/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 7:24 am

One thing worth pointing out...Statistically, and as a Mountaineer I believe Nate McKinney was a better punter than Sam Martin. Of course Martin made the NFL with a long career, and sure we remember some nice boots he had while at App, but don't let the advantage of going pro and being more recent allow Martin to take away the beast leg McKinney had (IMO).

I remember attending App games while in high school and seeing him warm up with some massive kicks, and when it came to the game time he also had some nice punts.

Harold Alexander. I think he blew his knee out to end his pro career, but he used to hit punts where the receiver would just stand and watch the ball sail over his head. We've been blessed with some great punters over the years.

Armanti Edwards

Dexter Coakley

Obligatory Armanti Edwards answer but only because he was the first QB I really saw at App (started going to games when I was 14 or so). Ritchie was the guy but on comes 2006, everyone knows Murrell is going to beast, then out of no where comes a guy who plays well against JMU then destroys Mars Hill (both games I was at) and the legend was born.

I was front and center for the play against Samford where he dropped the ball, fell, got it, ran, and threw the ball. I called the touchdown pass to Ben Jordan up the seam against Wofford on Halloween 2007 when I went to a game by myself at 16, despite my curfew not to drive after 9.

Other than the iconic Edwards, I'd say D.J. Smith. Told my Dad he would be an NFL caliber player his freshman year just because of how often he was around the ball and he defied the odds until his injury in Green Bay. He was fun to watch.

Sean Price.

Memories not what it used to be...but off the top of my head...

Armanti, John Settle, Dexter Coakley, Lynch, Marcus Cox, Dexter Jackson, Bjorn Nitmo (sad story), Avery Hall, Kevin Richardson, Richie Williams, D'Marco Jackson (surprised he isn't on more lists), Richie Melcore, Taylor Lamb....Darrynton, and Jalin; we seem to churn out RBs recently. Good topic

Yosef84 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 5:34 am

Honorable mention to David Jackson...never wore the uniform but did a huge amount for App state and an assistant AD and voice of the Mountaineers![/highlight]

What a great addition!!! I guess most every school has had an announcer over the years whose voice fans immediately recognize when listening to games on the radio. Back in the good ol' days scrolling the dial looking for the WKBC 97.3 FM station for the games on Saturday you found David Jackson's voice and you knew you were home.

Stonewall wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:12 am

Sean Price.

I was going to say this. Shame we didn't see more of him, could have definitely had a league career.

ArmantiWaterSafety wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 12:51 pm

Stonewall wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:12 am

Sean Price.

I was going to say this. Shame we didn't see more of him, could have definitely had a league career.

He was dominant.Best athlete on the field.Tragic.

Frank Borkowski

...JK, friends.

appst89 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 7:55 am

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 7:24 am

One thing worth pointing out...Statistically, and as a Mountaineer I believe Nate McKinney was a better punter than Sam Martin. Of course Martin made the NFL with a long career, and sure we remember some nice boots he had while at App, but don't let the advantage of going pro and being more recent allow Martin to take away the beast leg McKinney had (IMO).

I remember attending App games while in high school and seeing him warm up with some massive kicks, and when it came to the game time he also had some nice punts.

Harold Alexander. I think he blew his knee out to end his pro career, but he used to hit punts where the receiver would just stand and watch the ball sail over his head. We've been blessed with some great punters over the years.

Mark Royals had a 15 year NFL career

Never attended App but started living in Boone/following in '06. I'll spare my ultimate list since pretty much everyone I would list is already shown throughout this thread.

I will share two that I haven't seen listed but that I got to know once their playing careers were over.

Leonard Love & TJ Courman

These two made plays on the field (BIG one's in the Michigan game) but I know them more for how they are as men and fathers. Lucky enough to get to hang out with them at a lot of away games and occasional home games.

Bootsy wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 7:20 pm

Frank Borkowski

...JK, friends.

Bork, might have been playing QB for App in his own Vodka drunken mind.

Caleb "Galax" Spurlin.

DomCrosetto wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 30, 2022 7:38 am

Never attended App but started living in Boone/following in '06. I'll spare my ultimate list since pretty much everyone I would list is already shown throughout this thread.

I will share two that I haven't seen listed but that I got to know once their playing careers were over.

Leonard Love & TJ Courman

These two made plays on the field (BIG one's in the Michigan game) but I know them more for how they are as men and fathers. Lucky enough to get to hang out with them at a lot of away games and occasional home games.

Leonard Love is a great dude. Good addition!

GO APPS!!

My assumption is that the intent of the thread is "favorite" players, not necessarily the greatest players of all time. I do get that there is a lot of overlap on that list...certainly there is for me.

I was thinking...here are a few that became favorites for me while they were here. They were absolutely great contributors but not necessarily the #1 in their respective position....but they just found ways to contribute and seemed to exceed all expectations. Matt Cline, Tony Washington, Simms McElfresh, and Travaris Cadet.

Washington and Cadet both went on to play in the NFL, but Cadet played three different positions at App and only played RB (the position he played in the NFL) one year. Washington was a great player at App but he never seemed to get the press he deserved. He just did his job. I always had a lot of respect for those guys. Cline started out as a walk-on and earned a scholly. Simms just had a heck of a personality and wound up in the announcers booth for a little while. Great personality.

ASU85Grad wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 10:34 pm

appst89 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 7:55 am

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 7:24 am

One thing worth pointing out...Statistically, and as a Mountaineer I believe Nate McKinney was a better punter than Sam Martin. Of course Martin made the NFL with a long career, and sure we remember some nice boots he had while at App, but don't let the advantage of going pro and being more recent allow Martin to take away the beast leg McKinney had (IMO).

I remember attending App games while in high school and seeing him warm up with some massive kicks, and when it came to the game time he also had some nice punts.

Harold Alexander. I think he blew his knee out to end his pro career, but he used to hit punts where the receiver would just stand and watch the ball sail over his head. We've been blessed with some great punters over the years.

Mark Royals had a 15 year NFL career

Yep, I believe he was a senior when I was a freshman. He was fantastic as well.

Favorite is Wayne Byrd for family reasons. It's cool to just read these lists. You get reminded that we have had a bunch of really good guys come through the program. One of my youngest who goes back to Boone this weekend had a number 2 Jersey we bought him about 10 years ago. He became an App guy immediately and never wavered. I still love his twin brother just as much even if he's going to NC State.

I’ll add Trey Elder as well. Arguably one of the most selfless, team first guys we’ve ever had. The heir apparent to Richie before being unseated by AE, handled with more class than we could have asked for.

His long TD run at the end of the 2007 National Championship game is one of my favorite all time Black and Gold memories.

GO APPS!!

Rocky Hunt