Red Wolves need to grow up quickly

JONESBORO -- Michael Gordon has been trying to help Arkansas State's young running backs and wide receivers learn a bit of patience.

ASU's junior running back said he's made a habit of walking through the dorms at ASU to visit with freshmen Brandon Byner and Terrance Hollingsworth, just to make sure they are "doing the right things."

When talk of the games comes up, Gordon said it's hard for the two to contain their excitement.

"They're like, 'Man, I'm ready to play. On Saturday, I'm going to be ready to play,' " Gordon said. "I'm like, 'It's going to come, man. Don't rush it.' "

Such an eagerness might be what ASU needs, considering how much Coach Blake Anderson plans to put on first-year players in tonight's season opener against Montana State at Centennial Bank Stadium.

Even though ASU had four players on the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference teams -- Gordon, wide receiver J.D. McKissic, tight end Darion Griswold and tackle Colton Jackson -- it enters the season void of much experience behind those returners. Quarterback Fredi Knighten will make his first career start, as will three offensive linemen and six offensive players overall.

There are 10 players with starting experience on defense, but two players who signed after camp began -- linebacker Austin Copeland and safety Sterling Wright -- are on the two-deep depth chart and are expected to contribute.

"There are going to be areas where we're going to be holding our breath, but they're working hard to try to overcome that," said Anderson, who is in his first season as the Red Wolves coach. "I feel good about the team. Anxious to find out where we are."

This initial uncertainty was expected by Anderson, considering he took the job in December and inherited a roster that was unevenly distributed thanks to head-coaching turnover that produced four different recruiting plans over the past four years and different ideas on how to build a program.

For example, the day Anderson arrived, he looked at a roster that included seven tight ends with remaining eligibility, but only two running backs and five defensive linemen.

"I don't know if that came from offensive and defensive styles, or if it had to do with transitional recruiting classes," Anderson said. "I don't know what caused it, but those were the gaps that we had to address."

Anderson said this week he expects to redshirt only eight to 10 true freshmen this season, and that's if ASU doesn't have issues with injuries or discipline.

He already has had to adjust that plan after dismissing linebacker A.J. Turner from the team Monday for a violation of unspecified team rules. Turner was listed as the starter at weakside linebacker, but now it's Xavier Woodson with Khari Lain -- a true freshman from Tyrone, Ga. -- as his backup.

If no other events occur and Anderson can stick to his plan of redshirting 10 freshmen, that still means 12 of the 22 players who signed in February could play some sort of role. Of the 46 players on the two-deep depth chart, 24 are freshmen or sophomores.

While Anderson admitted to having some sleepless nights because of the inexperience, offensive coordinator Walt Bell didn't seem to have any qualms about using young skill players. Behind Gordon on the depth chart is redshirt freshman Johnston White and two true freshmen, Byner and Hollingsworth.

Neither coach would say how carries will be distributed, but both said four running backs will play.

"If they can help us win a football game, they're going to play," Bell said.

That is a similar feeling held by Knighten, who, like Gordon, has made it a point to tell the younger players they will be asked to play meaningful downs, just as former quarterbacks Ryan Aplin and Adam Kennedy told him.

"You'll mess up and people are going to hate you sometimes, but they're going to love you other times," Knighten said. "They're going to make mistakes, but everybody is going to make mistakes. As long as they learn from them, it's all going to be OK."

Sports on 08/30/2014