The ESPN College Gameday crew rolls into Harrisonburg, Virginia Saturday for a showdown between the 18th-ranked James Madison Dukes and the Appalachian State…
Steven Jones Jr. NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Appalachian State CB
Apr 25, 2023
Appalachian State defensive back Steven Jones Jr. defends against East Carolina during an NCAA football game on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. Jones is making the most of his interceptions lately. He has returned three of his four for touchdowns the last two weeks, with two of the pick-sixes coming in Saturday's 48-14 win at Arkansas State. His first interception return for a TD was in a win over Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 30. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
HEIGHT: 5'9"
WEIGHT: 188
HAND: 7 3/4"
ARM: 30"
WINGSPAN: 72 3/4"
40-YARD DASH: 4.51
3-CONE: 7.51
SHUTTLE: 4.38
VERTICAL: 35"
BROAD: 10'4"
POSITIVES
— Feisty player who is ultra competitive. Didn't back down to any of the competition from the 2022 season.
— Quick feet with very good body control. Keeps a good base and plays with good balance.
— Aggressive against the run. Triggers quickly to what he sees.
NEGATIVES
— Undersized player who lacks both ideal height and size.
— Poor eye discipline at times. Eyes can get locked onto the quarterback for too long.
2022 STATISTICS
— 12 Games, 45 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 sack, 15 PBU
NOTES
DOB: 2/1/1999
33 starts
2022 All-Sun Belt first team (PFN)
2021 First team All-American (Football Writers Association of America, Phill Steele)
2021 All-Sun Belt first team
OVERALL
Steven Jones Jr. Is a scrappy, undersized player who plays bigger than his listed size. He is an aggressive player who has the versatility to play in the slot as well as outside. He has a thin frame, which can show up at times in both the run and pass games, but he is largely able to work through it.
When playing as a pass defender, he excels in coverage. He has a smooth pedal that allows him to quickly get out of his breaks and redirect. When driving on routes, he shows a good burst and does a great job of running through the ball-carrier. While working downfield, he often looks to use his hands to control the receivers and keep close contact. A loose-hipped athlete, Jones does a very good job of sinking his hips to mirror breaks. When the ball is in the air, he does a good job of staying calm and competing at the catch point. Always looking to capitalize on a turnover, he does a good job of settling for the pass breakup when he's out of range for the interception. Playing mostly on the outside for the Mountaineers, Jones has also shown the ability to move inside and play the slot.
As a run defender, Jones does just as good of a job at competing. He does a great job of making fast reads and quickly triggering the run. He often uses his quickness to defeat blocks close to the line of scrimmage while also making plays on the ball-carriers. Because of his slighter frame, he often chooses to run through the legs of ball carriers, which can lead to missed tackles or extra yards. When in open space, he does a very good job of taking the correct angle and running his feet through contact.
Ultimately, Steven Jones Jr. built up an impressive resume at Appalachian State, and he should be able to translate his skills to the next level. He will most likely have to move inside to playing nickel full-time, but with his skill set, he can add depth to the room as an outside corner. Teams could take a late Day 3 flier on Jones just so they don't have to get into a bidding war with other teams in free agency.
Nick Hampton NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Appalachian State EDGE
Jan 31, 2023
Appalachian State linebacker Nick Hampton during an NCAA football game against Georgia State on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Boone, N.C. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
HEIGHT: 6'2"
WEIGHT: 236
HAND: 9 1/2"
ARM: 33 5/8"
WINGSPAN: 81"
40-YARD DASH: 4.58
3-CONE: TBD
SHUTTLE: TBD
VERTICAL: 35.5"
BROAD: 10"
POSITIVES
– Accelerates off the line of scrimmage really well to put pressure on offensive tackles vertically.
– Can win with pure speed around the edge as a pass rusher, and he is solid at changing speeds and winning with a burst to throw off the tackle's aiming point.
– Sets up his pass rush moves well by getting square and giving himself a two-way go.
– Sells the bull rush well and has the quickness, change of direction and use of hands to pivot to the outside and win. Also uses this to win with an inside stick move as a counter to the speed rush.
– Has a wide array of outside moves he can win around the edge with, like a cross chop, hand swipe and rip.
– Decent at turning speed to power, he has good leverage and keeps his feet moving through contact to take advantage of tackles with a weaker base.
– Very bendy to turn tight corners at the top of a rush and takes good angles as a pass-rusher to take an efficient path to the quarterback. He's shown the ability to corner and get a sack against a five-yard drop.
– Recognizes when he reaches the point of no return and has good hand placement under the tackle's armpit to use their momentum against them when working back inside.
– Against the run, he's physical at the point of attack and has enough strength to get extension against and shed tight ends.
– Snap-to-whistle type of player who will make plays down the field.
NEGATIVES
– Lacks size and strength to hold up against NFL offensive linemen in the run game, he needs to add 15-20 pounds.
– Gets kicked out as the force player in run fits against pullers.
– Has to give up ground to get off blocks from linemen, widening the hole.
– Not much of a factor against the run in college, he was taken out on a lot of run downs.
– Struggles to get extension on his bull rush against tackles. He has a limited ability to win with power overall, meaning he can take advantage of a weakness like a shaky base but won't win in a "strength on strength" battle.
– Poor eye discipline when dropping in zone coverage, gets caught staring in the backfield too long.
– Not a good enough athlete to be comfortable dropping in coverage regularly.
– No. 84 on Bruce Feldman's list of exceptional athletes; incline presses 365 pounds, sumo deadlifts 600 pounds, 10'6" broad jump, 39" vertical, hit 21 mph on GPS, 1.20-second 10-yard sprint
– Injuries: 2021 (Undisclosed, missed 3 games)
– 29 career starts
– Career stats (five seasons): 175 total tackles (91 solo), 40 TFL, 26.5 sacks, 4 PD, 6 FFs
– 2022 Honors: First-Team All-Sun Belt (coaches), Team Captain
– 2021 Honors: First-Team All-Sun Belt (PFF), Third-Team All-Sun Belt (coaches)
– 2020 Honors: Honorable mention All-Sun Belt (PFF)
OVERALL
Group of six prospects are always a tough evaluation, but Appalachian State's Nick Hampton has a lot of traits that will transfer over to the NFL. He's lightning quick off the ball to win with speed around the edge and has several outside pass-rush moves at his disposal, too.
Also, he has flexible ankles and the bend to turn tight corners at the top of the rush, to go along with a good inside stick move to keep offensive tackles honest. Ultimately, he's a twitched-up and really athletic pass rusher who can get to the quarterback in a handful of ways.
Hampton's biggest issue is his size. Listed at just 235 pounds, he's simply not big and strong enough to play on running downs at the next level. Appalachian State would often take him out in a lot of running situations.
However, he's got plenty of athleticism to spare and has room for growth on his frame, so if he can put on some weight in an NFL training program, he could develop into an every-down player later on. That will also help him be more effective when turning speed to power, adding to his pass-rush arsenal.
Schematically, the Mountaineer would be best as a standup outside linebacker for a team that uses a lot of odd fronts.
Video: Appalachian State Stuns Troy with 53-yard Hail Mary to Win Game
Sep 17, 2022
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 10: Camerun Peoples #6 of the Appalachian State Mountaineers rushes for a touchdown during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on September 10, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Appalachian State is carving out a niche as the most exciting team in college football this season based on how its first three games have ended.
Saturday was the latest chapter in the Mountaineers' story, as Christan Horn caught a 53-yard Hail Mary as time expired to earn a 32-28 win over Troy.
Appalachian State's first three games of the season have been decided by a combined total of nine points. Each of the three games have played out in distinctly different fashion.
It lost the season opener to North Carolina 63-61. The game saw both teams combine for 62 points in the fourth quarter, including 40 by the Mountaineers. They had a chance to tie the score with nine seconds left in regulation, but Chase Brice was stopped short of the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt.
Last week was a defensive slugfest between Appalachian State and Texas A&M. Head coach Shawn Clark's team held on for a 17-14 win by holding the ball for more than 41 minutes and a missed field goal by Caden Davis with 3:43 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Saturday was one of the biggest days in the history of Appalachian State football. ESPN sent its College GameDay crew to Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina. The home team gave its fans and a national television audience something to remember with a dramatic finish.
The Mountaineers started this season unranked, but they were among the teams that received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 and Coaches Poll this week. After a win over Troy, they could find themselves in the new rankings that will be released Sunday.
App State Football Team Had to Sleep in Hotel Hallways, Lobby After Win vs. Texas A&M
Sep 11, 2022
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 10: Kaleb Dawson of the Appalachian State Mountaineers celebrates defeating the Texas A&M Aggies 17-14 at Kyle Field on September 10, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Appalachian State's celebration of its upset win over No. 6 Texas A&M did not last long before things turned into a nightmare.
Pete Thamel of ESPN reported mechanical issues with the team plane led to travel issues that delayed the Mountaineers' return home until Sunday.
Rather than fly home as triumphant victors, players had to sleep in the lobby and hallways of a hotel in College Station because rooms were all booked. The team wound up flying out of Texas at 4:30 a.m. ET and did not arrive back at campus until around 11 a.m.
A week after getting into a 63-61 shootout with North Carolina, Appalachian State utilized a ground-and-pound strategy to escape with a 17-14 win over Texas A&M. The Mountaineers offense controlled possession for more than 41 minutes, while the defense forced two critical Aggies turnovers.
The victory was the first against a Top 10 opponent since 2007 and just the third win over a ranked opponent in program history.
"The key was belief," Mountaineers coach Shawn Clark told reporters. "You have to believe in yourself and believe in this program. I told them take the logo off of the helmet, take the logo off the field and let's go play football."
While the travel issues put a damper on their Saturday night, it's likely players arrived Sunday morning to a hero's welcome. Videos of the student body taking to the streets in celebration went viral on social media, and it's unlikely those enthusiastic fans would allow their players to come home without the warmest possible reception.
No. 6 Texas A&M Stunned by Unranked Appalachian State After Missing Late FG in Upset
Sep 10, 2022
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 10: Haynes King #13 of the Texas A&M Aggies looks to pass during the first half against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kyle Field on September 10, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
After a season-opening win against Sam Houston State last weekend, the No. 6 Texas A&M Aggies were upset by the unranked Appalachian State Mountaineers 17-14 on Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station.
Texas A&M was previously 10-0 against non-Power 5 schools in Jimbo Fisher's tenure.
It marked the second upset victory by a Sun Belt Conference team on Saturday after Marshall defeated No. 8 Notre Dame 26-21 in South Bend, Indiana, earlier in the afternoon.
Saturday's win is also App State's second-ever win against an AP Top 10-ranked team and the first in 15 years. The Mountaineers previously defeated the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines back in 2007.
The Aggies and Mountaineers were tied 7-7 entering halftime. Appalachian State running back Ahmani Marshall posted the first touchdown of the afternoon on a four-yard run in the second quarter.
App State took a 14-7 lead in the third quarter when quarterback Chase Brice connected with Henry Pearson for a nine-yard score. But, once again, Texas A&M responded quickly when Achane returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
This looks familiar?
9️⃣6️⃣-yard kickoff return for a TD for @ffvmousvon_!
Appalachian State's Michael Hughes responded with a 29-yard field goal to give the Mountaineers a 17-14 lead, and when Texas A&M's Caden Davis tried to respond with a 47-yard field goal, he missed, which sealed the win for App State.
Aggies quarterback Haynes King completed 13 of 20 passes for 97 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in the loss. He also rushed for 23 yards on eight carries.
Achane led A&M running backs with 66 rushing yards and a score, while Evan Stewart led receivers with five catches for 48 yards. Achane also had two kick returns for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Brice, the Mountaineers signal-caller, completed 15 of 30 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 10 yards.
Camerun Peoples led App State running backs with 19 carries for 112 yards, while Dashaun Davis led receivers with four catches for 39 yards.
Texas A&M managed just nine first downs compared to App State's 22. The Aggies also racked up seven penalties for 58 yards and had two fumbles, which factored into the loss.
Fisher's team will look to get back on track next weekend against Mario Cristobal and No. 15 Miami.
Bailey Zappe Sets 2 FBS Passing Records as WKU Beats App State in Boca Raton Bowl
Dec 18, 2021
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 18: Jerreth Sterns #8 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers catches a 43-yard pass from Bailey Zappe #4 (not pictured) that broke the all-time single season passing yards record against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the first half of the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Western Kentucky scored a 59-38 victory
over Appalachian State in the 2021 Boca Raton Bowl on Saturday at FAU Stadium in
Florida.
A shootout was expected between the
Hilltoppers and Mountaineers, who combined to average 77.6 points per
game during the regular season, and the offenses delivered in a game that
featured 1,246 total yards and 13 touchdowns.
WKU quarterback Bailey Zappe stole the
spotlight with 422 passing yards and six touchdowns en route to setting
the new NCAA FBS single-season records in both categories. He
finishes the 2021 season with 5,967 yards and 62 scores through the
air.
Zappe captured the yards record in the
second quarter:
Christian Wells (ASU WR): 86 receiving yards, 1 TD
The sides traded scores at a rapid rate until it
was 24-24 late in the second quarter.
Western Kentucky seized control with a 21-0 run spanning from late in the second quarter
until midway through the third. An 86-yard touchdown run by
Whittington shortly after halftime really helped turn the tide in
favor of the Hilltoppers.
Appalachian State couldn't keep pace as
its offense sputtered in the second half.
WKU, which started the season 1-4,
finished the campaign by winning eight of its last nine games to post
a 9-5 record. The Hilltoppers also improved their bowl record to 5-2
since 2014.
Zappe is a name to watch as the 2022
NFL draft moves closer. What he lacks in size (6'1''), he makes up for
with arm talent, specifically his throwing accuracy, and the ability
to command a fast-paced passing attack. He could be a developmental
middle-round pick in April.
Meanwhile, Appalachian State wrapped up
its season at 10-4 following back-to-back losses in the Sun Belt
Championship Game and the bowl game. It's also the team's first
bowl loss since moving to the FBS level in 2014 after six straight
wins.
The Mountaineers have still won at
least nine games in seven consecutive years while emerging as one of
the nation's premier Group of Five programs.
No. 20 Appalachian State Beats UAB 31-17 to Win 2019 New Orleans Bowl
Dec 22, 2019
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 21: Zac Thomas #12 of the Appalachian State Mountaineers throws a pass against the UAB Blazers during the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 21, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Appalachian State is the New Orleans Bowl champion for the second year in a row after beating UAB 31-17 on Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The No. 20 Mountaineers have now won five straight bowl games, and this is the second straight season in which they've had to find a new head coach ahead of their bowl.
Eliah Drinkwitz moved on to Missouri after one year in charge, and Appalachian State announced Dec. 13 that offensive line coach Shawn Clark would succeed Drinkwitz effective immediately.
Appalachian State was far from perfect in Clark's head coaching debut. The Mountaineers were 2-of-13 on third down and committed 11 penalties for 131 yards.
App State's defense forced three turnovers and held UAB to 40 yards rushing while providing the spark for the team's second-half turnaround.
Notable Performers
Zac Thomas, QB, Appalachian State: 13-of-24, 142 yards, two touchdowns; nine carries, 29 yards
Thomas Hennigan, WR, Appalachian State: three receptions, 50 yards, two touchdowns
Tyler Johnston III, QB, UAB: 22-of-34, 298 yards, two touchdowns, one interception
Spencer Brown, RB, UAB: 14 carries, 39 yards
Austin Watkins, WR, UAB: 10 receptions, 159 yards, one touchdown
App State Capitalizes on Fortunate Breaks
Whether it was a result of the coaching change or the two-week break since its last game, Appalachian State was uncharacteristically poor in the first half and trailed 14-10 at halftime.
Some good luck helped the Mountaineers overturn the deficit and take control of the game.
Clark called a quarterback keeper on 4th-and-1 from the UAB 30-yard line with 12:14 left in the third quarter. Zac Thomas fumbled the snap, only to have Darrynton Evans pick the ball up in the backfield and run 31 yards to the end zone for a go-ahead score.
UAB’s defense is good, but it can’t stop the "QB fumble on the sneak - RB pick it up and run for 30 yards” play.
Looked like Appalachian St QB Thomas fumbled on a 4th and 1 keeper, and the ball bounced back to RB Darrynton Evans, who scooped it and ran 31 yards for a go-ahead TD. ... Bowl season. Mountaineers lead UAB 17-14, 3rd qtr
After a 49-yard field goal from Nick Vogel tied the game, Appalachian State turned defense into offense. Trey Cobb recovered a fumble by Tyler Johnston III and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.
Appalachian State has now scooped up fumbles by its own QB and by UAB's QB in the 2nd half and advanced both for touchdowns of 31 and 24 yards. Mountaineers up 24-17.
Thomas capped off a 21-point quarter by hitting Thomas Hennigan for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Momentum had swung firmly in the Mountaineers' direction.
The final score is somewhat deceiving, as Appalachian State didn't dominate in the way some expected the team would. The Mountaineers took full advantage of their fortunate breaks in the second half, though, to pull away in what proved to be an anticlimactic win.
Blazers Can't Maintain Hot Start
UAB head coach Bill Clark couldn't have asked for a better way for his team to open the game.
The Blazers received the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards down the field in four plays. Johnston hit Hayden Pittman for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Johnston then doubled UAB's lead with another 25-yard pass, this time hitting Austin Watkins.
That was the high point of the game for the Blazers, as their offense quickly fell back to earth.
The team entered Saturday averaging a healthy 159.3 yards per game on the ground yet was unable to establish the run against the Mountaineers. That put too much pressure on Johnston, who had completed 58.1 percent of his passes and threw 14 interceptions in the regular season.
Johnston didn't have a bad game, but his fumble in the third quarter was costly. And what quickly grew to a two-score deficit felt much bigger with UAB's one-dimensional offense.
UAB’s offense has been awful since the first quarter. Not sure where they find 14 points.
UAB attempted to mount a late comeback, but their final drive ended when Watkins fumbled with 1:25 left in the game. App State ran out the remaining time on the clock to seal the victory.
New Orleans Bowl 2018: MTSU vs. Appalachian State TV Schedule, Time, Odds
Dec 14, 2018
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 01: Zac Thomas #12 of the Appalachian State Mountaineers in action on September 1, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Casual college football fans know Appalachian State from its stunning victory over Michigan in 2007, but the Sun Belt program has developed into one of the most consistent in the nation.
The Mountaineers will be going for their 11th win of the year Saturday in the 2018 New Orleans Bowl. A victory would give Appalachian State 11 wins for the second time in four years—a span that has seen it go 40-11—but opponents the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are looking to end their season on a high note after losing to UAB by two in the Conference USA championship.
New Orleans Bowl Info
Date: Saturday, Dec. 15
Time:9 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Odds: Appalachian State is a seven-point favorite, per OddsShark (as of Thursday at 1 a.m. ET).
Prediction
Appalachian State lost a heartbreaker in overtime at Penn State to start the season, but that set the stage for a conference championship run rather than a letdown.
Perhaps buoyed by the confidence of hanging with one of the best teams in the Big Ten, the Mountaineers lost just one more game the rest of the year—at Georgia Southern. They defeated Louisiana Lafayette in the Sun Belt title game and will now have the chance to face a team that will simply be glad it isn't in the SEC.
Middle Tennessee State suffered blowout losses to Vanderbilt and Georgia and lost to Kentucky by 11. It was 8-2 in games not featuring SEC opponents and will look to send out its senior leader quarterback on a high note.
The matchup between Brent Stockstill and Appalachian State's secondary is the marquee one of the game. Stockstill threw for 3,214 yards, 28 touchdowns and eight interceptions, surpassing the 3,000-yard mark for the third time in his collegiate career. He would be a problem for many secondaries when given time to throw.
Appalachian State is better than many secondaries, though.
It finished third in the nation behind only Michigan and Miami in passing yards allowed per game and was sixth in points allowed per game. The back end of the defense consistently swallows throwing lanes for receivers and should do the same against the Blue Raiders.
That will set the stage for quarterback Zac Thomas, who doesn't put up dazzling statistics like his counterpart—1,862 passing yards and 18 touchdown throws—but protects the ball, recording only four picks. What's more, he helps the ground game control the clock and tempo and added 10 touchdown runs.
He doesn't have to put up a ton of points with the Mountaineers defense on the other side and will do enough to kickstart a new era for the school after former head coach Scott Satterfield accepted the head-coaching job at Louisville.
Prediction: Appalachian State 27, Middle Tennessee State 20
