Les Echols - In a round about way!

I have been often accused of bringing up the most random thoughts in a conversation.  It happens when I am sitting with friends and they may be talking about one thing and I will bring up the most off-topic subject ever.  It is a fairly common occurrence and if you ever have the unfortunate opportunity to have an in person conversation with me, be prepared for it to happen to you as well.

The thought I had today was actually less random than normal and by no means is totally off topic but it did come to me in the same fashion that the other seemingly out of the blue subjects come about.  So let me try to explain what happens...

First, I will see or hear something and my mind will become fixed on that particular subject.  However as I ponder that thought, it often leads me to consider something that is related to the first thought.  As I begin to try to grasp the second concept, my mind wonders to something related to the second thought that may be very unrelated to the first.  See how this can get confusing?  This can continue for a while, as I never get my mind wrapped around any thoughts and I have a million of them floating around in what can be an empty cavern!  Then finally I loudly and proudly blurt out a question that is 7+ degrees of separation from what may have been the actual subject.  Well at least I understand how I got there!

This time there were actually two things that brought me to think about a past favorite player.  First I listened to a podcast - The Solid Verbal - which I highly recommend for college football fans. They had a guest that I think is extremely knowledgeable about football.  This individual - Chris Brown - has written a new book - The Essential Smart Football - which is very informative book about how the game is played.  His website is an outstanding place to visit - smartfootball.com - in order to learn more about the actual game of football.  Anyway, Brown was talking about his book and some of the innovative offensive and defensive coaches in America including our own Gus Malzahn.  Co-host Dan Rubenstein mentioned that Oregon and Chip Kelly would actually open up with Gus Malzahn and Arkansas State and how that could be an interesting match-up.  The guys then mentioned that Michael Dyer would probably not be available for the game and that would give Malzahn less bullets to shoot with.  So as I listened to the podcast my mind continued to wonder - keep in mind I was also surfing the web looking for something to read.  As I tried to ponder the football geniuses and how they would match up in the Red Wolf/Duck explosion next fall, I kept floating to thoughts and hopes of Dyer playing. 

So as this was happening and I was skimming the titles of things to that sounded interesting, the announcement of one of the newest Arkansas State commits was on AstateNation.com.  Brandon Cox of Conway had committed to the Red Wolves and I wanted to know more about him.  Of course my mind could have jumped to school boy days of playing football in the neighborhood since Conway high school football coach Clint Ashcraft (an A-State alum by the way) and I grew up a block from each other, but I didn't go in that direction.  Instead, I began to google Brandon Cox and found him in a list of players that attended the Dallas Under Armour Combine in 2011.  Cox was listed just above another name that my wondering thoughts couldn't avoid - Bryson Echols - Desoto, TX.

Well at this same time I was hearing the talk about Dyer not eligible to play against Oregon by the podcast crew and all I could see in my mind was the #5 on his Auburn jersey as he wouldn't go down in the National Championship Game against the Ducks.  The #5 in my mind was what helped send my eyes to see that Bryson Echols was from Desoto, TX - home of one of my favorite Indians of all time, #5 - Les Echols!  And after one google search, I find that yes - Bryson Echols - 2012 Texas Longhorn signee is the brother of A-State's Les Echols.

All that to tell you how great Les Echols was....

Les Echols signed with Arkansas State and Joe Hollis in 2000 out of DeSoto High School and made an impact immediately after arriving in Jonesboro.  After seeing action as a true freshman at the safety position, Echols added weight over the summer in hopes to provide depth at the linebacker position.  Echols couldn't be kept off the field however.  Early in fall camp Echols showed he was the spark that made the defense go.  He made hit after hit and was all over the field on every play earning the starting job heading into the 2001 season.  Les led ASU in tackles as a sophomore, junior and senior.  His senior campaign yielded the linebacker 123 tackles with 17.5 for loss.  Echols finished his career with 324 tackles ranking him in the top 10 tacklers in ASU history.  Echols is also tied for second for career fumbles recovered.  Les was a All-Sun Belt performer in his junior and senior seasons.

# 5 Les Echols was one of my favorites and I loved to watch him fly around the field knocking heads and it was fun remembering him.  Crazy how I got there, and scary for you guys to see how my mind works, but I hope you got to remember or learn about one of ASU's greats!

Young Cornerbacks

One of the youngest positions on the 2012 team will be tested pretty often this fall.  New cornerback coach David Gunn, will have a total of 7 players when camp opens barring any invited walk-ons.  Of those 7 young men, 6 will either be sophomores or freshmen.  There are some positives and negatives that can come out of this when looking at the cornerback position.  The positive is that this position could be one of the most athletic group of Red Wolves on the team and the potential is there to be very good.  The negative is that this group may not be very good until they gain that experience. 

 

Chaz Scales (5’9 170 SR) is the only upperclassman among the corners.  He has really improved in his time with Arkansas State.  Scales has excellent speed and really reminds me of former Red Wolf Daylan Walker.  The diminutive Scales has proven that he is willing to come up and make the big hit when needed and isn’t intimidated by the bigger receivers.  Scales lead the team with 11 pass break ups in 2011 and finished with 33 tackles and 1 interception.  Scales will have to play really well in fall camp to win the starting job because the young corners are bigger and taller and very athletic.

Andrew Tryon (5’10 185 RSO) was a special teams star last fall and most of his tackles came on the kickoff team.  Tryon even saw time in 2011 returning kicks allowing him to showcase his speed.  Tryon is a physical receiver that has no problem bringing the big hits.  He pushed for a starting job throughout spring practice and will again battle the redshirt freshmen when fall camp opens.  Tryon is physical enough that he could move over to the safety position and provide depth there; maybe even giving playing a hybrid position when the 4-2-5 wants to use more of a cover corner from the Wolf position.

Terrious Triplett (6’1 185 RFR) is a guy that has been talked about since the day he signed.  The previous staff bragged on Triplett and his abilities from day one, quoting Memphis Ridgeway coach Duron Sutton as they acknowledged that they stole a big time recruit in Triplett.  Triplett has outstanding size for a corner and has excellent ball skills.  Triplett is extremely athletic and coach Sutton made statements that Triplett was good enough to be a big corner in the SEC.  Triplett has a chance to be a 4 year starter for the Red Wolves.

Artez Brown (6’0 175 SO) was a major get for coach Hugh Freeze when the Red Wolves picked up the Newport, Arkansas signee after months of being committed to Ole Miss.  Brown is a very good athlete that saw action this past fall in both special teams and mop up duty on defense.  Brown has good speed and size and provides another extremely athletic young corner.

Quitin Sparkmon (5’9 180 RFR) is built in the same mold as another A-State Red Wolf/West Memphis Blue Devil – Marquette Williams.  Sparkmon is appropriately named as he is truly a sparkplug.  A guy that can come make big hits on runners or receivers, Sparkmon is smaller but has good speed and can be a very physical corner.  

Rocky Hayes (6’0 175 FR) was a big get in Gus Malzahn’s first class.  Hayes signed with Arkansas State as many were pretty sure he was headed to Orlando and Central Florida.  Hayes is in the same mold as Artez Brown.  A very athletic guy, Rocky can play a number of positions, but has the ability to be a big time corner for the Red Wolves.  It wouldn’t be a surprise if Hayes comes in and competes for a spot in the depth chart right away.  Derek Keaton (5’11 175 FR) and Hayes are almost carbon copies.  Either one could end up at wide receiver this fall, though I feel like Keaton may be the one that actually does make the move to offense.  Walk-on TeDarius Turner (5’8 175 RFR) will also compete at cornerback this fall and should see time on the special teams this fall.

Cornerback may have the most talented group of young players on the Red Wolf squad.  This group can end up being a strength of the defense, however it may take some bumps and bruises before they get there.  As a group they remind me of the safeties in 2004 when Tyrell Johnson and Khayyam Burns started as redshirt freshmen and classmate Darren Toney played a backup role as well as seeing time at corner.  All three guys had good size, good speed, and all three had time in professional football (Minnesota drafted Johnson in the 2nd round and he is still playing with the Miami Dolphins).  This group of cornerbacks all have good size, speed, and athleticism and are very similar to talent level of the 2004 safeties.  However that young 2004 squad struggled at times before becoming a big time group of prospects.  This group may do the same, but the expectations may be higher in 2012 for quicker improvement.

Offer List (5/14/12) Update

 This list is of the 2013 football recruits that A-State has offered.  If a player has committed to ArkSt we will highlight them with RED text.  Some of these guys have committed elsewhere - and will be highlighted with GOLD text.  We will continue to watch the recruiting sites as well as following twitter and other news outlets to keep the list as updated as possible.   (UPDATE - 5/14/12)

QUARTERBACKS
  

Austin	Allen	QB	6'2	217	Fayetteville HS	AR
Ryan	Buchanan	QB	6'4	200	Jackson Prep	MS
Tyler (TJ)	Douglas	QB	6'1	175	Fort Myers HS	FL
Damion	Hobbs	QB	6'2	200	Cedar Hill HS	TX
Anthony	Jennings	QB	6'2	205	Marietta HS	GA
Jeremy	Johnson	QB	6'6	215	Carver HS	AL
Ben	Oberste	QB	6'2	203	Sallisaw HS	OK
Jalen	Reeves-Maybin	QB	6'1	205	Northeast HS	TN
Jason	Smith	QB	6'1	175	McGill Toolen HS	AL

RUNNING BACKS
  

Mark	Dodson	RB	5'10	185	Whitehaven HS	TN
Cornelius	Elder	RB	5'9	160	Ensworth HS	TN
Jonathan	Ford	RB	5'11	190	New Hope HS	AL
Quinten	James	RB	6'1	215	North Cobb HS	GA
Korliss	Marshall	RB	6'0	185	Osceola HS	AR
Tevin	Spells	RB	5'10	200	Miami Atlantic HS	FL
Taijuan	Thomas	RB	5'9	175	Ouachita Parish HS	LA
Corion	Webster	RB	5'11	185	Atlanta HS	TX

WIDE RECEIVERS
 

Markeith	Ambles	WR	6'2	200	Arizona Western JC	GA
Tyler	Boyd	WR	6'1	175	Clairton HS	PA
Justin	Hunt	WR	6'2	185	Whitehaven HS	TN
Anthony	Johnson	WR	6'5	200	Maplesville HS	AL
Jarren	Johnson	WR	6'0	175	Jackson HS	AL
Isaiah	Jones	WR	6'1	170	Stephen F. Austin HS	TX
Carl	Lee	WR	6'4	190	McGill Toolen HS	AL
Gerald	Perry	WR	5'11	175	Whitehaven HS	TN
Terrish	Webb	WR	6'0	175	Clairton HS	PA

TIGHT ENDS
  

Hunter	Henry	TE	6'6	235	Pulaski Academy	AR
Nick	Byrne	TE	6'4	200	Har-Ber HS	AR
Barret	Burns	TE	6'4	220	Etowah HS	GA

OFFENSIVE LINE

 

Bobby	Billingsley	C	6'2	273	Memphis East HS	TN
Brad	North	C	6'3	280	Allen HS	TX
Rob	Boyd	OG	6'4	285	Vian HS	OK
Deon	Mix	OG	6'4	305	South Panola HS	MS
Forrest	Reedy	OG	6'4	285	Huntsville HS	TX
Daronte	Bouldin	OT	6'6	310	Canton HS	MS
Davion	Johnson	OT	64	315	Byhalia HS	MS
Harrison	Louden	OT	6'5	265	McGill Toolen HS	AL
Alex	Mayes	OT	6'6	275	Van Alstyne HS	TX
Christian	Morris	OT	6'6	285	Memphis East HS	TN
Jesse	Robinson	OT	6'5	280	LD Bell HS	TX

DEFENSIVE LINE

 

Frankie	Davis	DE	6'3	225	Broken Arrow HS	OK
Ulric	Jones	DE	6'6	250	Oxford HS	AL
Naim	Mustafaa	DE	6'4	235	Alpharetta HS	GA
Trent	Simpson	DE	6'5	230	Oxford HS	AL
Byron	Bonds	DT	6'2	280	Allen HS	TX
Ben	Bradley	DT	6'2	315	Hutchinson (KS) CC	GA
Keith	Bryant	DT	6'2	290	Atlantic HS	FL
Logan	Cart	DT	6'4	300	Owensboro Catholic HS	KY
Marquel	Combs	DT	6'3	305	Pierce (CA) CC	TN
Rod	Crayton	DT	6'1	285	Dadeville HS	AL
David	Elias	DT	6'2	255	Dutchtown HS	LA
Toby	Johnson	DT	6'4	290	Hutchinson (KS) CC	GA
Herbert	Moore	DT	6'2	320	East HS	TN
Demaris	Peppers	DT	6'3	265	Fairley HS	TN

LINEBACKERS
 

Larry	Butler	LB	6'1	245	Eastern Arizona JC	LA
Kimmie	Carson	LB	6'2	210	East Central HS	OK
Brooks	Ellis	LB	6'2	215	Fayetteville HS	AR
Jonathan	Jackson	LB	6'0	215	Mayfield HS	KY
Marcus	Robinson	LB	6'4	215	Memphis East HS	TN

SAFETIES
 

Alex	Brignoni	S	6'2	195	Fayetteville HS	AR
Justin	Cox	S	6'3	190	East Miss JC	MS
Everett	Dickerson	S	6'0	170	Atlanta HS	TX
Khari	Harding	S	6'2	205	Santa Fe HS	OK
Titus	Howard	S	6'3	180	Clairton HS	PA
Travis	McCollum	S	6'3	190	Clay-Chalkville HS	AL

CORNERBACKS

Maurice	Chandler	CB	6'1	185	Lawton HS	OK
Jonathan	Cook	CB	6'0	175	Spanish Fort HS	AL
Jamar	Criswell	CB	5'9	165	Morrilton HS	AR
Cedric	Jones	CB	6'1	180	Memphis East HS	TN
Jatrae	Madison	CB	5'9	160	Fayette County HS	AL
Nick	Marshall	CB	6'1	185	Garden City (KS) CC	GA
Dennis	Oxendine	CB	6'0	190	Tates Creek HS	KY
Jalen	Ramsey	CB	5'11	180	Brentwood Academy	TN
Darrius	Sims	CB	5'10	170	Whitehaven HS	TN
Jalen	Square	CB	5'10	180	McGill Toolen HS	AL
Stanvon	Taylor	CB	6'0	175	East Central HS	OK

Safeties

The John Thompson 2012 defense will be a fast, attacking 4-2-5 group that will need to be the yang to Gus Malzahn’s ying.  This defense will take one of the linebacker positions and turn it into a hybrid position that will help defend against teams that are more spread oriented.  Along with the free safety and rover (strong safety), the Wolf position will be the hybrid that will allow ASU's best athlete to use his speed to attack the offense.

Don Jones (6’1 210 RSR) will be the Wolf!  He is the Red Wolves’ best chance to keep the consecutive NFL draft pick run going.  Jones started at A-State as a running back but after having academic issues and a brief detour to junior college, he blossomed as a safety for the Red Wolves in 2011.   Jones finished with 54 tackles in 2011 and seemed to be all over the field at times.  Jones, who is the fastest player on the squad, may be the answer to replacing Demario Davis’ production from last season.  Jones around and get used in a variety of roles allowing John Thompson to disguise his defenses. 

 

Sterling Young (6’2 185 RSO) was forced into action at Free Safety early last season when AJ Hills decided football wasn’t his main interest.  Young may have been my choice for most improved player last fall (One of a number of awards we will name at the end of 2012 in our RedWolfNation Award Series).  Young actually finished the season with 51 tackles and even had a pick six.  Young should be a grizzled veteran this fall as a sophomore and will help Jones lead a very young secondary. 

 

Kyle Coleman (6’1 215 SO) will be in the lead for the Rover when camp opens this fall.  Coleman may not have the overall speed that Don Jones has but is very similar in that he could be a guy that can play a safety or a linebacker position.  Coleman has excellent bloodlines as his dad was a NFL linebacker for a number of years.  Kyle will provide very solid help in the run game and has the athleticism to be a good defensive back but will be vulnerable in the pass game until he becomes more comfortable in his role.

Post Spring Twos - Depth will be the issue at the safety positions.  Coming out of spring practice the number 2 guys at all three roles were walk-ons.  Wolf - Charleston Girley (6’1 190 FR), FS - Jonathan Victorian (6’0 185 SR) and Rover - Cole Lorigan (5’10 170 RSR) will all see significant competition when the incoming recruits show up this fall.  Girley showed several big time hits throughout spring and has good size and speed.  Victorian and Lorigan are both seniors that have been around and have moved from cornerback to the safety positions.  They have had the chance at CB to be a cover man, now they need to prove the ability to come up and provide support for the run defense.

     

Newcomers - James Bradberry (6’1 190 RFR) redshirted last season and was highly thought of by the previous staff.  He should compete at free safety this fall.  Tres Houston (6’2 180 SO) was signed as a defensive back even though he played wide receiver in junior college.  There is a bigger need at safety than wide receiver this fall and Houston can come in and compete for the free safety job right away.  The goal is that Houston can provide at least solid depth but will need to prove he can be a defender after a JC year as a wide receiver and having been a quarterback in high school.  Two freshmen that could step into the depth chart at the safety positions are Chris Humes (6’1 190 FR) and Todd Mays (6’0 200 FR).   Both guys will need to be ready to play as soon as fall camp opens and will need good summers to prepare for the Division I level of play.

Safety will be a very interesting position to watch this fall.  Don Jones, and Sterling Young are both talented and experienced guys, however the rest of the candidates for starters or depth positions are going to be very young.  The talent will be there, but the question is how quickly will the young talent adjust to playing daily at Division I.  Jones and Young will need to carry the load and help this young group grow quickly.  One thing that could help the development of these guys is that Thompson is slated to coach the safeties for the Red Wolves and should provide excellent mentoring for a talented but young group.