Unread post
by appaneer1984 » Thu Jul 05, 2018 7:34 am
Apppalachian State was a consistent winner at the Football Championship Subdivision level and some wondered whether the Mountaineers could compete at the highest level of college football.
App State has thrived since moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision level in 2014, posting four consecutive winning seasons and winning three straight bowl games.
Now the team must adapt to key departures in order to remain atop the Sun Belt standings.
Appalachian State is No. 54 in Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel preseason 2018 college football rankings. Murschel ranked all 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 129 to our projected No. 1 team.
Today at No. 54: Appalachian State
Coach: Scott Satterfield (41-21, entering sixth season; 41-21 overall)
2017 record: 9-4, 7-1 in Sun Belt; tied for first
Look back: Appalachian State won five of its first seven games before stumbling against UMass and Louisiana-Monroe. The team regrouped and closed with four consecutive wins, including defeating Toledo in the Dollar General Bowl.
App State has won 27 of its past 30 games.
Offensive starters returning: 6
Offensive starters lost: 5
Defensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters lost: 6
Key losses: QB Taylor Lamb, WR Ike Lewis, TE Levi Duffield, OL Colby Gossett, OL Beau Nunn, DE Tee Sims, DE Caleb Fuller, LB Eric Boggs, LB Devan Stringer, LB Rashaad Townes, S A.J. Howard
Top returnees: RB Jalin Moore, WR Thomas Hennigan, TE Collin Reed, OT Victor Johnson, CB Clifton Duck, CB Tae Hays, LB Anthony Flory, DL Myquon Smith, DL Okon Godwin
Strengths: While Appalachian State lost a veteran quarterback in Taylor Lamb, the Mountaineers' next starter will work with a talented offense that includes star running back Jalin Moore, tight end Collin Reed, Kansas State transfer Corey Sutton, young receivers who gained experience last season and a stout offensive line.
The secondary may be the biggest strength of the team, with cornerbacks Tae Hayes and Clifton Duck combining for 10 interceptions and 18 passes broken up.
Coach Scott Satterfield praised the speedy defense during an interview with the Winston-Salem Journal.
“The defense flew around all spring and made it difficult on the offense to move the football,” Satterfield told the newspaper. “And I think that is only going to make us a better team as we head throughout the summer.”
Weaknesses: Lamb played a key role in Appalachian State's success. He made sound decisions in a run-first offense and could be counted on to make a play through the air when it was needed. Four quarterbacks will compete for the starting job during preseason camp. Zac Thomas, who was Lamb’s backup and played in four games last season, is the favorite to take over as the new starter.
Defensive coordinator Nate Woody, who took the same job at Georgia Tech during the offseason, was a crafty play-caller and won't be easy to replace. He led one of the strongest defense's in the Sun Belt during his tenure with the Mountaineers.
Outlook: If Appalachian State can offset the loss of some key leaders, the Mountaineers should once again contend for a Sun Belt title.
2018 Schedule
Sept. 1 at Penn State
Sept. 8 at Charlotte
Sept. 15 Southern Miss
Sept. 22 Gardner-Webb
Sept. 29 South Alabama
Oct. 9 at Arkansas State
Oct. 20 Louisiana
Oct. 25 at Georgia Southern
Nov. 3 at Coastal Carolina
Nov. 10 at Texas State
Nov. 17 Georgia State
Nov. 24 Troy
I just come for what peace I can find | The spirit ever lingers in a song | And the mountain's gonna sing this song for me |Rock me off to sleep