JONESBORO — It's a big plus for Arkansas State to have eight returning starters on defense, but there is concern with only one linebacker among that bunch.
Junior Darious Glover, 6-1, 220 pounds, is the only returning starter to the unit after finishing fifth on the team with 54 tackles last season.
"There is a lot of competition for the linebackers this season," Glover said. "We haven't been as good in practice lately, and we need to continue to get better."
Defensive coordinator Kevin Corless said the competition at linebacker has been heated lately, even though a couple of players are banged up. Freshman Nathan Herrold, 6-2, 234, has missed almost all of fall camp, and sophomore Michael Adams has been in and out of practice with nagging injuries.
"We need to get healthy and get them back so we can continue the competition," Corless said. "When we go nickel, there is some good competition between Darius and Demario [Davis] as well. No one's spot is for sure yet."
ASU must find a replacement for Ben Owens, who led the team with 87 tackles last season.
"Ben was a good football player who brought some things athletically that the linebackers we have now don't have, but the guys we have now do some things Ben couldn't," Corless said. "Ben was not a violent striker but could get the guys lined up. The guys now are a lot more physical and violent."
Arkansas State also announced Wednesday that tickets for the Red Wolves' game against Louisville on Oct. 31 in Louisville, Ky., are now available through the ASU ticket office.
Tickets at $45 each, and there are a limited number available, with priority given to Red Wolf Club members and season ticket holders.
Sports, Pages 22 on 08/27/2009