The Reclamation Initiative | The Coaching Career of Nico Augustine

Post by **Captain Canada** » 29 Aug 2025, 12:08

A-State strikes out on St. Cloud, rebound well with Chadwick, Johnson Jr.
By Olivia Scott | Jonesboro Newsletter

In what was a whirlwind few weeks in the transfer portal, the Arkansas State Red Wolves come away with some prized jewels, filling out their high school recruiting class with some horses in the running back room, adding junior college running back Louis Bowling out of Missouri and transfer running back Telly Johnson Jr. from Northern Illinois.

The team was heavily in the battle for Colorado quarterback Tavien St. Clair, who ended up opting to join Boise State to replace Maddux Madsen. The team, needing to fill out the quarterback room behind incumbent starter Jaylen Raynor, added Miami Hurricanes quarterback Matt Chadwick and North Carolina signal caller Bryce Baker while adding another high school arm in one-star recruit, Alan Prescott out of Memphis, TN.

Jordan Faison, the 5-foot-10, 183 pound wide receiver out of Notre Dame, is expected to take a giant leap, leading the wide receiver group that will try to fill the hole left behind by the outgoing Corey Rucker, who is now heading to training camp with the Los Angeles Rams.

Arkansas State 2026 Football Recruiting Board

RECRUIT	POS	HOMETOWN	HT / WT	NATL (POS)
LaMichael Nagy	OT	Centerton, AR	6'4"/315	#502 (#32)
David Coco	OT	Kansas City, MO	6'5"/277	#987 (#58)
Jesse Fonseca	EDGE	Trophy Club, TX	6'0"/212	#1189 (#97)
Dante Coxie	WR	Collierville, TN	6'2"/183	#1988 (#356)
Emmanuel Aromashodu	OG	Austin, TX	6'4"/289	#2852 (#138)
Zaire Dragos	HB	Biloxi, MS	5'9"/185	#2201 (#294)
Alexander Griggs	MIKE	Cocoa, FL	5'11"/215	#2321 (#141)
Matthew Brown	CB	Stuart, FL	5'9"/166	#2223 (#155)
Duke Golden	SS	Montgomery, AL	6'1"/186	#531 (#7)
Louis Bowling	HB	Biloxi, MS	6'0"/208	#2173 (#293)
D.J. Wiggins	WR	Stone Mountain, GA	5'9"/181	#2587 (#461)
Mike Lovelace	OT	Saraland, AL	6'6"/298	#3628 (#229)
Brian Medrano	DT	Starkville, MS	6'3"/283	#2684 (#127)
Keenan Cutting	CB	Nashville, TN	6'2"/176	#2750 (#198)
Seth Procter	CB	Valrico, FL	6'2"/209	#2922 (#212)
Martin Baity	WILL	Lexington, MS	6'0"/223	#2717 (#242)
Denario Rawlings	WILL	Lafayette, LA	6'1"/221	#2457 (#211)
-
Antwan Verrier	OG	Faytteville, AR	6'1"/300	#2230 (#103)
Maurice Trahan	SAM	Miami, FL	6'0"/228	#874 (#85)
Iosefa Nkang	WR	DeSoto, TX	5'9"/173	#2090 (#374)
Theo Kumar	EDGE	Bettendorf, IA	6'1"/224	#2391 (#205)
George Cookus	OT	Deland, FL	6'7"/309	#2410 (#151)
Forrest Judge	SAM	Powder Springs, GA	6'0"/216	#2693 (#237)
Ben Baity	ATH	Birmingham, AL	6'1"/209	#755 (#49)
Jayden Biggers	SAM	Fort Pierce, FL	6'4"/222	#2926 (#254)
Nick Regis	EDGE	Fort Worth, TX	6'4"/237	#2454 (#211)
Dalton Regis	MIKE	Haynesville, LA	6'1"/218	#2589 (#159)
Kevin Beach	CB	Manvel, TX	5'11"/164	#3008 (#218)

Post by **Captain Canada** » 29 Aug 2025, 12:34

Post by **Caesar** » 29 Aug 2025, 12:40

Should’ve forced the win for Penn State

Post by **Captain Canada** » 29 Aug 2025, 12:42

Pac-12 slowly being rebuild with inclusion of Boise State, Colorado State, others
Jenna McDougle | ESPN

The NCAA has announced that Boise State, Colorado State, Freshno State, San Diego State, Texas State, and Utah State will all be making the move to joining Oregon State and Washington State in the PAC-12 as the reshuffling to revive the conference has begun.

Northern Illinois will be making the move to the Mountain West along with UTEP. The PAC-12 reportedly targeted four teams in the American conference (UTSA, Tulane, Memphis, and USF) but all four teams united in declining the offer. The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC remain unchanged as the Power 5 conferences while the C-USA will also not see any change. Rumors swirled that UConn would forgo being an Independent team and join the Mid-American, but will opt out for at least another season.

Speaking the MAC, they recently acquired UMass last season, but will lose Northern Illinois, going back to an even 12 teams. The Mountain West was pillaged, losing five teams but will remain uneven with nine teams after adding UTEP.

The Sun Belt will be an uneven 13 teams after losing Texas State to the reshuffled PAC-12, which remains to see how they will react next season to balance things back out.

Post by **Captain Canada** » 29 Aug 2025, 12:43

Caesar wrote: ↑
29 Aug 2025, 12:40
Should’ve forced the win for Penn State

You ain't wrong :drose:

Post by **Captain Canada** » 29 Aug 2025, 12:58

Red wolves litter Preseason All-Sun Belt teams
By Olivia Scott | Jonesboro Newsletter

As the 2026 team comes to the horizon, the Sun Belt conference has revealed their All-Sun Belt Preseason 1st and 2nd team, and it is full of red.

The nation's leading passer last season, Jaylen Raynor, is the All-Sun Belt Preseason first-team quarterback after breaking multiple records last season. He notably returned to Arkansas State during their exodus of players that hopped in the transfer portal last season. The most noteworthy, leading rusher Kenyon Clay, is also on the All-Sun Belt team with his new squad, Southern Mississippi.

The following players were named on the squad:

First Team
QB Jaylen Raynor (Senior)
HB Telly Johnson Jr. (Junior)
WR Jordan Faison (Senior)
TE Tyler Fortenberry (Rs Senior)
LG Zuri Madison (Rs Sophomore)
RG Hayden Christman (Rs Junior)
RT Malachi Carney (Rs Junior)
DT Ian Jefferies (Rs Sophomore)
SAM Jordan Sample (Rs Junior)
WILL Aaron Alexander (Rs Senior)
K Clune Van Andel (Senior)

Second Team
QB Matt Chadwick (Rs Junior)
WR Hunter Summers (Rs Junior)
TE Tyler Little (Senior)
C Gabe Fortson (Rs Junior)
RG Tristian Smith (Rs Senior)
EDGE Ryan Reese (Rs Senior)
P Alex Colbert (Rs Junior)

redsox907 · Post by **redsox907** » 29 Aug 2025, 13:05

Captain Canada wrote: ↑
29 Aug 2025, 12:34

SN - Faison is a solid addition and should soften the blow of losing Rucker

Post by **Captain Canada** » 29 Aug 2025, 13:35

2026 Arkansas State Red Wolves Preview, Coaching Staff, Schedule
By Olivia Scott | Jonesboro Newsletter

TEAM PREVIEW
What will life look for Arkansas State in the post-Corey Rucker era? It sounds like the loss of the former All-American is being overstated but the question is legitimate. How do the Red Wolves plan on replacing what Rucker brought to the offense. Leading to the second-most receiving yards in the nation and by far the most receiving touchdowns from one player.

Replace by committee seems to be the go-to answer.

Returning starter and captain, quarterback Jaylen Raynor, is going to be relied on more than ever before. A-State faithful remember holding their collective breath early last season when it felt as though it was going to be a foregone conclusion that Raynor would hop into the transfer portal and take his talent to a Power 5 conference. However, the Red Wolves went on a run, won the championship, and Raynor committed to finish his career and rolling the dice on an NFL team seeing his talent is not limited to beating up a less-elite conference.

Losing runningbacks Kenyon Clay to Southern Mississippi and Ja'Quez Cross to graduation was tough, but they managed to rally back with incoming running back Telly Johnson Jr. coming from Northern Illinois, who's coming off his own 1,000-yard season, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. With a restocked offensive line that include converted guard Hayden Christman (Louisiana Tech) and offensive tackle Malachi Carney (Georgia Tech), Johnson Jr. was named to the All-Sun Belt Preseason first-team. With Devin Spencer, who really came on late in the season, also in the backfield, the team may have a new two-headed monster in the backfield.

Jordan Faison has come to replace Rucker as the team's de facto number one receiver. The speedster and downfield threat was buried in the Fighting Irish's depth chart, and with one season remaining, he is hoping to have a breakout season. Hunter Summers will battle for touches after his own 1,000-yard season, while J.J. Harrell and Romel Stevens are expected to have much larger roles in the offense.

Tyler Fortenberry and Tyler Little are expected to be the top two tight ends once again, with Landon Cutler is the most athletic tight end in the room and may end up pushing for more snaps.

Edge rusher Elijah Baldwin will take on replacing the departed Marcus Bradley and Bryan Whitehead with his insane length and quick feet, pairing up with second-team All-Sun Belt edge rusher Ryan Reese who is looking to breakout himself. Ian Jeffries out of Purdue is expected to take off as well with his impressive strength for his young age.

The team has reloaded on defense through the transfer portal, plugging in players in crucial roles with the expectation to continue to dominate the Sun Belt with increased expectations.

COACHING STAFF

Griff McCarley | Head Coach - Enters his first season as head coach of the team. He is one of the youngest FBS coaches after leading Arkansas State to one of the best defensive units in the Sun Belt conference last season.

Nico Augustine | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks - Former coach of Western University in London, Canada. Led the Red Wolves to one of the most impressive and productive offenses in the FBS last season.

Larry Knight | Defensive Coordinator - Knight coached the defensive ends for two seasons at Temple before coming to A-State last season. Led the defensive line to putting up a Sun Belt-leading 33 sacks last season.

Nick Grimes | Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator - Enters his fourth season on staff at Arkansas State, second in his role as offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Since his arrival, A-State’s run game has doubled its production.

Kwame Aguyei | Wide Receivers - Brought over with incoming offensive coordinator Nico Augustine, Aguyei served as the wide receivers’ coach at Western University in Canada after breaking the team’s all-time receiving records. Helped Corey Rucker to his breakout, record-breaking season last year, along with producing two 1,000-yard receivers last season.

Marquase Lovings | Running Backs - Was previously the associate head coach with HC Jones, but has had his role adjusted to just the running backs. In his 19 seasons of collegiate coaching, Lovings has coached in 10 bowl games, winning eight, and additionally been to the FCS Playoffs in two seasons.

Alex Jones | Tight Ends - Jones is in his sixth season on staff at A-State, spending the last four years in an offensive quality control role. He was previously an offensive assistant at Alabama (2018-20).

2026 TEAM SCHEDULE

Week	Opponent	Result	Record
0	OFF	--	--
1	at Memphis	--	--
2	vs UMass	--	--
3	at TCU	--	--
4	at Arkansas	--	--
5	at Appalachian State	--	--
6	OFF	--	--
7	vs Troy	--	--
8	at Coastal Carolina	--	--
9	at Southern Mississippi	--	--
10	at UL Monroe	--	--
11	vs South Alabama	--	--
12	vs Louisiana	--	--
13	vs Old Dominion	--	--
14	OFF	--	--

redsox907 · Post by **redsox907** » 29 Aug 2025, 18:40

Arkansas State looking at the rest of the SBC

that Arkansas game going to be reeeeeeal interesting

Post by **The JZA** » 29 Aug 2025, 18:52

Mans pulled Matt Chadwick :lbjooo:

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