Brings element of speed to Appalachian State’s deep stable running backs ... great speed makes former walk-on a threat to find the end zone every time he touches the ball ... expected to be a key contributor to the rotation at running back behind All-America candidate Marcus Cox ... is also expected to reprise his role as a key contributor on special teams.

2014: Saw action in nine games ... ran for 303 yards and three touchdowns (both good for fourth on team) on just 38 carries ... 7.7 yards per carry were easily a team high, 1.5 yards better than quarterback Taylor Lamb’s 6.2-yard average ... the majority of his damage came in back-to-back 100-yard performances against Troy (107 yards on 10 carries) and Georgia State (123 yards on 14 carries) ... 107-yard effort at Troy included a 68-yard run ... 123-yard performance against Georgia State included an 84-yard touchdown scamper ... rushed for 48 yards on eight carries and scored the first two touchdowns of his career in home opener against Campbell ... had 16 yards on five carries in late action against South Alabama ... only other carry of the season was a minus-two yard rush against UL Monroe ... made three tackles as a key member of kickoff-coverage unit down the stretch.

2013: Started first two games of the season and appeared in all 12 contests as a sophomore ... earned the starting nod coming out of fall camp and performed well in starts against Montana (53 yards on 12 carries) and North Carolina A&T (14 carries for 44 yards and three receptions for 15 yards) ... saw his playing time diminish due to the emergence of Cox at running back but still managed to amass 118 rushing yards over the final 10 games of the season, highlighted by 24 yards in Cox’s first start at Elon and 54 yards on just three carries (including a 40-yarder) in the finale against Western Carolina ... finished the season with 215 rushing yards (good for second on the team) and a 3.9-yard average (second on the team among players with double-digit carries).

2012: Entered the season as a relatively unknown walk-on and earned a spot on the travel squad with a spectacular fall camp … went on to appear in 11-of-12 games as a true freshman … amassed just five yards on seven touches (one yard on five carries, four yards on two receptions) but was a regular on special-teams units throughout the campaign … had a season-high three touches (two carries, one reception) and five total yards (one rushing, four receiving) in the season opener at East Carolina … notched a three-yard run and a reception in win over Coastal Carolina.

High School: Earned all-conference and all-area recognition after rushing for 1,032 yards (7.9-yard avg.) and nine touchdowns as a senior … also caught 17 passes out of the backfield for 275 yards and four touchdowns in final prep season … coached by Ryan Habich, who is now the head coach at Watauga H.S. in Boone. … was prep teammate of current Appalachian State teammate Tyson Fernandez.

Personal: Full name is Ricky Fergerson … son of Yolanda Fergerson ... majoring in health promotion.