The Appalachian Athletic Conference had a wild race to the finish in 2024. Bluefield’s final week victory over Point University broke a three way tie and gave U-Pike the conference’s automatic bid to the postseason because the Bears had won head to head earlier in the season against Reinhardt.
Did you catch all that?
This season the conference looks to equally competitive at the top with two teams catching my eye to battle for the conference title.
The University of Pikeville (U-Pike) made it to the NAIA Championship Series last season and shocked many with a first round victory over Baker University. The Bears have lost several offensive weapons but look to have reloaded in the offseason and with the development of several in-house guys. Xavier Malone and Peter Zamora look to be the guys competing at the QB position. Whoever is at QB will have weapons like Amon Williams at RB and Brandon Newton at WR. Defensively the Bears return five starters which is a solid core to work especially since they have experience back at all levels.
Reinhardt University will have something to say about the Bears defending their title. The Eagles did themselves no favors with their non-conference schedule as they scheduled four solid squads all with winning records in 2024. If they come into conference play 4-0, watch out. The Eagles are loaded on the offensive line with one of the best left tackles in the NAIA returning in Zach Lyle as a three year starter. Next to him are Jayden Calhoun and Ben Hollars. They’ll be blocking for a solid backfield tandem of Jah Colbert and Jamarion Walker who each averaged over 7 yards per carry and totaled 12 TDs in 2024. QB Taylor Jackson as the starter as well as an experienced Stephin Craig behind him. Defensively, the Eagles have to improve on the 26.7 ppg they allowed in 2024, but if they do the Eagles are primed to be a postseason qualifier.
The rest of the AAC is up in the air. Bluefield has the makings of what could be a solid No. 3 in the conference but has a lot to replace on offense. Seven starters are back on defense to help the Rams try to improve on their 5-6 finish from last season.
Point University underwent a complete program overhaul in the offseason as Nigel Lawrence takes over as head coach. Lawrence has previous experience with the Skyhawks having spent four years as an assistant coach before spending last season in the high school ranks.
Union Commonwealth will also have a new head coach leading the Bulldog program this fall in Boston Bryant. Bryant has spent the past two seasons as Union’s defensive coordinator and also spent several seasons with the University of the Cumberlands as an assistant. Union was 3-7 last season, looking to improve this year while shooting for their first winning season since 2008.
Kentucky Christian returns 12 total starters from last year’s 2-9 squad. Seven of those starters are on offense along with a few key transfers at QB and RB. KCU should be improved this year. They just need to get over the hump in close games as they dropped one score contests last season to Point, Bluefield and Union.
The University of Rio Grande will begin their first season of football this fall under head coach Mark Thurston. It’s exciting to see an NAIA school like the Red Storm start a program and we will have our eyes out on what they will accomplish in the years to come. This year will be a solid foundation to build from as they kickoff against Defiance followed by Georgetown and DII Ferris State. It’ll be a tough start for Rio.
Dannelly’s AAC Prediction
- Reinhardt
- U-Pike
- Bluefield
- Union
- Point
- Kentucky Christian
- University of Rio Grande
Appalachian Athletic Conference Profiles
Bluefield University (2024 Record: 5-6)
Head Coach: Dewey Lusk
Offensive Coordinator: Kelly Scott
Defensive Coordinator: Mike Ketchum
Special Teams Coordinator: Phillip Dunford
Returning Starters on Offense: 4
Key Offensive Returners: Abdul Kaloko-RB Kam Jackson-OL Christian Mack-WR
Key Offensive Losses from 2024: Nathan Herstich-QB Termaine Baker-OL
Returning Starters on Defense: 7
Key Defensive Returners: Titus Holte-LB Koda Counts-S Eric Boyd-DB Dayson McMillian-S Eli Padgett-LB
Key Losses on Defense: Quincy Robinson-DE
Key Losses on Special Teams: Riley Stubbs-K/P
Key Recruits or Transfers: Ethan Cash-QB Kyree Edwards-RB/H Jevon Myers-WR Michael Capranica-OL
Kentucky Christian University (2024 Record: 2-9)
Head Coach: Jason Aubry
Offensive Coordinator: Joby Sullivan
Defensive Coordinator: Roland Brady
Special Teams Coordinator: Chad Vanderhoof
Returning Starters on Offense: 7
Key Offensive Returners: Jovari Gamble RB, Ethan Harris OL, Owen Blaine OL, Logan Gauze OL
Returning Starters on Defense: 5
Key Defensive Returners: Dashawn Webster LB
Point University (2024 Record: 4-7)
Head Coach: Nigel Lawrence
Offensive Coordinator: Tyler Pritchett
Defensive Coordinator: NA
Reinhardt University (2024 Record: 7-4)
Head Coach: James Miller (72-20)
Offensive Coordinator: Tyler Hennes
Defensive Coordinator: Barry Gardner
Special Teams Coordinator: Keon McGhee
Returning Starters on Offense: 8
Key Defensive Returners: Zach Lyle LT, Jayden Calhoun RG, Ben Hollars RT. Jah Colbert RB, Jamarion Walker RB, Taylor Jackson QB
Returning Starters on Defense: 8
Key Defensive Returners: Emanuel Olaitan DL
Key Losses on Defense: Keon McGhee Safety
Key Returners on Special Teams: Jah Colbert PR
Key Losses on Special Teams: Colby Harrison P
Key Recruits or Transfers: Bryce Stack Safety & Jalen Ray DL
Union Commonwealth (2024 Record: 3-7)
Head Coach: Boston Bryant
Offensive Coordinator: David Cunningham
Defensive Coordinator: Jeremiah McKibben
Special Teams Coordinator: Ben Watson
University of Pikeville, KY (UPIKE) (2024 Record: 6-6)
Head Coach: Corey Fipps (35-48)
Offensive Coordinator: Corey Fipps
Defensive Coordinator: Chris Elliott
Special Teams Coordinator: Mike Harris
Returning Starters on Offense: 5
Key Offensive Returners: Micah Lee OL, Amon Williams RB, Jordan Williams WR, Brandon Newton WR, Grant Scott TE
Key Offensive Losses from 2024: Lee Kirkland QB, Diego Soto WR, Dre Stafford WR, Jordan Scott OL, Jacob Kopchak OL
Returning Starters on Defense: 5
Key Defensive Returners: Landon Rowe DL, Trevor Carter LB, Naj Bellegarde LB, Chuck Moore LB, Brett Coleman DB
Key Losses on Defense: Ben Tate DL, Myson Livingston DL, Elijah King-Turner LB, Kha’Ron Thrower DB, Ja’Vione Shepherd DB
Key Returners on Special Teams: Alex Hatton P, Zach Morris LS
Key Losses on Special Teams: Jake Headley K, Austin Shuffler K, Diego Soto Ret
Key Recruits or Transfers: Xavier Malone QB, Ty Perkins WR, Zack Turk OL, Gabe Bookman OL, Sai’Vyon Brown RB, Xavier Dahn DL, Kiran Curtis DL, Ahmad Fisher DL, Brandon Richardson DB, Isaac Smith K, Jonathan Besharatpour P
University of Rio Grande (2024 Record: New Program in 2025)
Head Coach: Mark Thurston
Offensive Coordinator: Gary Krol
Defensive Coordinator: Dustin Barrow
