High School

Former Iowa High School Football Standout Leads Appalachian State

JJ Kohl transferred from Iowa State, made start for Mountaineers vs. Oregon State

Dana Becker

Ankeny High senior quarterback and ISU recruit JJ Kohl (12) spots an open receiver as the Ankeny Hawks compete against the North High Polar Bears on Friday, October 7, 2022, at Grubb Stadium in Des Moines. Dsm1009hawks A
Ankeny High senior quarterback and ISU recruit JJ Kohl (12) spots an open receiver as the Ankeny Hawks compete against the North High Polar Bears on Friday, October 7, 2022, at Grubb Stadium in Des Moines. Dsm1009hawks A / Lee Navin/For the Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

Iowa high school football standout and former Iowa State quarterback JJ Kohl took advantage of his opportunity this past weekend.

Kohl, who transferred from the Cyclones to Appalachian State during the offseason, made the start in place of AJ Swann and led the Mountaineers to a 27-23 victory over Oregon State.

With the win, Appalachian State moved to 3-2 on the year.

Former Iowa High School Standout Led Scoring Drives on First Three Possessions

Kohl, a sophomore, threw for 218 yards and completed his first career touchdown pass when he hit Davion Dozier from 28 yards out to make it 24-14 in the third quarter. He later added a 6-yard rushing score.

His short TD run in the first made it 10-0 while Kohl hit Dozier on a 68-yard pass that set up a short touchdown run from Rashod Dubinion to put the advantage to 17-0 early against the Beavers.

Leading 24-21 in the third, Kohl and the Mountaineers put together a nine-play, 49-yard drive that resulted in a field goal, making it a six-point game.

JJ Kohl Started his College Career at Iowa State

While at Iowa State, Kohl completed 9 of 11 for 23 yards while rushing for 32 yards. He redshirted in 2024 before landing at Appalachian State, where he has completed 15 of 32 overall for 254 yards with two total touchdowns.

The 6-foot-7, 245-pounder was a standout at Ankeny High School and a prized recruit for Matt Campbell and the Cyclones. He was a Top 10 quarterback recruit by both ESPN and Rivals, picking Iowa State, where his father, Jamie, was a starting kicker from 1995-98.

Swann was the starter for Appalachian State through the first four games of the season before going to the sidelines with an undisclosed injury. 

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Dana Becker
DANA BECKER

Dana Becker has been a sports writer in Iowa since 2000, writing for The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others. Dana resides in northcentral Iowa and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in 2022 focused on the state of Iowa. Along with providing coverage of football and wrestling, Dana also spotlights cross country, swimming, basketball, track and field, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball and softball. He began writing for High School on SI in 2023.

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