MATTHEW STEVENS MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER

A week-by-week look previewing Auburn’s 2016 football season beginning July 20 and continuing through July 31.

Arkansas State vs. Auburn

No matter what happens on opening night, Auburn’s football program will be spotlighted as they head into a week two matchup with Arkansas State.

If Auburn pulls off an upset on national television of the national runner-up Clemson on Sept. 3, fans will be undoubtedly excited and Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn will be forced to refocus its efforts to avoid a hangover after likely reaching the Top 25 polls.

However, a loss to Clemson no matter how devastating will make Malzahn quickly bring together his players to avoid major momentum loss in the start of a critical season for his handle on the program.

Arkansas State, which Malzahn coached for one season before replacing Gene Chizik in 2013, has not defeated a Power 5 conference opponent since they defeated Texas A&M 18-14 to open the 2008 season.

The Red Wolves, who have a nine-game winning streak against Sun Belt Conference opponents, need to replace several key skill position players on both sides of the ball. Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson used five different quarterbacks during its spring game and his choice appears to be between Pittsburgh graduate transfer Chad Voytik and junior college transfer Justice Hansen, who originally signed with Oklahoma.

Going back to the program’s head coach history of Hugh Freeze, Malzahn, Bryan Harsin and now Anderson, the ASU program has historically always been able to move the ball and score points. Anderson brought in Buster Faulkner as his offensive coordinator after he led Middle Tennessee State’s offense for the last five years. Faulker guided MTSU’s offense to 34.0 points per game and 457.4 yards per game of total offense.

In Faulkner’s first spring game at ASU, he had very little depth to work with because of health concerns on the offensive line so he’ll have to quickly get his system in place during fall camp.

“We all knew going in that it was going to be a challenge because we had eight offensive linemen dressed out and only five of them were actually healthy,” Anderson said after the spring game on April 15. “The other three just played through it, so it was a challenge all night to block our defensive front.”

What they will be saying

As an Arkansas native, Malzahn will not want to suffer an embarrassing upset to Arkansas State. However, staring at Malzahn on the opposite sideline will be a man that Malzahn didn’t retain when he got the head job at Auburn – Carl “Trooper” Taylor.

Famously known during the success of the Chizik era for being the towel-waving wide receivers coach who was seen as a nationally recognized recruiter. However, Taylor was investigated by the NCAA Eligibility Center for potential recruiting violations during his time at Auburn.

"Anytime you go beat people on kids, especially at Auburn or any other place in that state with a rivalry like that that, it was always 'because he had to have cheated,'" Taylor said to the Associated Press. “But if they're not saying anything about you, it's probably because you aren't doing anything. It's almost like a compliment."

Taylor is now the cornerbacks coach at ASU and hasn’t been back to Auburn since the 2013 season when wasn’t coaching college football but instead taking care of his children while living in Auburn during their national championship run.

"People look at me and see me here and say, 'Wow, he moved to the bottom,' " Taylor said. "I'm at the top. Their perception of the car I'm riding in and my perception are far different. I just want people to understand that my loyalty is to happiness. And I am happy working for Blake and with how everyone has treated my family here.”

Players to watch

Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, Jr., DE: Rolland-Jones was named to the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Award watch lists after a stellar sophomore season in 2015 where he led with nine sacks during the year. He also added 13 tackles for loss and had 38 tackles, which led to All-Sun Belt Conference first team honors.

Blaise Taylor, Jr., DB: The son of former Auburn assistant Trooper Taylor was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week after he had a career long 73-yard punt return for a touchdown and had a career-high 111 punt return yards against New Mexico State. He finished the year with 322 punt return yards, the second most in school history.

Devin Mondie, Sr., C: Mondie was named a nominee for the Rimington Award watch list after he helped the Red Wolves offense lead the Sun Belt Conference in scoring (40.0 ppg), second in total offense (438.5 ypg) and third in rushing (231.3 ypg).

Prediction

Expect this game to be competitive for at least the first half but Auburn will likely take control in the second half because of their depth on the defensive line. Arkansas State just has too many questions at skill positions and offensive line to be able to handle Auburn’s talent depth but this likely won’t be a blowout. Auburn 38, Arkansas 24

Arkansas State vs. Auburn

Date: Sept. 10, Jordan Hare Stadium, Auburn

Time/TV: 6:30 p.m./SEC Network

About the Red Wolves

Coach: Blake Anderson (16-10 in 2 seasons at Arkansas State)

Last year’s record: 9-4, 8-0 in Sun Belt (Sun Belt Conference champion)

Record vs. Auburn: 0-3

Returning starters: Offense 6, Defense 7

Key newcomers: QB Justice Hansen (junior college transfer who originally signed with Oklahoma), QB Chad Voytik (graduate transfer from Pittsburgh), WR Justin McInnis (junior college transfer), DL Dee Liner (transfer from Alabama).