Arkansas State star player will miss Arkansas game, rest of season with injury
Arkansas State running back Ja’Quez Cross will miss the remainder of the season, including the historic matchup between Arkansas and the Red Wolves at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday, with a torn ACL, Red Wolves head coach Butch Jones announced on his ‘Live with the Red Wolves’ radio show on Thursday. The injury happened during practice on Tuesday and Cross will serve as team captain against Arkansas.
The redshirt senior is in his fourth season with the Red Wolves and has compiled a decorated career as both a running back and kick returner. He was a preseason All-Sun Belt selection as a first team all-purpose back, as well as second team running back and return specialist.
Cross has been a key cog for the Red Wolves the past two seasons, rushing for 1,354 yards and nine touchdowns, plus 389 receiving yards and a score. He has also logged 1,129 kickoff return yards and a touchdown in that span.
In Arkansas State’s 2025 season-opening 42-24 win over Southeast Missouri State last Saturday, Cross rushed eight times for 36 yards and a touchdown while also hauling in five catches for 33 yards and a score. He also returned a kickoff for 30 yards.
The Fordyce alumnus began his college career at Purdue where he played one season for the Boilermakers. Cross was a three-star recruit in the 2021 class and helped the Redbugs win back-to-back Class 2A state championships in 2019-2020.
Arkansas versus Arkansas State is set to kick off on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+/SECN+.
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