Last Updated on August 14, 2024 12:01 pm
BOONE, N.C. — App State's Former Athletes Association is excited to announce the 2024 App State Athletics Hall of Fame class.
In alphabetical order, the 2024 inductees are Marcus Cox (Football — 2013-16), Nate McKinney (Football — 1999-2003), Chip Miller (Football — 1991-95), the late Lynett Shakeel (Women's Track & Field — 1986-90) and Austin Trotman (Wrestling — 2007-12).
This is the 49th class in the history of the App State Athletics Hall of Fame. The group will be inducted in a ceremony in the Grandview Ballroom of the north end zone facility on Friday, Oct. 25, the night before the Mountaineers' home football game against Georgia State.
Tickets to the Hall of Fame dinner and ceremony are $30, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. that night and the ceremony starting at 6 p.m. You can register online, and if you have any questions about the Hall of Fame, contact the Mountaineers Athletic Fund at mountaineersathleticfund@appstate.edu or call 828-262-7999.
2024 APP STATE ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Marcus Cox (Football — 2013-16)
App State's career rushing leader with 5,103 yards, compiled as the only player in program history with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons … Had 52 career rushing touchdowns (and 61 total touchdowns) as a four-time all-conference performer who helped lead App State to a 20-4 league record in its first three Sun Belt Conference seasons … First in program history in rushing yards per game (112.7) and 100-yard rushing games (29) over 45 appearances … Rushed for a career-best 250 yards against Georgia State in 2014 and had three 200-yard games over his first two seasons … Scored 21 touchdowns (including six as a receiver) while rushing for 1,250 yards as a freshman in App State's final SoCon season, then had 19 rushing touchdowns during a 1,415-yard season as a sophomore … Rushed for a career-best 1,423 yards for an 11-2 team in 2015 before overcoming an early season injury and rushing for 1,015 yards in nine appearances as one of two 1,000-yard backs for a 10-3 team that won the program's first Sun Belt championship in 2016.
Lynett Shakeel (Women's Track & Field — 1986-90, honored posthumously)
Competing as Lynett Farmer in Boone, earned All-America recognition during the 1989 outdoor season as a member of App State's 4×100 relay team … In addition to the 1989 outdoor appearance, was a 1990 NCAA indoor qualifier in the 55-meter dash … SoCon champion in the 55-meter dash (indoor) in 1990 and a member of SoCon champions in the 4×100 relay (outdoor) in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 … Scoring member for three SoCon indoor team titles and four SoCon outdoor team titles … In the App State record book, ranks No. 1 in the 4×100 relay (outdoors, school-record time of 44.73), No. 1 in the 4×200 relay (outdoors, school-record time of 1:36.69), No. 2 in the 60-yard dash (indoor, 7.15) and No. 4 in the 55-meter dash (indoors, 6.90) … Battling cancer, passed away in April 2012.
Nate McKinney (Football — 1999-2003)
Named a first-team All-American as a punter for the 2003 season by I-AA.org, along with second-team recognition from The Sports Network and third-team recognition from the Association Press … Named the punter for the Southern Conference's all-decade team comprised of athletes who played in the league from 2000-09 … Counting playoff games, had a long punt of 74 yards and placed 79 punts inside the 20 during a four-year starting run in which he averaged 42.4 yards on 265 punts (for a total of 11,233 yards) over 49 games … Has the second-most punts and second-most punt yards in App State history, behind only former NFL punter Harold Alexander … Finished the 2003 season at No. 3 in the nation with a punting average of 44.5 yards, including the 74-yard punt against Wofford and a 72-yard punt against Elon, as part of a year in which he had 22 punts of 50-plus yards and 18 punts inside the 20 … When career ended, owned six of the program's top 10 single-game punting performances.
Chip Miller (Football — 1991-95)
Repeated as a first-team All-American as a standout defensive end for App State in 1994 and 1995 …. As a senior in 1995, key figure on a team that went 11-0 in the regular season and finished 12-1, completing that year with 73 tackles, 14 quarterback pressures and 2.5 sacks … Made an important fumble recovery to set up a touchdown, blocked a field goal and recorded seven tackles in the 24-22 win at Wake Forest to open the 1995 season … Two-time All-SoCon performer had 12.0 sacks (counting playoff games) for a 9-4 team in 1994 to go along with 70 tackles, 23 quarterback pressures, 18 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, including a 39-yard return in a playoff matchup with Boise State … Named national defensive player of the week in 1994 following a Western Carolina showdown that included nine tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles … Fumble recovery in overtime sealed 17-10 overtime win at New Hampshire in 1994 playoffs.
Austin Trotman (Wrestling — 2007-12)
App State Wrestling's first four-time NCAA Championships qualifier earned All-America recognition in 2012 as a third-place finisher at 184 pounds … Program leader in career victories thanks to a 129-34 record that included a program-record 42 straight wins in dual matches … 2012 SoCon Male Athlete of the Year … Three-time SoCon champion was the league's wrestler of the year in 2010 and freshman of the year in 2008 … Went 38-5 as a redshirt senior, capped by a 5-1 mark at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, where he beat each of the top three seeds at 184 pounds … Used a 12-9 win against top-seeded Joe LeBlanc to reach the semifinal round, where he lost in OT to the eventual national champion, but followed that with a 2-1 win against third-seeded Ben Bennett and an overtime win in the third-place match against Robert Hamlin.
