:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48717085/GettyImages-502022844.0.jpg)
National Signing Day (also known as Decommit From An Ass-Ton Of Twitter Accounts Day) is like the opening minute of The Price Is Right. Names are announced. People are clapping. Everyone is way too excited. Come on down! And then, poof, it's over. Back to your regularly scheduled programming until Spring Game.
For Arkansas State Nation Universe, the morning mood was pretty chill:
Key ingredient to successful National Signing Day... Andy's Frozen Custard !!! #BuildingAMonster Tour 2016 pic.twitter.com/DYXK52rYj4
— Blake Anderson (@CHbanderson) February 3, 2016
Eleven commits are already on campus and secure, which meant a light workload for the Arkansas State fax machine. Most of the heavy-lifting occurred months ago, when Blake Anderson & Company signed pieces like QB Justice Hanson, WR Justin McKinnis and WR Christian Booker.
On the surface, the 2016 recruiting class looks solid, if unspectacular. It will rank among the top three of the conference, a standard A-State fans have come to expect. But when you add this class to the list of transfers coming online this season, no one in the Sun Belt will approach the talent that's on this roster.
So, Who's Howling in 2016?
DE Dajon Emory
— A-State Football (@RedWolvesFBall) February 3, 2016
6’3" - 255 lbs
Bridgeville, DE
Lackawanna CC#NSD2016 #WolvesUp pic.twitter.com/ehXt70gg2r
Congratulations, Dajon Emory. The 6'3" defensive end out of Delaware was the first one signed this morning. Last man in, Armond Weh-Weh, running back out of Scottsdale, AZ. Barring any surprise announcements, the signing class appears to be complete, though Defensive Coordinator Joe Cuathen hinted at some signings in August.
Inked Up
| Name | Position | Rivals Ranking | Height | Weight | LOI | Location |
| Dijon Emory | DE | NA | 6'3" | 245 | Y | Scranton, PA |
| BJ Edmonds | ATH | 3-stars (5.4) | 5'11" | 190 | Y | Mobile, AL |
| Christian Booker | WR | 3-stars (5.5) | 5'11" | 185 | Y | Dodge City, KS |
| Justice Hanson | QB | 3-stars (5.6) | 6'4" | 220 | Y | El Dorado, KS |
| Justin McInnis | WR | 3-stars (5.6) | 6'6" | 200 | Y | Dodge City, KS |
| Jamal Fontenot | OL | 2-stars (5.3) | 6'5" | 300 | Y | Kilgore, TX |
| Kyle Wilson | LB | 2-stars (5.4) | 5'11" | 225 | Y | Hutchinson, KS |
| Javonis Isaac | TE | 2-stars (5.3) | 6'3" | 220 | Y | Lafayette, LA |
| Jacob Atnip | OL | 2-stars (5.3) | 6'5" | 303 | Y | Sheridon, AR |
| Troy Elliot | OL | 2-stars (5.3) | 6'4" | 290 | Y | Flower Mound, TX |
| Trenton Ellis-Brewer | LB | 2-stars (5.2) | 6'2" | 205 | Y | Daphne, AL |
| Logan Bonner | QB | 2-stars (5.3) | 6'2" | 190 | Y | Rowlett, TX |
| Landon James-Wilson | DB | 2-stars (5.3) | 6'0" | 180 | Y | Fort Scott, KS |
| Torrance Marable | ATH | 2-stars (5.4) | 5'9" | 180 | Y | Decatur, GA |
| Jeremy Smith | DB | 2-stars (5.3) | 5'11" | 160 | Y | Atlanta, TX |
| Jacob Still | OL | 2-stars (5.3) | 6'1" | 282 | Y | Memphis, TN |
| Ben Sukut | DB | 2-stars (5.4) | 6'1" | 185 | Y | San Juan Capistrano, CA |
| Brandon Bowling | WR | 2-stars (5.4) | 5'9" | 168 | Y | McKinney, TX |
| Armond Weh-Weh | RB | 2-stars (5.2) | 6'0" | 205 | Y | Scottsdale, AZ |
| William Bradley-King | OLB | 2-stars (5.4) | 6'4" | 230 | Y | Kansas City, MO |
| Vada King | OLB | 2-stars (5.3) | 6''1" | 233 | Y | Smiths, AL |
The recruits receiving the most buzz on National Signing Day: Ben Sukut, who had some nice offers from west coast schools, Jacob Atnip, who is described as a giant of a man, and William Bradley-King, who is considered by some on the coaching staff to be big steal.
Transferred In
| Transfers Activated | POS | Rivals Rating | Height |
| Dee Liner | DE | 4-stars (6.0) | 6'3" |
| Kendall Sanders | WR | 4-stars (6.0) | 6'1" |
| Cameron Echols-Luper | WR | 3-stars (5.7) | 6'0" |
| Ben Benton | OL | 3-stars (5.5) | 6'5" |
| Chauncey Mason | DB | 2-stars (5.3) | 5'10" |
Quality Over Quantity
According to Scout, Georgia Southern won the recruiting battle, but it was Arkansas State that elected to go with quality over quantity in 2016.
| Program | Scout Recruit Avg | Scout SBCRanking | Overall Ranking |
| Arkansas State | 2.23 | 2 | 90 |
| Appalachian State | 2.17 | 7 | 106 |
| South Alabama | 2.1 | 6 | 103 |
| Georgia Southern | 2.07 | 1 | 84 |
| Louisiana | 2.05 | 5 | 103 |
| Texas State | 2.04 | 3 | 96 |
| Troy | 1.96 | 4 | 98 |
| Idaho | 1.91 | 8 | 113 |
| New Mexico St. | 1.88 | 9 | 114 |
| UL-Monroe | 1.47 | 10 | 125 |
| Georgia State | 1.39 | 11 | 127 |
The Sniff-and-Whiffs
Not everyone has the proper pack mentality to be a Red Wolf. Here's a look at some guys who were on the recruiting list but moved on.
- Safety Mike Daniels, S, committed to West Virginia
- Kyle Mayberry, CB, committed to Kansas
- Joe Sanders, DE, committed to UCF
- Sean Brown, OL, committed to South Bama
News, Notes, and Pure Conjecture
Poached From the P5. JUCO RB Armond Weh-Weh was originally recruited and signed by Texas Tech.
Surprise Signing. Vada King, an outside linebacker out of Alabama, was a name that bubbled to the surface late last week. He had offers from ULL, Colorado State, and Middle Tennessee among others.
From The Mind of Coach Anderson: "It's a weird class....It's really become a free agency mentality. The best thing to do is to find guys that will help us immediately"
Whoever wins the QB battle this Spring will have to throw deeeeeeeeeeep.
Coach Paschall just said there isn't one guy in the WR group that doesn't run a 4.5 or below. Tons of potential!
— HowlYes (@HowlYes) February 3, 2016
Good news on the red shirt front.
Not sure if it's been mentioned before, but Anderson says LB Tajhea Chambers got a medical for last year. Still has four years to play.
— Troy Schulte (@TroySchulteADG) February 3, 2016
Robert Mondie is still waiting from word on the NCAA on whether or not he receives an extra year.
Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson said hardship waiver for Robert Mondie has been filed. "It's probably 50-50."!
— AStateNation (@AStateNation) February 3, 2016
Toasting Monsters. Arkansas State is hosting a National Signing Day Social at Centennial Bank Stadium this evening. I shall be in attendance, tweeting.
Notes from the ARKANSAS STATE SIGNING DAY SOCIAL
- D.J. Pearson, sophomore dual threat QB, is recovering from off season hip surgery and should be ready for the season.
- Tajhea Chambers, the tenacious linebacker injured early in 2015, will be ready for summer practices and has received a Red Shirt exemption for the 2015 season.
- Robert Mondie, who has applied for a 5th year of eligibility, has yet to be informed by the NCAA if said request will be granted, but he's keeping in football shape (in preparation for A-State Pro Day).
- Coach Blake Anderson mentioned that a spring scrimmage could be played in Little Rock at War Memorial Stadium, which would help spread the brand to central Arkansas.
- A glass of Scotch costs $9 at the Woodard McAlister Family Club. A beer is only $6.
- There was some nervousness among Red Wolves fans when Armond Weh-Weh was slow to submit his NLI. Apparently, the bruising RB was sleeping in late.
- Jason Martin is not planning a sequel to his Football Helmet Stunt.
- Coach Anderson has filled the Running Backs Coach position, but won't reveal his name until next week.
- TCU transfer Cameron Echols-Luper is, according to Anderson, the best punter on the roster. He might be exaggerating.
##