Jones Confident in Arkansas State's Culture, Embraces High Expectations Entering 2026 Season
Arkansas State head football coach Butch Jones believes the foundation has finally been laid.
Now comes the challenge of proving it.
Speaking Wednesday at Sun Belt Conference Football Media Days, Jones reflected on the Red Wolves’ methodical rebuild while expressing confidence that Arkansas State has developed the culture necessary to compete for a conference championship despite replacing key contributors and breaking in a new quarterback.
“Obviously, we’re really excited about the opportunities that exist this coming season, but also excited about the many challenges that lie ahead,” Jones said.
Jones spent much of his opening remarks explaining why Arkansas State’s rebuild has taken longer than many expected.
When he arrived in Jonesboro before the 2021 season, Jones inherited a roster with just 72 scholarship players and had less than a month to assemble his first recruiting class.
Then came the COVID-19 season, followed almost immediately by the transfer portal era that dramatically reshaped college football.
“There were no quick fixes because there wasn’t a thing called the transfer portal,” Jones said. “You had to do it through development of your players and high school recruiting.”
Jones said Arkansas State’s rebuilding process has coincided with one of the most transformative periods in college football history.
“I call it eras,” Jones said. “Even though they’ve only been one to two years, everything has really been accelerated.”
Despite those challenges, Jones believes the program’s culture has remained constant.
“I think when I look at our football program, one thing that is set in stone in this era is our culture and our connection,” he said.
Turning the Corner
Jones pointed to last season as evidence the program has matured.
Arkansas State opened the year 1-4 after facing one of the nation’s toughest nonconference schedules before rallying to finish with a winning record and another bowl championship.
“We’re the only program in all of college football that started 1-4 and ended with a winning record and a bowl championship,” Jones said. “We’re the only program in the Sun Belt Conference that’s won back-to-back bowl games. We’ve gone to three straight bowl games.”
Jones credited that turnaround to the culture his staff has established.
“Our culture, our expectations, our principles and values are pretty set in stone,” he said.
Plenty of Questions Remain
Even with optimism surrounding the program, Jones acknowledged there are still significant unknowns entering fall camp.
Chief among them is quarterback.
Arkansas State enters preseason practice with four quarterbacks competing to replace Jaylen Raynor, and Jones made it clear he has no timetable for naming a starter.
“I’ve never been one to set timelines,” Jones said. “Why would you restrict yourself on deciding who the quarterback is? It’s got to happen organically.”
Jones added that leadership often determines who ultimately wins the job.
“A lot of times your players dictate who your starting quarterback is by the way they rally around them and their leadership capabilities.”
He added that all four quarterbacks have impressed him during offseason workouts.
Defensive Growth Key
While the quarterback competition has drawn much of the preseason attention, Jones said another area may be just as important.
Arkansas State returns only two players along its defensive front, forcing the coaching staff to quickly develop chemistry among a largely rebuilt defensive line.
“So much that goes into playing great defense is what we call a pack rush,” Jones said. “How we push the pocket, how we find the quarterback, all those individuals working together.”
New Faces on the Coaching Staff
Jones also praised several offseason coaching additions.
He highlighted new offensive coordinator Garrett Altman, who arrived from Vanderbilt after coaching quarterbacks for the Commodores.
Jones said he admired Vanderbilt’s offensive creativity over the past two seasons and intentionally targeted coaches from programs that had exceeded expectations.
“In the last two years, I found myself gravitating toward Vanderbilt,” Jones said. “I wanted to hire coaches that came from programs that overachieved.”
He also praised new strength and conditioning coach Ben Armor, who joined the Red Wolves from Duke.
Jones said players have already reached career highs in lean muscle mass, speed and strength since Armor arrived in Jonesboro.
Homegrown Leadership
Jones repeatedly emphasized the importance of retaining veteran leaders in an era dominated by the transfer portal.
He pointed to preseason All-Sun Belt wide receiver Chauncy Cobb and safety Brandon Barnes as examples of players who stayed committed to Arkansas State’s long-term vision.
“Both of these individuals have been homegrown and raised in our football program,” Jones said. “They understand our principles, our values, our culture and our expectations.”
Jones noted Cobb did not play during his first season before becoming an All-Sun Belt performer.
“He stayed the course,” Jones said. “When that opportunity presented itself for him to perform, he took great advantage of that opportunity.”
Building Chemistry
Barnes said developing chemistry has been a major offseason emphasis, particularly with 17 transfer additions joining the defensive side of the ball.
The senior safety credited team-building activities, including leadership training with former Navy SEALs and military personnel, for helping unite the roster.
“We’ve been in the Marine Corps program which brought us together closer as a team,” Barnes said. “Every Wednesday we have this thing called 4-to-1 where we break everything down with no football. We talk about each other and each other’s lives... and get closer with our teammates.”
Community Connection
Both Barnes and Cobb also spoke about the relationship between the football program and the Jonesboro community.
Cobb said Red Wolves fans never stopped supporting the team despite last season’s slow start.
“Even when we were going through adversity in our season last year, the fans were still by our side,” Cobb said. “They still came out to support us every home game and some even on the road.”
Barnes recalled one memorable experience during a community service visit to a local school.
After speaking with students about the importance of giving, Barnes said a young girl attempted to give him her last $10.
“I told her, ‘No, baby girl, keep your $10,’” Barnes said. “Then in return, I gave her $20. It’s a beautiful thing to see whenever you can touch another person’s heart.”
Confidence in the Offense
Cobb also addressed the ongoing quarterback competition, saying each of Arkansas State’s four candidates brings different strengths.
“They all compete,” Cobb said. “If I could play with all four of them, I’d play with all four of them. They’re very nice quarterbacks.”
He also expressed confidence in a receiving corps that returns five of its top seven contributors from last season.
“I feel like we’re going to be very explosive,” Cobb said. “We have older guys in the room helping the younger guys buy into the culture so we can have a great season.”