Decided this needed to be a separate thread, because this is why 2024 will be unlike his first three seasons, but like all his teams going forward as his "developmental" program begins to produce results, and hopefully championships.

While they return the majority of the depth-chart and have added what Butch calls their most complete class, these " forgotten" but very talented players are why their coaches feel strongly they now have the competitive depth to compete for a championship, and are the reason they are my pick to win the SBC West.

In his tenure Butch has recruited the best HS talent in the SBC, and as a result there are some outstanding players in this group. While most are expected to be the #3 or#4 at their position in 2024 it is not because they lack talent-almost all could find a G5 that they could start for or be a primary backup next year.

WR 3 Clyde Curry rFr. (6-2, 170) -received offers from Michigan State, Minnesota, Western Kentucky, Georgia Southern, and Southern Miss, among others.
CB 3 Davon Martin rJr. (6, 185) –bounce back from Middle Tenn. (red-shirted in 2023).
LB 10 Jordan Sample (6-2, 210)- also offered by Missouri, Marshall, Memphis, Texas State and Wyoming, among others..
WR 10 Tennell Bryant, So.(5-7. 157)- received offers from Air Force, Army, Central Michigan, Massachusetts, Navy, and Toledo.
S 12 Websley Etienne rSo.( 5’11, 195)- offered by Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi State, Syracuse, Utah, Florida Atlantic, Buffalo, Ole Miss, Charlotte, North Carolina, Middle Tennessee, UConn, Yale, UAB and Marshall.
S 15 Brandon Greil rFr. (5-11, 167) - also offered by Navy and Central Arkansas.
QB 19 Will Prichard rFr (6-2, 204)- fielded Power-5 offers from Arizona, Auburn, Utah and Vanderbilt, along with Buffalo, East Carolina, UTSA and others.
CB/KR 26 Manny Stokes rJr. (5-10, 167) -transfer from - Coastal Carolina(red-shirted in 2023)..
LB 27 Jamil Williams So. (5-11, 220) - boasts Power-5 offers from Tennessee and Duke, along with offers from Charlotte and Florida Atlantic.
LB 31 RJ Kelly rFr.-6-1, 230)- also held offers from Eastern Michigan, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, James Madison, Marshall, Navy, Wake Forest and others.
DT 34 Timothy Gulley rFr. (6-1, 300)- held offers from Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Louisiana Tech and Troy.
DL 40 Ian Jeffries rFr. (6-4, 287) -held Power-5 offers from Illinois and Indiana, as well as offers from Liberty and Georgia State.
OL 52 Mason Myers rFr (6-4, 274) - offered by Army, Georgia Tech and Tulane.
LB 52 Brandon Fairley rJr (6-2, 231)- named to 2022 All-MACCC North Division Second Team second team.
OL 54 Davis, Walker rFr (6-3, 272)- also received offers from Georgia Southern Liberty and Middle Tennessee, among others
OG 55 Aleric Watson rSo. (6-4, 302) -also recruited by schools such as Memphis, Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State and Murray State. Appeared in four games in 2022 with two starts as a true.
OL 70 Tyler, Adair rFr (6-6, 307)- PWO, ranked the sixth-best offensive lineman in the state of Mississippi per MaxPreps.
OT 72 Tobias Braun rSo (6-7, 315)- transfer from Ole Miss.
OL 75 Saidou Ba rSo (6-4, 300)- also recruited by schools such as Memphis and Tulane.
WR 81 Takare Lipscomb So. ( 6, 180)-offered by Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Pittsburgh, Western Kentucky and others.
WR 85 DeAndra Burns So (5-9,160) - also received offers from Arkansas and Pittsburg.
TE 87 Tyler Little rFr (6-4, 245)- also offered by Eastern Michigan, Air Force, Buffalo, New Mexico State, UTEP and others.
DT 94 Brian Alston rFr.(6-2, 262) - received Power 5 offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State and West Virginia.
DE 95 Thomas Puhek (6-2, 245) - also offered by Florida Atlantic, FIU and Utah.
DE 99 Terrell James rFr- (6-3, 235) - held offers from Purdue, Coastal Carolina, FIU, FAU, Georgia Southern, Tulane, Temple, Western Kentucky and others.

Updated to match 2024 Spring Roster published today : https://astateredwolves.com/sports/football/roster

While some will have to find another home because they are upside down on scholarships, this group above , along with the 25 HS signees added this year 2024 should reestablish the fact Butch Jones is great at recruiting and even better at developing talent.

Going forward A-State fans will be rewarded big-time for their patience in allowing Butch the time to implement his developmental program.

Now that their spring roster has been released and we can see who is on their roster it appears this is the first recruiting cycle in his tenure that 100% reflects Butch Jones recruit and develop HS prospects philosophy , and only use the Portal to replace those lost through the Portal or for reason's other than graduation.

Will have to wait and see if 2024 is the year the team they put on the field is made up mostly of players they recruited out of HS. With 24 Seniors most non-HS recruits my guess is that it will probably be 2025 or 2026 before Butches mostly "developmental" team hits the field.

They are my pick to win the SBC West in 2024, and maybe the SBC.

With fifteen of their 24 Seniors in 2024 being non-HS additions-mostly Portal, and the same for sixteen of their 29 Juniors ,pretty sure A-State fans will not see Butches' Developmental team on the field in 2024, and probably not 2025.

What they will see in 2024, and every year going forward is a depth chart dominated by upperclassmen, with a few really talented underclassmen sprinkled in, and most likely the best team in the SBC.

At some point it is expected their depth chart will be dominated by players recruited out of HS.

Reading on AStateNation it seems their editor feels their schedule is not ideal but manageable. Also informed their readers that A-State could be the favorite in the SBC West, but will withhold agreeing until after the next Portal window.

Aug 31 vs UCA
Sept 7 vs Tulsa
Sept 14 @ Michigan
Sept 21 @ Iowa State
Sept 28 OPEN
Oct 5 vs South Alabama
Oct 12 @ Texas State
Oct 19 @ Southern Miss
Oct 26 vs Troy
Nov 2 OPEN
Nov 9 @ Louisiana
Nov 16 @ Georgia State
Nov 23 vs UL Monroe
Nov 30 vs Old Dominion

Still my pick to win the SBC West but the schedule in Bold-four away games , with a home game against Troy and an open date , is not ideal, but they are certainly more than talented enough at this point to handle it.