Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Scouting Arkansas State: Offense
12/11/2017 5:00:00 PM | Football
Raider defense ready for the challenge
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – It's no secret what the strength of the Arkansas State Red Wolves is. They're an offensive juggernaut, no questions asked.
A-State has gone over the 40-point mark five times this season and over 450 total yards of offense seven times, including a school- and Sun Belt Conference-record 781 against ULM in the penultimate week of the regular season. It followed with 606 total yards in a loss to Troy the following week.
Middle Tennessee's improved defensive unit will have its hands full with the Red Wolves, the nation's 11th best statistical offense. They're hoping a few weeks off to heal and prepare will put them in the right spot to be successful against one of the nation's best attacks.
Here's what Arkansas State brings from an offensive standpoint:
Passing
Yards per game: 340.7, 6th in FBS
Top passer: RS-Jr. Justice Hansen
Top receivers: Sr. Blake Mack, Sr. Chris Murray, Jr. Justin McGinnis
Quarterback Justice Hansen, the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, is the driver of Arkansas State's offense, and he's one good conductor.
The redshirt junior was originally a four-star recruit out of high school who redshirted his freshman season at Oklahoma before transferring to Butler Community College then A-State.
He's in his second year starting for the Red Wolves, and has exploded after posting 2,719 passing yards and 19 touchdowns a season ago. This year, he's posted 3,630 yards (12th in FBS) through the air with 34 touchdowns (T-7th in FBS), the most in Sun Belt single-season history.
Hansen isn't shy about spreading the ball around, and has three experienced guys that take most of his throws. Seniors Blake Mack and Chris Murray and junior Justin McGinnis have caught 46, 43 and 42 passes, respectively, to lead the team, and four other guys have at least 21 receptions.
McGinnis leads the receiving corps with 693 yards, while four players – Mack, Murray, Omar Bayless and Christian Booker – have at least five touchdowns. Murray leads the way with nine.
While Hansen and the Red Wolves have been impressive in the passing game this season, he has thrown 15 interceptions, which is tied for the third most in the country.
He has some big receivers to look to, four of which stand at 6-foot-3 or taller, but it will be up to Middle Tennessee to capitalize when he makes a mistake.
"They can throw the ball," MT junior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "They have a big receiving corps, and their quarterback is one of the best in the country. That will be a challenge, but we accept it."
Rushing
Yards per game: 157, 77th in FBS
Top rusher: Jr. Warren Wand
The Red Wolves may want to throw the ball on every down, but when they remember they have a rushing attack, they can also be pretty effective on the ground.
A chunk of A-State's rushing total comes from Hansen making plays when the passing game breaks down. He's second on the team in both rushing attempts (118) and yards (387) and is tied with leading rusher Warren Wand with six TDs. Wand, a small, 5-foot-5, 191-pound junior, ran for 669 yards on 125 attempts in nine games played this season.
After returning from injury that caused him to miss two weeks this season, Wand rushed for over 100 yards in two of the Red Wolves' last three games. If he's fully healthy, he adds another offensive weapon MT will have to contend with.
"We know we have to take care of our responsibilities at all points," Moffatt said. "They like to air it out, but they have a quarterback who's athletic and they'll run the ball. We'll have to key in on that."
Offensive Line
Sacks given up: 27, T-80th in FBS
Top linemen: RS-Jr. Lanard Bonner, Fr. Jacob Still
At first glance, the 27 sacks given up by Arkansas State's offensive line looks like a lot. But, when you factor in that the Red Wolves are 19th in the country in passing attempts despite playing in one fewer game than most teams, that number may not be symbolic of how good their line really is.
Redshirt junior Lanard Bonner, a Sun Belt Conference First-Team member, leads the relatively young group from the right tackle spot.
There's only one senior – left tackle Jaypee Philbert – in the starting five linemen, which also includes two sophomores at the guard spots and redshirt freshman Jacob Still, an honorable mention all-conference, at center.
There will be plenty of chances for Middle Tennessee to rush the passer, and if the Blue Raiders can take advantage of the young A-State line, they could get to Hansen at least a few times.
A-State has gone over the 40-point mark five times this season and over 450 total yards of offense seven times, including a school- and Sun Belt Conference-record 781 against ULM in the penultimate week of the regular season. It followed with 606 total yards in a loss to Troy the following week.
Middle Tennessee's improved defensive unit will have its hands full with the Red Wolves, the nation's 11th best statistical offense. They're hoping a few weeks off to heal and prepare will put them in the right spot to be successful against one of the nation's best attacks.
Here's what Arkansas State brings from an offensive standpoint:
Passing
Yards per game: 340.7, 6th in FBS
Top passer: RS-Jr. Justice Hansen
Top receivers: Sr. Blake Mack, Sr. Chris Murray, Jr. Justin McGinnis
Quarterback Justice Hansen, the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, is the driver of Arkansas State's offense, and he's one good conductor.
The redshirt junior was originally a four-star recruit out of high school who redshirted his freshman season at Oklahoma before transferring to Butler Community College then A-State.
He's in his second year starting for the Red Wolves, and has exploded after posting 2,719 passing yards and 19 touchdowns a season ago. This year, he's posted 3,630 yards (12th in FBS) through the air with 34 touchdowns (T-7th in FBS), the most in Sun Belt single-season history.
Hansen isn't shy about spreading the ball around, and has three experienced guys that take most of his throws. Seniors Blake Mack and Chris Murray and junior Justin McGinnis have caught 46, 43 and 42 passes, respectively, to lead the team, and four other guys have at least 21 receptions.
McGinnis leads the receiving corps with 693 yards, while four players – Mack, Murray, Omar Bayless and Christian Booker – have at least five touchdowns. Murray leads the way with nine.
While Hansen and the Red Wolves have been impressive in the passing game this season, he has thrown 15 interceptions, which is tied for the third most in the country.
He has some big receivers to look to, four of which stand at 6-foot-3 or taller, but it will be up to Middle Tennessee to capitalize when he makes a mistake.
"They can throw the ball," MT junior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "They have a big receiving corps, and their quarterback is one of the best in the country. That will be a challenge, but we accept it."
Rushing
Yards per game: 157, 77th in FBS
Top rusher: Jr. Warren Wand
The Red Wolves may want to throw the ball on every down, but when they remember they have a rushing attack, they can also be pretty effective on the ground.
A chunk of A-State's rushing total comes from Hansen making plays when the passing game breaks down. He's second on the team in both rushing attempts (118) and yards (387) and is tied with leading rusher Warren Wand with six TDs. Wand, a small, 5-foot-5, 191-pound junior, ran for 669 yards on 125 attempts in nine games played this season.
After returning from injury that caused him to miss two weeks this season, Wand rushed for over 100 yards in two of the Red Wolves' last three games. If he's fully healthy, he adds another offensive weapon MT will have to contend with.
"We know we have to take care of our responsibilities at all points," Moffatt said. "They like to air it out, but they have a quarterback who's athletic and they'll run the ball. We'll have to key in on that."
Offensive Line
Sacks given up: 27, T-80th in FBS
Top linemen: RS-Jr. Lanard Bonner, Fr. Jacob Still
At first glance, the 27 sacks given up by Arkansas State's offensive line looks like a lot. But, when you factor in that the Red Wolves are 19th in the country in passing attempts despite playing in one fewer game than most teams, that number may not be symbolic of how good their line really is.
Redshirt junior Lanard Bonner, a Sun Belt Conference First-Team member, leads the relatively young group from the right tackle spot.
There's only one senior – left tackle Jaypee Philbert – in the starting five linemen, which also includes two sophomores at the guard spots and redshirt freshman Jacob Still, an honorable mention all-conference, at center.
There will be plenty of chances for Middle Tennessee to rush the passer, and if the Blue Raiders can take advantage of the young A-State line, they could get to Hansen at least a few times.
Players Mentioned
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