Sun Belt · 2026

Appalachian State

2025 record 5–8 2–6 conference
Postseason JLab Birmingham Bowl L 10–29 vs Georgia Southern
Head coach Dowell Loggains Year 2
Scheme Pro Tempo / 3-4
Conference
C+

Birmingham Bowl loss and winner +1300, but + Portal #2 + O5.5 fair Over 58.27% price a bounce-back; portal QB is the variance

Portal
A−

Portal #2 (volume) holds overall #1 (board’s only true portal+HS pole with a 4★ on Overall)

Depth
C

Phares / Lewis / Sandstrom continuity behind a portal-heavy depth chart; Swann/Kohl / Dubinion / Stroman / Barnes flags

Market odds

To Win Sun Belt
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
To Make Conf. Championship
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
Over 5.5 wins
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%

Recruiting ranks

Overall #1 65 commits · 210.64 pts
Portal #2 38 commits· avg 84.41

Roster notes

Leading story

Loggains Y2 charts Malachi Singleton at QB1 and Jaquari Lewis at RB1 — Portal #2 holds overall #1

Offense

WR Sam Mbake / Alex Sanchez / Nate Branch; TE Dillon Galloway. OL: Devon Manuel / Cayden Sweatt / Jayden Thomas / Trent Ramsey / Tyriq Poindexter

Defense

Aiden Benton / Jehchys Brown / Nick Campbell / Caleb Sandstrom; Carson Sloan / Colton Phares; Juan Berchal / Eric Adams / Dylan Hasz / Ja’Cari Henderson / Ja’Den McBurrows

Key offense

  1. 01
    Jaquari Lewis RB
    Returning
    • 2025: 140 carries, 618 yds, 6 rushing TD. Listed RB1
  2. 02
    Malachi Singleton QB
    Portal
    • Listed QB1
    • AJ Swann (130/222, 1,495 yds, 10 TD, 8 INT) and JJ Kohl (133/216, 1,465 yds, 12 TD, 2 INT) split 2025 and are not the listed 2026 QB1
  3. 03
    Sam Mbake WR
    Portal
    • Listed WR-X
    • Dalton Stroman (35 receptions, 666 yds, 4 TD) and Jaden Barnes (55 receptions, 608 yds, 7 TD) led 2025 receiving and are not on the named WR first-string

Key defense

  1. 01
    Colton Phares MLB
    Returning
    • 2025: 101 tackles, 3 INT. Listed MLB1
  2. 02
    Caleb Sandstrom RDE
    Returning
    • 2025: 3.5 sacks. Listed RDE1
  3. 03
    Aiden Benton LDE
    Returning
    • 2025: 3.5 sacks. Listed LDE1