Standards don’t magically appear on Saturdays. They’re built on random Tuesdays, in meeting rooms, in the weight room, and in the way we talk to each other when nobody’s watching. Justin Parks sits down with Arkansas State football players Wil Saxton and Ryan Reese for a real look at how a program creates buy-in, protects its culture, and pushes players to grow up fast.
Wil shares his journey from a tiny high school in Yazoo City, Mississippi, where he did everything on the field, to Southern Miss, to taking the transfer portal leap that brought him to Jonesboro. Ryan breaks down what it’s like coming up in Birmingham’s high-competition football scene, how training resources shaped his approach, and the wild recruiting twist that moved him from offensive line to defensive line. We also talk about what sealed the deal on their official visit, and why “football is valued here” isn’t just talk when the whole building lives it.
Then we get into the stuff that decides seasons: leadership and mental toughness. What do you do when you’re new and don’t have the pull yet? How do you hold teammates to the standard without crossing lines? Justin lays out the difference between leaders and enforcers, and the guys explain how connection makes effort easier. We also dig into the true student-athlete schedule, the pressure of performance, the pain of limited snaps, and how perseverance changes your story.
We close with the bigger college football picture: NIL benefits, transfer portal consequences, donor impact, community pride, and the goals we’re chasing this year, from all-conference to championships. If you care about Arkansas State, college football culture, leadership development, and what players actually live day to day, this one is for you.
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More About this Episode
Leadership, Grit, and the A-State Standard
Join host Justin Parks and A-State athletes Wil Saxton and Ryan Reese as they discuss the mental toughness, leadership, and community pride driving Arkansas State Football toward a championship season.
The culture of Arkansas State Football is built on more than just physical talent; it is forged through high standards, mental resilience, and the deep personal connections formed within the locker room. In the latest episode of Inside the Den, host Justin Parks sat down with senior offensive lineman Wil Saxton and sophomore defensive tackle Ryan Reese to pull back the curtain on what it truly takes to represent the Red Wolves on Saturdays.
The path to Jonesboro looks different for every player. For Saxton, it began in the small town of Yazoo City, Mississippi, at a high school so small he was forced to play nearly every position on the field, from tight end to kicker, on a roster of just 19 players.
After a three-year stint at Southern Miss, Saxton found a new home at Arkansas State, drawn in by the serious approach to the game and the chance to reunite with fellow Mississippi natives like Corey Rucker. His transition was smoothed by the familiarity of the coaching staff and the immediate respect he felt for the program's daily expectations.
Reese’s journey was rooted in the highly competitive atmosphere of Birmingham, Alabama. Coming from Ramsay High School, an inner-city program, Reese was surrounded by elite talent and resources that prepared him for the leap to college athletics.
Interestingly, Reese was not always a defensive standout; he spent much of his early high school career on the offensive line. His recruitment to the defensive side of the ball didn’t even start on the gridiron. It began on the basketball court, where recruiters noticed his athleticism while watching his brother play.
Once Arkansas State entered the picture with an official visit, Reese was sold on a culture that extended from the head coach down to the student trainers.
Leadership is a central theme within the den, but both athletes admit that it is a quality that must be earned rather than taken. Saxton noted that as a transfer, he focused on performance and building relationships before stepping into a vocal leadership role.
Reese shared a similar sentiment, explaining how his leadership style has evolved from the high-intensity, physical enforcement he saw in high school to a more nuanced, man-to-man conversational approach.
Parks emphasized that great teams need more than just one or two leaders; they need enforcers, which are players who may not have the title but who constantly reinforce the culture and hold their peers accountable to the standard.
Maintaining that standard requires a rigorous daily routine. Between early morning lifts, meetings, film study, and a full load of classes, the life of a student-athlete is a balancing act.
Saxton, now a graduate student, manages his time by staying ahead of his coursework during the week to avoid the Sunday rush. Reese utilizes the gaps between his three daily classes to handle his academic responsibilities so he can focus entirely on football once practice begins in the evening.
This discipline is what allows them to perform under the bright lights, like Saxton did during the thrilling last-second victory over Texas State, or Reese’s breakout performance during the bowl game.
The mental side of the game is often the most grueling. Reese opened up about the emotional toll of a mid-season stretch where his playing time dwindled, revealing nights spent in tears and phone calls home to his father.
His ability to keep his head down and continue working eventually led to a massive sack in the bowl game, proving that perseverance is the only way through adversity. This mental toughness is reinforced through the Fourth and One program, where players break into small groups to share their life stories.
By learning about a teammate’s personal struggles or family losses, players find the motivation to sacrifice more on the field for the person standing next to them.
Looking toward the upcoming season, the expectations are higher than ever. Saxton has set his sights on First Team All-Conference honors and a conference championship ring to cap off his senior year. Reese, inspired by the success of programs like James Madison, believes the Red Wolves have the talent to push for a spot in the college football playoffs, with a personal goal of reaching double-digit sacks.
As these athletes continue to push one another in the trenches, they do so with the support of a community and donor base that provides the resources necessary to compete at the highest level.
From flipping hay bales in Mississippi to dominating the Sun Belt, the journey of these Red Wolves is a testament to the power of the "Daily Standard."