Recruiting Rewind, Class of 2016

[CoachRob]

Happy Jan 16th! Today we are breaking down what might possibly be App's greatest recruiting class. App just completed the 2015 season going 11-2 with it's 1st ever bowl win over Ohio 31-29 in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. The Coaching staff has pretty much stayed the same, minus the departure of Justin Stepp as WR for Justin Watts. Scott Sloan has completed his 4th season as recruiting Coordinator. Lets see what Feb '16 signing day looked like:

Head Coach: Scott Satterfield
Total Commits: 23
Sun Belt Rank: 6th
National Rank: 105th

-Marcus Williams Jr APB *** 83 – Redshirted in ’16, played in 42 career games. Started 3 games in ’17 when Jalin Moore was Inj. Saw action in 12 games in ’18, All Sun Belt honorable mention in ’19 playing in all 14 games. Opening-game starter in ’20, hampered with Injuries throughout the year. Totaled 2,216 total rushing yds & 14 TDs. Transferred to LaTech for Covid year.
-KJ Chamberlain CB *** 83 – On roster at start of ’16. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
-Zac Thomas Dual *** 82 – STUD, 32-6 record as 3 year starter at QB(3rd most in App history). Ranked 3rd in App history with 69 TD passes, 4th with 6,979 Passing yds, & 5th in total TDs with 88. Sun Belt OPOY in ’18, 3rd Team All-Sun Belt in ’20 & ’19.
-Matt McClurg TE *** 82 – Redshirted in ’16 making 1 appearance. Transferred to Tennessee Tech with brother Mitchell in ’17. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
-Jeremy Level S *** 80 – Redshirted in ’16. Battled Injuries entire App Career. Appeared in 1 game in ’19. I believe finished Collegiate career in ’19.
-Aris Duffey S ** 79 – Enrolled in Spring I believe. Transferred to FIU in ’17, appeared in 5 games at DB in ’18. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
-Mitchell McClurg ATH ** 79– Redshirted in ’16 making 1 appearance. Transferred to Tennessee Tech with brother Matt in ’17. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
-Crisjohn Roscoe WR ** 79 – Redshirted in ’16, missed ’17 due to injury. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
-Jalen Virgil WR ** 70 – Started several games at WR but best known as Return Specialist. Redshirted in ’16, granted covid year in ’21. 4-time member of The Athletic’s “Freaks List” based on Athleticism & Speed. Tied school record with 3 career kickoff returns for TDs. 8th in School history with 1,142 Kickoff return yds. Also sprinter for ASU Track Team. Signed with Denver Broncos in ’22 playing 9 games recording 2 catches for 75 yds & TD. Spent time on practices squads in ’24-’25 after dealing with an injury in ’23.
-Jordan Fehr ILB ** 78 – STUD, two year starter at ILB from ’18-’19, part of 4 straight conference titles & 4-0 bowl record during 4 year playing career. 1st Team All-Sun Belt in ’18, 2nd Team in ’19. Campbell Trophy semifinalist in ’19 with a 3.77 GPA. Two-time academic all-district selection.
-Chris Willis SDE ** 77 – Redshirted ’16, saw action in all 25 games ’17-’18, started 5 games in ’18. Season ending Inj in preseason of ’19. Entered the transfer portal in ’20 and committed to ECU.
-Devonte Harrison S ** 77 – Redshirted in ’16, Appeared in 12 games as backup LB in ‘17. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
-Matt Williams OT ** 77 – Redshirted in ’16, appeared in 28 games from ’17-’19. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
-A’darius Peuifoy ATH ** 77 – Redshirted in ’16 as DB. Played in 7 games as WR from ’17-’18. Graduated from App in ’20.
-Shemar Jean-Charles CB ** 77 – Stud, 1st Team All-American by Walter Camp Football Foundation, 2nd Team via Sporting News & PFF College, 3rd Team Phil Steele in ’20. Led nation Sr yr with 16 PBUs & 17 passess defending in ’20. 2 Year Starter in ’19-’20. 1st Team All-Sun Belt in ’20, 3rd Team All-SunBelt in ’19. Redshirted in ’16. Forgo Covid yr to enter NFL Draft, 5th rd selection by the Green Bay Packers. Spent time with Packers, 49ers, & Saints from ’21-’24. Currently on the practice squad for the Seattle Seahawks.
-Cole Garrison OT ** 76 – Redshirted in ’16. 3rd Team All-Sun Belt in ’20. Appeared in a total of 47 games from ’17-’20. OT starter in ’20.
-Jacob Huesman Pro ** 76 – Redshirted in ’16. Appeared in 26 career games from ’17-’21, using the extra covid year. 1-0 as a starter with a 2018 victory at Coastal Carolina.
-John ‘Bear’ Hunter WDE ** 75 – Redshirted in ’16, Switched to OL in ’17. 3 year starter ’19-’21 at RG while switching to C using his Covid year in ’21. 1st Team All-Sun Best ’20-’21, 2nd Team All-Sun Belt ’19. All-America Honorable Mention from Phil Steele in ’21.
-Kaiden Smith CB ** 75 – 2 year starter at Saftey ‘20’-’21. Redshirted in ’16, granted covid yr in ’21. Appeared in 58 career games. 2nd Team All-Sun Belt in ’21, 3rd Team All- Sun Belt in ’20. Also known for journalism skills through written articles, radio interviews, and hosting several podcast.
-Nate Haskins OT ** 75 – Redshirted in ’16. Appeared in 6 games from ’17-’18 while battling injuries.
-Ryan Neuzil OC ** 75 – STUD, Became starter in ’17 after Redshirting in ’16. Started at LG ’18-’20. 2nd Team All-American via Sporting News & PFF College, 4th Team Phil Steele ‘20. 1st Team All-Sun Belt ’19-’20, 2nd Team All-Sun Belt ’18. Invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, a top-100 player (No. 85) in all of college football ’20 according to PFF. Signed with Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. Recently signed two-year, $9.5 million contract extension with Falcons.
-Clifton Duck CB ** 74 – STUD, Started at CB all 39 games ’16-’18, 3 time All-Sun Belt 1st Team selection. USA Today midseason 2nd team All-American as Ret ’18. Tied school record with 3 picks in single game in ’17. Sun Belt FOY ’16. Declared for NFL Draft after Jr year.
-Darrynton Evans S ** 70 – GOAT, 2-Time Sun Belt Championship Game MVP, New Orleans Bowl MVP, 2-Time 1st Team All-Sun Belt ’18-’19, Sun Belt OPOY in ’19. 24 Total TD ties Sun Belt single season record & 2nd highest in App State history. Produced 2,064 all-purpose yds. in 3 years of play. 2 yr starter at RB in ’18-’19. Redshirted in ’17 due to Injury. Declared for 2020 NFL draft, 3rd rd pick for the Tennessee Titans. Since ’22, has been claimed by Bears, Colts, Bills, & Dolphins multiple times through ’25 season.

Class Breakdown:
Playing time in multiple games- 17/23
# of starters for 2+ yrs- 9/23*
# of All conference- 9/23
Spent time in NFL- 4 total
Transferred before Sr Year- 5 total
Unknown finish to collegiate career- 7 total
Position breakdown of All conference: QB, RB, OL-3, LB, CB-2, S

Consider Virgil a starter because of consistency as a starting kick returner, even though is starts at WR were spotty.

4 year players in this class are part of 4 straight conference titles & 4-0 bowl record during 4 year playing career. That's just incredible. Greatest class in App History? May have to wait till tomorrow to make a sound judgment, but I would say yes.

[Saint3333]

6th best class in the SBC, talk about an anti-endorsement of those services.

[EastHallApp]

6th best class in the SBC, talk about an anti-endorsement of those services.

Even that doesn't tell the full story; within our class, the evaluations were awful. That list is in order of highest-rated to lowest. See where most of the production came from?

I just wrote on the 2014 rewind thread that that class was the all-time "stars don't matter" example, but this one might even top it.

According to 247's class calculator, the eight worst players in this class were (from best to worst):

-Fehr
-Huesman
-Willis
-Garrison
-Baer
-Neuzil
-Duck
-Darrynton

[AtlAppMan]

I still remember Evans running back that kickoff return in Happy Valley. Commentators were saying "he is running away from the field". What an awesome play.

[BambooRdApp]

I still remember Evans running back that kickoff return in Happy Valley. Commentators were saying "he is running away from the field". What an awesome play.

We were sitting in Nittany Lion as went with friends from.Penn State. The reaction to him running it back was priceless.