Jeff Reed: Red Wolves Look Stacked in Scrimmage; Kyle Coleman Set for Breakout Season

Like Father, Like Son – Kyle Coleman Shifts to Linebacker

Jeff Reed Author Page
OK, let’s get things out front here: We are not going to talk quarterbacks for the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Well, at least not at the start we won’t. We will see where this thing takes us.

After watching the Red Wolves in their first and only public scrimmage Saturday at Liberty Bank Stadium, we offer the following observations (with some support from coaching staff comments).

On defense, the front-liners are pretty good. Make that very good.

Defensive coordinator John Thompson loves the front line of Ryan Carrathers, expected to not only run the Red Wolves’ draft streak to eight straight but some expect to be a high-round NFL draft pick, Amos Draper, Chris Stone and Eddie Porter. All four are all-conference-caliber players.

What helps is the emergence of Dexter Blackmon and John Gandy, juco transfers who are now seniors, since spring.

“They have grown up,” said Thompson. “They get it.”

In this post-game press conference coach Bryan Harsin added this round-about support: “I know our defensive line is good because of how they play against our offensive line and our offensive line is good.”

So with things up front in good shape, what about the rest of the Red Wolves’ defense.

At linebacker there is Qushaun Lee, the hero of the GoDaddyBowl victory over No. 25 Kent State, and Kyle Coleman, who could be ready for a breakout season.

In fact, Coleman’s story could be similar to that of his dad, Monte Coleman, who is now the coach at UAPB. Kyle made the move to linebacker from safety in the spring and ASU coaches said he is really starting to emerge.

A few years ago, Monte Coleman was a safety for the UCA Bears who made the move to linebacker this senior season. He was drafted in 1979 by the Redskins and played 217 games for the franchise, second most in its history.

Safeties Sterling Young and Chris Humes head the secondary, but keep an eye on Money Hunter, the son of baseball great Torii Hunter, a Pine Bluff product.

The offensive has plenty of weapons. An offensive line that is two-deep, a talent receiving crop blended with experience and youth, three really good tight ends and four quality running backs.

What is missing?

Well the quarterback, whomever it might be, might not have do a lot.

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