The Loggains era begins with many positives, though questions remain

Photo: Eric Lusk / NC Football news

Just one game into the Dowell Loggains era in Boone, App State fans are already fighting the temptation to declare the rebuild ahead of schedule. In front of a heavily black and gold-titled crowd of just under 36,000 at Bank of America Stadium, the Mountaineers rolled to a 34-11 victory over Charlotte on Friday night in a game that never felt in doubt after halftime.

Coming into the contest, there were far more questions than answers about what to expect from the 2025 version of the Mountaineers. Loggains did not publicly name a starting quarterback as transfers AJ Swann (Vanderbilt/LSU) and JJ Kohl (Iowa State) battled veteran reserve Billy Wiles and true freshman Noah Gillon throughout fall camp.

Uncertainty persisted all down the roster, with over 50 new players being integrated into the squad along with an overhauled coaching staff. Of particular significance, App State hall of famer DJ Smith debuted as defensive coordinator with the Apps, returning to a base four-man front after primarily running a 3-4 scheme for the last decade.

The debut could not have gone much better, as the Mountaineers improved to 4-0 all-time against the 49ers in emphatic fashion. Appalachian out gained Charlotte 586-218 and were it not for an early mental mistake that led to a goal line fumble and a late kneel out, the final score could have been even more lopsided.

Swann impresses in debut

AJ Swann started his career in black and gold on the right foot, completing 31 of 46 passes for 368 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers while adding another 25 on the ground.

While Austin Peay transfer Jaden Barnes led the way with 134 yards on six catches, Swann spread the ball around. Dalton Stroman, the Apps' lone preseason all-conference selection, caught eight passes for 88 yards while Louisville transfer tight end Izayah Cummings added five receptions for 57 yards.

In all, 10 different Mountaineers had receptions. Swann looked decisive and confident, particularly on the short to intermediate routes, allowing the Mountaineer backs and receivers to make plays in space.

For his efforts, Swann was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week.

Dubinion looks ready to lead the backfield

Arkansas transfer Rashod Dubinion, who Loggains recruited in his days on the Razorbacks' staff, was the workhorse in the backfield as expected coming out of fall camp. He was consistent and ran with power, finishing with 111 yards on 22 carries despite not having a run of more than 13 yards.

He also added five catches for 31 yards out of the backfield. No App State running back had more than 13 receptions for the entire 2024 season, so that figures to be a more prevalent piece of the offense going forward. Along with his statistical impact, Dubinion was solid in pass protection, with his blitz pick-up leading to a big gain on a second half scoring drive.

With 251 offensive touches in three seasons at Arkansas, his game experience showed on Friday. Embracing his opportunity to be a lead back, he brings a physical presence with his willingness to finish runs and fall forward.

DJ's fingerprints are on the defense

For a program that has hung its hat on defense for decades, 2024 was tough to stomach for the Mountaineers, as they finished the season allowing over 400 yards and 30 points per game. They were also dogged by slow starts, falling behind early and often, leaving the team to play catch-up far too frequently.

In a welcome departure, it was the defense who held down the fort in the early going against Charlotte. Two three and outs to start the contest allowed Swann and the offense to get their footing without having scoreboard pressure to contend with.

Open field tackling was solid throughout the contest and the defense got contributions from veterans and newcomers alike. Michigan transfer Ja'Den McBurrows stood out in the secondary, finishing with six tackles and an interception. Included in that total was one tackle for loss, which was the hit of the day on a snuffed out screen that drew an audible gasp from the crowd.

Zyeir Gamble, a bright spot from the 2024 defense, seemed to pick right up where left off. The redshirt sophomore also added six tackles and one TFL, pestering the Charlotte offense throughout the evening.

Fellow redshirt sophomore Colton Phares, who was recruited as a 185-pound safety, made his first start at linebacker. The now 225-pound Phares was solid in the heart of the App State defense, finishing with five tackles including a few open field solo stops. He also wore the green dot on his helmet, serving as the defensive quarterback and relaying play calls to his teammates.

While the performance was not perfect, the foundational pieces are there and DJ's fingerprints are all over it. Throughout the offseason, he has preached the importance of simplifying and allowing his players to play fast. One game in, there appeared to be an aggression that was not there consistently a year ago.

Where will running back depth come from?

When veteran Kanye Roberts went down with a torn ACL in the offseason, depth in the running back room immediately became a question. With Tennessee transfer Khalifa Keith also shelved indefinitely with injury, the Apps entered Friday's contest with one career collegiate carry in the running back rotation after Dubinion.

True freshman Jaquari Lewis, a product of South Florida powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna, appears set to get the first crack at being the primary back up, netting 32 yards on eight carries in his collegiate debut. Redshirt freshman Jaylon Calhoun also logged four carries for 14 yards.

With FCS opponent Lindenwood next up for the Mountaineers, it will be interesting to see how the backfield rotation falls into place in a game that should provide the opportunity for a number of players to get game reps. While Dubinion looks more than capable of leading the charge, reliable depth is as important at the running back position as anywhere on the field.

Were penalties an early season blip or cause for concern?

While the aggression seen from the defense is generally a positive, it must also be contained. Penalties were an issue and though it is not uncommon in a season opener, particularly considering the vast amount of new faces on the field, it needs to be addressed.

Jaelin Willis and Elijah Mc-Cantos were both ejected for targeting in the third quarter and while they were not overly egregious, they were lapses in judgement for players that will be key pieces of the 2025 defense.

On the other side of the ball, New Mexico State transfer Shamarr Jackson got the start at left guard but was pulled after two early holding calls. Redshirt sophomore Cayden Sweatt took his place and did not relinquish his spot with the first team.

In all, the Mountaineers were whistled for nine penalties, resulting in 98 yards and four first downs for the 49ers. It did not cost them this time but as they get into the meat of their schedule, it cannot become a trend.

Did this game say more about App State or Charlotte?

In fairness, this same question could be asked after just about every week one contest across the country. However, it seems particularly relevant here given the amount of turnover on both sides.

Tim Albin came to Charlotte on the heels of three consecutive 10-win seasons at Ohio, accompanied by four of his assistant coaches. Given that Loggains was in his first game as a head coach, it was fair to question whether his early learning curve may be a bit steeper.

After a cagey start, the Mountaineers settled in nicely and assumed control in the second quarter that they did not relinquish. The offense played with rhythm, upped the tempo at times and stayed ahead of the chains. Defensively, the Apps looked well connected and comfortable in their base packages.

While not without its highlights and good individual efforts, the 49ers' performance was disjointed. They never quite looked in sync, seemed a step slow and did not provide the challenge that I had expected with a proven winner at the helm.

Loggains, his staff and the entire team deserve their due credit as the Apps could hardly have asked for a better start to the season. Reservations may seem like nitpicking at this phase but with FCS Lindenwood on tap for this weekend, we may not truly know what this team has under the hood until they travel to Hattiesburg to face Southern Miss on the 13th.