2012 Appalachian State FOOTBALL SEASON OUTLOOK
SEASON PREVIEW OFFENSE AT A GLANCE RETURNING STARTERS: 5 QB Jamal Jackson (6-3, 208, Jr.) 10 GP, 7 GS, 2,001 pass yds., 15 TD passes, 61.5 comp. pct., 296 rush yds., 7 TD rushes WR Andrew Peacock (5-10, 190, Jr.) 48 rec., 564 yds., 11.8 avg. 3 TD WR Tony Washington (5-10, 200, Jr.) 32 rec., 355 yds., 11.1 avg., 2 TD C Alex Acey (5-10, 268 So.) 12 GP, 12 GS LT Kendall Lamm (6-6, 280, So.) 8 GP, 7 GS
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Andrew Peacock is Appalachian’s top returning receiver with 48 receptions for 564 yards as a sophomore last season. The Mountaineers’ wideouts will attempt to replace the production lost by the departure of the school’s all-time leading receiver and second-round NFL Draft pick Brian Quick.
freshmen Bobo Beathard and Simms McElfresh are also in the mix for significant snaps at receiver this fall. The Mountaineers also lost a key cog to their offensive attack over the past three years with the graduation of running back Travaris Cadet. However, the Apps feature a plethora of backs that will compete to make up for the 651 rushing yards and 333 receiving yards that Cadet provided in 2011. The first in line to grab the starting role is senior Steven Miller. Miller was the Mountaineers’ second-leading rusher last season with 380 yards on just 76 carries, good for an impressive five yards per rush. Despite sitting out much of the spring with a shoulder injury, Miller emerged as the leader of a stout group of running backs that could be key contributors this year, which also includes senior Rod Chisholm, junior Michael Frazier and true freshman 3-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Tysean Holloway. Paving the way for Appalachian’s backs will be perhaps the most physically imposing group of offensive linemen in school history. The 10 linemen that enter fall practice on the ASU two-deep average 6-feet, 3-inches and 295 pounds and feature four players that saw significant playing time up front a year ago in junior Ian Barnard and sophomores Alex Acey, Graham Fisher and Kendall Lamm. All four are in the mix for starting roles this season, as are 6-6, 315-pound junior tackle Regan Dufort and redshirt freshman guard Shaq Counts. Another key loss that the Mountaineers must find a replacement for is at tight end, where four-time all-conference honoree Ben Jorden will not be the starter for the first time since 2007. Two relatively inexperienced players battled throughout spring drills for the right to replace Jorden — sophomore Drew Bailey and junior Zac 22
Baker. Also in the mix at tight end is Josh Anding, a 6-5, 250-pound junior transfer from Navarro College in Texas. Change is also evident on the defensive side of the ball, where coordinator Dale Jones welcomes two new assistant coaches to the mix. However, the transition may be a bit easier for Jones’ staff newcomers as the Mountaineers return a talent-laden group of nine returning starters on defense. Headlining the defensive returnees is perhaps the nation’s most talented and experienced group of linebackers in seniors Jeremy Kimbrough, Brandon Grier and John Rizor. Kimbrough, one of two returning allAmericans on the Appalachian defense, led the Mountaineers with 105 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and four sacks from his middle linebacker position last season. Right behind Kimbrough was Grier, who made 97 stops, including 10.5 behind the 11-TIME SoCon CHAMPIONS