2021 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team
The 2021 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team represented Arkansas State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Red Wolves played their home games at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and competed in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference.
Prior to the season, Arkansas State hired Butch Jones as head coach after Blake Anderson departed for Utah State. The team announced Rob Harley as their new defensive coordinator shortly after Jones' arrival.
Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were releasedPreseason
Sources:Sun Belt coaches poll
The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 20, 2021. The Red Wolves were picked to finish second in the West Division and fourth overall in the conference.Schedule
The 2021 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Red Wolves will travel to Sun Belt foes Georgia Southern, South Alabama, Louisiana–Monroe, and Georgia State. Arkansas State will play host to Sun Belt foes Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, Appalachian State, and Texas State.Troy will host two of the four non-conference opponents at Centennial Bank Stadium, Central Arkansas, from NCAA Division I FCS ASUN Conference and Memphis of the American Athletic Conference, and will travel to Washington of the Pac-12 Conference and Tulsa of the American Athletic Conference.
Game summaries
Central Arkansas
| Statistics | Central Arkansas | Arkansas State |
| First downs | 15 | 25 |
| Total yards | 338 | 513 |
| Rushing yards | 42 | 194 |
| Passing yards | 296 | 319 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:58 | 34:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Arkansas | Passing | Breylin Smith | 23/42, 296 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Central Arkansas | Rushing | Darius Hale | 13 carries, 28 yards |
| Central Arkansas | Receiving | Tyler Hudson | 7 receptions, 118 yards |
| Arkansas State | Passing | James Blackman | 16/26, 169 yards |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Alan Lamar | 18 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 9 receptions, 138 yards, 3 TDs |
Memphis
| Statistics | Memphis | Arkansas State |
| First downs | 24 | 35 |
| Total yards | 680 | 680 |
| Rushing yards | 263 | 98 |
| Passing yards | 417 | 582 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:04 | 35:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 22/33, 417 yards, 5 TDs |
| Memphis | Rushing | Brandon Thomas | 18 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 6 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Passing | James Blackman | 19/28, 306 yards, 4 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 6 carries, 36 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Jeff Foreman | 8 receptions, 198 yards, 1 TD |
At Washington
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Washington |
| First downs | 15 | 30 |
| Total yards | 268 | 598 |
| Rushing yards | 48 | 200 |
| Passing yards | 220 | 398 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 25:06 | 34:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | James Blackman | 16/38, 176 yards |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Johnnie Lang Jr. | 6 carries, 18 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Lincoln Pare | 7 receptions, 69 yards |
| Washington | Passing | Dylan Morris | 23/39, 367 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Washington | Rushing | Richard Newton | 10 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD |
| Washington | Receiving | Jalen McMillan | 10 receptions, 175 yards, 1 TD |
At Tulsa
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Tulsa |
| First downs | 20 | 26 |
| Total yards | 359 | 663 |
| Rushing yards | 38 | 308 |
| Passing yards | 321 | 355 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:36 | 34:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | James Blackman | 23/37, 321 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Johnnie Lang Jr. | 4 carries, 27 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 4 receptions, 115 yards |
| Tulsa | Passing | Davis Brin | 17/25, 355 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Tulsa | Rushing | Shamari Brooks | 22 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD |
| Tulsa | Receiving | Josh Johnson | 9 receptions, 127 yards |
At Georgia Southern
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Georgia Southern |
| First downs | 34 | 20 |
| Total yards | 524 | 540 |
| Rushing yards | 81 | 503 |
| Passing yards | 443 | 37 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 31:04 | 28:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | James Blackman | 28/43, 292 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 7 carries, 54 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Jeff Foreman | 6 receptions, 83 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Cam Ransom | 2/5, 29 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Logan Wright | 10 carries, 214 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 2 receptions, 19 yards |
Coastal Carolina
| Statistics | Coastal Carolina | Arkansas State |
| First downs | 23 | 16 |
| Total yards | 685 | 273 |
| Rushing yards | 294 | 18 |
| Passing yards | 391 | 255 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 36:27 | 23:33 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | Grayson McCall | 18/23 365 yards, 4 TDs |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | Shermari Jones | 10 carries 113 yards, 1 TD |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Isaiah Likely | 8 receptions 232 yards, 4 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 13/29 185 yards, 2 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 6 carries 29 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Te'Vailance Hunt | 6 receptions 138 yards, 1 TD |
Louisiana
| Statistics | Louisiana | Arkansas State |
| First downs | 26 | 22 |
| Total yards | 546 | 413 |
| Rushing yards | 424 | 113 |
| Passing yards | 122 | 300 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 32:47 | 27:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 11/20, 122 yards, 1 INT |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Chris Smith | 24 carries, 238 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Dontae Fleming | 2 receptions, 47 yards |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 16/31, 300 yards, 3 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 11 carries, 52 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Te'Vailance Hunt | 3 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TD |
At South Alabama
| Statistics | Arkansas State | South Alabama |
| First downs | 14 | 23 |
| Total yards | 224 | 421 |
| Rushing yards | 38 | 173 |
| Passing yards | 186 | 248 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:19 | 35:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 19/37, 186 yards, 3 INTs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 8 carries, 32 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 4 receptions, 67 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 29/39, 248 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Terrion Avery | 22 carries, 113 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 8 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TDs |
Appalachian State
| Statistics | Appalachian State | Arkansas State |
| First downs | 28 | 13 |
| Total yards | 461 | 199 |
| Rushing yards | 264 | 62 |
| Passing yards | 197 | 137 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 35:33 | 24:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Chase Brice | 15/26, 163 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Nate Noel | 23 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Thomas Hennigan | 4 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 17/30, 137 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Johnnie Lang Jr. | 6 carries, 43 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Te'Vailance Hunt | 3 receptions, 35 yards |
At Louisiana–Monroe
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Louisiana–Monroe |
| First downs | 22 | 18 |
| Total yards | 538 | 372 |
| Rushing yards | 94 | 177 |
| Passing yards | 444 | 195 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:23 | 27:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 34/50, 444 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 22 carries, 73 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 7 receptions, 103 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Rhett Rodriguez | 12/29, 160 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Malik Jackson | 22 carries, 166 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Boogie Knight | 5 receptions, 76 yards |
At Georgia State
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Georgia State |
| First downs | 16 | 21 |
| Total yards | 270 | 434 |
| Rushing yards | -3 | 282 |
| Passing yards | 273 | 152 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 30:52 | 29:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 28/48, 273 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 13 carries, 33 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Lincoln Pare | 6 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia State | Passing | Darren Grainger | 10/21, 152 yards, 1 INT |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Jaymest Williams | 16 carries, 125 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Jamari Thrash | 4 receptions, 103 yards |
Texas State
| Statistics | Texas State | Arkansas State |
| First downs | 14 | 25 |
| Total yards | 333 | 471 |
| Rushing yards | 203 | 194 |
| Passing yards | 130 | 277 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:51 | 35:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas State | Passing | Tyler Vitt | 11/25, 121 yds, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Rushing | Calvin Hill | 13 car, 125 yds, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Receiving | Trevis Graham Jr. | 4 rec, 67 yds, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 25/37, 277 yds, 2 TD |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Alan Lamar | 12 car, 88 yds |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 8 rec, 85 yds, 1 TD |