Arkansas State Red Wolves wide receiver Corey Rucker (7) scores a touchdown against Northern Illinois Huskies defensive back Jacob Finley (20) in first half action in the Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday December 23, 2023. © Mickey Welsh / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — Blink and you’ll miss them.
Arkansas State’s offense — which 20th-ranked Iowa State will face Saturday — moves at such a brisk pace, the term “tempo” seems an inadequate description.
“They’re really like (the Big 12) was when we first got here,” said the Cyclones’ veteran defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, whose unit is tied for second in the Big 12 in points allowed per game at 11.0. “(It’s) 100 miles an hour and see how many plays they can run.”
The Red Wolves (2-1) are tied for fourth nationally in offensive plays this season with 234, but there’s a reason they’re 22-point underdogs to ISU (2-0).
Arkansas State averages a meager 4.84 yards per play, which ranks 117th among FBS teams. And in last week’s 28-18 loss at No. 18 Michigan, the Red Wolves didn’t score a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter and averaged just 2.3 yards per rush, so playing fast doesn’t always equate to piling up yardage and points.
Still, the quick pace could challenge the Cyclones’ defense, especially at linebacker, where key players such as Caleb Bacon and Will McLaughlin remain out for the foreseeable future.
“They’ve got a great quarterback,” redshirt freshman linebacker Kooper Ebel said. “They’ve got great depth at running back. We’re taking them very seriously.”
As ISU should, despite being a three-touchdown favorite. Arkansas State could play two quarterbacks — Jaylen Raynor and Central Florida transfer Timmy McClain — and both can extend plays with their athletic ability. McClain threw two late touchdown passes against the Wolverines and Raynor racked up 317 passing yards and a touchdown in a comeback 34-31 season-opening win over Central Arkansas.
“(Raynor’s) a great quarterback — he can throw it, he can run it,” sophomore cornerback Jontez Williams said. “I just feel like we’ve gotta contain him in the pocket and play good defense.”
Doing the latter has been a staple for Heacock’s defenses for the past seven-plus seasons. The Cyclones have allowed opponents to average more than 23 points per game just once since 2016 — and have ranked among the top three in the Big 12 in scoring defense for seven straight seasons.
“Our guys have a lot of heart, a lot of grit,” Heacock said.
ISU doesn’t have a lot of experience at linebacker, however, but that group grew significantly from the week one win over North Dakota to the week two win at Iowa. Now they’re coming off their first of two bye weeks refreshed and refocused for a five-week sprint to the next off-week.
“I’d say that everyone’s elevated,” said Ebel, who has 12 tackles this season. “And I would also say that those guys who are injured — Caleb Bacon, Carson Willich, Will McLaughlin — they have not taken a step back either in regards to recovery and even football-wise, too. They’re great leaders in our room and they will continue to do that. They’re playing big roles every week, whether you see it on the field or not.”
What Ebel and his healthy cohort at linebacker hope to show on the field this week is their ability to thrive against Arkansas State’s fast-paced offense. Against one or two quarterbacks. Against playmakers such as Corey Rucker at receiver, who can stretch the field offensively and in the return game.
“It certainly challenges us differently than we’ve been challenged this season,” ISU head coach Matt Campbell said. “They’re gonna play in space. They’re gonna play with athleticism. They’re impressive.”
INJURY UPDATE
Campbell said offensive linemen Jalen Travis and Deylin Hasert — who missed the first two weeks because of injuries — should be available on Saturday. “I don’t know if I’d say they’re at full strength, but I think they’re really close to it,” Campbell said.
