This page serves as NC Football News’ recruiting hub for Appalachian State football, tracking commitments, recruiting news, signing day updates and transfer portal movement involving the Mountaineers.
Throughout the year, we’ll update this page with the latest additions to App State’s recruiting classes, incoming and outgoing transfers, player profiles and links to our recruiting coverage.
Bookmark this page and check back regularly as the future of Appalachian State football continues to take shape.
🔄 Last Updated: June 22, 2026
Featured Analysis: App State’s 2026 Roster Reset
After more than 40 roster departures following the 2025 season, Appalachian State entered a rare forced rebuild. We broke down how the Mountaineers responded through the transfer portal and a trench-heavy signing class — and what it signals moving forward.
🔗 Read: Inside App State’s 2026 Roster Reset
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2027 Football Commits
2026 Football Commits
2026 Incoming Transfers
Appalachian State 2027 Football Commits
Total Commits: 15
247Sports Ranking: 71st (6/22/2026)
North Carolina: 1
Offense: 7
Defense: 8
| APP STATE 2027 | POS | HT | WT | HOMETOWN | HIGH SCHOOL | COMMITED TO | STATUS | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damion King | EDGE | 6-3 | 230 | Westerville, OH | Westerville HS | Appalachian State | Verbal 6/20/2026 | Flipped from a mid-June commitment to James Madison |
| Kemontae Chaplin | EDGE | 6-3 | 215 | Washington, DC | Friendship Collegiate | Appalachian State | Verbal 6/20/2026 | Three stars and the No. 3 player from DC, per 247Sports |
| Jalijah Rutledge | WR | 6-0 | 185 | Moody, AL | Moody HS | Appalachian State | Verbal 6/15/2026 | Caught 113 passes for 1,951 yards, 16 TDs over the past 2 seasons |
| Arwin Jackson | RB | 5-10 | 170 | Opa Locka, FL | Miami Carol City HS | Appalachian State | Verbal 6/14/2026 | 2,399 career rushing yards with 27 TDs over 38 varsity games |
| Kyson McLeod | WR | 6-4 | 205 | Aiken, SC | South Aiken HS | Appalachian State | Verbal 6/14/2026 | 2025 stats: 40 catches, 657 yards, seven TDs. |
| Brexton Bell | CB | 5-11 | 180 | Savannah, GA | Calvary Day School | Appalachian State | Verbal 6/14/2026 | Previous Maryland commit is one of Georgia’s top prep wrestlers |
| Zion Davis | CB | 6-0 | 170 | Hollywood, FL | McArthur HS | Appalachian State | Verbal 6/13/2026 | 9 PBU, 1 INT in 2025 while at Killian High in Miami |
| Sammy Wooten | IOL | 6-3 | 275 | Mooresville, NC | Lake Norman HS | Appalachian State | Verbal 6/8/2026 | Earned all-conference in 7A in first sesaon playing on the O-line |
| Jamar Grissett | SAF | 6-3 | 185 | Columbia, SC | Irmo, SC | Appalachian State | Verbal 6/6/2026 | Ballhawk DB picked off 7 passes and blocked 3 FGs in 2025 |
| JoJo Accelus | RB | 5-11 | 190 | Monticello, AR | Monticello HS | Appalachian State | Verbal 6/5/2026 | Speedy all-state back rushed for 2,371 yards, 24 TDs as a junior |
| Levi Porter | LB | 6-1 | 215 | Saltsburg, PA | The Kiski School | Appalachian State | Verbal 4/26/2026 | Holds 14 D1 offers, including Charlotte, ODU |
| Jok Harris | WR | 6-2 | 185 | Palmetto, FL | Palmetto HS | Appalachian State | Verbal 4/14/2026 | 50 catches, 841 yards, 10 TDs in 2025 |
| Cameron Horne | DL | 6-2 | 285 | Covington, GA | Newton HS | Appalachian State | Verbal 3/21/2026 | 72 tackles, 19 TFLs, 9 sacks during junior season |
| Ben Musser | QB | 6-2 | 205 | Hoschton, GA | Jackson County HS | Appalachian State | Verbal 2/9/2026 | Former Virginia Tech commit. Reported 15–18 FBS offers including Purdue and Nebraska. Threw for 4,800+ total yards the past two seasons |
| Tre’ Stone | LB | 6-1 | 215 | Opelika, AL | Opelika HS | Appalachian State | Verbal 2/17/2026 | 70 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1st-team All-Region for Alabama 7A runners-up |
2027 App State Recruiting Snapshot
June 22 – App State flips JMU commit, adds pass rusher with ACC, Big Ten offers
Appalachian State strengthened its defensive front during the June 18-20 official visit weekend, adding a pair of edge rushers to its 2027 recruiting class. Three-star prospect Kemontae Chaplin of Washington, D.C., became one of the highest-rated commitments in the class after choosing the Mountaineers over offers from Maryland, Syracuse, UConn and several other Division I programs.
Appalachian State also flipped Ohio defensive lineman Damion King from fellow Sun Belt program James Madison just five days after his original commitment. The additions pushed App State’s class to 15 commitments, including eight defensive players, and helped the Mountaineers maintain the Sun Belt’s highest-ranked 2027 recruiting class at No. 71 nationally according to 247Sports.
June 14 – Highly regarded Florida RB among newest commitments
Appalachian State added three more commitments to its 2027 recruiting class, strengthening an already impressive group that ranks first in the Sun Belt. The Mountaineers landed Florida running back Arwin Jackson, a three-star prospect who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2025 and held offers from programs including Florida State, Miami and Auburn.
Also joining the class: Georgia defensive back Brexton Bell, a former Maryland commitment and standout wrestler who recorded 72 tackles last season; and South Carolina wide receiver Kyson McLeod, a 6-foot-4 playmaker and all-state performer who caught 40 passes for 657 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior.
Lake Norman lineman Sammy Wooten becomes first OL pledge
Sammy Wooten’s first season as an offensive lineman in 2025 was rewarded with 7A all-conference honors. App State is betting on his potential to grow even more, adding the Mooresville (Lake Norman HS) standout to its 2027 recruiting class. The Mountaineers won a recruiting battle for Wooten with ECU, Charlotte, Marshall, Memphis and others.
Speedy all-state running back joins App State’s class
App State added the first running back to its 2027 class on June 5 with the commitment of all-state rusher JoJo Accelus from Monticello High School in Arkansas. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound back rushed for 2,371 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior.
Accelus also has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, giving the Mountaineers a proven playmaker with breakaway potential. Accelus becomes the third notable offensive skill player in App State’s 2027 class, joining quarterback Ben Musser and wide receiver Jok Harris. Together, the trio gives the Mountaineers an early offensive foundation as the class continues to take shape.
Noted QB Ben Musser becomes first commit of ’27 class
Quarterback Ben Musser became the first known commitment of Appalachian State’s 2027 recruiting class when he pledged to the Mountaineers on Feb. 9. The Georgia prospect is regarded as one of the nation’s top quarterback prospects, earning a three-star rating and top-35 positional rankings from both 247Sports and Rivals. Musser previously was committed to Virginia Tech and held offers from nearly 20 FBS programs, including Nebraska, Purdue, Cincinnati and Vanderbilt.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound signal caller gives App State an early cornerstone for its 2027 class. Musser has accounted for more than 4,800 total yards and 57 touchdowns over the past two seasons and is considered one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the Southeast.
👉 Read more about Musser’s commitment to App State and what it means for the Mountaineers.
Appalachian State 2026 Football Commits
| APP STATE COMMIT | POS | HOMETOWN | SCHOOL | COMMITTED TO | COMMIT DATE | SIGNED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Cummings | K | Mooresville, NC | Mooresville HS | Appalachian State | 1/22/2026 | |
| Ben Bankowitz (Jones) | IOL | Orlando, FL | Edgewater HS | Appalachian State | 6/17/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Brice Williamson | TE | Bogart, GA | Prince Avenue Christian | Appalachian State | 6/15/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Bronzden Chaffin | QB | Baxter, TN | Upperman HS | Appalachian State | 12/2/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Bryant Junius | LB | Hollywood, FL | Chaminade-Madonna HS | Appalachian State | 6/21/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Caden Muskus | OL | Chapin, SC | Chapin HS | Appalachian State | 5/1/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Chris Doyle | DL | Bluffton, SC | Bluffton HS | Appalachian State | 4/12/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Christian Waring | DL | Roebuck, SC | Dorman HS | Appalachian State | 9/7/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Dorrian Medley | S | Hickory, NC | Hickory HS | Appalachian State | 4/12/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Eisa Evans | OT | Pfafftown, NC | Reagan HS | Appalachian State | 6/21/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Evan Mulcare | P | Tampa, FL | Clearwater HS | Appalachian State | 2/1/2026 | |
| Gavin Barber | TE | Mooresville, NC | Mooresville HS | Appalachian State | 6/4/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Jahlon Harris | OL | Maumelle, AR | Maumelle HS | Appalachian State | 12/5/2025 | 12/5/2025 |
| Jamel Howse | TE | Newberry, SC | Newberry HS | Appalachian State | 11/23/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Jarvis Potts | IOL | Cornelius, NC | Hough HS | Appalachian State | 6/14/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Jayden Thomas | OL | Milledgeville, GA | Georgia Military | Appalachian State | 11/26/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Jordan Harris | EDGE | Maumelle, AR | Maumelle HS | Appalachian State | 12/5/2025 | 12/5/2025 |
| Kabran Paul | WR | Tallahassee, FL | Lincoln HS | Appalachian State | 5/2/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Kamauri Austin | WR | Bryant, AR | Bryant HS | Appalachian State | 6/1/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Kamron Burris | OL | Dunwoody, GA | Dunwoody HS/Anderson | Appalachian State | 12/3/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Keaton Braddock | EDGE | Lamar, SC | Louisburg College | Appalachian State | 11/26/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Manny Lewis | DL | Waxhaw, NC | Marvin Ridge HS | Appalachian State | 6/1/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Micah Williams | S | Savannah, GA | Benedictine Military | Appalachian State | 6/25/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Michael McClenton | LB | Orlando, FL | Edgewater HS | Appalachian State | 6/20/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Nate Branch | WR | Fulton, MS | Itawamba CC | Appalachian State | 11/11/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Nick Kashubara | OT | Greensboro, NC | Grimsley HS | Appalachian State | 6/11/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Sawyer Arnold | EDGE | Mount Pleasant, SC | Oceanside Collegiate | Appalachian State | 6/27/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Scottland Dover | OT | Gaffney, SC | Gaffney HS | Appalachian State | 11/7/2024 | 12/3/2025 |
| Sebastian “Cash” Brown | WR | Newberry, SC | Newberry HS | Appalachian State | 11/24/2025 | |
| Syncere Berry | CB | Atlanta, GA | Westlake HS | Appalachian State | 11/23/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Tre Glover | OT | Warner Robins, GA | Warner Robins HS | Appalachian State | 6/20/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
| Xavier Ethan Joseph | DT/EDGE | Covington, Ga. | Eastside HS | Appalachian State | 3/31/2025 | 12/3/2025 |
2026 Recruiting Class Snapshot | December Signing Day
The Appalachian State Mountaineers signed a program-record 29-player recruiting class during the early signing period in December 2025, marking the first full signing class under head coach Dowell Loggains. The class was rated the highest in school history and ranked first in the Sun Belt for the 2026 cycle, with a national ranking inside the Top 60.
The group features a balanced mix of 23 high school signees, five junior college players and one Division II transfer, addressing needs across both lines of scrimmage and key skill positions as the Mountaineers continue reshaping the roster heading into the February signing period.
Class breakdown:
- 29 total signees
- 10 offensive linemen, 4 edge defenders, 3 defensive linemen
- 6 total pass-catchers (3 wide receivers, 3 tight ends)
- Multi-state footprint, led by South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina
- Majority of signees projected to enroll early
Appalachian State Transfer Portal Movement
In addition to high school and junior college recruiting, the Appalachian State Mountaineers have added players through the transfer portal as part of their roster construction for the 2026 season.
| APP STATE TRANSFER IN | POS | HOMETOWN | LAST SCHOOL | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Adams | SAF | Ronda, NC | North Carolina Central | |
| Jehchys Brown | DL | Centralia, IL | Southeast Missouri | |
| J’Marion Burnette | RB | Andalusia, AL | Houston | |
| Aaron Clark | DT | Charleston, WV | Towson | |
| Khalil Conley | CB | Asheville, NC | North Carolina | |
| Luke Douglas | TE | Jupiter, FL | Florida State | |
| Jaxson Dunn | P | Bensalem, PA | Arkansas State | |
| Semaj Fleming | WR | Orlando, FL | Boston College | |
| Darrin Fugitt | TE | Bolivar, MO | Lindenwood | |
| Cary Grant | SAF | New Orleans, LA | Charlotte | |
| Greydon Grimes | OL | China Spring, TX | Kansas | |
| Jakob Gude | SAF | Atlanta, GA | UCF | |
| Ki’Shawn Harvey | DL | Raleigh, NC | East Tennessee State | |
| Henry Hasselbeck | QB | Weston, MA | UCLA | |
| Devin Henderson | SAF | Cartersville, GA | Liberty | |
| Ja’Cari Henderson | CB | Sanford, FL | UCF | |
| Kevin Henderson | LB | Cartersville, GA | Findlay | |
| Dazmin James | WR | Clayton, NC | California | |
| Chris Lofton | WR | Columbia, SC | Gardner-Webb | |
| James London | K | Miami, FL | PIttsburgh | |
| Devon Manuel | OL | Sunset, FL | Florida | |
| Alex Mitchell | LB | Murfreesboro, TN | Middle Tennessee | |
| Sam Pickett III | WR | Jasper, TN | Samford | |
| Kaleb Purdy | SAF | St. Louis, MO | Tennessee Tech | |
| Joe Reddish | DB | Charlotte, NC | Virginia Tech | |
| Malachi Singleton | QB | Kennesaw, GA | Purdue | |
| Carson Sloan | LB | Blackshear, GA | Samford | |
| Parker Stone | LS | Grain Valley, MO | Tulsa | |
| Zachary Taylor | WR | Yoakum, TX | Arkansas | |
| Keshawn Thomas | LB | Ocean Spring, MS | Old Dominion | |
| Tommy Ulatowski | QB | Chicago, IL | Kennesaw State | |
| Dre Walker | CB | Denver, NC | Virginia | |
| Mac Walters | OL | Myrtle Beach, SC | South Carolina | |
| Treyaun Webb | RB | Jacksonville, FL | Florida | |
| Josh Williams | CB | Dayton, OH | Dayton |
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