Arkansas State · Sun BeltArkansas State’s Unsettled Quarterback Race Adds Risk Before Memphis Opener
The Red Wolves have four quarterbacks competing for one job, with only one returning from last year’s roster and two transfers already familiar with the new offensive coordinator. The timing matters. Memphis sits between trips to UNLV and Boise State.
AUG 22, 2026
Quarterbacks are competing for Arkansas State’s starting job.
Passes Ethan Crawford attempted during the 2025 season.
Crawford’s passing line at Southern Miss from 2023 through 2024.
01 · The NewsWhat Happened
Arkansas State’s quarterback race remains unsettled before the Red Wolves visit Memphis on Sept. 5. No starter has been named. Ethan Crawford is the only quarterback in the room who was on last year’s roster. Texas transfer Trey Owens and Vanderbilt transfers Drew Dickey and Jérémy St-Hilaire join him. Garrett Altman is taking over the offense after spending the previous two seasons coaching Diego Pavia at Vanderbilt. Crawford didn’t attempt a pass last season, while Owens didn’t see the field at Texas. Dickey and St-Hilaire have played for Altman before in Nashville. Crawford and Owens are the leading names to track into Week 1, though Arkansas State hasn’t made the decision official.
02 · The StakesWhy This One Matters
This matters because Arkansas State opens the season with a compressed test. Memphis begins at UNLV, hosts the Red Wolves in the newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, then travels to Boise State the following week. The middle game can punish a team still sorting out its offense. Arkansas State went 7-6 last season, won back-to-back bowl games, and finished 4-4 in one-score games. That record says the Red Wolves can stay in games. It also says a young quarterback decision may land on a narrow margin early.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
The quarterback race is also a test of how much continuity Altman can create from a new room. Crawford knows the program but has little recent game work. Owens brings a 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame and dual-threat ability, but he has no Texas snaps to carry into the competition. Dickey and St-Hilaire know Altman’s offense from Vanderbilt, which gives them a different kind of head start. Arkansas State isn’t choosing between four identical profiles. It’s choosing which kind of uncertainty it can live with against Memphis.
“Memphis should prepare for two different Arkansas State offenses until the decision arrives.”
The Wire Desk04 · The PersonnelWhat the Decision Tells Us
The choice should reveal whether Arkansas State values prior snaps, physical upside, or existing trust in Altman’s system. Crawford offers the only roster continuity and the deepest college playing history, even though that work came before last season. Owens gives the Red Wolves a bigger runner and passer with the potential to stress Memphis in space. Dickey and St-Hilaire have a built-in connection to Altman, but the supplied information doesn’t establish either as the front-runner. Projection: if Crawford wins, Arkansas State is betting on experience over recent production. If Owens wins, the staff is betting that his physical tools can survive an opener with little margin. If one of the Vanderbilt transfers wins, Altman’s familiarity becomes the deciding factor. The announcement matters less than the reason behind it.
05 · The ThesisThe Pate State Read
Memphis should prepare for two different Arkansas State offenses until the decision arrives. Crawford’s game history gives the staff a steadier reference point, while Owens presents the more obvious run threat from the quarterback position. That changes how Memphis handles the box, especially on early downs. A quarterback who can keep the ball forces an extra defender into the fit. A quarterback with limited game work can invite pressure and test whether the offense stays on schedule. Arkansas State has a fair case for each path. The staff also has to build timing with its receivers while Altman installs a new attack. This is why the opener matters more than the quarterback label. Memphis is catching a team with useful options, but no settled answer. The first few Arkansas State possessions will show whether the choice created control or merely picked a name.
06 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
When will Arkansas State name its starter?
An early decision would give the offense more time to build its protections and quarterback timing. A late decision would keep the competition alive but leave the Memphis plan less settled.
Does Trey Owens move ahead of Ethan Crawford?
That would signal a preference for size and quarterback-run potential over roster continuity. Crawford staying ahead would point toward a steadier transition into Altman’s offense.
How does Memphis handle the opener’s timing?
The Tigers host Arkansas State after opening at UNLV and before traveling to Boise State. Whether Memphis treats the game as a routine home opener or a serious middle-game test will shape the pressure on the Red Wolves.
Which quarterback trait shows up first?
The opening possessions should reveal whether Arkansas State is built around quarterback runs, quick rhythm throws, or a more conservative start. That answer will clarify what Memphis can attack.