2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal/AP)

Key Players Returning:

RB Daetrich Harrington, RB Nate Noel. RB Camerun Peoples, WR Thomas Hennigan, WR Jalen Virgil, WR/PR Malik Williams, OG Baer Hunter, DE Caleb Spurlin, DE Demetrius Taylor, NT Jordan Earle, LB Trey Cobb, LB Rim Frizzell, LB Nick Hampton, LB Brendan Harrnington, LB D’Marco Jackson, CB Shaun Jolly, CB/KR Steven Jones, FS Ryan Huff, SS Nicholas Ross, SS Kaiden Smith, PK Chandler Staton, and PT Xavier Subotsch.

Key Players Departing:

QB Zac Thomas, OC Noah Hannon, OG Cole Garrison, OG Ryan Neuzill, OT Chandler Greer, OT Victor Johnson, and CB Shemer Jean-Charles.

Top 10 Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
OG Jaden Lindsay (Kernersville, North Carolina), OT Colston Powers (Daleville, Virginia), QB D.C. Tabscott (Nashville, Tennessee), WR Da’Shawn Brown (York, South Carolina), WR Dalton Stroman (Rockingham, North Carolina), OG Troy Everett (Daleville, Virginia), LB Deshawn McKnight (Sumter, South Carolina), S Jaquan Lowman (Apopka, Florida), DL KaRon White (Harvest, Alabama), and LB Trevor Moffitt (Bushnell, Florida).

2020 Results:

G01  CHARLOTTE  W  35-20
G02  at Marshall  L  7-17
G03  CAMPBELL  W  52-21
G04  ARKANSAS STATE  W  45-17
G05  at UL-Monroe  W  31-13
G06  at Texas State  W  38-17
G07  GEORGIA STATE  W  17-13
G08  at #15 Coastal Carolina  L  23-34
G09  TROY  W  47-10
G10  #25 LOUISIANA  L  21-24
G11  at Georgia Southern  W  34-26
BOWL  vs. North Texas  W  56-28

Team Info:

2020 Overall:  9-3 (2nd in Sun Belt East)

Home:  5-1
Away:  3-2
Neutral:  1-0
SBC:  6-2
Non-SBC:  3-1

Head Coach:  Scott Satterfield

Appalachian State:  10-3
Career:  10-3
Bowls:  2-0

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:  Jacob Huesman (3-4, 34 yards, 75.0%, 8.5 avg., 0 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing:  Camerun Peoples (168 car., 1124 yards, 6.7 avg., 12 TD)
Receiving:  Thomas Hennigan (47 rec., 616 yards, 13.1 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scored:  Camerin Peoples (12)
Sacks:  Demetrius Taylor (6)
Tackles:  Trey Cobb (91)
Interceptions:  Brendan Harrington (4)
Pass Deflections:  Kaiden Smith (7)
Tackles For Loss:  Demetrius Taylor (13)
Forced Fumbles:  Shaun Jolly/Caleb Spurlin/Demetrius Taylor (2)
Kick Returns:  Steven Jones (17 ret., 373 yards, 21.9 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Malik Williams (11 ret., 110 yards, 10.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Chandler Staton (13-19 fg/fga., 68%, 51-52 fg/fga., 90 pts.)
Punting:  Xavier Subotsch (36 punts, 1510 yards, 41.9 avg., 11 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  7  Chase Brice  (GR/TR)
RB:  6  Camerun Peoples  (RS JR)
WR:  5  Thomas Hennigan  (SR)
WR:  14  Malik Williams  (SR)
WR:  81  Jalen Virgil  (RS SR)
TE:  88  Henry Pearson  (SR)
LT:  74  Anderson Hardy  (RS JR)
LG:  75  Damion Daley  (RS JR/TR)
OC:  51  Baer Hunter  (RS SR)
RG:  00  Isaiah Helms  (SO/TR)
RT:  70  Cooper Hodges  (RS JR)
KR:  11  Jalen Virgil  (RS SR)
PK:  91  Chandler Staton  (RS SR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  9  Demetrius Taylor  (SR)
NT:  99  Jordan Earle  (RS JR)
DE:  97  Caleb Spurlin  (RS SR)
LB:  31  Nick Hampton  (RS JR)
LB:  52  D’Marco Jackson  (RS SR)
LB:  7  Trey Cobb  (SR)
LB:  29  Brenden Harrington  (JR)
CB:  12  Steven Jones  (RS SR)
CB:  3  Shaun Jolly  (RS SR)
FS:  21  Ryan Huff  (RS SR)
SS:  13  Kaiden Smirh  (RS SR)
PR:  13  Malik Williams  (SR)
PT:  39  Xavier Subotsch  (SR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  A
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  A

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  B
Punt Returners:  A
Kickers:  B
Punters:  C

Schedule:

09/02 
vs. East Carolina Pirates  |  App State leads the series 19-12.  The Mountaineers lost (13-35) the last meeting between schools in 2012.

09/11  at Miami (FL) Hurricanes  |  App State won (10-45) the only prior meeting between schools in 2016.

09/18  ELON PHOENIX  |  App State leads the series 3-0.  The Mountaineers won (31-21) the last meeting between schools in 2013.

09/23  MARSHALL TUNGERING HERD  |  App State leads the series 14-9.  The Mountaineers 7-17 loss last season was the first meeting between schools since 2002.

10/02  at Georgia State Panthers  |  App State leads the series 7-0.  The Mountaineers have won the prior seven meetings, dating back to 2014, by an average of 24.9 points per game.

10/12  at Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns  |  App State leads the series 8-1.  The Mountaineers lost (21-24) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (45-38) was in 2019.

10/20  COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS  |  App State leads the series 6-1.  The Mountaineers are 4-1 since renewing the series since 2012, and their last series win (56-37) was in 2019.

10/30  UL-MONROE WARHAWKS  |  App State leads the series 5-1.  The Mountaineers won (31-13) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series loss (45-52) was in 2017.

11/06  at Arkansas State Red Wolves  |  App State leads the series 3-1.  The Mountaineers won (45-17) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series loss (45-17) was in 2015.

11/13  SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS  |  App State leads the series 3-1.  The Mountaineers won (30-3) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

11/20  at Troy Trojans  |  App State leads the series 6-3.  The Mountaineers are 5-1 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series loss (24-28) was in 2016.

11/27  GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES  |  App State leads the series 20-15-1.  The Mountaineers are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (21-24) was in 2019.

Predictions:

Home:  6-0
Away:  2-2
Neutral:  1-0
SBC:  7-1
Non-SBC:  2-2

Overall:  9-3 (1st in Sun Belt East)