FCS: Twist of Fate Highlights Appalachian State’s 2013 Signing Class

 Twist of Fate Highlights Satterfield’s First Class In Boone:

Taylor Lamb Was The Only Quarterback Signed By Appalachian State In Former ASU Quarterback Scott Satterfield’s First Season In Boone As The Head Coach

GREENVILLE, S.C.–It’s been a little over 10 years since that fateful play that would earn former Furman head coach Bobby Lamb the nickname “Go-For-Two-Bobby” for his decision to opt for the two-point conversion rather than kick the PAT with Furman leading 15-14 and only 7.4 seconds remaining.

The rest of the story would be the stuff of legends in Boone and the stuff of sheer horror for Furman fans, as Appalachian emerged the 16-15 victors after Josh Jeffries intercepted Billy Napier’s pass and then lateraled to the fleeter Derrick Black, who took it the remaining 75 yards of the 92-yard two-point return helping the Mountaineers to maybe the most miraculous win in Southern Conference and Division I college football history.

While the date of Oct. 12, 2002 has different connotations to Lamb, who is now the head coach at start-up program Mercer,  and Appalachian State fans, the two can certainly agree on another one–Feb. 6, 2013

That date was a joyous occasion for both the former Furman coach and QB as well as Appalachian State fans

That’s because Bobby’s son Taylor signed on the dotted line to be one of the newest Mountaineers, and like his father, will line up at quarterback.

While Appalachian’s status remains unknown as a member of the Southern Conference, should the Mountaineers remain in the league for at least a few more seasons, then son Taylor might have a chance to do something else his father did, which is line up as a signal-caller in the Southern Conference.

Taylor Lamb becomes one of six three-star recruits to make the decision to attend Appalachian State.

It was a twist of fate that allowed this to occur, which started back in 2010.

After 29 years of service as a player, assistant and head coach, Bobby Lamb’s career at Furman officially came to an end on Nov. 19, 2010, as he was forced to resign the post immediately following the Paladins’ regular-season finale against Georgia Southern. He was informed of this decision the week of Furman’s game with the Eagles. For his career, Lamb compiled an impressive record 67-40 overall mark after the loss to Georgia Southern in his finale as head coach.

Lamb had success against just about everyone in the Southern Conference as a head coach except Appalachian State, posting just a 2-8 mark against ASU during his coaching career. The successful head coach caught a lot of flack at times from Appalachian fans for his perceived on-the-field antics, but also endeared himself to the Black and Gold fan-base for his passion for the game and as the Paladins’ football coach.

While his father was forced to search for new employment, it was Taylor Lamb that began blossoming into becoming a talented signal-caller under the direction of head coach Will Young at nearby Greer High School. In fact, Lamb, who was a sophomore at the time, would be the second-string signal-caller for the Yellow Jackets behind junior Reese Hannon. Hannon would go on to Furman a couple of years later, and the two could end up squaring off against each other should the Mountaineers remain in the SoCon a couple more years, which probably isn’t likely.

When his father undertook the project of helping Mercer get its football program up and running for the first time in more than 70 years, Taylor would have to find a new place to play his prep football.

Enter Hal Lamb–A successful member of the Lamb coaching tree, which is recognized throughout the Peach State, with father Ray Lamb having once served on Georgia staff under Vince Dooley as the high school coaches contact, and Hal Lamb serving as the head football coach at Calhoun County High School. Hal, who is Bobby’s cousin, would undertake the role of getting Taylor ready for the college game while Bobby focused on developing a football program in Macon.

In Taylor’s first season at Calhoun, he led the Yellow Jackets on a memorable run, helping the program to a Class AA  state title and an unblemished 15-0 mark as a junior. Taylor made his presence known in the Peach State, connecting on 269 of 406 passes for 3,635 yards, 40 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a junior, while rushing for 261 yards and another eight scores.

This past summer, Lamb appeared to be on his way to be the future of South Alabama’s football program, but the Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year switched his commitment to Appalachian State in mid-January, and with the acquisition of the younger Lamb, the Mountaineer 2013 class got a huge boost.

Mountaineer football fans are hoping the younger version of Lamb is like his father was under center. Bobby Lamb was not only one of the greatest signal-callers to ever play at Furman, he was one of the best to ever suit up in the Southern Conference, completing his career with 4,186 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, while charting nine rushing scores in his career as a Paladin signal-caller.

Taylor Lamb wasn’t the only ASU recruit to make his way from South Alabama as a verbal commit and then switch to Appalachian. Terrence Upshaw actually changed his mind twice, as the Duluth, GA., native changed his commitment from South Alabama to Samford, but on signing day, he finally ended up landing in Boone.

Upshaw was rated a two-star prospect by Rivals.com, and he comes to Boone having been ranked as the No. 59 running back in the nation as well as a two-time all-region honoree. During his prep career, at Northview High School, he rushed a school-record 1,267 yards and scored 31 TDs in his senior season.

With graduation hitting the program hard at linebacker and DB, eight of the Mountaineers’ 16 recruits were either linebacker or defensive back, while eight were brought in on the offensive side of the ball, with half of the signees being offensive linemen.

 Appalachian State Recruit Capsules: (Courtesy of Appalachian State Sports Information Director Mike Flynn)

For more information on the Appalachian State 2013 class, including press conference and interviews, visit www.GoASU.com

TYRELL BROWN (DB, 5-10, 190, Hampton, Ga./Lovejoy)
Rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … named first-team all-region and second-team all-Southern Crescent area as a senior … teamed with fellow Appalachian State newcomer Nathaniel Norwood to lead a defense that yielded only 10 points per game in 2012 … helped lead Lovejoy to a 13-2 record and berth in Georgia AAAAAA state championship game as a senior … touted as a well-rounded defensive back with the athleticism and coverage skills of a cornerback and the hitting ability of a safety … coached by Al Hughes … chose Appalachian State over UAB and Furman.

PARKER COLLINS (OL, 6-3, 290, North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta)
Rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … tabbed as South Carolina’s No. 4-ranked offensive lineman and one of the state’s top 50 players overall by High School Sports Report … earned all-state recognition as a senior … two-time all-region and all-area honoree … 2012 South Carolina North-South all-star game participant … recorded 79 knockdown blocks as a senior … paved the way for starting running back that rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2012 … helped lead North Augusta to 9-4 record in 2012 and second round of South Carolina Class AAAA II state playoffs, where it dropped a narrow 34-32 decision to eventual state champion Greenwood … coached by Dan Pippen … chose Appalachian State over Southern Miss, Navy and Georgia Southern.

ANTHONY COVINGTON (DB, 5-11, 195, Charlotte, N.C./Mallard Creek)
Rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 62 cornerback prospect nationally and the No. 24 overall prospect in the state of North Carolina by Rivals.com … fell one ratings point shy of being tabbed as a four-star recruit byRivals.com … was an I-Meck 4A all-conference honoree as a senior … helped lead Mallard Creek to a combined 25-3 record over his junior and senior seasons, losing to the eventual 4AA state champion in the playoffs both years … coached by Michael Palmieri … chose Appalachian State over several BCS conference programs, including North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Mississippi State and Minnesota.

MARCUS COX (RB, 5-11, 185, Dacula, Ga./Dacula)
Rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … was a three-year letterwinner as a running back and wide receiver … earned all-county recognition as a junior (all-purpose) and senior (running back) … finished prep career with 3,215 all-purpose yards (2,327 rushing, 888 receiving) and 44 total touchdowns (29 rushing, 10 receiving, five punt returns) … ranked among the top 10 in football-rich Gwinnette County with 683 rushing yards as a senior … also added six rushing touchdowns and 17 receptions for 283 yards and two scores during senior campaign … ran for 783 yards and 12 touchdowns and was team’s leading receiver with 26 catches for 503 yards and five touchdowns while helping lead team to Georgia AAAAA state quarterfinals as a junior in 2011 … coached by Jared Zito … mother, Yvonne, was a standout volleyball player at Alabama State … brother, Greg Cox Jr., played football at Jacksonville State … cousin of former USC all-America linebacker and New England Patriots two-time Pro Bowler Willie McGinest … chose Appalachian State over Charlotte, Middle Tennessee, Ohio, Miami (Ohio), Buffalo, South Alabama, Liberty and Elon.

KENNAN GILCHRIST (OLB, 6-2, 200, Abbeville, S.C./Abbeville)
Rated as a two-start prospect by Rivals.com … tabbed as the No. 27 recruit in the state of South Carolina and the nation’s No. 105-ranked outside linebacker by 247Sports.com … was a two-time South Carolina Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-state honoree, earning the recognition in Class A as a junior in 2011 and in Class AA as a senior in 2012 … also earned all-conference, all-region and all-area honors … 2012 South Carolina North-South all-star game participant … recorded 130 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior and notched 99 tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery (all three of which he returned for touchdowns) as a junior … helped lead Abbeville to a 13-1 overall record and the 2011 South Carolina Class A I state championship as a junior and a 13-3 overall record and appearance in the 2012 South Carolina AA II title game as a senior … coached by Jamie Nickles … chose Appalachian State over Air Force, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Wofford, Furman and Elon.

COLBY GOSSETT (OL, 6-6, 310, Cumming, Ga./North Forsyth)
Rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … played both offensive tackle and defensive end as a prep standout … earned first-team all-region recognition as an offensive lineman and notched 42 tackles and three sacks defensively as a senior … 2012 Chamber Bowl all-star game participant … coached by Blair Armstrong … chose Appalachian State over UAB, Georgia State, Elon and Samford.

BRANDON HUNTER (OL, 6-4, 275, Chapel Hill, N.C./Hargrave Military Academy/Louisburg College)
Rated as a three-star prospect at defensive end by Rivals.com when coming out of prep school at Hargrave Military Academy in 2010 … played at Louisburg College as a freshman in 2010 but due to family hardship, has not played the last two seasons … served as an assistant coach at Carrboro H.S. while away from college football, coaching offensive and defensive linemen while earning an associate degree from Alamance Community College … helped coach Carrboro to 2012 North Carolina 2AA state championship game … also played high-school football at Carrboro, where he was the 2008 Mid State 2A Conference Lineman of the Year and a two-time all-conference honoree … participated in 2008 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas … coached at Carrboro by Jason Tudryn … has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

DANTE JONES (WR, 5-11, 175, Raleigh, N.C./Southeast Raleigh)
Rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN and a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … versatile athlete played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back as a prep … recorded 750 receiving yards, 150 rushing yards and 200 passing yards while throwing for 11 touchdowns and just five interceptions as a senior … tallied 97 tackles and 11 pass break-ups defensively during senior campaign … coached by Marvin Burke … chose Appalachian State over Duke and Old Dominion.

TAYLOR LAMB (QB, 6-2, 200, Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun)
Rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com and a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … tabbed as the No. 65 pro-style quarterback nationally by 247Sports.com … raked in a plethora of accolades as a senior, including being named a MaxPreps second-team small school all-American, the Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year, Associated Press first-team all-state and the Calhoun Times and Rome News-Tribune Offensive Player of the Year … completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 7,193 yards and 76 touchdowns with only 16 interceptions over final two seasons of prep career (284-420, 67.6 pct., 3,498 yds., 26 TD, 7 INT in 2012; 269-406, 66.3 pct., 3,635 yds., 40 TD, 9 INT in 2011) … led Calhoun to back-to-back Georgia Class AA state championship games, winning the title as a junior … coached by his uncle, Hal Lamb … son of Bobby Lamb, who played quarterback and coached at Southern Conference rival Furman, compiling a 67-40 record in nine seasons as the Paladins’ head coach, and is currently the head coach at Mercer … Taylor chose Appalachian State over South Alabama, Southern Miss, Northern Illinois, Arkansas State and Georgia State.

NATHANIEL NORWOOD (OLB, 6-2, 225, Hampton, Ga./Lovejoy)
Rated as a three-star prospect by Scout.com and a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … tabbed as the nation’s No. 54-rated middle linebacker by Scout.com … named the 2012 Georgia Class AAAAA Defensive Player of the Year … also earned first-team all-state recognition and was tabbed as the Clayton County Defensive Player of the Year … recorded 124 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and 63 quarterback hurries as a senior … teamed with fellow Appalachian State newcomer Tyrell Brown to lead a defense that yielded only 10 points per game in 2012 … helped lead Lovejoy to a 13-2 record and berth in Georgia AAAAAA state championship game as a senior … coached by Al Hughes … chose Appalachian State over Old Dominion, Jacksonville State, Samford, Tennessee State and Eastern Illinois.

BEAU NUNN (OL, 6-4, 265, York, S.C./York Comprehensive)
Rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … earned all-state and all-region honors … named Tri-County Lineman of the Week twice as a senior … compiled 35 knockdowns and averaged a 90-percent grade on offense and tallied 85 tackles on defense during senior campaign … teamed with fellow Appalachian State signee Lee Wright to lead a defense that surrendered only 11.1 points per game in 2012 … helped lead York Comprehensive to a combined 20-7 record over the final two seasons of his prep career … recorded three tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack in 2012 South Carolina North-South all-star game … coached by Bobby Carroll … grandfather, Don Ferrell, played football at Appalachian from 1966-69 and was an honorable-mention all-American … Beau chose Appalachian State over Florida Atlantic, Wofford, The Citadel and Western Carolina.

BRANDON PINCKNEY (DB, 6-0, 175, Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman)
Rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … named all-state, all-region and all-area after recording 34 tackles and four interceptions as a senior … also tallied 29 receptions for 467 yards and four touchdowns and three rushes for 62 yards (20.7-yard avg.) and another score offensively in 2012 … was named Dorman’s top defensive back as a junior and senior … participated in 2012 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, recording four tackles in South Carolina’s 23-19 win over North Carolina in the annual all-star duel … coached by David Gutshall … attended same high school as Appalachian State tight end Drew Bailey … chose Appalachian over Wofford, Furman and Elon.

RASHAAD TOWNES (DB, 6-2, 210, Macon, Ga./Howard)
Rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … played both outside linebacker and safety during prep career … named all-county, all-region and all-Middle Georgia as a junior and senior … recorded 121 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and four forced fumbles as a senior … coached by David Cape … chose Appalachian State over Middle Tennessee, Georgia Southern, Chattanooga and Furman.

TERRENCE UPSHAW (RB, 5-10, 190, Duluth, Ga./Northview)
Rated as three-star prospect by ESPN and a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … tabbed by ESPN as No. 59-rated running back in the nation and the No. 72 overall player in the state of Georgia … two-time all-region honoree … set school record with 1,267 rushing yards, amassed over 1,600 all-purpose yards and scored 31 touchdowns (27 rushing, two receiving, one punt return, one kickoff return) as a senior … tallied more than 1,200 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns as a junior … coached by Chad Davenport … chose Appalachian State over Vanderbilt, South Alabama, Samford, Navy, Bowling Green, Buffalo and Furman.

GEORGE VINSON (ILB, 6-0, 205, Damascus, Md./Damascus)
Rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … two-time first-team all-Montgomery Sentinel honoree … selected to participate in Maryland Crab Bowl all-star game … recorded 290 tackles and more than 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks over final three prep seasons, including 93 tackles and five sacks as a senior and 113 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks as a junior … helped lead Damascus to 31-5 overall record and three state playoff appearances over last three seasons … coached by Eric Wallich … attended same high school as current Appalachian State defensive back Joel Ross … chose Appalachian State over Buffalo, Temple, Kent State, Ohio, Florida Atlantic, Old Dominion, Delaware, Stony Brook, Towson, Colgate and Bryant.

LEE WRIGHT (OLB, 5-10, 195, York, S.C./York Comprehensive)
Rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … winner of Charlotte Touchdown Club’s 2012 Donnie Shell Defensive Player of the Year award as the top defensive player in the Charlotte metro area … earned all-state and all-region recognition as a linebacker in 2012 and as a running back in 2011 … amassed 140 tackles, four sacks and four interceptions as a senior, which was his first season on the defensive side of the ball … teamed with fellow Appalachian State signee Beau Nunn to lead a defense that surrendered only 11.1 points per game in 2012 … scored nine touchdowns as a senior — three on interception returns and five on punt returns and one on a kickoff return … participated in the 2012 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, finishing with seven tackles, two sickles for loss, a sack and a key interception in South Carolina’s 23-19 win over North Carolina in the annual all-star duel … moved to defense after rushing for more than 1,800 yards as a junior … coached by Bobby Carroll … carries a 4.7 grade point average … chose Appalachian State over Kent State and Toledo.