NEW ORLEANS — Blake Anderson took his turn at Sun Belt Conference football media day podium Monday touting confidence in his second offense as Red Wolves coach.
Arkansas State returns 10 players with starting experience on an offense that ranked among the best int he Sun Belt last season. Five of those players were voted Monday to one of the two preseason all-Sun Belt teams, led by quarterback Fredi Knighten, last year's preseason Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
The last time Anderson, in his second season as ASU coach, had this much experience on a team was in 2011 he said, when he was offensive coordinator at Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles went 12-2 and won Conference USA that year. And though Anderson didn't boast such lofty expectations for ASU on Monday, he said there isn't a limit on ASU's offensive potential while addressing a number of topics during ASU's turn to speak at the Superdome.
"I wouldn't put a ceiling on it," Anderson said. "That's a very talented group that has had a good spring and a very good summer prep. If we can stay healthy, there's a lot of points out there that group can score."
Along with Knighten, wide receiver J.D. McKissic was named first-team All-Sun Belt, while running back Michael Gordon, tight end Darion Griswold and offensive lineman Colton Jackson were named to the second team. The Red Wolves also return their top seven rushers, their top six receivers and three starters on the offensive line from a team that was second in the Sun Belt in scoring (36.7) and yards gained (476.5) last year.
Griswold, ASU's lone offensive representative Monday, said he's been able to tell a difference during summer workouts.
"There's not even a ceiling, man," said Griswold, who caught 18 passes for 221 yards and 4 touchdowns last season. "You can feel the sense of comfort. With everybody just being on the same page, it makes everything so much smoother and so much easier."
ASU will enter camp Aug. 5 with a bit of uncertainty along the offensive line, but Anderson said that doesn't cause for too much concern.
ASU lost center Tyler Greve and right guard Alan Wright after last season and never did get settled during the spring. Anderson said Monday that ASU will enter camp with Jemar Clark at left tackle, Devin Mondie at left guard and Jackson, who will move from right tackle to right guard as slated starters.
Anderson said Daniel Keith, a freshman from Florence, Ala., will enter as the starter at center while senior Kyle Harris will enter as the starter at right tackle.
"We're going to be good up there," Anderson said. "I feel comfortable that those guys are going to get it worked out."
See Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.