Workouts, camps make June busy month for A-State football

Red Wolves gearing up for 2024 season

From Arkansas State University

astateredwolves.com

JONESBORO — Butch Jones describes June as one of the busiest months for his football staff at Arkansas State.

ASU welcomed 40-plus newcomers along with its returnees last week as the 2024 Red Wolves arrived for summer workouts under the guidance of Jeff Jones, assistant athletic director for athletics performance. While those workouts proceed, the recruiting process for 2025 also accelerates this month.

Jones, ASU’s fourth-year head coach, said everything starts with the current team this month.

“This is step three in the process of building this football team. Basically, the individuals who are here in June are going to make up and comprise this year’s football team. You can’t take anything for granted from growth to development to connection as a football team,” Jones said recently. “I think that’s one of the most important things in the summer, your leadership, growth and development.

“That’s where your leadership is really born, your accountability to each other, and then it’s also big time in terms of academics for some of these individuals to put themselves in position to be able to perform in the fall. You have that and then you couple it with recruiting, official visits, unofficial visits, and then our camp season begins as well.”

Jones said every player reported on time and was present when the Red Wolves met on Memorial Day. Workouts began the next day.

ASU’s first summer term also began last week.

“Obviously we have some, very few, but we do have individuals who are going to need to have a great summer from an academic standpoint,” Jones said. “The exciting thing is not only do we have all of our scholarship players but most of our walk-ons who will be in the 120 when August begins. They’ll be part of our summer strength and conditioning program as well.”

ASU’s first camp, the Butch Jones Friday Night Lights Camp, is scheduled for Friday night, followed by a prospect camp Saturday. Both camps are designed for players entering the ninth through 12th grades and prospective transfers.

The Butch Jones Future Stars Camp, which is for students entering grades one through eight, takes place early next week. A specialist camp for kickers, punters, long snappers and holders is set for June 15 along with another prospect camp.

The Red Wolf 7-on-7 tournament and offensive/defensive line camp takes place June 22. Another prospect camp is set for July 26.

“One of the biggest things I look forward to is not only our future stars football camp, our youth camp, but also this will be the third year now that we’re doing our 7-on-7 tournament coupled with also a big man camp, an offensive line and defensive line camp going on simultaneously,” Jones said. “We’ve been able to grow and elevate that camp.”

During last week’s Howl on Wheels event, Jones said his coaches were traveling for five consecutive days to work other camps. He described the summer months as the pathway to success on signing days in December and February.

“So much goes into getting these prospective student-athletes on campus and being able to get them to your camps, to be able to watch them perform, watch them compete, but also get them around your current players as well,” he said. “There’s a lot that goes into it. That’s why June is one of the most critical months of the year in terms of our recruiting efforts for the finale that occurs in December and February.”