Recruiting Rewind, Class of 2018

[CoachRob]

Happy Sunday guys, bout didn't get this in on the 18th, with church and family today, but able to break down the class of 2018. This group had so much potential, with App coming off back to back Sun Belt Championships and a blowout 34-0 Dollar General bowl win over Toledo. There are two coaching changes DJ Smith and Greg Gasparato join the staff for the departing Nate Woody & Scott Sloan. Justin Watts becomes the recruiting coordinator. However, the major coaching changes take place the following season, which I believe has a big impact on this class as many will transfer. Let's take a look:

Head Coach: Scott Satterfield
Total Commits: 25
Sun Belt Rank: 7th
National Rank: 110th

- Braden Collins WR *** 83 – Redshirted in ’18, playing in 3 games. Transferred to Tennessee in ’19 as walk-on. Did not see action in ’19-’20. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
- Jay Person OLB *** 83 – Redshirted in ’18, playing in 2 games. Transferred to Chattanooga in ’19. 2x SoCon DPOY in ’23 &’22. 4x All-SoCon ’20-’23.
- Stephon Brown Dual *** 82 – Redshirted in ’18, not sure if he even finished the yr on roster. Transferred to Independence CC in ’19. Committed to TCU in ’20 but did not play. Transfers to Central Oklahoma in ’21, put up good #s for them from ’21-’23.
- Harrison Taylor OLB *** 82 – Redshirted in ’18, Transfers to Independence CC in ’19. Unknown finish to Collegiate Career.
- Trey Ross TE *** 81 – Redshirted in ’18. Appeared in 27 games from ’19-’21. Hampered by injuries in ’21. I believe finished early due to injuries, but can’t confirm.
- Christopher Washington ILB *** 81 – Redshirted in ’18, appeared in 10 games as a DT from ’19-’20. On roster from ’21-’22 but did not appear in any games. Unknown finish to collegiate career, most likely injuries.
- Richard Tucker WR *** 80 – Redshirted in ’18, Did not see game action in ’19, Opted out of the season in ’20. Assume this is the end to collegiate career.
- Zareon Hayes OLB *** 80 – Redshirted while recovering from injury in ’18. Played in 4 games as DE in ’19, did not see game action recovering from injury in ’20. Transferred to Alabama A&M in ’22, Played in 17 games from ’22-’23 with the Bulldogs.
- Trey Cobb *** 80 – STUD, 3 yr starter from ’20-’22, playing in 58 career games from ‘18’-’22 using his covid yr. Team Captain in a injury-shortened ’22. 2nd Team All-Sun Belt in ’21. Tied for team lead with 91 tackles in ’20.
- Henry Pearson TE ** 79- STUD, played in 59 career games, including 43 starts from ’18-’22. 2nd Team All-Sun Belt in ’22. All-Sun Belt honorable mention in ’20.
- Luke Burnette TE ** 79 – Redshirted in ’18 appearing in just 1 game. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
- Anderson Hardy OT ** 79 – STUD, played in 44 career games, making 29 career starts from ’19-’22. 1st Team All Sun Belt in ’22, 3rd Team All-Sun Belt in ’21. Redshirted in ’18.
- Nick Hampton DE ** 78 – STUD, Tied for 4th in App State history with 26.5 career sacks. Appeared in 49 career games, 29 starts, at OLB from ’19-’22. 1st Team All-Sun Belt in ’22, 3rd Team All-Sun Belt in ’21. 5th round pick in ’23 draft by the Los Angeles Rams, currently making a playoff run with the team who drafted him.
- Hansky Paillant DE ** 78 – Team captain and starter at DE in ’22. Appeared in 46 career games from ’19-’22. Redshirted in ’18.
- Brock Mattison OLB ** 77 – Redshirted in ’18. Transferred to Mercer in ’20, unknown finish to collegiate career.
- Josh Headlee OT ** 77 – Redshirted in ’18. Entered the Transfer portal in ’20, commits to Chattanooga. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
- Jordon Earle DT ** 77 – Started 32 games at DT from ’20-’22. Appeared in 45 career games. All- Sun Belt honorable mention in ’21. Redshirted in ’18. Did not use Covid year?
- Mike Price CB ** 77 – Redshirted in ’18 appearing in 1 game. Appeared in all 14 games in ’19. Transferred to East Tenn State in ’20. Started in 18 games from ’20-’21. Appeared in 1 game in ’22, Injury?
- Kaleb Dawson S ** 77 – Redshirted in ’18 appearing in final 4 games. Appeared in 32 more games from ’19-’22. Transferred to Alabama A&M for 5th Covid yr in ‘23,
- AJ. Beach CB ** 77 – JuCo out of GMC appeared in 9 games in ’18. Transferred to Savannah State in ’19 for final yr.
- Logan Doublin OLB ** 76 – Appeared in 50 career games from ’18-’22 using Covid Year. Made 6 startes in ’22. 3rd Team All-Sun Belt in ’22.
- Tyler Bird ** 76 – Played in all 65 games at App from ’18-’22 using covid year, finishing his career tied for the 4th -most game appearances in program history (behind just three players with 66). Team Captain in ’22 making 3 starts.
- Cooper Hodges OT **75 – GOAT, Started at RT in all 51 of his FBS game appearances from ‘19-‘22. 2-time team captain. 3rd Team All-American from PFF in ’22, 1st Team All-Sun Belt in ’22 & ’21, 2nd Team All-Sun Belt in ’20 & ’19. only seven sacks allowed in 1,668 pass-blocking snaps, Invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, where he played offensive guard. Redshirted in ’18.
- Camerun Peaoples RB ** 73 – STUD, appeared in 36 career games making 15 starts from ’18-’22. With 2,830 career rushing yards, finished 10th in program history. Added 33 rushing TDs, nine 100-yard games and a school-record 6.22 yards-per-carry average. 317 yards and 5 TDs in the Myrtle Beach Bowl set NCAA’s single-game bowl record for rushing yds, broke the school record for single-game rushing yds, tied the NCAA bowl record for rushing TDs and tied the school record for rushing TDs. 2nd Team All-Sun Belt in ’21 & ‘20. Tore ACL to start ’19 season.
- Keaton Forbes OLB NA – Redshirted in ’18 as LS who appeared in 2 games, transferred to ECU in ’19, Unknown finish to collegiate career.

Playing time in multiple games- 15/25
# of starters for 2+ yrs- 9/25
# of All conference- 8/25
Spent time in NFL- 1 total
Transferred before Sr Year- 12 total
Unknown finish to collegiate career- 8 total
Position breakdown of All conference: RB, OL-2,TE, OLB, LB-2

A lot of guys from this class that transferred away compared to the previous class. Credit to the coaching changes over the next two years? or maybe just a poor class by the standards of the recent class. Some really skilled players in this class, but has rankings go, this is a perfect example of how the rankings need to be flipped to equal the production of this class on the field. Lets discuss.

[EastHallApp]

Some liberal use of "GOAT" in these posts; I assume you are using it to mean "great of all time"?

[EastHallApp]

Still a solid class. Of all the QB recruits who have washed out since Thomas, Brown was the one I was most excited to sign. His post-App career makes me think the talent was there. Same for Person; didn't realize how much success he had at UTC.