Arkansas State signs top rated recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference

Arkansas State head football coach Butch Jones announced Wednesday the Red Wolves have added 29 players from 12 different states to its 2023 recruiting class that is currently ranked first in the Sun Belt Conference by Rivals.

A-State, which also had the league’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class a year ago, signed 20 high school players, eight FBS or FCS transfers and one junior college transfer on the early National Signing Day. The class includes 12 additions who will be available for the Red Wolves’ 2023 spring camp.

Arkansas State’s 2023 class ranks as high as 69th by the major recruiting web sites, currently giving the Red Wolves back-to-back signing classes that rank among the top three in school history. It is also A-State’s second straight class rated among the top five programs in the Group of 5.

“This was an exciting day for Arkansas State football, welcoming 29 new additions to our football family and entire University,” said Jones. “They are high-character, tough and competitive individuals who understand that coming to Arkansas State, you’re going to be committed to excellence in everything that you do.

"I think this class will address many of the needs we have both long-term and in the immediate future through the mix of high school players and transfers, but this is just the beginning. Today was just the start of the first signing period, so we’ll have more additions to follow.”

The latest group of Red Wolves is made up of 27 players who helped lead their teams to the state playoffs while in high school, including nine who played in a state championship game. Out of those nine, seven of them were part of a state title while in high school.

The class also consists of 25 players who were listed as at least a three-star prospect by Rivals or other recruiting services coming out of high school.

The current class includes 17 offensive and 12 defensive players, including five linemen on each side of the ball. A-State added six wide receivers, the most among any position group, but inked at least one player at every offensive and defensive position.

Arkansas State signed five players from the state of Arkansas, which are the most scholarship players from its home state in a single class since 2015 and ties the most over the last 11 years. The Red Wolves also added six players from Florida, four from Alabama, three from Texas, two from Georgia and one each from Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. A-State singed one player originally from Germany as well.

1. Brian Alston: 6-2, 241, Fr., DL, Birmingham, Ala. (Spain Park HS)

2. Jacob Bayer: 6-3, 315, Jr., OL, Grandview, Texas (Lamar)*

3. Micah Bland: 6-1, 321, Sr.-R, DL, Louisville, Ky. (North Alabama)*

4. Tobias Braun: 6-7, 315, So.-R, OL, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany (Ole Miss)*

5. Tennel Bryant: 5-7, 149, Fr., WR, Cincinnati, Ohio (Archbishop Moeller HS)

6. DeAndra Burns Jr.: 5-10, 154, Fr., WR, El Dorado, Ark. (El Dorado HS)

7. Chauncy Cobb: 5-6, 147, Fr., WR, Clewiston, Fla. (Clewiston HS)*

8. Will Crowder: 6-2, 217, So.-R, QB, Gardendale, Ala. (West Virginia)*

9. Clyde Curry: 6-2, 162, Fr., WR, Gadsden, Ala. (Gadsden City HS)

10. Walker Davis: 6-3, 280, Fr., OL, Benton, Ark. (Benton HS)*

11. Wendell Davis Jr.: 6-3, 240, Sr.-R, LB, Richmond, Va. (Northwestern)*

12. Kevin Diaz: 6-4, 259, Jr. TE, Houston, Miss. (Northwest Mississippi CC)*

13. Brandon Greil: 5-11, 159, Fr., S, Little Rock, Ark. (Joe T. Robinson HS)

14. Timothy Gulley: 6-1, 294, Fr., DL, Pensacola, Fla. (Pensacola Catholic HS)

15. Hamilton Hall: 6-5, 315, Sr.-R, OL, Atlanta, Ga. (Ole Miss)*

16. Cedric Hawkins: 5-7, 173, Fr., RB, Stuttgart, Ark. (Stuttgart HS)

17. DeAubry Hood: 5-11, 170, Fr., CB, Harker Heights, Texas (Harker Heights HS)

18. Courtney Jackson: 5-11, 179, Jr.-R, WR, Monroeville, Pa. (Syracuse)*

19. Terrell James: 6-3, 219, Fr., DE, Lake Wales, Fla. (Lake Wales HS)

20. Ian Jeffries: 6-4, 274, Fr., DL, Southaven, Miss. (Southaven HS)

21. Dontay Joyner: 6-0, 165, Fr., S, Lakeland, Fla. (Lakeland HS)

22. RJ Kelly: 6-1, 220, Fr., LB, Lakeland, Fla. (Lakeland HS)

23. Takare Lipscomb: 6-0, 175, Fr., WR, Carrollton, Ga. (Carrollton HS)

24. Tyler Little: 6-4, 240, Fr., TE, Galena, Kan. (Galena HS)

25. Mason Myers: 6-4, 254, Fr., OL, Moody, Ala. (Moody HS)

26. Jaylen Raynor: 6-0, 198, Fr., QB, Kernersville, NC (East Forsyth HS)*

27. Jordan Sample: 6-2, 194, Fr., LB, Missouri City, Texas (Fort Bend Marshall HS)

28. Zak Wallace: 6-0, 220, Jr.-R, RB, Benton, Ark. (UT Martin)*

29. Jamil Williams: 5-11, 202, Fr., LB, Palmetto, Fla. (Palmetto HS)

*Available to participate in A-State’s 2023 spring camp (12)