By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — No touchdowns have been thrown, no passes intercepted. No rushing attempts have gone the distance and there have been no tackles for loss. In short, there have been no wins or losses.
But optimism runs high for a successful 2024 college football campaign all across the country at every NCAA Division I school and with a new, more inclusive College Football Playoff format, the enthusiasm has never been higher among the so-called “Group of Five” teams, generally regarded as the second tier of NCAA Division I programs.
And for Appalachian State, noted for victories in years gone by over powerhouse programs like Michigan, Texas A&M, North Carolina and South Carolina, and near, woulda-coulda-shoulda upsets over Tennessee, Penn State and Miami, expectations have rarely been greater than they are for 2024. Declared the Sun Belt Conference’s East Division frontrunner by the likes of Athlon Sports, College Football Network, Star Local Media, and Bill Connelly’s SP+ rating on ESPN, App State’s “consistency” may be its leg up on the competition this year.
“We are one of only 25 programs in the country to return its head coach, both (offensive and defensive) coordinators and our starting quarterback,” noted App State head coach Shawn Clark in opening his Aug. 1 “Media Day” remarks. “I believe we have a roster that gives us a chance to be very competitive and we have the nation’s most prolific returning quarterback in Joey Aguilar.”
A QB-led offense
Aguilar, who was edged out of the starting QB job by Ryan Burger a year ago, jumped into the starting role in the first half of last season’s first game, vs. Gardner-Webb, when Burger was injured — and the junior college transfer from California never looked back. Aguilar led the Mountaineers to the East Division title and a Cure Bowl victory. He finished the season with the fourth-most passing TDs among all FBS programs in the nation, and seventh-most in total passing yardage.
While Aguilar is expected to be the QB starter, Clark made it clear that he still has to earn the job and the Mountaineers have a quartet of other QB hopefuls competing for the position. That foursome includes redshirt junior Billy Wiles, a 6-3, 215 lb. transfer from Southern Mississippi, where he started 10 games a year ago. Wiles was originally recruited by Clemson University, but was redshirted before transferring to Southern Miss. With the Golden Eagles in 2023, Wiles passed for more than 200 yards in games against Texas State (275), Alcorn State (267), Arkansas State (215) and ULM (210), as well as 287 yards on 23-of-41 passing in a tight, 48-38 loss to App State.
Also listed as QB candidates are sixth-year redshirt senior David Hernandez, redshirt freshman Cameron Estep (Charlotte Christian), and freshman Matthew Wilson (Rock Hill, S.C.).
Wide Receiver talent abounds
One of the Mountaineers’ strongest position groups is where the QBs will be targeting, at wide receiver. Redshirt senior Kaedin Robinson, redshirt junior Dalton Stroman, senior Christan Horn, and junior Makai Jackson return from a productive 2023 season. While it may be hard to break into a high volume target rotation at the position, redshirt junior Michael Hetzel (Ardrey Kell/Charlotte) also returns and is joined by some intriguing underclassman talents:
- William Fowles, 6-3, 215 lbs. redshirt freshman out of Hialeah, Fla., transferred in from Louisville, with a 4-star rating from 247 Sports. Has four seasons of eligibility remaining.
- Zahn Coakley, 6-1, 195 lbs. redshirt freshman whose hometown is Dallas, Texas. Redshirted in 2023 while rehabbing from injury, but in high school (The Oakridge School) was a track and field conference champion in the 100 meters and 4×100 relay. His father is an App State Hall of Fame selection and 3-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, Dexter Coakley.
- Grant Tucker, 6-3, 190 lbs., redshirt freshman who played prep ball at Charlotte Christian, scoring three TDs on three catches in the state championship game his senior season. Rated a 4-star prospect by 247 Sports.
- Zavier Short, 6-2, 210 lbs., a redshirt sophomore transferring from South Carolina with three seasons of eligibility. He joined the Gamecocks as a tight end, redshirted in 2022, then began work as a WR in 2023. In high school (Chapin, S.C.), was ranked as the No. 23 best player in South Carolina and a top-200 wide receiver nationally by 247 Sports.
- Reece Larson, 6-0, 180 lbs., a redshirt sophomore from Wellington, Fla. At Wellington HS, was a nominee for the Palm Beach Post “Offensive Player of the Year” as a senior while also excelling in track and field as a sprinter in the 100- and 200-meter distances.
- Franklin Baret, Jr., 6-4, 200 lbs., out of Wake Forest, N.C. Based on a stellar high school career, he is considered a big-play threat as a WR, but also as a return specialist. He has recorded a sub-4.4 time for 40 yards.
- Blake Hoban, 5-10, 185 lbs., from Napa, Calif., a redshirt junior transferring from Yuba College but played previously with Joey Aguilar at Diablo Valley Community College (2021-22). As a high schooler at Justin-Siena HS, earned all-league honors as a junior and senior, while also playing basketball and running track (part of a 4×100 relay team that set a school record).
- Jose Leon, 5-10, 175 lbs., true freshman from Miami, Fla. All-state selection as well as All-Dade County honoree. Helped Columbus HS win state titles his junior and senior year. Nominated as one of the top players in south Florida region, earning a 3-star rating by 247 Sports.
- Chris Lawson, Jr., 6-0, 185 lbs., redshirt freshman from Columbia, S.C. Rehabbed from injury last season, but ranked as a top-30 recruit in South Carolina and a 3-star rating by 247 Sports
- Ayden Burkey, 5-11, 185 lbs., transferred from Virginia Tech where he was redshirted as a true freshman. Last year did not play while rehabbing from injury. From Waxhaw, S.C., he played high school ball at Myers Park, helpin his team to consecutive conference titles and earning the Iron Mustang Award. Earned 3A all-conference honors as a lacrosse midfielder and competed in track and field as a sprinter, placing in the conference finals.
- Luke Hale, 6-3, 190 lbs., a multi-sport graduate of A C Reynolds HS in Asheville, N.C. A redshirt sophomore, he first arrived at App State with the track and field program, as a sprinter. Ran 100 meters in 10.66 and 200 meters in 21.61 at the 2023 Sun Belt Championships.
- Bryce Gee, 6-2, 190 lbs., from Jacksonville, Fla. A true freshman this year, he didn’t start playing football until his junior year in high school, but left Beachside HS as a 3-star prospect by 247 Sports. Senior year shortened by injury, but tallied four TDs over two games in a strong start to the season.
Can’t forget the Tight End position group
Led by senior Eli Wilson (6-3, 240 lbs., Piedmont, S.C.) and redshirt junior David Larkins (6-5, 255 lbs., Cincinnati, Ohio), App State’s tight end position group is well positioned to continue the Mountaineers’ tradition of exploiting the position for big gains, first downs and TDs. Four other student athletes are on the roster, including redshirt junior Jared Gibble (6-4, 235, Winston-Salem, a transfer from Campbell University); redshirt freshman Max Drag (6-4, 245 lbs., Chapin, S.C.); true freshman Jack Kelly (6-3, 240 lbs., Athens, Ga.); and redshirt sophomore Kanen Hamlett (6-4, 245 lbs., Madison, Ala.). Wilson has been on the receiving end of seven TDs in his App State career, including five TDs as an All-Sun Belt performer a year ago.
Running Back room has depth
Appalachian State historically has had a run-first mentality and that is unlikely to change, even if modified to be more balanced given Aguilar’s and the other QB’s skillsets with a strong group of receivers.
Redshirt sophomore Kanye Roberts (5-11, 205 lbs., Wallace, N.C.), Watauga HS alum Anderson Castle (6-0, 220 lbs. and a redshirt junior), and senior Ahmani Marshall (6-2, 225 lbs., Winston-Salem, N.C. and a transfer from Wake Forest last season) are the presumed leaders of the group.
Roberts came to App State after a sparkling prep career and showed off his potential in 2023 as a redshirt freshman, including a 61-yard TD run against Southern Miss that led to the Mountaineers’ 48-38 win — and jumpstarted the team’s five-game winning streak to close out the season. He scored five rushing TDs in the six games leading up to the Cure Bowl.
As a prep, Castle played both ways for Watauga, as a defensive back and as the All-Northwestern Conference quarterback. He was recruited to the Mountaineers as a DB, moved to outside linebacker, but converted to running back because of early season injuries to that position group. He is widely regarded to have 2024 become his true breakout season, especially in short-yardage situations, but with explosive potential in App State’s outside zone scheme. In 2019, as Watauga’s option QB, Castle rushed for 2,223 yards and passed for another 1,190 yards, accounting for 49 total TDs (36 rushing). He had a career high 119 yards rushing to close out last season in the Cure Bowl.
This will be Marshall’s third season with the Mountaineers after transferring from Wake Forest before the 2022 season. As a prep at East Forsyth, like Castle he was invited to play in the North-South Shrine Game after being a member of back-to-back state championship teams.
Other running back candidates for 2024 include:
- Maquel Haywood, 5-8, 195 lbs., played his first two seasons at Navy before transferring to App State prior to the 2023 season. He scored TDs last season vs. Georgia Southern and Southern Miss. He helped Wake Forest HS win state titles in 2017 and 2018. After graduating from Wake Forest HS in 2020, where he scored 33 TDs and rushed for more than 2,000 yards even with an injury-shortened senior season, Haywood then attended the Naval Academy Prep School during the 2020-21 academic year.
- Jaylon Calhoun, 6-0, 190 lbs., redshirt freshman from Lakeland, Ga. He totaled more than 2,000 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards in his final three high school seasons, with 24 TDs. He had five, 100+ yard games as a senior.
- Khamani Alexander, 6-1, 205 lbs., true freshman from Homestead, Fla. An all-county performer, he rushed for 2,669 yards and 17 TDs in 37 games and ran track as a junior at Belen Jesuit HS. He is rated a 3-star prospect by 247 Sports.
- Michael Dipasquale, 5-10, 200 lbs., is a redshirt freshman from Wake Forest, N.C., where he rushed for 2,716 yards and 55 TDs in his last three prep seasons. He recorded 16 TDs as a sophomore and 14 as a junior. He was an all-state selection and a 3-time all-conference honoree.
Offensive Line ‘beefed up’
After losing key offensive linemen like Bucky Williams and Isaiah Helms to graduation and the tragic passing of Jack Murphy, this will be one of the most scrutinized position groups on the team. Nonetheless, offensive line coach Mike Cummings and head coach Shawn Clark will not be asking, “Where’s the beef?” That’s because they have a bunch of candidates to choose from, with most near or over 300 lbs.:
- Andres Dewerk, 6-7, 340 lbs., redshirt junior, San Jose, Calif. (Los Gatos HS, transfer from Southern Cal)
- Luke Burgess, 6-8, 315 lbs., redshirt freshman, New Palestine, Ind. (New Palestine HS, transfer from Louisville)
- Griffin Scroggs, 6-3, 325 lbs., redshirt sophomore, Grayson, Ga. (Grayson HS, transfer from Georgia)
- Garner Langlo, 6-7, 300 lbs., redshirt junior, Hartford, Ala. (Trinity Catholic HS, transfer from Auburn)
- Thomas Shrader, 6-5, 305 lbs., redshirt junior, Venice, Fla. (Venice HS, transfer from Florida State
- Thornton Gentry, 6-4, 305 lbs., redshirt junior, Chapin, S.C. (Chapin HS, transfer from NC State)
- Dylan Barbrey, 6-6, 305 lbs., freshman, West Columbia, S.C. (Airport HS)
- Jack Hollifield, 6-4, 300 lbs., redshirt junior, Shelby, N.C. (Shelby HS, transfer from Virginia Tech)
- Felix Doege, 6-4, 300 lbs., true freshman from Augsburg, Germany (Rabun Gap-Nacoochee HS in Georgia)
- Daniel Davis, 6-6, 295 lbs., redshirt freshman, Winston-Salem, N.C. (Oak Grove HS)
- Gabe Funk, 6-6, 305 lbs., freshman, Xenia, Ohio (Xenia HS)
- Danny Stevens, 6-4, 300 lbs., redshirt from, Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Christian)
- Jayden Ramsey, 6-6, 300 lbs., redshirt junior, Anderson, S.C. (Westside HS)
- Michael Marotta, 6-5, 310 lbs., redshirt junior, Spring Hill, Fla. (Nature Coast Tech, transfer from Valdosta State)
- Cayden Sweatt, 6-4, 295 lbs., redshirt freshman, Breman, Ga.
- Markell Samuel, 6-4, 300 lbs., redshirt junior, Fayetteville, N.C. (E E Smith HS)
- Jake Ganoe, 6-2, 290 lbs., redshirt sophomore, Cary, N.C. (Panther Creek HS)
- Blake Bradford, 6-6, 275 lbs., redshirt freshman, Denver, N.C. (East Lincoln HS)
- Ethan Ryan, 6-3, 290 lbs., redshirt junior, Summerfield, N.C. (Northern Guilford, transfer from UNC Pembroke)
- J T Sowell, 6-3, 275 lbs., freshman, West Columbia, S.C. (Gray Collegiate Academy)
All in all, with a beefier offensive line that is reportedly quick and athletic, as well as strong groups at the skill positions, App State’s offense could be formidable.
We’ll take a look at the Defense and Special Teams units in future articles.
