Kent State University
Arizona State
Kent State Kicks Off 2019 at Arizona State
8/28/2019 7:11:00 PM | Football
Tempe, Ariz. -Kent State will open the 2019 football season on the road as they travel west to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils on Thursday evening at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. AZT on the Pac-12 network.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Thursday's meeting with Arizona State is the first game west of the Mississippi for the Golden Flashes since they took on Minnesota in 2015. The road contest also marks the fifth-straight season Kent State has opened away from the friendly confines of Dix Stadium.
#FLASH FAST
This is the second season of the Flash Fast era under head coach Sean Lewis. Last season, the Golden Flashes ran an average of 76.6 plays per game, a number they will look to increase this season. A big key to the offense is quarterback Woody Barrett. Barrett won the starting job outright in camp last season and went on to throw for over 2,300 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for over 500 yards and seven additional scores.
In addition to Barrett, Kent State brings back its leading rusher and top three receivers from a year ago. Jo-El Shaw, who rushed for over 650 yards and seven scores, will look to take on a larger role in 2019. The receiving corps will feature Antwan Dixon, who led the team with 52 catches a season ago and Isaiah McKoy who grabbed 42 passes for 423 yards and three scores last season.
Up front, the Golden Flashes bring 72 total starts to the offensive line in 2019. Leading the crew is center Nate Warnock who has made 24 straight starts at center and is on the watch list for the Rimington Award, given annually to the best center in college football.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kent State returns six starters from last season. Linebacker Matt Bahr earned a sixth year of eligibility in the offseason led the defense with 91 tackles in 2018. Alongside Bahr, Nick Faulkner made 36 stops with five of them coming for loss.
In the secondary, Keith Sherald Jr. returns after matching Bahr with a team-high 91 stops. Jamal Parker added 83 tackles last season, good for third on the team and adds to the depth in the secondary. One player to watch will be Qwuantrezz Knight, who earned a transfer waiver from the NCAA and comes over from spending last season at Maryland.
Special teams was a strength for Kent State last season and with all three specialist returning, looks to be a continued strength this season. True sophomore Matthew Trickett earned first-team All-MAC honors last season after hitting on 14-of-17 field goals and stepping into handle punting duties. Punter Derek Adams was all-conference in 2017 before redshirting in 2018. Long snapper Joey Palumbo is on the Patrick Mannelly Award watch list, given annually to the Nation's best long snapper.
LUCKY 27
Since 2013, Kent State is 11-2 when scoring at least 27 points. When held below that pivotal scoring mark, the Golden Flashes are 5-52.
PUNCHING IT IN
The Golden Flashes were an efficient red-zone offense in 2018, scoring points on 90-percent of their trips inside the red zone. That mark was good for 12th in the Nation last season.
ABOUT THE SUN DEVILS
Arizona State is also in the second year of the Herm Edwards era after a 7-6 campaign in 2018 that ended with a 31-20 loss to Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl. Edwards, a long-time NFL head coach with the Jets and Chiefs, made the jump into the college game after spending the previous eight seasons as an analyst for ESPN.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arizona State features one of the best running backs in the nation in Eno Benjamin. As a sophomore in 2018, Benjamin ranked fifth in the nation with 1,642 yards, an average of over 126 yards per game. His 16 rushing touchdowns were ninth in the FBS.
Benjamin looks to be featured heavily because the Sun Devils named true freshman Jayden Daniels their starting quarterback, winning the job in camp. Daniels was rated the 35th best recruit in 2019 and the #2 dual-threat quarterback. ASU also lost star wide out N'Keal Harry to the NFL Draft. Harry left the Sun Devils as the third leading receiver in school history.
The Sun Devils run a unique 3-3-5 defense that blitzes early and often. Sophomore linebacker Merlin Robertson led the team with 77 tackles a season ago including 7.5 for loss and five sacks, earning PAC-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors.
SERIES HISTORY
This marks the first meeting between the schools.
FOLLOW ALONG
Thursday's game will air on the PAC-12 with Roxy Bernstein on the call, Anthony Herron providing the color commentary and Jill Savage on the sidelines. Fans can also listen on WHLO 640 AM and the Golden Flashes Radio Network with Ty Linder on the call, Rob Polinsky providing color commentary and Jacob Pavilack on the sidelines. The Golden Flashes Radio Network is also available as part of the I Heart Radio App, links and information are available on KentStateSports.com and the football schedule page.
NEXT WEEK
Kent State opens their 2019 home season with a noon kick-off against the Kennesaw State Owls, the #2-ranked team in the FCS polls. It will be the first meeting between the schools.
