JONESBORO -- Only five Arkansas State starters from the 2024 team that went 8-5 returned for this season. ASU is among just seven Football Bowl Subdivision programs that entered the season with six or fewer returning starters.

A silver lining for the Red Wolves is that three of their returning starters included quarterback Jaylen Raynor, along with two of their top playmakers -- wide receiver Corey Rucker and running back Ja'Quez Cross.

Raynor was named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year in 2023 and has 24 career starts. Two of his starts last season were against Power Four opponents, road losses at Iowa State and Michigan.

It's experience he said he will lean on heading into Saturday's matchup against Arkansas ar War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

"It's all about the prepa

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