Western Kentucky OC Ben Arbuckle in talks to head to WSU

Hello there, Coug followers!

Your Washington State Cougars have been busy within the ten (10) days since soccer was final performed, with rumors of a brand new potential edge coach, and now a possible new offensive coordinator? Pinch us!

Let’s check out the QB coach / offensive coordinator Jake Dickert may take into consideration for the job.

It was tweeted by Bruce Feldman (linked beneath) simply after 4pm in the present day, 12/27.

Ben Arbuckle comes from Texas initially, having performed quarterback at West Texas A&M College. There, he racked up 1,241 yards and 15 touchdowns his junior season. You could find his extra complete school stats right here, although I’ll warn you- it’s from 2016/17, and that will alarm some individuals.

He then joined Houston Baptist College as an offensive high quality management assistant. If you happen to’re like me, you’re questioning what on earth that place is. Primarily, it’s getting ready a staff for a sport, by way of opponent sport movie, stats, and every other prevalent data. I additionally name it “what you do earlier than your pal goes on a primary date”.

Arbuckle then pivoted after two years to take an offensive coordinator / QB teaching place at Seminole Excessive College in Texas, the place he stayed for one yr earlier than being supplied one other high quality management coach, this time at Western Kentucky. He would then climb the ladder there, after earlier mentor Zach Kittley (whom he had labored with at Houston Baptist) left this system for Texas Tech.

Now- stick with me for this subsequent string of coincidences.

In a type of full circle second, Arbuckle labored underneath Kittley, who was underneath the wing of Kliff Kingsbury, the primary true star in Mike Leach’s constellation of quarterbacks.

The offensive system Arbuckle and head coach Tyson Helton ran this previous season wouldn’t precisely be described as an “Air Raid”, resulting from their skill to run the ball from time to time, and their utilization of tight ends. However, it had some Air Raid-esque numbers which may ring acquainted for a tried and true Leach fan. For instance, WKU ran 2,031 yards on the bottom, however had greater than double that in passing, with 4,929 within the air.

Whenever you have a look at the variety of touchdowns particularly, they’d 43 passing versus 15 dashing. Hitting residence for anybody else?

When it comes to additional related offense programs, WSU gave up 33 sacks for a mixed 238 yards, and Arbuckle’s offense had 32 sacks for a mixed 214 yards. This isn’t a fan favourite stat, however it piqued my curiosity, so I figured I’d share.

Onto extra enjoyable information- WKU’s third down conversion fee was 41.5%, a whopping 5.5% greater than ours, and everyone knows {that a} handful extra performs gone our approach would have made all of the distinction this season.

When it comes to groups getting into the pink zone, WKU made their approach down 60 occasions versus a WSU 48, granted- the Cougs carried out higher underneath strain, with 92% landing fee in comparison with WKU’s 80%. In my solely unprofessional opinion, that is clearly going to ensure each extra journeys all the way down to the pink zone, and extra touchdowns, which implies extra successful. That is science.

In G5 offenses, WKU was no 1 via week 15. Additionally they ended the season within the prime 10 yards per sport leaders, with some very unlucky firm.

Actually, the Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed landed the quantity two spot on school soccer passing yard leaders (as of November twenty fourth) with 3,837 whole yards. He fell simply wanting somebody who I cannot identify, as a result of he attends and performs for the dangerous place, they usually’ve taken sufficient of my vitality this yr.

Reed put his identify within the switch portal not too long ago, however then retracted it.

Total, this could possibly be a extremely thrilling rent! Whereas Ben Arbuckle won’t have as prolonged of a resume as the following man, he gives a possible to develop and construct this system in a dynamic but comforting approach. Everybody prepare to present him a heat welcome! Go Cougs!