Sun Belt College Football: Arkansas State Indians Offensive Preview

After getting to experience a bowl game for the first time in 2005, Indian fans weren't happy with the respectable 6-6 season coach Steve Roberts, his staff and the team gave them in 2006. The appetite for a championship in Jonesboro is at an all time high, and this year's Indian squad has a great shot at another SBC championship and a berth in the New Orleans Bowl.

If the Indians don't make it to a bowl game this year, it's a safe bet to blame it on lack of offensive consistency. After getting off to an excellent 5-2 start last season, the Indians skidded going 1-4 down the stretch. That lone win down that fateful stretch, you ask? The eventual league champion who later steamed Rice to win the New Orleans Bowl, the Troy Trojans. Go figure.

Early in the season last year, the Indians had a gaping hole in their offense - they couldn't find a starting quarterback to replace Indian fan-favorite Nick Noce. For the first half of the season, freshmen signal-callers Corey Leonard and Travis Hewitt divided up the snaps. Leonard won the spot for good when he connected with wide-out Patrick Higgins on a 57-yard Hail Mary to beat arch rival Memphis.

Leonard is mobile, elusive and athletic, but he is young. With some more game time under his belt, Leonard could develop into one of the better quarterbacks in the Belt in the next few years. Hewitt has game experience and will continue to get better - he is already a more than ample backup. It's a dream quarterback situation for the Indians.

I think Leonard could really provide ASU with a decent passing threat in the years to come, but why bother when you have Reggie Arnold? The sophomore running back out of Little Rock, who broke 1,000 yards last season, should still live up to his nickname of "the monsta" now that he has had time to let a lingering ankle injury heal. If Arnold has success carrying the ball, the Indians will have a successful season - if the gaping holes in the offensive line get filled and that ankle stays healthy, Arnold might be able to carry the team on it through at least half of the Sun Belt slate.

While Arnold might be the primary go-to running back, the Indians also have the speedy Cedrick Wilkerson. Wilkerson had 363 yards last year, including 116 against the Memphis Tigers. This will no doubt be a running team, and both of these backs are All-Conference material.

If the Indians do decide to air out Leonard's arm a little, they also have the talented receivers to do it. Senior Levi Dejohnette is the best of the bunch - he was hindered last year after slamming into a retaining wall inside Indian Stadium during the home-opener against Army, but should be ready to go when the Tribe opens up at DKR Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, to visit the Longhorns. I look for Dejohnette to be the go-to guy on those rare occasions where the Indians do decide to pass. Juniors Kevin Jones and Patrick Higgins are also very talented and will make great contributions to this team. On a team that passes more, all three of these receivers would be All-Conference capable talent.

Up front, the Indians have lost three starters from the offensive line. This is the single largest question mark on the team - but filling holes up front is ASU's specialty.

If the Tribe doesn't have a successful season offensively, it'll either be because of the quarterbacks or because of the line. That being said, I expect this to be a break-out year for the Indians - I think the rowdy fans back home in Jonesboro will get their bowl berth this season.

2007 Schedule & Projections
Sept. 1 at Texas - Loss
Sept. 8 Memphis - Win
Sept. 15 SMU - Win
Sept. 22 at Tennessee - Loss
Oct. 6 at UL Monroe - Win
Oct. 13 UL Lafayette - Win
Oct. 20 at Middle Tenn. - Loss
Oct. 27 Troy - Win
Nov. 3 FIU - Win
Nov. 10 at Florida Atlantic - Win
Nov. 17 North Texas - Win
Nov. 24 at Southern Miss - Loss

Record Projection: 8-4

Matt's Associated Content Sun Belt Poll
Arkansas State Indians
Troy Trojans
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
North Texas Mean Green
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders
Florida International Golden Panthers
Florida Atlantic Owls
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

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