App State's Clark, Ross, Helms talk about upcoming season during Sun Belt Football Media Day

NEW ORLEANS — Appalachian State Mountaineers football head coach Shawn Clark and team leaders Isaiah Helms and Nick Ross fielded questions at the Sun Belt Football Media Day on July 26.
The first question on everyone’s lips — who is going to be the quarterback for the Mountaineers in 2023?
After being asked how difficult it is to replace last year’s signal caller Chase Brice, Clark quipped, “I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked that question today.”
Continuing, Clark said, “Since 2015, we’ve only had three quarterbacks — Taylor Lamb, Zac Thomas and Chase Brice — but I know we have the right people in our program going forward. Ryan Burger has been here for a year-and-a-half and had an exceptional spring. Joey Aguilar came in and really caught up quick, and Mason McHugh had a really good spring practice too.”
“I’m very excited by all three quarterbacks. Each one brings a different area of expertise in our offense. Also, where Chase Brice might get you five yards (on a run) these three can go 55 yards — that brings a different element to our game and our offense, which will help keep opposing defenses more balanced as we go forward.”
Though the focus recently has mostly been on the QB room, App State has gone through an intense metamorphosis over the last year — seeing a revamped coaching staff and 32 new player additions, including 17 transfers.
“This is what we live in now,” Clark said,.”I’m going into year four as a head football coach, and I am the second-longest tenured coach in the Sun Belt conference — that is unheard of in college football.”
Not only have the Mountaineers experienced a massive amount of change from top-to-bottom this offseason, it is also the fourth year in a row that App State has operated with a new offensive coordinator.
“They’ve all left for Power 5 jobs — not better jobs exactly, but for more money — so it’s hard to tell them no,” Clark said. “One thing we will keep consistent at Appalachian — the playbook is the playbook. Coordinators can bring in their ideas about what they want to do, but we’re gonna keep the nuts and bolts.”
Isaiah Helms Nick Ross Sun Belt Media Day
Elsewhere, fifth-year senior Mountaineers safety Nick Ross was adamant that the team was not taking the results from last year lightly.
“A 6-6 record is not the Appalachian standard,” Ross emphasized, “and we expect nothing less than championships, so last season was disappointing. But we need to focus on the future, not dwell on the past.”
Ross also touted the efforts from others on the team, coaches and players alike.
“Coach Matt Greenhalgh is going tremendously hard in the weight room, pushing us every day to be the best men we can be, getting us ready for the season going forward,” Ross said.
Later, Ross added, “I really pride on how Coach Clark has been bringing in ‘App State guys’ — we’re very selective with the recruiting process — blue-collar guys like (cornerback) Tyrek Funderburk, (defensive end) Shawn Collins, (defensive end) Mike Fletcher. Those guys are coming in ready to work, and are stepping in as leaders as well.”
Senior offensive lineman Isaiah Helms was asked about the importance of his unit, as it is tradition that App State boasts a strong running game.
“The offensive line is where it happens — if we don’t have a good offensive line, we can’t run the ball, and if we can’t run the ball, we don’t win games,” Helms said. “Running the football is where we’re gonna win.”
In another interview that day Helms summarized it best, saying, “This year is our reset year — that’s all we’re gonna say. It’s time for App State football to get back on course.”
After a tumultuous offseason with a plethora of changes on and off the field, Appalachian State will look to earn that first win in a home game against the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs on Sept. 2 at Kidd Brewer Stadium.