Last Updated on January 22, 2025 10:37 am
BOONE, N.C. — To date, App State Football has officially added 16 transfers from NCAA institutions with spring classes underway in 2025, head coach Dowell Loggains' debut season with the Mountaineers.
App State fans will have a chance to check out the 2025 team on April 12 for the “Battle at The Rock” spring game in Kidd Brewer Stadium. Stay tuned for more details.
The 16 transfers and eight high school signees who are early enrollees bring the current total to 24 newcomers on the 2025 spring roster.
INCOMING TRANSFERS:
Joseph Bakhole (DL, R-Sr., Chattanooga)
Jaden Barnes (WR, Jr., Austin Peay)
Garrison Butler (DL, R-Fr., Cincinnati)
Cristian Conyer (DB, Jr., Coastal Carolina)
Davion Dozier (WR, R-So., Arkansas)
Rashod Dubinion (RB, Sr., Arkansas)
Will Flowers (OL, R-Sr., Valdosta State)
Jackson Grier (WR, R-So., Boise State)
Dylan Hasz (DB, Jr., Arkansas)
Shamarr Jackson (OL, R-Sr., New Mexico State)
Khalifa Keith (RB, R-So., Tennessee)
JJ Kohl (QB, R-So., Iowa State)
Brayshawn Littlejohn (LB, R-So., Missouri)
AJ Swann (QB, R-Jr., LSU)
Lance Williams (OL, R-So.,Virginia Tech)
Brooks Yurachek (LB, R-So., Arkansas)
Below are bios for the 16 current NCAA transfers.
Joseph Bakhole — DL
6-2, 245
Charlotte, N.C. (Chattanooga)
Prior to App State: Played in 40 games at the collegiate level from 2020-24 with Chattanooga (2024), ULM (2023) and Coffeyville Community College (2020-22), transferring with one season of eligibility remaining … Made 10 starts in 12 appearances for Chattanooga during the 2024 season, posting 23 tackles with one sack (against Tennessee) … Had six games with three tackles from his line position, including a matchup with Georgia State … During the 2023 season, appeared in nine games for ULM and had 26 tackles … Recorded a season-high seven tackles against Southern Miss and had six tackles with one tackle for a 3-yard loss in the dramatic 41-40 game against App State … Totaled 46 tackles and five sacks in three seasons, including the COVID season of 2020, for Coffeyville C.C. … Had three sacks among his 13 tackles in eight games for an 8-3 team at Coffeyville C.C. in 2022, after posting 1.5 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss in 2021 and half a sack in 2020.
High School: All-state and all-conference performer who helped lead Myers Park to a 13-2 record as a senior … Had five sacks and 40 tackles during the 2019 season.
Jaden Barnes — WR
5-8, 165
McDonough, Ga. (Austin Peay)
Prior to App State: Made 12 starts in 23 games during the 2023-24 seasons at Austin Peay, transferring with two seasons of eligibility remaining … Over final five games of 2024 season, totaled 37 catches for 721 yards and seven touchdowns, with four 100-yard games that included a 12-catch, 241-yard, three-touchdown performance against North Alabama … Scored on receptions covering 57, 31 and 49 yards in that game … Had 58 catches for 1,083 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, also surpassing 100 yards against Tarleton State (113), Abilene Christian (179) and Eastern Kentucky (131) … Ranked No. 11 nationally among FCS players at 90.3 receiving yards per game in 2024 … Totaled 75 catches for 1,287 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns, plus a 36-yard touchdown run, over two seasons following a freshman season with 17 catches for 204 yards … Had five catches of 50-plus yards in two seasons, with gains of 84, 73, 64, 60 and 57 yards … As a freshman, also returned 11 kickoffs for 267 yards, with a long return of 70 yards.
High School: Standout receiver at Langston Hughes High, which won the 2022 GHSAA Class 6-A State Championship … Caught eight passes for 152 yards and a touchdown in the state championship game against Gainesville … Named to GPB All-Finals Team … Finished senior season with 44 receptions for 1,179 yards and 15 touchdowns … Named to Recruit Georgia's Class 6-A All-State Team … Also competed on the track and field team… Member of Langston Hughes' state champion 4×200-meter relay team and silver medal 4×100 team.
Garrison Butler — DL
6-1, 280
Jacksonville, Fla. (Cincinnati)
Prior to App State: Did not appear in any games as a redshirting true freshman at Cincinnati in 2024, transferring with four seasons of eligibility remaining.
High School: Consensus three-star prospect who was among the top 50 defensive line recruits in the 2024 Class, according to ESPN … Helped lead The Bolles School to the Florida 2M state semifinals as a senior in 2023 … Recorded 50 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss and four sacks, to go along with 17 hurries as a junior in 2022 … Totaled 167 tackles (122 solo), 48 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and five forced fumbles during his prep career.
Cristian Conyer — DB
6-1, 180
Bowling Green, Ky. (Coastal Carolina)
Prior to App State: Totaled 22 game appearances over two seasons at Coastal Carolina (2024) and Tennessee (2023), transferring with two seasons of eligibility remaining … Intercepted a pass against Jacksonville State in the 2024 opener and totaled three pass breakups with nine tackles in 12 games for Coastal Carolina in 2024 … Had two tackles and one breakup against App State … Appeared in 10 games for Tennessee in 2023, playing mostly on special teams, and recorded one tackle against UConn.
High School: Helped lead South Warren High to the Kentucky state playoffs every season he was there, including a 14-1 season that resulted in a Class 5-A state championship as junior in 2021 … Rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals and a three-star prospect by other major recruiting services … Regarded as a consensus top-six player in the state of Kentucky by all recruiting services and the top-ranked player in the Bluegrass State by Rivals … Ranked as the No. 39 overall cornerback in the class of 2023 by Rivals and No. 57 by On3 … Tabbed with 2021 Kentucky High School Athletic Association Class 5-A All-State honorable mention as a junior … Named a 2022 All-SKY Conference Large Division first-team selection at defensive back … Caught 18 passes for 224 yards and four total touchdowns as a junior in 2021 while splitting time between wide receiver and cornerback … Was also a decorated sprinter on South Warren's track team, posting the second-fastest 100-meter dash time in school history in 2022.
Davion Dozier — WR
6-4, 205
Moody, Ala. (Arkansas)
Prior to App State: Appeared in four games over two seasons as a member of Arkansas' program from 2023-24, transferring with three seasons of eligibility remaining …
Made one catch for 13 yards against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the 2024 opener … Played in the first three games as a redshirting true freshman in 2023 and caught one pass for a 14-yard touchdown in his FBS debut against Western Carolina.
High School: Four-star prospect at Moody High School, according to Rivals and On3 … Rated the No. 22 player in Alabama and the No. 43 wide receiver in the country by Rivals … As a junior, caught 51 passes for 833 yards and 12 touchdowns … Also returned five kicks for 113 yards … As a senior, posted 59 receptions for 1,325 yards and 19 touchdowns … Had one kickoff return for 65 yards … Selected to play in the 2022 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic.
Rashod Dubinion — RB
5-10, 200
Ellenwood, Ga. (Arkansas)
Prior to App State: Made seven starts in 31 game appearances over three seasons at Arkansas from 2022-24, transferring with one season of eligibility remaining … Over three seasons with the Razorbacks, averaged 6.7 yards per carry while rushing 209 times for 888 yards and eight touchdowns … Started in four of eight game appearances in 2024, rushing 56 times for 335 yards and two touchdowns while also catching 16 passes for 122 yards … Highlights in 2024 included a 15-carry, 112-yard performance against Louisiana Tech and an 11-carry, 98-yard performance with one touchdown against Mississippi State … Had 12 carries for 49 yards and one touchdown against Ole Miss … Also started against Texas and Missouri … Started twice in 10 games in 2023, with 260 rushing yards and one touchdown on 82 attempts … Had season-high 78 rushing yards on 15 carries against LSU … Played in 13 games as a true freshman, making his first career start and rushing 20 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns in the Liberty Bowl win against Kansas.
High School: Rated a four-star prospect by Rivals and a three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN coming out of Cedar Grove High… Ranked as the No. 37 player in Georgia and No. 21 athlete in the nation, according to 247Sports … Won a state championship as a senior, helping Cedar Grove to a 12-3 record by rushing 180 times for 1,565 yards and 22 touchdowns while adding 10 catches for 149 yards with a touchdown … Contributed three kickoff returns for 205 yards and a touchdown … As a junior, rushed 72 times for 536 yards and nine touchdowns and caught eight passes for 129 yards and three touchdowns … As a freshman, totaled 61 rushes for 501 yards and seven touchdowns and returned two punts for touchdowns on a 14-1 team that won the state championship.
Will Flowers — OL
6-3, 285
LaGrange, Ga. (Valdosta State)
Prior to App State: Member of ETSU's program for four seasons (2020-23) before spending the 2024 season at Valdosta State, transferring with one season of eligibility remaining … Played in 25 NCAA games with 19 career starts … Started all 14 games at center for a 13-1 team that reached the Division II national championship game … Named a first-team All-American from the AP, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp and the D2 Conference Commissioner's Association in 2024 while recording more than 40 knockdown blocks for offense that averaged 40.1 points per game while rushing and passing for more than 200 yards per contest … Made five career starts at ETSU in 13 game appearances, including two starts at left guard during the 2023 season, and was a multi-time member of the SoCon Honor Roll.
High School: Lettered in both football and baseball at LaGrange High in Georgia … Named two-time all-region in football for 2018 and 2019 … Led LaGrange to the state playoffs for three consecutive seasons (2017-19) … Named to the Toyota Tournament Classic All-Tournament Team in 2020 … Batted .406 his senior year of baseball before the season was halted due to COVID-19.
Jackson Grier — WR
5-11, 195
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Boise State)
Prior to App State: Member of Boise State's program from 2023-24, transferring with three seasons of eligibility remaining … Two-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete honoree.
High School: Helped St. Thomas Aquinas capture its third straight 7-A state title, finishing with a 14-1 record in 2021 … Comes from a football family, as his brother, Logan, recently played football at South Carolina, while their father, Chris, is the general manager of the Miami Dolphins and their grandfather, Bobby, worked in player personnel for both the New England Patriots and Houston Texans.
Dylan Hasz — DB
5-11, 190
Bixby, Okla. (Arkansas)
Prior to App State: Appeared in 24 games over two seasons as a member of Arkansas' program from 2023-24, transferring with two seasons of eligibility remaining … Defensive back contributed primarily on special teams, playing in 12 games as both a true freshman and a sophomore … Totaled two tackles over two seasons and had a 13-yard kickoff return against Missouri in 2024 … Earned playing time in the secondary against Western Carolina as a true freshman and made one tackle.
High School: Consensus three-star prospect out of Bixby High School according to 247Sports, ESPN and On3 … Rated the No. 17 player in Oklahoma by 247Sports … Ranked the No. 18 player in Oklahoma and No. 75 athlete in the country according to On3 … As a senior, racked up 43 total tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss, while also recording three interceptions, nine pass breakups and one forced fumble … Offensively, made four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown as a senior … As a junior, posted 28 total tackles and broke up 12 passes on defense while also returning 14 punts for 215 yards (with one touchdown) and catching 24 passes for 193 yards (with three touchdowns) … As a sophomore, had 54 total tackles, 19 pass breakups and five interceptions, including two interception returns for touchdowns.
Shamarr Jackson — OL
6-3, 305
Loris, S.C. (New Mexico State)
Prior to App State: Member of New Mexico State's program for two seasons from 2023-24 after being at Iowa Western Community College from 2021-22, transferring with one season of eligibility remaining … Played in 17 games overall and made nine total starts at New Mexico State, including eight during the 2024 season … Started the first six games of 2024 at left tackle and also made back-to-back starts at right tackle later in the season … Played in five games for Iowa Western in 2022, when the Reivers won the NJCCA national championship.
High School: Standout performer at Loris High School, contributing as a tight end, defensive end and outside linebacker … Had 46 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a senior.
Khalifa Keith — RB
6-1, 240
Birmingham, Ala. (Tennessee)
Prior to App State: Appeared in 16 games over two seasons as a member of Tennessee's program from 2023-24, transferring with three seasons of eligibility remaining … Had 32 carries for 124 yards and one touchdown at Tennessee, including 21 carries for 100 yards and a score in 2024 … Played in four games in 2024, opening the year with 10 carries for 43 yards and a score in a win against Chattanooga. … Had three carries for 5 yards against NC State, four carries for 13 yards against Kent State and four carries for 39 yards against UTEP … Also caught one pass for 8 yards against Kent State … Played in 12 games as a true freshman in 2023, contributing primarily on special teams while totaling 11 carries for 24 yards.
High School: Rated a three-star prospect by On3, 247Sports and Rivals and rated a four-star recruit by ESPN as a standout back at Parker High School in Birmingham …
… Considered the No. 29 player at his position by Rivals … Tabbed the No. 20 prospect from the state of Alabama by ESPN … Listed as a top-50 running back in the nation by the On3 Consensus (No. 47) and 247Sports Composite (No. 44) industry-generated rankings … Represented his home state in the 2022 Alabama vs. Mississippi All-Star game … Earned ASWA All-State Honorable Mention honors as a senior in 2022 … Had 157 carries for 950 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns during his senior season … Collected second-team ASWA All-State honors after a phenomenal junior campaign, rushing 190 times for 1,877 yards and 28 touchdowns.
JJ Kohl — QB
6-7, 250
Ankeny, Iowa (Iowa State)
Prior to App State: Totaled four game appearances over two years at Iowa State from 2023-24, transferring with three seasons of eligibility remaining … Completed 9 of 11 passes for 23 yards and rushed six times for 32 yards in three games as a redshirting true freshman in 2023 before seeing action in one game (against Baylor) in 2024 … Went 4-for-5 passing and rushed three times for 22 yards against Northern Iowa in his 2023 debut … Was 4-for-4 passing for 14 yards and rushed three times for 10 yards against Oklahoma … Also completed a pass against BYU … Multi-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll … Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team.
High School: Played at Ankeny High in Iowa … Rated a four-star quarterback by all four major recruiting outlets … Ranked as a top-10 quarterback by ESPN (No. 8) and Rivals (No. 9) … Tabbed the nation's No. 12 quarterback and No. 3 player in the state by 247Sports Composite … 2022 IPSWA First-Team All-State … 2023 Under Armour All-American game participant … Earned the IFCA's Ed Thomas Award … Totaled 2,023 passing yards and threw 17 touchdowns, completing 64.9 percent of his passes, in his senior season … Also rushed for 187 yards and registered five touchdowns on the ground while leading Ankeny to a 9-2 season and a 2022 5-A state quarterfinal appearance … Completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 2,185 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior in 2021, earning IPSWA Second-Team All-State honors … Also rushed for 87 yards and one touchdown … Participated in Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles, California … Also played basketball in high school. … Father, Jamie, was the starting kicker for Iowa State from 1995-98.
Brayshawn Littlejohn — LB
6-0, 215
Gaffney, S.C. (Missouri)
Prior to App State: Member of Missouri's program from 2023-24 with 12 game appearances, transferring with three seasons of eligibility remaining … Appeared in the first eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2024, totaling six tackles (five solo) … Had three stops against Buffalo and two against Murray State … Made four appearances in a special teams role as a true freshman, seeing action against Memphis, Vanderbilt, LSU and Kentucky.
High School: Three-star linebacker ranked by ESPN as the No. 25 player in the state of South Carolina and the No. 86 linebacker in the country … Ranked by Rivals and 247Sports as the No. 20 player in the state … Named to the Class 5-A all-state team as a senior … Helped lead Gaffney to a 15-0 record and a Class 5-A state championship as a junior while posting a 40-9 record in high school … Totaled 87 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks during his junior year.
AJ Swann — QB
6-2, 215
White, Ga. (LSU)
Prior to App State: After starting in 12 of 15 game appearances for Vanderbilt from 2022-23 before being a backup who played in two games for LSU in 2024, transferring two App State with two seasons of eligibility remaining … Totaled 22 touchdown passes while completing 222 of 394 passes for 2,731 yards for the Commodores from 2022-23 … Had touchdown passes and only two interceptions while throwing for 1,274 yards as a true freshman in 2022, when he made six starts in nine appearances … Threw for 255 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a win against NIU in his first career start (becoming only the second true freshman in the SEC since 2002 to throw four TD passes in his first career start) … Passed for a season-high 281 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 52-28 loss to Ole Miss …. Started in all six of his 2023 appearances, throwing for 1,457 yards (242.8 per game) with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions … Started the first five games, including a 258-yard passing game with three touchdowns and no interceptions against Hawaii in a season-opening victory … Had 300-yard passing games with three touchdown throws in losses to Wake Forest (314 yards) and UNLV (335 yards) … Completed two of four pass attempts for 10 yards in his lone year at LSU in 2024, seeing the field against Florida and Oklahoma … Had a long QB run of 25 yards during his sophomore year at Vanderbilt.
High School: Four-star pro-style quarterback from Cherokee High in Georgia … Three-year starter in high school … Ranked as high as the No. 19 quarterback nationally in the Class of 2022 … Named an Under Armour All-American and was a finalist at the Elite 11 quarterback competition … Threw for 6,931 yards and 65 touchdowns during his prep career … As a junior, was named co-offensive 5-7A Regional Player of the Year in Georgia … Threw for 2,505 yards and 23 TDs as a junior, leading his team to an 8-3 record … Tossed for 2,399 yards and 20 TDs as a sophomore.
Lance Williams — OL
6-3, 310
Alcoa, Tenn. (Virginia Tech)
Prior to App State: Appeared in one game over two seasons at Virginia Tech, transferring with three seasons of eligibility remaining … After redshirting as a true freshman in 2023, made his debut against Boston College in 2024.
High School: Four-year letterman at Alcoa High in Tennessee … Team captain and team MVP as a senior … Helped the Tornadoes to four straight regional titles and four straight TSSAA 3A state championships with a record of 56-4 … Gave up one career sack … Earned all-region honors four times and all-state accolades three times … Named regional lineman of the year as a junior and senior … Named 2022 Tennessee Titans 3A Mr. Football … Rated a 3-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN, Rivals and On3 … Ranked No.98 offensive lineman and No.38 recruit in Tennessee by 247 Sports … Lettered three times in wrestling, winning heavyweight state championships as a freshman and junior.
Brooks Yurachek — LB
6-1, 225
Fayetteville, Ark. (Arkansas)
Prior to App State: Transferred with three seasons of eligibility remaining after redshirting for Wake Forest in 2023 and playing in two games as a redshirt freshman for Arkansas in 2024 … Played in the 2024 opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the Liberty Bowl win against Texas Tech.
High School: Helped lead Fayetteville High School to the Class 7-A state semifinals as an all-state performer during his senior season … Averaged more than 10 tackles per game during his senior season, leading his team in stops … Finished senior year with 109 total tackles, including 48 solo tackles, while also having 16.0 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception … As a junior, finished season with 63 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss, while also having 1.0 sacks, four pass breakups and two interceptions.
