The Arkansas State football team continues building its 2022 recruiting class currently ranked first in the Sun Belt Conference by both 247Sports and Rivals, announcing three additions on National Signing Day to give the Red Wolves’ 23 total players from 12 states in the second recruiting class under head coach Butch Jones.
The Red Wolves previously announced 17 players on the Early National Signing Day back in December, but since signed two midyear transfers in linebackers Jordan Carmouche (Manvel, Texas; Houston) and King Mwikuta (West Point, Ga.; Alabama) to go along with three high school additions today.
The entire class now includes 17 high school players and six FBS transfers, including 12 expected to play on the defensive side of the ball, nine on offense, one kicker and one listed as an athlete. The class features 11 players who are already enrolled at Arkansas State University, participating in team activities and will go through the Red Wolves’ upcoming spring camp that is slated to begin March 14.
The three high school players announced today were offensive linemen Chase Jessup (Hot Spring, Ark.), Melvin Priestly (East St. Louis, Ill.) and kicker Dominic Zvada (Chandler, Ariz.). Thirteen of the 17 high school players partially making up the class helped lead their team to the state playoffs this past year, including five who played in a state championship game.
“We’re excited about the five individuals we were able to add to our football family since the Early National Signing Day, although this class is not yet complete,” said Jones. “We’re extremely proud of the character and competitive greatness within this entire class, but it is still evolving and we are continuing to recruit.”
Not only is the 2022 class ranked No. 1 in the Sun Belt, it was also listed among the top five teams in the Group of Five as of Wednesday afternoon. The group consists of 11 consensus three-star prospects by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN, as well as two four-star and five three-star recruits per at least one of the recruiting sites.
The class is made up of five players from the state of Tennessee, three from Arkansas, two from Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana and Texas, and one each from Alabama, Arizona, Iowa, Maryland and Missouri.
The largest number of signees on both sides of the ball are expected to play in the trenches, including five offensive lineman, three interior defensive lineman and two defensive ends. The Red Wolves also added four combined players currently listed as either cornerback, safety or defensive back. The remaining offensive players include three linebackers and one quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end.
2022 ARKANSAS STATE RECRUITING CLASS (Feb. 2 additions in bold)
1. Saidou Ba: 6-6, 285, Fr., OL, Memphis, Tenn. (PURE Academy)*
2. Jordan Carmouche: 6-2, 230, Sr.-R, LB, Manvel, Texas (Houston)*
3. Keyron Crawford: 6-5, 240, Fr., DE, Memphis, Tenn. (Briarcrest Christian School)
4. Ja’Quez Cross: 5-11, 185, Fr.-R, ATH, Fordyce, Ark. (Fordyce HS/Purdue)*
5. Jaxon Dailey: 6-3, 215, Fr., QB, Pleasant Hill, Iowa (Southeast Polk HS)*
6. Websley Etienne: 6-0, 185 , Fr., S, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Western HS)
7. Daverrick Jenkins: 6-2, 175, Fr., WR, Miami, Fla. (Northwestern HS)
8. Chase Jessup: 6-4, 282, Fr., OL, Hot Springs, Ark. (Lake Hamilton HS)
9. Kadan Lewis: 6-2, 260, Fr., DL, Houma, La. (Terrebonne HS)
10. Javante Mackey: 6-3, 215, Fr. LB, Memphis, Tenn. (Whitehaven HS)
11. Miller McCrumby: 6-4, 205, Fr., TE, Mount Pleasant, Texas (Mount Pleasant HS)*
12. King Mwikuta: 6-5, 238, Jr., LB, West Point, Ga. (Alabama)*
13. Melvin Priestly: 6-4, 305, Fr., OL, East St. Louis, Ill. (East St. Louis HS)
14. James Reed III: 5-11, 180, Fr., CB, Nashville, Tenn. (Father Ryan HS)
15. Ahmad Robinson: 5-11, 180, Fr., CB, East St. Louis, Ill. (East St. Louis HS)*
16. Ashtin Rustemeyer: 6-2, 270, Fr., DL, St. Louis, Mo. (Lutheran HS)
17. Mike Sharpe II: 5-11, 190, Fr., RB, Pinson, Ala. (Pinson Valley HS)*
18. Eddie Smith: 6-0, 190, Jr.-R, DB, Slidell, La. (Illinois/Alabama)*
19. Terion Sugick: 6-2, 297, Fr.-R, DL, Landover, Md. (Vanderbilt)*
20. Blayne Toll: 6-6, 245, DE, So., Hazen, Ark. (Hazen HS/Colorado/Arkansas)*
21. Aleric Watson: 6-6, 265, Fr., OL, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Middle Tennessee Christian School)
22. Elijah Zollicoffer: 6-6, 330, Fr., OL, Covington, Ga. (Newton HS)
23. Dominic Zvada: 6-2, 155, Fr., K, Chandler, Ariz. (Valley Christian HS)
*Available to participate in A-State’s 2022 spring camp
