Arkansas State used timely turnovers and a solid ground game to get the win at home. They have now put themselves into position for a Sunbelt Championship by going 2-0. LMU made a late rally but was too far behind to close the gap.
College: Arkansas State Conference: Sunbelt Columnist: Brett Walker
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes
Matt Mandich 63 6' 2.0" 300 5.20 OT 2009
At times gets movement on his man. Lacks a great punch and needs to get better drive. Pretty good at mirroring a quicker man. Got caught flat footed and almost got beat for a sack. Looks to fall into the category of not strong enough for a G and not big enough and quick enough for tackle. Plays LT currently. Needs to show more if he wants to get into a camp. Grade: Slightly Negative
Reggie Arnold 2 5' 8.5" 217 4.50 HB 2010
Strong, mighty mouse type of RB. 15/73 yards on the evening. Quick. Plays on punt coverage teams and had a nice tackle. Doesn't shy away from contact and keeps his legs going. Cut blocks too much and that seems to be his favorite way to pass protect when he is in pass protection. Is being platooned more with the emergence of FR Derek Lawson. Grade: Slightly Positive
David Johnson 85 6' 1.5" 250 4.80 TE 2009
H Back/TE style player. Gets good pop on his punch when blocking and has a wide frame with a big bubble. Coming on strong as a SR. Good ability to stretch the seem and find a hole and use his body like a power forward to keep the defender away. Doesn't have ideal height for his position and may be best as a hybrid. Good blocker and gets drive. Questionable hands and had a ball bounce off his helmet. Was involved early and then just kinda disappeared. 1 catch for 16 yards. Grade: Neutral
Ben Owens 40 6' 1.0" 230 4.75 LB 2009
MLB who hustles and plays sideline to sideline. Also very good in coverage and can cover the deep middle pretty when they go Cover 2. Has the ability to stay with TEs but not WRs. Got mismatched by the LMU offense and gave up a TD in coverage to a WR. Good play by LMU to create this more so than a lack of coverage skills by Owens. Could wrap up a tad better. 7 tackles on the evening. Grade: Slightly Positive
College: UL-Monroe Conference: Sunbelt Columnist: Brett Walker
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes
Zeek Zacharie 15 6' 1.0" 240 4.70 TE 2009
Ran down the seam and made a fantastic diving catch. More of an H back and doesn't get in line too often. More slot positioning than anything on offense. Had a TD on an out in the RZ. Rounds off routes but shows the skills to find the gaps in the zone. Sure hands and seemed to catch everything thrown to him. Probably an UDFA or late round selelction who will definitely get into a camp. 5/54 yards on the evening. Grade: Slightly Positive
Game Notes- ASU DE Alex Carrington JR impressed and had 3 sacks and 8 tackles and will be put into the system for sure next year. He's more of a power rusher and is relentless pushing back the OT. He's 6'4" 280lbs. Reggie Arnold is getting fewer carries because of FR RB Derek Lawson who was 15/105 1 TD on the evening. Lawson is a very strong back who carries would be tackers. LMU FR Luther Ambrose runs a 10.2 100 meters and had a 91 yard KR for a TD. However, he is very raw and has hard hands as he dropped a few passes and bobbled the ball on a reverse. I'm sure the LMU coaching staff will continue to work with him to develop his skills. Also LMU MLB Cardia Jackson is another player to put into the system next year. He's a JR and had 14 tackles on the evening with 2 sacks and another TFL.