Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Dec. 5, 2024 – Arkansas State head football coach Butch Jones announced Wednesday the Red Wolves have added 25 players from eight different states to its 2025 recruiting class that currently ranks tops in the Sun Belt Conference by Rivals and top three by all the major recruiting outlets.

The Red Wolves current class has 17 players rated as 3-star recruits by 247Sports. The class includes 12 players who are slated to be available for the Red Wolves’ 2025 spring camp. Of the 25 signees, 23 are high school signees, just two shy of the most in a single class in school history signed last year. Nineteen of the 23 high school signees helped lead their teams to the state playoffs this year. 

“What an exciting day for our program,” said Jones. “The volume of players we were able to sign today addresses a lot of our needs. This class builds our future and is a continuation of building our foundation. We’re going to continue to win by developing our own players. Make no mistake about it, this is an exciting time for our future to add the quality of players, competitive character, and overall character in this class.”

Arkansas State’s 2025 class ranks as high as 69th by the major recruiting websites, currently giving the Red Wolves four consecutive classes that rank in the top five in school history. 

The current class includes 13 offensive and 12 defensive players, including five offensive linemen and four defensive linemen. A-State also added six defensive backs, four wide receivers, two running backs, two linebackers and a tight end. 

A-State signed six players from Texas and Mississippi. The Red Wolves added four players from Florida, three players from Alabama and Tennessee and one each from Arkansas, Georgia and Ohio. 

“Looking at the evolution of this class, this is probably the most competitive recruiting cycle we’ve had since we’ve been here,” Jones said. “Most of these players had multiple, legitimate offers and some were committed to other schools. This is just the beginning as there is another signing period and we will supplement with the transfer portal.”

2025 Arkansas State Football Recruiting Class:

• Luca Akirtava: DL, 6-2, 250, Frisco, Texas (Reedy HS)
• Nasir Allen: RB, 5-11, 175, Ocala, Fla. (Vanguard HS)
• Demarcus Baker*: DB, 6-1, 190, Hattiesburg, Miss. (Hattiesburg HS)
• Demarrco Blanton*: WR, 6-0, 185, Summit, Miss. (Southwest Mississippi CC)
• Landon Bridges*: OL, 6-2, 300, Flowood, Miss. (East Central CC)
• Tony Carter: DL, 6-2, 265, Nashville, Tenn. (Lipscomb Academy)
• Cade Channell*: OL, 6-5, 280, Dora, Ala. (Dora HS)
• Andre Feast*: WR, 5-10, 165, Missouri City, Texas (Fort Bend Marshall HS)
• Javeon Fricks: TE, 6-5, 230, Mineral Springs, Ark. (Mineral Springs HS)
• Noah Hacker: OL, 6-7, 270, Nashville, Tenn. (Lipscomb Academy)
• Aslan Jones: DB, 6-2, 170, Prichard, Ala. (Vigor HS)
• Tyrell Lewis*: QB, 6-1, 200, Dayton, Ohio (Wayne HS)
• DD Murray: RB, 5-10, 190, Bellville, Texas (Bellville HS)
• Nigel Nelson*: LB, 5-11, 215, Pensacola, Fla. (Pensacola Catholic HS)
• Warren Nolen: OL, 6-3, 320, Willis, Texas (Willis HS)
• Courtney Patterson*: DB, 5-11, 170, Ocala, Fla. (Jones HS)
• Mike Peterson Jr.*: WR, 5-11, 145, Fort White, Fla. (Fort White HS)
• Ryan Reese: DL, 6-2, 275, Birmingham, Ala. (Ramsay HS)
• Romel Stevens: WR, 6-4, 205, Willis, Texas (Willis HS)
• Dan’tay Ward Jr.*: OL, 6-6, 290, Waco, Texas (Waco HS)
• DJ Watkins: DB, 6-0, 170, Madison, Miss. (Madison Ridgeland Academy)
• Malekhi Weedon: DB, 6-1, 185, Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett HS)
• Marquis Williams*: DB, 6-0, 175, Madison, Miss. (Madison Central HS)
• Shaun Williams: DL, 6-2, 235, Columbus, Miss. (Columbus HS)
• Aidan Wright*: LB, 6-3, 220, Franklin, Tenn. (Centennial HS)

*Available to participate in A-State’s 2025 spring camp (12)

Arkansas State Football 2025 Recruiting Class by the Numbers:

By Position: Offense (13)

• QB (1): Tyrell Lewis
• RB (2); Nasir Allen, DD Murray
• WR (4): Demarrco Blanton, Andre Feast, Mike Peterson Jr., Romel Stevens
• TE (1): Javeon Fricks
• OL (5): Landon Bridges, Cade Channell, Noah Hacker, Warren Nolen, Dan’tay Ward Jr.

By Position: Defense (12)

• DL (4): Luca Akirtava, Tony Carter, Ryan Reese, Shaun Williams
• LB (2): Nigel Nelson, Aidan Wright
• DB (6): Demarcus Baker, Aslan Jones, Courtney Patterson, DJ Watkins, Malekhi Weedon, Marquis Williams

By State

• Alabama (3): Cade Channell, Aslan Jones, Ryan Reese
• Arkansas (1): Javeon Fricks
• Florida (4): Nasir Allen, Nigel Nelson, Courtney Patterson, Mike Peterson Jr.
• Georgia (1): Malekhi Weedon
• Mississippi (6): Damarcus Baker, Demarrco Blanton, Landon Bridges, DJ Watkins, Marquis Williams, Shaun Williams
• Ohio (1): Tyrell Lewis
• Tennessee (3): Tony Carter, Noah Hacker, Aidan Wright
• Texas (6): Luca Akirtava, Andre Feast, DD Murray, Warren Nolen, Romel Stevens, Dan’tay Ward Jr.