Missouri Football: Scouting Report Arkansas State

Sep 21, 2013; Bloomington, IN, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel reacts with wide receiver Bud Sasser (21) and running back Marcus Murphy (6) during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Missouri defeats Indiana 45-28. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

If your like me, you don’t know much about the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Missouri has only played the Red Wolves twice before, and Mizzou won both times. This is really a tune up game for the Tigers, and you shouldn’t worry too much about Arkansas State. They did win 10 games last season, but are not the same caliber as SEC teams like Mizzou.

Earlier this year, they lost to Auburn 38-9 in a lopsided contest. But no matter how easy the game will be for good old Mizzou, they will still play 60 minutes of football. Here is a guide to the Red Wolves team so you aren’t completely lost on gameday, trying to figure out who exactly even plays for Arkansas State.

The Arkansas State Red Wolves shouldn’t put up much of a fight against the Tigers, but that doesn’t mean they have some good players on their side of Faurot Field. Phil Steele ranked five Red Wolves in his preseason All-SBC team, including David Oku, JD McKissic, Aaron Williams, Ryan Carrethers, and Qushaun Lee.

Oku and McKissic are offensive skill players, and each have gotten off to fast starts this season. Oku is averaging 72.8 yards per game this season, and has four touchdowns in four games. McKissic ranks third on the team in receptions, with 10, and has 99 yards receiving and 1 TD as well. Neither is a huge threat to the Tigers, but they can play.

Williams is an offensive tackle on the line, protecting quarterback Adam Kennedy. Kennedy is a 6-5 senior who was named the starting QB this fall for the Red Wolves. He hasn’t gotten off to a super hot start this season, as Arkansas State ranks 65th in the nation in passing offense, with 231.8 yards per game. To his credit, he has protected the ball well, only throwing one interception against Troy. He can also move a little bit, going for 167 yards on the ground so far. Mizzou has to make Kennedy’s arm beat them from the pocket, and not let him scramble for first downs all night long.

On the defensive side of the ball, Ryan Carrethers and Qushaun Lee lead the Red Wolves. Carretheres is a 3rd or 4th round projected NFL draft pick by nfldraftscout.com, and dominates O-Lines from the defensive tackle position. He was named to the Outland trophy watch list this summer, and will give Mizzou’s interior lineman all they can handle. He has 28 tackles and three sacks already this season, ranking third on his team in tackles.

First in tackles is linebacker Qushaun Lee, who has 32 tackles. Carrethres and Lee will be all over the field on Saturday, cleaning up the messes left over by the rest of the defense. Against Auburn, Arkansas State conceded 468 yards of offense to the other Tigers. Auburn had over 300 yards on the ground, and Mizzou should get similar results on Saturday.