Hodgepodge classes mix nicely at ASU

JONESBORO -- Jake Swalley and five other junior-college transfers entered the Arkansas State locker room almost two years ago with a clear directive -- there were jobs available, and someone needed to take them.

They did what they were told.

Swalley, a defensive tackle who transferred from Highland (Kan.) Community College, was one of six transfers to sign with ASU in December 2014. Today, five of them will play their final games at Centennial Bank Stadium when ASU (4-4, 4-0) hosts New Mexico State (2-6, 1-3) at 2 p.m.

"It seems like just yesterday that I committed," Swalley said this week.

Their time at ASU might have been short, but Swalley and his fellow transfers provided Coach Blake Anderson with what he was seeking.

They're among a seemingly unusual but not uncommon senior class for ASU -- 23 players were recruited by three different head coaches -- during one of the most tumultuous yet successful periods in the program has had.

Nine were brought in by Gus Malzahn (now at Auburn) during the early stages of ASU's ascent to the top of the Sun Belt in 2012, three others were brought in the next year by Bryant Harsin (Boise State), and 11 have been brought in by Anderson, who is in his third season.

Six transfers brought in by Anderson last season who are ending their two-year careers at ASU might have made the biggest impact on ASU's ability to stay at the top of the league standings. ASU ended Anderson's first season in 2014 with three losses in its final four games to finish 7-6. He decided then to bolster both lines and the secondary with transfers, and all have played big roles since.

The six transfers brought in by Anderson in December 2014 have started games, and while ASU has struggled with teams out of the Sun Belt, its 12-0 against league teams.

"The level of accountability you get from those guys has allowed them to do it," Anderson said. "They've earned the guys' respect. But, I think that's asking a lot for guys to come in ... in a two-year role and be the leaders they really honestly have been."

Defensive line was probably ASU's most depleted position group when he and Waylon Roberson, from New Mexico Military Institute, joined the team last year.

"My thought process was, 'I'm going to come in and I'm going to take somebody else's job and they're not going to like that,' " said Swalley, who started two games last year and has started five this year. "So, when I came in, I was kind of in a shell. But that's where the family thing came in."

Safety Cody Brown, right tackle Joseph Bacchus, Roberson and Swalley, all arriving in 2014, are expected to start today. Center Brandon Berg has contributed too. He started last week when Devin Mondie had a knee injury. Mondie, one of the nine fifth-year seniors who have endured two coaching changes, said there were never bad feelings toward the newcomers brought in to take jobs.

"Anybody that signed a letter of intent to come to Arkansas State is welcomed with open arms," Mondie said.

Mondie said ASU likely wouldn't be in its current position among Sun Belt leaders without them.

"It's not like, tennis or basketball, where it's one person," Mondie said. "Everybody has a job to do."

Anderson uses this season as evidence of of how the transfers have melded. The Red Wolves started 0-4, but have won their last four games. They'll play today trying to stay among teams without a league loss.

"It says a lot about the group," Anderson said.

A players-only meeting after the loss to Central Arkansas on Sept. 24 has been credited with sparking the turnaround. The meeting, players have said, was called by Brown and linebacker Xavier Woodson-Luster, a senior who arrived in 2013 under Harsin.

The Red Wolves haven't lost since as they've extended a winning streak against Sun Belt teams to 13 games.

"I think we all just came together for a common goal," Brown said, "and that's to win."

Sports on 11/12/2016