JONESBORO -- Having to replace starters lost to season-ending injuries isn't anything new for Coach Blake Anderson and the Arkansas State football staff.
It was about this time last season when ASU had to go to other options after starting safety Chris Humes was lost for the season with a torn bicep in the second game of the season. As the weeks went on, ASU lost a starting defensive end, a starting nickel back and a reserve linebacker in a slew of injuries that coaches believe contributed greatly to the Red Wolves' slide at the end of the season.
UP NEXT
ARKANSAS STATE VS. MISSOURI STATE
WHEN 6 p.m. Saturday
WHERE Centennial Bank Stadium, Jonesboro
RECORDS Arkansas State 0-2; Missouri State 1-1
SERIES ASU leads 2-1
RADIO KASR-FM, 92.7, in Little Rock/Conway; KFIN-FM, 107.9, in Jonesboro
INTERNET ESPN3.com
The serious ailments have shown up again after just two games, but Anderson said he believes the Red Wolves are better prepared this time.
"We've made significant impact in terms of depth and I think in talent across the board, and in a short time," Anderson said. "It shows here. We do have some quality players to step in who have played before."
Safety Bo Sentimore suffered a broken bone in his ankle during Saturday's 27-20 home loss to Missouri and linebacker Tajhea Chambers tore an ACL. Both injuries required season-ending surgery. However, the names of those who will take their places aren't unknown. It fact, they are some of ASU's most experienced players.
Humes, who lost his starting spot to Sentimore during fall camp, will start Saturday against Missouri State and linebacker Xavier Woodson is expected to return to the top defense after missing the past two games because of a suspension.
Woodson wasn't available for interviews this week, but defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen said he likes what he's seen from the junior who had 95 tackles last season. Woodson injured a hamstring while playing on the scout team this week, but Anderson said he's felt "pretty comfortable."
"He's ready to play," Cauthen said. "He's been champing at the bit. I think he's learned through this process. Not just about being a football player, but being a person.
"Obviously, we're a better unit when he's on the field, so we're excited about getting him back."
That means ASU has more options behind its injured starters than it had a year ago.
"Situations happen in football," Humes said. "Now I've just got to step back in my role and play ball. We recruit guys in for situations like this, so we have some depth. If a guy goes down, we won't have the same situation we had last year. We won't have to play one or two guys the entire game."
Providing there are no further injuries, Anderson and Cauthen plan to rotate three players at both linebacker spots and three at both safety spots Saturday.
Woodson, who started every game at weakside linebacker last year, learned middle linebacker during spring practice. That means he can play in both spots Saturday while working with Khari Lain, who had a team-high 12 tackles last week, and middle linebacker Quanterio Heath.
Humes, Cody Brown and Money Hunter will rotate most of the snaps at safety while sophomore Charles Grant and freshman Chauncey Mason could spell them at times.
Cauthen said he would have liked to have worked Chambers and Woodson at linebacker, giving him five players to rotate in the middle of the defense. But he said he feels comfortable with the number he has and the possibility of getting a few snaps out of their newest player.
Linebacker Paul Swanson practiced for the first time Wednesday after his eligibility was cleared by the NCAA. Swanson, Anderson said, spent time in the military and played last season at Orange Coast Community College in Coste Mesa, Calif. Anderson said Swanson will start out on special teams but could grow into a role at linebacker.
No matter where he ends up, ASU's coaches feels better than they did a year ago when injuries began to mount. At least for now.
"We're fortunate to have some guys filling in," Anderson said. "We need to stop the injury train right there because we're not deep enough to continue to get those."
Sports on 09/18/2015