Should be better, but what happens the next three weeks will probably tell how much better.
Watching their young team this season , it was obvious they were not out talented as much as simply having to rely too much on young players as primary backups before they were ready, especially in the trenches.
Looking at their 18 commits (17 HS, 1JC), and returning roster, they have a lot of talented players returning that got some valuable PT, but unless Butch Jones adds some older players they are still going to be really young.
While only five players have announced they are not returning, including three entering the Portal, that number is expected to increase after this week, as Butch does some "roster maintenance".
There is absolutely no doubt Butch can address many of the youth/depth issues that tanked 2022 if he wants to in time for 2023. The question is does he want too, or will he be content to focus on 2024 and beyond.
Got this from A-States 247 site:
FarrellPortal
@farrellportal
Since Monday morning, 364 FCS players and 146 FBS players (both scholarship and non-scholarship) have entered the transfer portal.
So that makes 512 in 4 days
@mfarrellsports
https://twitter.com/farrellportal/status...f8w68sAAAA
Most fan around the county know how the Portal works and because of the new "windows" to enter , that it is just starting.
Most, because despite all efforts by their 247 site to reassure them it is not just them, there is a 24/7 effort on The Den forum to convince their readers it is just them , and only because Butch Jones is their coach.
Butch Jones has challenged his staff to add 10 "impact players" this recruiting cycle, and while that does not necessarily mean players from the Portal, my guess is they will take a good number from the Portal. Again, if Butch wants too.
They could add 10 starters if Butch wanted too, because IMO he is the best recruiter in the SBC, and because of the youth of their returners, older players looking for an opportunity to start, will find them attractive.
That would mean that most of their young roster (and it is the best roster of talent in the SBC, just also the youngest) could have another year or two before having to wade into deep water.
Again that is Butch Jones' call, and have to see if he decides to shore up next years roster .
If he does it will be very bad news for some SBC teams that ONLY won this year because almost all their depth and a few starters where thrown into the fire way before they were ready. Ten impact players, and all those youngsters being a year older, will go a long way toward fixing that problem by next year, and because Butch Jones is their HC, and ONLY because he is, I expect they will get them.
The reason I feel Butch if going to add enough older players to prevent a repeat of this season in 2023, is their new AD came to A-State based in no small part on what Butch said about the school.
Probably the biggest selling point was where Butch told him their football program was at, and what to expect going forward . That is big when recruiting someone at Alabama.
There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Butch thought they were in position to win enough to be bowl eligible this year( Edited Note: Butch told everyone that 2022 would get them excited for 2023). Butch also knows , had he not gambled (Edited note: sounds better than "been stupid" which he was) , and added 3-4 older players in the trenches, they would almost certainly have met that goal, despite the over all youth of their roster.
Edited Note: Bottom line. if Butch looks in the mirror and realizes the guy looking back at him made the decisions that turned what should have been a 6-7 in season into a three win season, A-State should be in good shape going forward starting as early as 2023. That and only that is the open question going into 2023 for A-State.
Looks like Butch is focusing on correcting the mistake he made last year, that derailed this years team.
A year late but looks like he is focusing on OL and DL and is looking at JC's, FCS and FBS graduate transfers currently in the Portal. That may change Monday when the Portal kicks into high gear for everyone.
Today it looks like they are offering players from other G5 schools.
Like the FCS players they have offered , looking at their BIOS they are players that have played and played well .
Does not appear they are going after many P5 players in the Portal, at this point .
Other than the players that announced before hand they were entering the Portal there has been no more players announcing their intent to do so. Those that found out last week from Butch Jones they would not have a spot next year, will have to do the paper work, and the school has some time before they have to enter them into the Portal , so still expecting more will enter.
While trying to hang on to their current commits seems to be a priority, they are still pursuing additional HS players too.
Here are the A-State players that are still in the Portal (* entered before 2022 season).
*Jack Kristofek QB
*Anthony Price RB
*Jalil Muhammad DL
*Booker Ficklin CB
*King Mwikuta LB/DE
KaRon Coleman S
Ryan Hanson P
Derus Jackson DL
Kenneth Harris CB
\Derrick Bean LB
Tristan Shorter LB
Seydou Traore TE
Updated 12/13
Butch is working hard to add some older and even more important players that have shown they can play, but only has one JC LB commit.
This site has Memphis RB Rodrigues Clark as 100% to A-State:
https://www.on3.com/db/rodrigues-clark-101810/ , so hopefully they will start getting commits soon.
Still not seeing the number of Portal entries expected after Butch visited with the players after the end of the season.
That could change tomorrow but it appears Butch might be waiting until after spring practice to decide who will be allowed to return.
The advantage there is that most of the players entering the Portal in the first Window will still be there , and a whole new batch of newbies will decide to take advantage of the second window after seeing where they fit after spring practice at their current school.