Appalachian State football didn’t just enter the 2026 offseason looking for upgrades. The Mountaineers needed a lot of answers – and a whole lot of new bodies. They appear to have found both.
After a 5-8 season, a 2-6 finish in the Sun Belt Conference and a late-year fade that exposed depth, consistency and identity issues, Appalachian State watched more than 40 players exit the program via the transfer portal. Several position groups saw a major exodus:
- All three quarterbacks who started games in 2025
- Eight defensive linemen/edge rushers
- Six wide receivers, five offensive linemen and three running backs
- Five safeties and three corners
- Two punters, the starting place-kicker and long-snapper
That kind of turnover doesn’t allow for a soft reset. Instead, second-year head coach Dowell Loggains and staff executed a forced rebuild – but one carried out with unusual clarity and intent. Between the 35-player transfer haul announced last week and a 29-member high school, junior college and D2 signing class unveiled in December, the Mountaineers will welcome more than 60 newcomers into the program for the 2026 season.
2025 context: Where things slipped
On the surface, App State’s 2025 raw numbers weren’t disastrous. The Mountaineers won five games, snuck into a bowl, averaged 24.1 points per contest and put up nearly 385 yards of offense. But the deeper trends told a different story — especially as the season wore on:
- Only 12 rushing touchdowns all season (opponents had 23)
- Just 4.0 yards per rushing attempt
- Lost the time of possession battle by more than three minutes per game
- Allowed opponents to convert 42.7% on third down
- Gave up 29.8 points per game, including 48 total touchdowns
- Dropped six of the last seven games after a 4-2 start
Late in the year, App State struggled to close games and control tempo — a problem that showed up in one-score losses to Old Dominion, Georgia Southern and Arkansas State, and a lopsided defeat to eventual playoff participant James Madison.
The roster churn that followed wasn’t surprising. The response to it was revealing.
Top 12 newcomer classes (recruits + transfers) in the Group of 6:
1. Boise State
2. App State
3. UNLV
4. Temple
5. Colorado State
6. USF
7. Memphis
8. WKU
9. Texas State
10. James Madison
11. Tulsa
12. San Diego State
All are ranked ahead of Nebraska
(247 Sports Composite)— Patrick Murray (@PatMurraySports) January 23, 2026
A forced rebuild — but not a chaotic one
When so many key positions turn over at once, teams often scramble.
App State didn’t.
Instead, the Mountaineers attacked the offseason in layers, using the transfer portal to stabilize the roster immediately while leaning on high school and junior college recruiting to reshape the program long-term.
App State’s 35 transfer additions were heavy on experience and positional need.
By the numbers:
- 10 defensive backs (including five safeties)
- 5 wide receivers
- 4 linebackers
- 3 quarterbacks
- 3 defensive linemen
- 3 offensive linemen
- 2 running backs
- 2 tight ends
- 3 specialists (kicker, punter, long snapper)
That distribution mirrors 2025’s problem areas.
The secondary overhaul was especially notable. App State clearly prioritized versatility, ball production and experience, bringing in defensive backs from Power Five programs, FCS standouts and multi-year contributors who could compete immediately.
The portal class also reset the quarterback room — completely.
A new QB room, wide open
App State had a hard time building quarterback momentum last season, in part because of injury. LSU transfer AJ Swann got the nod in the opener against Charlotte and showed promise. But Swann played in just seven games total due to injury (1,495 yards, 10 TDs, 8 INTs), giving way to Iowa State transfer JJ Kohl, who finished with similar yardage totals (1,465 yards) but a better TD-to-interception ratio (12-2).
When both Swann and Kohl announced for the portal prior to the bowl game, Loggains turned to Matthew Wilson and Noah Gillon. Wilson rushed for 100+ yards and two TDs but threw two interceptions in the finale. Gillon threw two more as the Mountaineers lost for the second time to Georgia Southern.
With the transfer class, the Mountaineers have added:
- Malachi Singleton (Purdue/Arkansas), a dual-threat quarterback with Power Five experience and national acclaim coming out of high school
- Henry Hasselbeck (UCLA), a former Massachusetts Player of the Year and high school conference MVP with strong developmental upside
- Tommy Ulatowski (Kent State/Kennesaw State), a proven passer who has started games at the FBS level.
They’ll be joined by Bronzden Chaffin, a physical incoming freshman quarterback from Tennessee who accounted for 99 touchdowns over his final three high school seasons.
The result is a true open competition — one that blends experience, mobility and developmental potential. After a year of uncertainty at the position, App State wasn’t just looking for a starter. It was rebuilding the entire room.
📰 >> 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐬
To learn more about our newest portal newcomers, full bios are in the recap below:#GoApphttps://t.co/I2VIiqXgSi — App State Football (@AppState_FB) January 21, 2026
The December signing class: trenches first, culture always
If the portal class addressed the present, the 29-player December signing class spoke to the future.
It was the highest-rated high school recruiting class in App State history, and the top 2026 class in the Sun Belt by multiple 247Sports metrics. But the composition mattered more than the ranking.
Among the highlights, App State signed:
- 10 offensive linemen
- 4 edge defenders
- 3 defensive linemen
- 3 tight ends
After a season in which App State struggled to run the ball late and control games, the emphasis was clear.
This class was built from the inside out.
Many of the offensive line signees bring size, multi-year starting experience and leadership backgrounds. Loggains estimated that 85 percent of the class were team captains, reinforcing that this wasn’t just about talent — it was about setting the program’s tone.
What this rebuild says about App State’s direction
Taken together, the portal class and the signing class paint a consistent picture.
App State is trying to:
- Get faster and more versatile on defense
- Become more physical and deeper in the trenches
- Build real competition at quarterback
- Reduce reliance on late-game heroics by controlling tempo
- Resume their place as a perennial Sun Belt contender
The scale of the turnover was unavoidable. The way it was handled was intentional.
The bigger picture
More than 60 new players won’t solve everything overnight. Rebuilds — even purposeful ones — take time.
But App State didn’t drift into this offseason. It attacked it.
What emerges in 2026 may not yet be the finished product. But it should look more structured, more competitive and more aligned with a clear plan than what the Mountaineers showed during a turbulent 2025 season.
And for a program that needed answers, that’s a meaningful start.
Faces of the Rebuild: Transfers and Recruits to Know
App State’s roster overhaul wasn’t just about volume. It has been about the types of players being added — and the traits they bring. Here’s a sampling of several newcomers whose production, measurables or backgrounds help illustrate the direction of the rebuild.
For a full list of names of 2026 transfers and 2026 high school signees, explore our Appalachian State Football Recruiting hub. For more in-depth bios on each incoming player, visit Appalachian State’s official football website, AppStateSports.com.
🔹 QB Malachi Singleton (Purdue/Arkansas)
A proven dual-threat quarterback, Singleton brings Power Five starting experience to a wide-open competition. In 2025, he completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for Purdue while adding 202 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. He previously earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors at Arkansas in 2024 after accounting for four total touchdowns in a single game.
Why he matters: Experience, mobility and a track record of producing against high-level competition.
🔹 WR Chris Lofton (Gardner-Webb)
One of the most productive receivers to enter the Sun Belt via the portal, Lofton caught 56 passes for 934 yards for a 7-5 Gardner-Webb team in 2025, leading his FCS conference in receiving yards and posting four 100-yard games.
Why he matters: Proven production and the ability to be a go-to target immediately.
🔹 CB Josh Williams (Dayton)
Williams tied for the FCS national lead with six interceptions in 2025, including two against Davidson (one was a pick-six). He has played in 27 career games and has consistently shown strong ball instincts.
Why he matters: Turnover production — something App State needed badly in 2025.
🔹 LB Alex Mitchell (Chattanooga/Middle Tennessee)
Mitchell started four games for MTSU after logging 194 career tackles, including a 101-tackle season, at FCS Chattanooga from 2022-24. He also forced multiple turnovers and earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Month honors earlier in his career.
Why he matters: Leadership, experience and downhill physicality in the middle of the defense.
🔹 K James London (Murray State/Pittsburgh)
A third-team All-American in 2024 at Murray State, London hit 14 of 19 field goals, including six from 50+ yards and a long of 55. His distance ability could turn the tide in one-score games this upcoming season.
Why he matters: Field position and scoring consistency after a full special teams reset.
🔹 TE Jamel Howse (Newberry, SC | Newberry HS)
A four-star prospect and top-175 national high school recruit, Howse gives App State a high-ceiling tight end with size (6-4, 240) and red-zone potential (46 catches, 613 yards, 5 TDs as a prep senior). He added nearly 30 pounds between his junior and senior seasons and played in South Carolina’s Shrine Bowl.
Why he matters: A foundational piece in the highest-rated recruiting class in program history.
🔹 DL Manny Lewis (Waxhaw | Marvin Ridge HS)
Lewis piled up 32 sacks and 39.5 tackles for loss over his final three high school seasons, earning HighSchoolOT All-State honors. His senior season included multiple games with double-digit pressures.
Why he matters: Disruptive production and upside on the defensive front.
🔹 LB Michael McClenton (Orlando, FL | Edgewater HS)
Brings one of the most eye-popping stat lines in the class: 517 tackles, 99 tackles-for-loss and 55 sacks over three seasons at Ocoee High before transferring to Edgewater. This included a 2024 campaign that included 219 tackles, 46 tackles for loss and 19 sacks over 10 games.
Why he matters: Range, instincts, a relentless motor and a nose for the ball.
🔹 EDGE Jordan Harris — EDGE (Maumelle, Ark.)
A long, athletic edge defender at 6-foot-6, Harris recorded 27 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks as a senior while flashing two-sport athleticism. He’s one of several signees with prototypical length at the position.
Why he matters: Pass-rush upside and frame development for the future.
🔹 OL Kamron Burris (Anderson University)
A Division II transfer who signed in December, Burris started 22 games over three seasons and earned All-South Atlantic Conference honors. He joins a high school class that included 10 offensive linemen.
Why he matters: Size (6-5, 300), experience and physicality as App State rebuilds its run game from the inside out.
What comes next
These players are just a snapshot of a much larger transformation. With more than 60 newcomers set to join the program, App State’s 2026 roster will look very different than a season ago. Spring practice will offer the first clues as to which pieces rise fastest.
Appalachian State has already announced its 2026 spring game date: the “Battle at the Rock” intrasquad scrimmage will be Saturday, April 18 in Boone.
The Mountaineers have not released a full 2026 schedule yet, but 10 of 12 opponents are known. App State will play Maine (home), East Carolina (away), Charlotte (home) and NC State (away) in non-conference action. The Maine game will be first on Sept. 5.
Six known Sun Belt opponents will include James Madison, Georgia State and Old Dominion at home, and Coastal Carolina, Marshall and Georgia Southern on the road. Visit our Appalachian State Schedule page for the latest 2026 updates and a look back at 2025 results.
