Newly hired Appalachian State head coach Dowell Loggains will be under the microscope in week one in front of a packed Bank of America Stadium. App State will face off against the Charlotte 49ers in the Duke’s Mayo Classic. Fans wait anxiously to get their first glimpse at the new look Mountaineers.
🏈 Game Vitals
Who: Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Charlotte 49ers
What: Duke’s Mayo Classic – Season Opener
When: Friday, August 29, 2025 – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.)
How to Watch: ESPNU
History of App State vs Charlotte
The first game between the in-state rivals came during the 2018 season. The two teams have played three times with App State winning all of the matchups.
The Mountaineers’ largest margin of victory was a 45-9 win in 2018 where quarterback Zac Thomas went a perfect 14-14 with 295 yards and 3 passing touchdowns. (App State won 56-41 in 2019 and 35-20 in 2020).
Welcoming Dowell Loggains
Loggains spent 17 years as an offensive coordinator and quarterback coach in the NFL before joining the University of South Carolina in 2023. During his two seasons at South Carolina, Loggains helped develop LaNorris Sellers, who some believe to be a Heisman favorite heading into the season with ESPN giving him 16-1 odds.
Even though leaving South Carolina was a tough decision, Loggains made it clear he wanted to be the head coach at App State.
“There were very few places I would have left South Carolina and LaNorris Sellers for but this was one,” Loggains said in his introductory press conference.
Loggains made his chief aim very clear: “The goal of this program is to be a champion.”
The Quarterback Room
Loggains has yet to announce who will lead the offense to start the season. However, many fans have boiled it down to two names: redshirt junior AJ Swann and redshirt sophomore JJ Kohl.
Swann spent time at two SEC programs in Vanderbilt and LSU. Swann was a three-star transfer the second time around and joined the team as redshirt junior. He has 22 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in his collegiate career. Swann brings experience to a young quarterback room.
Swann addressed the quarterback competition after the spring game: “Everybody gets the same reps to try and make it as even as possible and I really enjoy it,” he said.
His competition, JJ Kohl, joined the Mountaineers after spending one year at Iowa State. He appeared in four games as a Cyclone where he completed 9-of-11 passes for 23 yards. Despite standing at a staggering 6-7, Kohl can be mobile when necessary.
Key Transfers
Running back Rashod Dubinion joins the App State offense from Arkansas, where Loggains served as tight ends coach in 2021-22. During his time with the Razorbacks, Dubinion totaled 888 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns.
Khalifa Keith is another SEC transfer from the University of Tennessee. Keith recorded 32 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown as a Volunteer. Look for him to split carries with Dubinion.
Jaden Barnes is joining App State after a stint at Austin Peay. Barnes is a crafty slot receiver who can make plays in the open field. Look for him to get into space and make plays with his legs.
In 2024, Barnes had 58 receptions for 1,066 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also recorded 50 rushing yards and a touchdown. Look for him to move all around the formation this season.
Key Returners
Shawn Collins will help anchor the defensive line this year. The redshirt senior does not jump out on the stat sheet, however he makes his presence known. In a shortened season due to injury in 2023, Collins recorded 2.5 sacks and 16 quarterback pressures. Now healthy, Collins will aim to terrorize the backfield.
Ethan Johnson will likely be following around the opponents’ key wide receiver. In 2023, Johnson earned All Sun-Belt second team honors. In that season he recorded 12 of his career 16 pass breakups. Johnson is often left on an island, which allows for defensive coordinator DJ Smith to dial up some pressure.
Kanye Roberts was likely set to be App State’s starting running back. However, Roberts tore his ACL in practice on Aug. 20, per reports. He will be out for the entirety of the season which is a big loss for the depth of the backfield.
Charlotte Key Players
Quarterback Grayson Loftis joined the 49ers as a redshirt sophomore after two years as a Blue Devil. While at Duke, he threw for more than 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns. Much like the Mountaineers, Charlotte has not announced a starter and the battle between Loftis and North Carolina transfer Conner Harrell continues.
[Update: ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported late Monday that Harrell has been named the starter for the App State game.]
Another key transfer, Javen Nicholas, a redshirt junior wide receiver from LSU, is looking to make plays. He did not make much of an impact as a Tiger but is looking to change that this season.
Shay Taylor and Kadin Schmitz are a one-two punch at linebacker. Last season, Taylor earned All-MAC third team with 72 tackles and 3 sacks as an Ohio Bobcat, playing for new Charlotte coach Tim Albin. Schmitz spent last season as a Bobcat as well, tallying 33 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
Taylor is now a redshirt senior and Schmitz a junior. They will look to protect the second level of the defense.
Max Schwanz is the sports editor for The Appalachian, the student newspaper at Appalachian State University. A journalism major and digital marketing minor from Cornelius, N.C., you can find more of his work at The Appalachian.
