Appalachian State is one of the most consistent Group of Five teams in college football today, going 73-19 since 2015. The Mountaineers return 13 starters from last year’s 10-4 team that was the runner-up in the Sun Belt Conference.
Appalachian State Preview
Mountaineer Offense
App. State returns their QB and both their running backs from a year ago, accounting for 5389 yards of total offense and 45 TDs worth of returning production.
QB Chase Brice passed for 3337 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 11 INTs. He completed 62% of his passes. Brice posted three games with over 300 yards passing, two games with 3 passing TDs, and two games with 4 passing TDs.
They literally have a two-headed monster at running back: Camerun Peoples and Nate Noel. Noel rushed for 1126 yards, but only 4 touchdowns. He posted five games of over 100+ yards rushing.
Peoples found the endzone 14 times, scoring multiple TDs in five games.
Brice will be protected behind an offensive line that returns four starters, including 2022 Lombardi Award Watchlist member Cooper Hodges.
This offense averaged 34 points per game, and scored 40+ points five times. They ranked 27th in the FBS as they averaged 442 yards of total offense per game.
Mountaineer Defense
The defense returns six starters from a team that ranked 21st in rushing defense (122 yards/game) and #30 in scoring defense (22 points/game):
- LB Trey Cobb: 75 tackles
- LB Nick Hampton: 69 tackles
- CB Steven Jones, Jr.: 51 tackles, 5 INTs-3 returned for TDs
- NT Jordan Earle: 21 tackles, 2 TFLs
- FS Ryan Huff: 23 tackles, 2 INTs, 2 PBUs
- LB Brendan Harrington: 31 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Appalachian State-Notable Games on the Schedule
- North Carolina-September 3rd
- at Texas A&M-September 10th
- at Coastal Carolina-November 3rd
Mountaineers named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Football Team
A total of eight Appalachian State players were named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Team:
1st Team All-Sun Belt
- OL Cooper Hodges
- RB Camerun Peoples
2nd Team All-Sun Belt
- QB Chase Brice
- RB Nate Noel
- OL Damion Daley
- LB Nick Hampton
- LB Trey Cobb
- DB Steven Jones, Jr.
Will Appalachian State win the Sun Belt in 2022?
The Mountaineers are picked to win the Sun Belt East. They have the talent on both sides of the ball to make a run at the conference title and hoist the hardware.
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