Red Wolves Transfer Portal Tracker: A-State adds 3 skill players on signing day

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - As the college football season wraps up, the transfer portal ramps up. We’ll have you covered with all things Arkansas State.

2022-23 Arkansas State Football Transfer Portal Tracker

Arrivals

• OL Jacob Bayer (Junior, Lamar)
  • The 6-4, 286-pound center started all 22 games over two seasons for the Cardinals, allowing just two sacks over two seasons.
  • Graded as a top-30 center in all of FCS according to Pro Football Focus.
  • Has 2 years of eligibility left.
• DT Micah Bland (Senior, North Alabama/Louisville)
  • Bland started all 11 games for the Lions this season, racking up 54 tackles and 4 TFLs with a career-high 11 tackles at Kennesaw State. He recorded 42 tackles and 2 sacks in 2021.
  • Bland started his career at Louisville, where he played 6 games and 50 snaps in 2020.
  • Has 1 year of eligibility left.
• RB Zak Wallace (Junior, UT Martin)
  • Wallace is a two-time First Team All-OVC selection, rushing for 1,012 yards for the Skyhawks in 2022 (6.0 yards per carry) to go with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2022. The Benton native needed just 13 touches to get a season-high 220 yards against Lindenwood. Had 4 touchdowns and 155 yards against Houston Christian. His 54 first downs, 32 missed tackles forced and 18 runs of 15+ yards ranked top 3 in the OVC.
  • Career at UT Martin (35 total games): 1,960 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per attempt, 32 touchdowns.
  • Has 2 years of eligibility left.
• OL Tobias Braun (Sophomore, Ole Miss)
• OL Hamilton Hall (Senior, Ole Miss)
• WR Courtney Jackson (Junior, Syracuse)
• CB Manny Stokes (Senior, Coastal Carolina)
  • Career at Coastal Carolina (34 games): 48 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 FR, 4 pass deflections, 248 kick return yards
  • 2022 (missed last four games, played 9 games): 23 targets against, 17 receptions, 263 yards, 1 TD allowed.
• LB Gavin Potter (Senior, Kansas)
  • Career at Kansas (37 games, 25 starts): 174 tackles, 11 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD.
  • Entered the transfer portal in October after playing in four games, logging 73 snaps played.
  • His best season was in 2021: 78 tackles (3rd on the team), 5 TFL in 11 starts (all career-highs)
  • Was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention for Freshman of the Year in 2019.
  • Has 2 seasons of eligibility
• OL Jalen Cunningham (Senior, Ole Miss)
  • Has appeared in 46 games in four seasons at Ole Miss.
  • Primarily played on special teams, but saw action at left and right guard.
• QB J.T. Shrout (Redshirt Junior, Colorado/Tennessee)
  • Played in 17 games in 4 seasons at Colorado and Tennessee.
  • Tossed for over 1200 yards with 7 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 2022 for the Buffs.
• WR Corey Rucker (Junior, South Carolina)
  • The All-Sun Belt receiver spent the 2022 season at South Carolina, where he had a 52-yard touchdown reception against Charlotte in September. He missed the bulk of the year with a foot injury.
  • Rucker led the Red Wolves in 2021 with 59 catches for 826 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Mississippi native earned All-Sun Belt 2nd Team and Freshman All-American honors.
• DB Donte Thompson (Junior, Incarnate Word)
  • Thompson appeared in all 14 games for the 12-2 Cardinals last season, playing 774 snaps with 17 pass breakups (3rd in FCS) and an interception. Receivers caught 25 passes on 57 targets against Thompson, going for 295 yards and just 1 touchdown. He also added 37 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a forced fumble.
  • He was named First Team All-Southland Conference as a defensive back as the Cardinals finished 12-2, falling in the FCS Semifinals to North Dakota State.

Departures

• CB Kenneth Harris (Sophomore) - Transferring to Oklahoma State
  • 2022 with Red Wolves: 36 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, 10 pass breakups, 1 interception
  • Now the 6th player from the 2020 A-State football roster to end up transferring to a Power 5 school/Notre Dame: Terry Hampton (Arkansas), Corey Rucker (South Carolina), Jarrett Horst (Michigan State), Andre Harris (Duke), Kenneth Harris (Oklahoma State), Blake Grupe (Notre Dame).
• TE Seydou Traore (Sophomore) - Transferring to Colorado
  • 2022 with Red Wolves: Ranked first in the Sun Belt Conference among tight ends for receptions (50) and receiving yards (655), while also ranking second among the same group for touchdown receptions (4). He ranks third among FBS tight ends for receiving yards and yards per catch (13.10). He recorded a career-high 120 receiving yards and a touchdown against Memphis and was responsible for at least 50 receiving yards in six games. Was PFF’s 6th highest-graded TE in 2022.
• P Ryan Hanson (Redshirt Sophomore) - Transferring to James Madison
  • 2022 with Red Wolves: 48 punts, 2,098 yards (43.7 yd average), 19 punts inside 20, long 68 yds
• CB KaRon Coleman (Redshirt Sophomore) - Transferring to Western Illinois
  • 2022 with Red Wolves: 6 tackles, 2 pass breakups in 5 games.
• DL Deris Jackson (Redshirt Freshman) - Transferring to Southern
  • Appeared in 2 games at A-State in 2021, did not play in 2022.
• K Tristan Mattson (Redshirt Sophomore) - Transferring to Central Michigan
  • The kickoff specialist for the Red Wolves had a career-high 27 touchbacks on 63 kickoffs in 2022
• OL Ethan Miner (Redshirt sophomore) - Transferring to North Texas
  • Played in 32 games over last 3 seasons. Started at guard and tackle
• LB Vershaud Richardson (Redshirt sophomore)
  • Appeared in 2 games over last 3 seasons, both in 2020.

Copyright 2022 KAIT. All rights reserved.