 2021. Jones replaces former coach Blake Anderson. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Thomas Metthe