JONESBORO -- Kyle Wilson made only one major mistake in his first start at middle linebacker for Arkansas State last week. The problem was, it almost cost ASU its first victory.
Wilson was caught leaning too far to the right and filling the wrong gap during the first quarter of last week's victory over Georgia Southern. As he did, L.A. Ramsby darted through a hole to Wilson's left -- the very one he was supposed to be filling on the way to an easy 61-yard touchdown run.
Up next
ARKANSAS STATE VS. SOUTH ALABAMA
WHEN 6 p.m. Saturday
WHEN Centennial Bank Stadium, Jonesboro
RECORDS Arkansas State 1-4, 1-0 Sun Belt; South Alabama 3-2, 0-2
SERIES ASU leads 4-0
RADIO KASR-FM, 92.7, in Little Rock/Conway; KFIN-FM, 107.9, in Jonesboro
INTERNET ESPN3.com
The missed assignment sent Wilson slowly back to the ASU sideline and toward a phone connected to the press box, where defense coordinator Joe Cauthen was curious for an explanation.
"We had a good conversation," Cauthen said this week. "When that happens, occasionally, you just hope you can live with it. On that particular play, we didn't live with it."
Wilson proved he was a quick learner in the heat of the moment.
He and fellow linebacker Xavier Woodson-Luster did the bulk of the work in holding Georgia Southern to a season-low 162 yards rushing in the 27-26 victory. Wilson, who signed in January from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, finished with 13 total tackles and a team-high 3 tackles for loss.
Even without starting the first four games this season, Wilson is third on the team with 40 tackles and his 5 1/2 tackles for loss are tied for seventh-most in the Sun Belt. It earned him a start Wednesday over senior Quanterio Heath, and he'll likely be there again when ASU (1-4, 1-0 Sun Belt) hosts South Alabama (3-2, 0-2) on Saturday.
"I wouldn't say it's my job," said Wilson after Wednesday's practice. "But I feel like starting makes me more comfortable."
Celebrated by coaches when he signed as a player who could make an impact right away, it took Wilson a month into the season to rise through ASU's depth chart, and he did it at one of the team's most experienced positions.
Woodson-Luster has started 28 career games combined at both linebacker spots, while Heath started the first four games last season and the first four this season. Khari Lain led the team in tackles last season, and is around, too, playing behind Woodson-Luster this year. Even around all the experience, coaches pointed at Wilson as a contributor because of his motor and his penchants for contact.
But, like most junior college players, an adjustment period was expected.
"We're taking the good with the bad," Coach Blake Anderson said. "And the good is really good."
Wilson spent much of fall camp splitting time with Heath playing with the top defense. Then, after a loss to Central Arkansas on Sept. 24, Cauthen issued Wilson a challenge. He asked the junior to show up to meetings a bit earlier, stay a bit later while watching film with coaches.
In junior college, Wilson said, there weren't adjustments to a game plan. He just took the field and tackled the opposing ball carrier.
"It's really just a base line defense, and you just play the same thing week in and wee out," he said. "It's a talent-type thing."
Not at the level he plays now. He learned that during spring and fall camp, then through the first month of the season and last week in his extra sessions with Cauthen.
"It's been an ongoing process," Cauthen said. "I challenged him to come in and watch more film and come in and study. And he did that last week. He helped himself there."
Wilson was a part of a small shuffling of starters that Anderson said was based on a week of practice focused on competition. Junior receiver Sterling Stowers starting over junior Cameron Echols-Luper was another change.
"We're trying to create competition every day," Anderson said following last week's victory.
Coming off an 0-4 nonconference season, coaches were looking for answers and seem to have found one at middle linebacker. Wilson won't admit it's his job permanently, but Cauthen gave no indication that he's planning to change his mind.
"His tackling has improved, his physicality was good to have out there," Cauthen said. "He has gotten better each and every week, it's just taken him awhile."
Sports on 10/13/2016