Appalachian State finished last season with an 11-2 record and spent one week during the season nationally ranked.

To whet the appetite for the upcoming football season, ASI looks back at last season breaking down the Mountaineers’ statistics. In this edition, we focus on the rushing defense:

*App allowed opponents to run for 1,637 yards on 475 attempts which is an average of 3.1 yards per rushing attempt.

*App registered 26 sacks on the season, forced six fumbles and allowed 1,326 yards gained after contact.

*Sacks by player: Okon Godwin 5; Jordan Fehr 4; Demetrius Taylor 3; Chris Willis 3; Noel Cook 3; Jermaine McDaniel 2; Akeem Davis-Gaither 2; Caleb Spurlin 1; Elijah Diarrassouba 1; Brody Barrett 1; Anthony Flory 1.

*Forced fumbles by player: Austin Exford 2; Spurlin 1; Willis 1; Josh Thomas 1; Davis-Gaither 1.

*Opponents had 58 explosive runs (10 yards or more) with a long of 47 yards and they picked up 97 first downs on running plays.

*Opponents failed to pick up more than 18 yards on a run in five games and it wasn’t until the seventh game when an opposing team generated more than 27 yards on a single running play.

*Opposing quarterbacks scrambled 37 times, so App’s defense didn’t allow opponents to get off a pass on 63 of the 433 times they dropped back to pass, which is 14.5 percent of the time.

*Tackles for loss by player: Cook 11.5; Davis-Gaiter 10; Fehr 7.5; Godwin 7; Willis 6.5; Flory 6; Taylor 4; Spurlin 3.5; Exford 3.5; Clifton Duck 3; McDaniel 3; Tae Hayes 3; Thomas 2.5; Diarrassouba 2.5; Ryan Huff 2; Franklin 2; Jackson 2; Myquon Stout 1.5; Brody 1.5; Jay Pearson 1; Kaiden Smith 1; George Blackstock 1.

Opponents Rushing Direction Breakdown

Note: some runs such as QB kneels, fumbles, the few end arounds and jet sweeps were not included in this breakdown, as they didn’t fall into the eight allotted rushing lanes.

-Left end – 61 attempts for 276 yards (4.5 average) with a long run of 21 yards

-Left tackle – 23 attempts for 94 yards (4.1 average) with a long of 24 yards

-Left guard – 69 attempts for 257 yards (3.7 average) with a long of 32 yards

-Between LG & C – 67 attempts for 296 yards (4.4 average) with a long of 22 yards

-Between RG & C – 51 attempts for 205 yards (4.1 average) with a long of 21 yards

-Right guard – 41 attempts for 185 yards (4.5 average) with a long of 26 yards

-Right tackle – 26 attempts for 115 yards (4.4 average) with a long of 47 yards

-Right end – 62 attempts for 192 yards (3.1 average) with a long of 13 yards

-QB scrambles – 38 attempts for 195 yards (5.1 average) with a long of 16 yards