BOONE, N.C. — Sporting News has named Appalachian State University football senior Marcus Cox as college football's No. 25 running back going into the 2016 season.

Cox is one of only six “Group of Five” conference representatives among Sporting News' top 25 running backs. Three of the six G5 running backs on the list hail from the Sun Belt Conference— Cox, New Mexico State's Larry Rose III (No. 11) and Georgia Southern's Matt Breida (No. 19).

Cox rushed for 1,481 yards in 12 games as a junior last season, good for 13th nationally at 118.6 yards per game. He also ranked among the nation's leaders in all-purpose yardage (131.92 ypg - 20th), yards per carry (5.86 avg. - 37th) and rushing touchdowns (9 - t-74th). He was named the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl Bart Starr MVP after running for 162 yards and a touchdown in Appalachian State's 31-28 win over Ohio, which capped an 11-2 campaign for the Mountaineers.

With 4,088 career rushing yards, Cox enters 2016 as the nation's second-leading active rusher, behind only San Diego State's Donnel Pumphrey (4,272 yds.). He is also on pace to shatter Appalachian State's all-time rushing record of 4,804 career yards, set by Kevin Richardson from 2004-07. If Cox maintains his current average of 113.6 yards per game, he will break the school's all-time rushing record in the 43rd game of his career, 13 less than Richardson's 56 career contests.

Football season tickets for Appalachian State's much-anticipated 2016 campaign are on sale now and can be purchased online by clicking HERE and by phone at (828) 262-2079. Last week, App State announced that 2016 season-ticket sales have already surpassed the amount sold in 2015. Due to the brisk sales, tickets in four sections of Kidd Brewer Stadium are already sold out.