Recruiting Rewind, Class of 2017

[CoachRob]

Happy Saturday! As we have hit Jan 17th, we will take a look at the recruiting class of 2017, which arguably might be just as good as the class of 16, which I think is a debate. App is coming off the '16 season where they have won a share of their 1st Sun Belt Championship and 2nd straight bowl game with a 31-28 bowl win over Toledo. Shawn Clark is the only significant coaching change from 15 as he replaced Dwayne Ledford who left for NCState. Coaching continuity is key in these classes, I believe, as Scott Sloan is in his 5th year of recruiting Coordinator. Let's see what signing day looked like:

Head Coach: Scott Satterfield
Total Commits: 19
Sun Belt Rank: 6th
National Rank: 108th


-Malik Williams ATH *** 88 – STUD, played in 65 games (missing only a 2020 game for COVID) and started 30 games from ’17-’21. Finished as one of App State leaders in receiving yards (No. 5 at 2,382), catches (No. 5 at 190) and receiving touchdowns (tied for No. 7 at 17). Totaled 23 TDs with 1 rushing TD (‘18 bowl game) and 5 Passing TDs (three in bowl games). 2nd Team All-Sun Belt in ’21, 3rd Team All-Sun Belt in ’20.
-Thomas Hennigan WR *** 82 – STUD, FBS-record 65 starts in his career and tied for App State record with 66 career games ’17-’21. Ended career with App State record for career catches (242) while ranking No. 2 in career Rec Yds (3,124) and No. 4 in career Rec TDs (23). 2nd Team All-Sun Belt in ’21 & ’19, 3rd Team All-Sun Belt in ’20. 2nd Team Academic All-American in ’20. *His 4th Q one handed catch vs WF as freshman has to be 1 of my personal top 10 moments being present in KBS.
-D’Andre Hicks CB *** 82 – Redshirted in ’17, moved to RB in ’18 due to injuries, appeared in the 1st 6 games in ’18. Transferred to McNeese State in ’19, appearing in 10 games. Transferred to Robert Morris ’20 and finished career in ’23 as WR.
-Daetrich Harrington RB *** 80 – Totaled 1,814 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns on 348 rushes (5.2 average) in 43 career games from ’17-’22. Returned from ACL tear twice in his App State career ( ’18 & ’20), also missed games in ’19 due to foot injury.
-Ryan Huff S *** 80 – Redshirted in ’17. 2 yr starter at FS from ’20-’21, appeared in total of 50 career games from ’18-’21. All-Sun Belt Honorable mention in ’20 & ’21.
-Jermaine McDaniel SDE *** 80 – Redshirted in ’17, Transfers to NCA&T in ’19, appeared in almost every game in ’19, ’21-’22. Best known for ability to pass rush. Earn some All conference honors.
-Peyton Derrick Dual ** 78 – Redshirted in ’17, Appeared in six games at QB in ’18, completed 13 of 22 passes for 186 yards with two touchdowns, best remembered for 22 yd completion in key 4th Q drive of Penn State game. Transferred to Wofford in ’19, made 6 starts with the Terriers from ’19-’21. Transferred to Citadel in ’22 to for his Covid Year as the Bulldog starter.
-Zeke Brandle SDE ** 78 – Redshirted in ’17, Unknown finish to collegiate career.
-Demetrius Taylor OLB ** 78 – STUD, ranked #4 in App State history in career sacks (26.5) in 5 years of playing using the Covid Year in ’21. 3 year starter from ’19-’21. 1st Team All-Sun Belt from ’19-’21. Named the national defensive player of the week by multiple outlets for his dominant performance in a 34-31 win at North Carolina, where he came off the bench to score on a 20-yard fumble return created by his forced fumble on a blindside hit, also return an interception 19 yards, force a second fumble and finish with 2.5 sacks.
-Markell Clark DT ** 78 – Appeared in all 13 games as true freshman in ’17 with 16 tackles. Appeared in 7 games in ’18. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
-D’Marco Jackson ILB ** 76 – GOAT, Sun Belt DPOY in ’21. All-America recognition from PFN (second team), Phil Steele (fourth team) and PFF College (honorable mention). 1st Team All-Sun Belt in ’21, 2nd Team All-Sun Belt in ’20. Team Captain in ’21, started all 26 game from ’20-’21, appeared in all 27 games from ’18-’19 after redshirting in ’17. Drafted in the 5th rd of the ’22 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints. Claimed by the Chicago Bears in August of 2025, became starting LB in week 12, named NFC Defensive player of the week in week 15.
-Shaun Jolly CB ** 76 – STUD, East-West Shrine Bowl pick earned All-America recognition in ’19 & ’20. 3 yr starter at CB from ’19-’21 where he was 1st Team All-Sun Belt all 3 years. Appeared in 11 games in ’18, Redshirted in ’17. Totaled 6 interceptions (with two pick-six TD returns), 25 passes defended, 112 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles for his career. Has spent time on the practice squads of the Browns & Rams from ’22-’24.
-Steven Jones CB ** 76 – STUD, 1st Team All-American from the Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele and Pro Football Network, with a 2nd-team honor from the Walter Camp Football Foundation in a break out ’21 year, where he broke or tied school records for single-season INT return TDs, career INT return TDs, single-game INTs (five-way tie for first) and single-game INT return TDs (four-way tie for first). Played in 64 career games with 27 starts at CB ’18-’22 using Covid yr after redshirting in ‘17. 1st Team All-Sun Belt ’21, 2nd Team All-Sunbelt ’22.
-Noah Hannon OC ** 76 – STUD, Started all 52 games that App State played following enrollment in ’17. Ranks 3rd in App history with his 52 career starts. Candidate for Outland Trophy (best interior lineman), Rimington Trophy (center) and Wuerffel Trophy in ’20. 1st Team All-Sun Belt in ’19 & ’20, 2nd Team All-Sun Belt in ’18.
-Joe Hartung OT ** 75 – Redshirted in ’17, Appeared in 5 games as TE in ’18. Sat out ’19 due to injury. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
-Tim Frizzell RB ** 75 – Appeared in 53 games, making 6 starts from ’17-’21. Played in 13 games as a true freshman, used Covid yr in ’21. Missed 2nd half of season in ’21 due to injury. Totaled 56 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7.0 tackles for loss and one interception for his career.
-Gage Blackston OG ** 75 – Redshirted in ’17, appeared in 6 games from ’19-’21.
-Jake Henry S ** 74 – Redshirted in ’17, appeared in 16 games from ’18-’20. Unknown finish to collegiate career.
-De’Vonta Smith RB ** 74 – Played in 1 game in ’17. Unknown finish to collegiate career.

Class Breakdown:
Playing time in multiple games- 16/19
# of starters for 2+ yrs- 9/19
# of All conference- 7/19
Spent time in NFL- 2 total
Transferred before Sr Year- at least 2 total
Unknown finish to collegiate career- 5 total
Position breakdown of All conference: WR-2, C, DE, LB, CB-2

This is the 1st class we have come across where the player rankings better match the performance on the field. This class is way more top heavy with talent than any of the other class. This is the 1st class that will have multiple players play for 5 years due to Covid. This is also the last "great" recruiting class that App has had ... but we might need to wait to compare a few later classes before we have that discussion.

[CoachRob]

Really wish Harrington could have stayed healthy, I think he would have received all conference honors if he had.

When you look at the guys who transferred, they has success, but all at a lower level. Which tells you the transfer was because these guys weren't just good enough to get the PT they wanted at this level.

If anyone has any info on the collegiate finish of Zeke Bradley, Markell Clark, Jack Henry, and Devonte Smith, please share. I assume Joe Hartung's finished early due to injuries, but could not confirm via App's site.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

Miss the Malik pass to Hennigan TD’s

[BambooRdApp]

Miss the Malik pass to Hennigan TD’s

I miss the 15 or so yards across the middle from Chase to Malik.