Via Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire
Appalachian State has made waves this year with their crazy games including a 40 point 4th quarter vs UNC followed by an upset over number 6 Texas A&M earning them a college gameday in their defeat vs Troy. Last night, Appalachian State went on a 42-3 run after a 14 point deficit in the first quarter to defeat conference rival Georgia State 42-17. App State has a ton of draftable prospects this year and they are consistently showing up on film and the stat sheet. Here’s a list of their prospects and some potential team fits:
HB Nate Noel
Noel is an explosive runner from endzone to endzone, and a threat in the receiving game also. Noel has only played in three games this year after suffering minor injuries but he’s put up 25 rushes for 247 yards and three touchdowns. In 2021, as the Mountaineers second back to Peoples, Noel recorded 1128 yards and four touchdowns on only 199 rushes good for a 5.7 average. Noel stands at 5-11, 190 and has showcased his speed in numerous games for the Mountaineers. The receiving threat is there also, it just needs to be refined in a couple aspects. Team Fits: Bengals, Patriots, Raiders, Colts, Texans
HB Cam Peoples
Peoples is considered the bell cow for App State despite constantly being in rotation with a fantastic running back group. Peoples is a physical runner who has 4.4 speed as well. At 6-2, 220 there’s not many defenders that can go toe to toe with his physical playstyle and keep up with him in a foot race. In 2022 he recorded 366 yards, three touchdowns on 57 attempts. Over his career Peoples has put up 2603 yards, 31 touchdowns and only four fumbles on 411 carries. If you want to see how dominant Peoples can be, look no further than his 2020 Myrtle Beach Bowl which saw him post 317 rushing yards and five touchdowns, both NCAA bowl game records. Team Fits: Colts, Broncos, Titans, Giants, Bengals
TE Henry Pearson
App State hasn’t utilized a tight end often till this season and Pearson has taken full advantage of that. Primarily a blocker over his career, and a quite good one at that especially in the run game he’s posted 160 yards and four touchdowns on only 14 receptions, all of which are career highs. Pearson is 6-5, 250 and a mauler in the running game, he’s fluid with good strength and agility to get to the second level. His best ability outside blocking might be his YAC ability, which is showcased often. Team Fits: Ravens, Raiders, Buccaneers, Chiefs, Chargers
T Anderson Hardy
A career LT, Hardy best fits as a run blocker. He’s put up a career 69.2 PFF grade with marks of 75.2 in run blocking and 64.2 in pass protection. Hardy has allowed seven sacks, seven hits and 35 pressures with 13 penalties over 925 career pass blocking snaps. He’s agile enough that a team could move him to offensive guard especially with his 6-6, 280 frame. Team Fits: Patriots, Chiefs, Ravens, Texans, Bears
T Cooper Hodges
Hodges has been the Mountaineers long term RT, posting 3175 career snaps with 1494 in pass protection. He’s posted a career 80.1 PFF Grade with marks of 81.9 in run blocking and 78.2 in pass protection. Allowing a career six sacks, nine hits and 38 pressures isn’t a bad look either. Hodges needs to fix his penalty problem with 22 over his four year career. He’s a massive 6-4, 310 and an overall strong development tackle option. Team Fits: Eagles, Cowboys, Jets, Commanders, Panthers
EDGE Nick Hampton
Nick Hampton is the Mountaineers star defensive player, and maybe the team’s best player overall. He’s racked up 23 tackles, 11 TFL, seven sacks, four FF, 27 pressures, 10 QB Hits, and three PBU in seven games this season. He’s one of the best pass rushers in the nation not receiving the much needed attention. Hampton posted 72 tackles, 11 sacks, 21 TFL, and two FF last season and already has 42 career tackles for loss with 27.5 sacks. Hampton isn’t just a pass rusher and can drop into coverage as he did in 2021 which saw him record only 37 yards allowed on 16 targets while adding an interception. His run defense is top notch, and his speed/power combination is among some of the best in college football. He’s skyrocketing up draft boards and could be the Mountaineers first ever first round pick. Team Fits: Ravens, Giants, Seahawks, Rams, Broncos
LB Trey Cobb
Cobb has consistently been a playmaker for the Mountaineers. In 2021 he recorded 78 tackles, 11 TFL, three INTs, a forced fumble, six breakups and a touchdown. In 2020 he put up an additional 92 tackles, three sacks, and an interception. He’s a traditional coverage linebacker and an excellent fit for the modern NFL. Over his career Cobb has allowed only 69 of 101 targets for 732 yards, three TD, and a 88.2 QBR while adding four interceptions and 11 breakups. He’ll need to add weight only sitting at 6-2, 215 pounds but with his range and speed there’s a lot of teams that would enjoy having a high caliber coverage LB like Cobb. Team Fits: Giants, Dolphins, Lions, Cowboys, Rams
DT Jordon Earle
Earle is a massive 6-4, 301 pounds and a traditional nose tackle in the NFL. He’s put up 31 career stops in 557 run defense snaps, with 28 pressures over 602 pass rush snaps. Earle has increible instincts when it comes to the run and accelerates quickly to the backfield. Combined with his size, he’s got potential to be one of the better run defending interior lineman in the NFL. Team Fits: Raiders, Cardinals, Patriots, Commanders, Panthers
CB Steven Jones Jr
Jones is a ballhawking corner, and is going to excel quickly in the NFL as a starting nickel corner at 5-11, 190 lbs. He’s posted a career 104 tackles, eight TFL, seven interceptions, 19 breakups, two forced fumbles and three touchdowns (all interception returns). Jones was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2021 after allowing 550 yard on 76 targets (45 receptions) for only three TD and a 78.5 QBR. He’s posted a career 76.3 QBR allowed and allowed only five TD over 872 career cover snaps. He’s a quality run defender as well, which a ton of teams will value from their nickel spot. Jones is on the older side but has instincts, ball skills and high end coverage ability. He’s a press man corner who likes to utilize his speed and tangibles to make a play on the receiver and the ball. Team Fits: Chargers, Packers, Vikings, Buccaneers, Cowboys
CB Dex Lawson
Lawson is a transfer from Central Connecticut State where he stood out with two interceptions and 11 breakups over only 220 career coverage snaps. In his first year starting with the Mountaineers, Lawson has allowed 13 of 27 targets for 190 yards, one TD and a 69.3 QBR. He’s posted two interceptions and five breakups as well. Lawson is a traditional man corner that will work the boundary well in the NFL at 6-0, 190. He may choose to stay another season at App State to refine his talents a little more but if he declares he’s potentially a late round development pick for a franchise looking to address their corner depth and find a potential starter. Team Fits: Rams, Seahawks, Packers, Eagles, Jets
