2023 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team

American college football season

2023 Appalachian State Mountaineers football

Cure Bowl champion

Sun Belt Championship, L 23–49 at Troy

Cure Bowl, W 13–9 vs. Miami (OH)

Conference| Sun Belt Conference
Division| East Division
Record| 9–5 (6–2 Sun Belt)
Head coach|

* Shawn Clark (4th season)

Offensive coordinator| Frank Ponce (2nd season)
Offensive scheme| Pro tempo
Defensive coordinator| Scot Sloan (1st season)
Base defense| 3–4
Home stadium| Kidd Brewer Stadium

Seasons

<- 2022

2024 ->

2023 Sun Belt Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
East Division
James Madison* x  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 11  | - | 2  |
Appalachian State y  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 5  |
Coastal Carolina |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 5  |
Old Dominion |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 7  |
Georgia State |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 6  |
Marshall |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 7  |
Georgia Southern |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 7  |
West Division
Troy xy$  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 11  | - | 3  |
Texas State |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 5  |
Arkansas State |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 7  |
South Alabama |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 6  |
Louisiana |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 7  |
Southern Miss |  | 2  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 9  |
Louisiana–Monroe |  | 0  | - | 8  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 10  |
Championship: Troy 49, Appalachian State 23

* $ - Conference champion
* x - Division champion/co-champions
* y - Championship game participant
* * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules

As of January 2, 2024
Rankings from CFP Rankings

The 2023 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team represents Appalachian State University during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mountaineers are led by fourth-year head coach Shawn Clark. Appalachian State plays their home games at Kidd Brewer Stadium on the school's Boone, North Carolina, campus, and competes as a member of the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference.

## Offseason[edit]

### Coaching changes[edit]

On November 28, 2022, defensive coordinator Dale Jones left the program.[1]

On January 13, 2023, the Mountaineers hired Scot Sloan to be their defensive coordinator.[2]

On January 16 Appalachian State hired Frank Ponce to be their offensive coordinator after 2022 offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay left to become the offensive coordinator at Mississippi State.[3]

### Media poll[edit]

In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Mountaineers were picked to finish in second place in the East division.[4]

Media poll (East division)

Predicted finish  | Team  | Votes (1st place)
1 | James Madison | 78 (4)
2 | Appalachian State | 75 (4)
3 | Coastal Carolina | 71 (1)
4 | Marshall | 68 (1)
5 | Georgia Southern | 52 (1)
6 | Georgia State | 31
7 | Old Dominion | 17

Offensive lineman Isaiah Helms and right safety Milan Tucker were named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team. Offensive lineman Damion Daley was named to the second team.[4]

## Personnel[edit]

2023 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team roster

Players  | Coaches
Offense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

WR | `0` | Milan Tucker |  Jr
RB | `1` | Anderson Castle | Jr
WR | `2` | Kaedin Robinson |  Jr
RB | `3` | Ahmani Marshall | Jr
QB | `4` | Joey Aguilar | Jr
RB | `5` | Nate Noel | Jr
WR | `6` | Dashaun Davis |  Jr
WR | `11` | Grant Tucker | Fr
WR | `12` | Michael Hetzel |  So
WR | `13` | Christian Horn | Jr
RB | `14` | Kanye Roberts |  Fr
WR | `15` | Makai Jackson | So
QB | `16` | David Hernandez | Sr
QB | `17` | Mason McHugh | Fr
QB | `18` | Ryan Burger |  Fr
QB | `19` | Cameron Estep | Fr
RB | `20` | Jaylon Calhoun | Fr
WR | `21` | Reece Larson |  Fr
RB | `27` | Michael Dipasquale | Fr
RB | `28` | Maquel Haywood | Jr
TE | `35` | Dylan Castoria |  So
OL | `51` | Cayden Sweatt | Fr
OL | `53` | Jake Ganoe |  Fr
OL | `54` | Isaiah Helms | Sr
OL | `55` | Seth Williams |  So
OL | `58` | Blake Bradford | Fr
OL | `59` | Jack Murphy |  So
OL | `60` | Ethan Ryan |  So
OL | `62` | Bucky Williams |  Sr
OL | `63` | Jayden Ramsey |  So
OL | `70` | Thornton Gentry |  So
OL | `72` | Markell Samuel |  So
OL | `73` | Jaden Lindsay |  So
OL | `74` | Griffin Scroggs |  Fr
OL | `75` | Damion Daley |  Sr
OL | `76` | Logan Randolph | Fr
OL | `77` | Daniel Davis | Fr
OL | `78` | Joseph Solomon |  So
TE | `80` | Max Drag | Fr
TE | `81` | Miller Gibbs |  Sr
WR | `82` | Chris Lawson Jr. | Fr
WR | `83` | Coen Sutton |  So
WR | `84` | Ayden Burkey |  Fr
TE | `85` | David Larkins |  So
TE | `86` | Kanen Hamlett |  Fr
TE | `87` | Eli Wilson | Jr
WR | `88` | Luke Hale |  Fr
TE | `89` | August Drews |  So
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

CB | `2` | Tyrek Funderburk |  Sr
DB | `4` | Nicholas Ross | Sr
DE | `5` | Michael Fletcher |  Jr
S | `6` | EJ Jackson | Sr
ILB | `7` | Andrew Parker Jr. |  Sr
OLB | `8` | Brendan Harrington |  Jr
CB | `9` | Jarrett Paul |  Sr
DB | `10` | DJ VanHook | Sr
DB | `11` | Jordan Favors |  So
DE | `12` | Shawn Collins |  So
CB | `13` | Trenton Alan Yowe |  So
ILB | `14` | Jayden Bethea | Fr
OLB | `15` | Thomas Davis |  So
CB | `16` | Omari Philyaw |  Fr
S | `17` | Jalik Thomas | Jr
CB | `18` | James Edwards |  Fr
CB | `19` | Ethan Johnson | So
OLB | `20` | Nathan Kibambe |  Sr
S | `21` | DJ Burks |  Fr
CB | `22` | DJ Porter | Fr
OLB | `24` | Cahari Haynes | Fr
S | `25` | Jackson Greene |  Jr
OLB | `26` | Caden Sullivan |  So
S | `27` | Ronald Clarke | Jr
S | `28` | Zyeir Gamble | Fr
DE | `29` | Santana Hopper |  Fr
S | `30` | Carter Greene |  Fr
S | `31` | Dyvon McKinney |  So
ILB | `33` | Derrell Farrar |  Fr
S | `34` | Colton Phares | Fr
ILB | `35` | Jack Scroggs |  Jr
DL | `36` | Kevon Haigler | Jr
DB | `37` | Andre Hamilton |  So
DB | `39` | Tony Harris |  Fr
ILB | `40` | Cole Becker |  Fr
ILB | `42` | Braxton Veiga | Fr
ILB | `43` | Ryan McKinnis | Fr
OLB | `44` | Brodrick Gooch |  Fr
ILB | `45` | Trevor Moffitt |  So
ILB | `46` | Isaiah McGuffin | Fr
OLB | `47` | Romelo Bell | Fr
DL | `48` | DeShawn McKnight | Jr
ILB | `49` | Randy Marion III | Fr
DE | `50` | DeAndre Dingle-Prince | Jr
ILB | `52` | Orlando Leon |  Fr
DL | `54` | Danny Stevens | Fr
ILB | `56` | Kyle Arnholt |  So
OLB | `88` | Donovan Spellman | So
OLB | `90` | Nate Johnson | Fr
DT | `91` | Markus Clark | So
DE | `92` | AJ Mebane | Fr
DE | `94` | Stephen Passeggiata |  So
DE | `95` | Montez Kelley | Jr
DE | `96` | Josiah Wyatt |  Fr
DE | `97` | Kevin Abrams-Verwayne |  So
DT | `98` | Jason Hertz | Fr
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

K | `22` | Cash McVay |  So
K | `37` | Carter Everett |  Fr
P | `41` | Conner Maynard |  Jr
LS | `42` | Christian Johnstone |  Jr
LS | `44` | Jake Mann |  So
P | `49` | Mitchell Lake | Fr
K | `57` | Austin Shook |  So
K | `99` | Michael Hughes | Jr

Head coach

* Shawn Clark (Appalachian State)

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* Frank Ponce (Arizona Western)
Offensive coordinator/QB

* Scot Sloan (Clemson)
Defensive coordinator/Safeties

* Justin Watts (Clemson)
Passing game coordinator/TE

* Victor Cabral (Georgia Southern)
Defensive Line

* Mike Cummings (Buffalo)
Offensive Line

* Travis Cunningham (Gardner–Webb)
Inside linebackers

* Lawrence Dawsey (Florida State)
Wide receivers

* Brian Haines (Marietta College)
Special teams coordinator/RB

* AJ Howard (Appalachian State)
Outside linebackers

* Rod West (Alabama State)
Defensive passing game coordinator/cornerbacks

* Matt Greenhalgh (Rhode Island)
Director of athletic performance for football

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Redshirt

* * *

Roster

## Schedule[edit]

The football schedule was announced on February 24, 2023.[5]

Date| Time| Opponent| Site| TV| Result| Attendance

|
|
|
|
|
|

September 2| 3:30 p.m.| No. 25 (FCS) Gardner–Webb*|

* Kidd Brewer Stadium
* Boone, NC

| ESPN+| W 45–24| 36,075
September 9| 5:15 p.m.| at No. 17 North Carolina*|

* Kenan Memorial Stadium
* Chapel Hill, NC

| ACCN| L 34–40 2OT| 50,500
September 16| 3:30 p.m.| East Carolina*|

* Kidd Brewer Stadium
* Boone, NC

| ESPN+| W 43–28| 40,168
September 23| 7:00 p.m.| at Wyoming*|

* War Memorial Stadium
* Laramie, WY

| CBSSN| L 19–22| 21,169
September 30| 8:00 p.m.| at Louisiana–Monroe|

* Malone Stadium
* Monroe, LA

| ESPN+| W 41–40| 19,919
October 10| 7:30 p.m.| Coastal Carolina|

* Kidd Brewer Stadium
* Boone, NC

| ESPN2| L 24–27| 34,252
October 21| 7:00 p.m| at Old Dominion|

* S.B. Ballard Stadium
* Norfolk, VA (Oyster Bowl)

| NFLN| L 21–28| 20,017
October 28| 3:30 p.m.| Southern Miss|

* Kidd Brewer Stadium
* Boone, NC

| ESPN+| W 48–38| 32,601
November 4| 6:00 p.m.| Marshall|

* Kidd Brewer Stadium
* Boone, NC (rivalry)

| NFLN| W 31–9| 34,057
November 11| 2:00 p.m.| at Georgia State|

* Center Parc Stadium
* Atlanta, GA

| ESPN+| W 42–14| 14,260
November 18| 2:00 p.m.| at James Madison|

* Bridgeforth Stadium
* Harrisonburg, VA (College GameDay)

| ESPN+| W 26–23 OT| 25,838
November 25| 3:30 p.m.| Georgia Southern|

* Kidd Brewer Stadium
* Boone, NC (rivalry)

| ESPNU| W 55–27| 31,248
December 2| 4:00 p.m.| at Troy|

* Veterans Memorial Stadium
* Troy, AL (Sun Belt Championship Game)

| ESPN| L 23–49| 20,183
December 16| 3:30 p.m.| vs. Miami (OH)|

* FBC Mortgage Stadium
* Orlando, FL (Cure Bowl)

| ABC| W 13–9| 11,121

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to game
* All times are in Eastern time

## References[edit]

1. ^ Smith, Ethan. "Jones out as Mountaineers defensive coordinator". The Appalachian. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
2. ^ "Sloan Returns to App State as Defensive Coordinator". AppState Football. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
3. ^ "Former App State coordinator Frank Ponce reportedly set to return". Football Scoop. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
4. ^ a b "Sun Belt Announces Football Preseason Awards & Poll". sunbeltsports.org. July 24, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
5. ^ "2023 Appalachian State Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 3, 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Appalachian State Mountaineers football

Venues|

* College Field (1928–1961)
* Kidd Brewer Stadium (1962–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Georgia Southern
* Marshall
* Western Carolina (Battle for the Old Mountain Jug)

Culture & lore|

* "Hi Hi Yikas"
* Marching Mountaineers
* 2007 Michigan game
* Miracle on the Mountain
* Yosef

People|

* Head coaches
* Statistical leaders
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943–1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
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* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
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* 1973
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* 1975
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National championship seasons in bold
*[v]: View this template
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*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses