Red Wolves National Signing Day 2017

As Blake Anderson’s 2016 version of the Arkansas State Red Wolves closed out their season with a Sun Belt championship, a Cure Bowl victory, and an 8-5 record, the staff’s sights turned towards filling needs on the recruiting trail. But where to start? Well when your offense is ranked 102 in the red zone and 106 in rushing offense, and 5 starters are leaving from the offensive line, where else but up front. The inability to create a consistent rushing game, to punch the ball into the endzone when needed, and getting stuffed on short yardage situations put all the pressure on QB Justice Hansen's arm for offensive production. The solution was obvious, go deep and go big.

OFFENSIVE LINE

• Marvis Brown: 6-3, 337, Jr., OL, Orange, Texas (Tyler (Texas) Junior College)

Ranked as the No. 4 junior college offensive guard in the nation and the No. 9 junior college overall player in the state of Texas

• Justin Dutton: 6-4, 305, Fr., OL, Guthrie, Okla. (Guthrie)

Ranked No. 28 on the Oklahoman Super 30 and the No. 3 offensive lineman in the state

• Dwayne Fisher: 6-4, 345, Fr., OL, Marrero, La. (John Ehret)

Listed as a 3-star recruit by Scout, 247Sports and ESPN.com and a 2-star recruit by Rivals

• Andre Harris: 6-5, 330, Fr., OL, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Putnam City North)

Ranked as the No. 113 guard in the nation and No. 31 overall player in the state of Oklahoma according to 247Sports

• Chase Johnson: 6-3, 286, Jr., OL, Olive Branch, Miss. (Northwest Mississippi CC)

Ranked as the No. 4 junior college center in the nation by 247Sports.com

• Jaypee Philbert: 6-5, 314, Sr., OL, Atlanta, Ga. (Iowa State)

Philbert is a 6-5, 314-pound offensive tackle coming to A-State after spending the last two seasons at Iowa State. 3-star recruit by Rivals and ESPN

• Nour-Eddine Seidnaly: 6-5, 300, Jr., OL, Silver Spring, Md. (ASA (N.Y.) College)

Ranked as the nation’s No. 29 junior college offensive tackle by 247Sports

• Lanard Bonner: 6-5, 330, Jr., OL, Birmingham, Ala. (Highland (Kan.) CC)

Listed as a 3-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports. Ranked as the No. 14 junior college offensive guard in the nation in 2016 by 247Sports.com

• Alex Novak: 6-2, 266, So., OL, Fairhope, Ala. (Southwestern Mississippi CC)

Novak was varsity football letterman at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, Ala.

Last year the team was carried by the defense and with multiple players leaving from the front line and secondary, rebuilding the “D” was also a priority.

THE D

• Tony Adams: 6-0, 344, DL, Jr., Fannin, Miss. (Jones County (Miss.) Junior College)

Ranked as the nation’s No. 31 junior college defensive tackle by 247Sports.

• Ronheen Bingham: 6-2, 222, Jr., DE, Bennettsville, S.C. (Hutchinson (Kan.) CC)

2016 first team all-region and all-conference after recording 85 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks and three fumble recoveries

• Caleb Bonner: 6-1, 194, Fr., DB, Reform, Ala. (Pickens County)

Ranked as the No. 96 player in the state of Alabama by Scout.com. 247Sports’ No. 231 safety in the nation and No. 115 ranked player in the state of Alabama.

• AJ Cayetano: 5-10, 181, Fr., CB, Atlanta, Ga. (Benjamin E. Mays)

Listed as a 3-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports

• Josh Curry: 6-2, 305, Jr., DL, Columbus, Ga. (Arizona Western College)

In his two seasons at Arizona Western College in Yuma, he tallied 64 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks

• Jefferie Gibson: 6-4, 195, Jr., S, Hope Mills, N.C. (Arizona Western College)

Spent the 2016 season as a wide receiver at Arizona Western College in Yuma after transferring from Clemson .

• Chad Gooden: 6-1, 175, Fr., S, Douglasville, Ga. (Douglas County)

First Team All-Region 5-AAAAAA selection as a senior. Named 2016 first-team all-county by the Douglas County Sentinel

• Darreon Jackson: 6-0, 200, So., S, Derby, Kan. (Coffeyville (Kan.) CC)

Originally signed with Boise State out of high school and redshirted his true freshman season in 2015. Defensive back for Coffeyville Community College in 2016 who registered 94 tackles, a forced fumble, six pass break-ups and five interceptions, including two returned for a touchdown

• Michael Johnson: 6-0, 180, Jr., S, Hialeah, Fla. (Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) College)

Listed as a three-star recruit by ESPN and 247Sports. Ranked as the No. 6 junior college safety in the nation by 247Sports.

• Kyle Martin: 5-10, 175, Sr., CB, Wichita, Kan. (Dodge City (Kan.) CC)

Enrolled at A-State last fall and participated in the 2016 season, but counts toward the 2017 signing class having played in 10 games, recording eight tackles and one forced fumble

• Hunter Moreton: 6-1, 275, Fr., DL, Fort Smith, Ark. (Southside)

2016 All-Arkansas Preps second-team selection and named to the 2016 Class 7A All-State Team

• Antwon Turnage: 6-3, 205, Jr., LB, Columbia, Mo. (Dodge City (Kan.) CC)

Enrolled at A-State last fall and participated in the 2016 season, but counts toward the 2017 signing class. He played in one game, at Auburn, in 2016 and suffered a season-ending injury

• Larry Wooden: 6-0, 180, Fr., S, Hoover, Ala. (Spain Park)

Listed as a 2-star recruit by Rivals, 247Sports and Scout. Ranked as the No. 118 running back in the nation and No. 95 overall player in the state of Alabama

SKILL POSITIONS AND YES, A PUNTER!

• Jonathan Adams, Jr.: 6-3, 185, Fr., WR, Jonesboro, Ark. (Jonesboro)

Completed his senior season with 76 receptions for 1,402 yards and 26 touchdowns

• Aldon Clark: 6-2, 180, Fr., QB, New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr)

Named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s state offensive Player of the Year after leading Edna Karr to a 15-0 record and the 2016 Class 4A state championship

• Kendrick Edwards: 6-5, 212, Jr., WR, Miami, Fla. (Arkansas)

Arkansas transfer who is already enrolled at A-State and sat out the 2016 season due to NCAA transferring rules. Participated in 11 games as a true freshman at Arkansas in 2014

• Zach Thomas: 6-1, 181, Fr., ATH, Reform, Ala. (Pickens County)

Named 2016 Second Team All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Named the Super 11 Class 1A Player of the Year as a senior by the Tuscaloosa News

• Tyler Flathau: 6-0, 185, P, Jr., Hattiesburg, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)

Sophomore season punted 44 times for 1,778 yards and a 40.4 average with a long of 60 yards