Building the resume

JONESBORO -- A close look reveals a program on the brink of prestige.

Arkansas State University has won four Sun Belt Conference championships in the past five seasons, but fourth-year Coach Blake Anderson said the team's focus has extended to adding nonconference victory over a Power 5 opponent to the resume, a feat that could spur the Red Wolves to a New Year's Six bowl appearance.

Making a New Year's Six bowl appearance is an opportunity that appeared on ASU's radar when the college football playoff system was implemented in 2014, and the highest ranked Group of 5 team was guaranteed a spot in the New Year's Six.

"We truly want to bring that signature victory, that signature season to Jonesboro," said Anderson, whose teams have yet to beat a Power 5 opponent. "We love winning conference titles, and we want to continue to do that. But we want to take that next step."

In an attempt to get there, Anderson tweaked his Spread offense over the offseason, and redshirt senior receiver Dijon Paschal said that there would be "more shots down the field" this season.

The tweaks were showcased in the team's final scrimmage on Aug. 12.

Junior quarterback Justice Hansen, a returning starter, completed several deep passes -- including a 37-yard, back-shoulder pass to senior slot receiver Chris Murray.

Anderson moved Murray from outside receiver to inside receiver at the start of fall camp because Anderson said he believed Murray could be a greater threat on the inside.

"It gave us size on the outside; it gives us speed on the inside," Anderson said. "Puts him in space that he's not normally been in, and I think he's really liking what we're doing with him."

Paschal, who had receiving 308 yards and 3 touchdowns last season, is one of the outside threats.

Eligibility opens for the 6-5, 212-pound junior Kendrick Edwards, who transferred from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 2016.

Anderson said Edwards has "the potential to be as good as anybody in the country," which would be a substantial addition to a group of receivers that includes senior tight end Blake Mack, an All-Sun Belt Preseason first-team selection.

Senior running back Armond Weh-Weh is back from an ACL injury and joins junior Warren Wand (879 yards, 7 touchdowns) and senior Johnston White (472 yards, 5 touchdowns) in a backfield Weh-Weh said can "do some special things this year."

ASU does not have a returning starter on the offensive line, and sophomore guard Troy Elliott, who started two games last season, missed a portion of fall practice with an ankle injury. Anderson said he should return by the start of the season, where Elliott will join Iowa State graduate transfer Jaypee Philbert, a 6-5, 314-pound offensive tackle.

"We have to get them healthy and working together," Anderson said.

ASU has already suffered two major losses on defense.

Senior linebacker Khari Lain -- who led the team with 81 tackles in 2016 -- was suspended for the season on July 31 for not meeting an NCAA policy during the team's appearance in the 2016 Cure Bowl; senior defensive lineman Dee Liner -- a former Alabama transfer who is 6-3, 325, -- injured his groin in a noncontact drill on Aug. 15, when Anderson announced he would be out 2 to 6 weeks.

ASU's 4-2-5 defense still has senior defensive end Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, who was named the 2016 Sun Belt Player of the Year after ranking fifth in the nation with 13.5 sacks. Rolland-Jones and four other defenders were named to the Sun Belt's All-Preseason defense, including defensive backs Justin Clifton (junior) and Blaise Taylor (senior).

"We've all picked up energy," Clifton said after the final scrimmage. "I think we've all been performing the way we need to."

ASU opens the season at Nebraska on Sept. 2, and then Miami will visit Jonesboro on Sept. 9 to complete a home-and-home that started with a 41-20 ASU loss in Florida in 2014.

The Red Wolves have not beaten a Power 5 opponent since an 18-14 victory over Texas A&M in 2008, and Anderson said that must change in order to reach a New Year's Six bowl.

"Those games really matter," he said. "Without playing 3-1, 4-0 in nonconference, you don't have that opportunity at the end of the year to be ranked high enough to be in that conversation."

Sports on 08/27/2017