Appleby, who quarterbacked at Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio. While at Hoover, Appleby played 3 sports during his freshman and sophomore years. As a member of the varsity football team in 2009, Appleby served as a backup quarterback for the Vikings, who would go on to lose in the State Semi-Final game. As a junior in 2010, Appleby was named the starting quarterback but eight weeks into the season, he suffered a torn ACL, ending his season. Despite his injury, Appleby was invited to the ESPN RISE Elite 11 Camp in 2011, after qualifying at a regional camp at Ohio State University. Appleby was named the best in chalk talk during the camp. Following his Elite 11 performance, Appleby's recruiting picked up momentum, landing his first power conference scholarship offer from Louisville. Just a few days following the Louisville offer, Appleby was offered by Purdue, and Appleby made his commitment to the Boilermakers on June 29, 2011.
College career
Purdue
Appleby was redshirted as a true freshman in 2012. In 2013, he appeared in one game as a reserve. In 2014, Purdue had a quarterback position battle in fall practice, this time between Appleby, Danny Etling, and true freshman David Blough. Appleby pushed hard for the starting spot over the entrenched Etling, but fell just short and was named the backup on August 18. Etling would lead Purdue to a 2–3 record of the first five games of the season, before Darrell Hazell turned to Appleby to start Purdue's 6th game against Illinois. Appleby led Purdue to a 38–27 victory, Hazell's first Big Ten Conference victory. On August 25, 2015, head coach Darrell Hazell named Appleby the starting quarterback for the opening game of the 2015 season. On September 22, 2015, it was announced that Appleby will be replaced as the starting quarterback in favor of redshirt freshman, David Blough. Appleby returned to his starting role when Blough was injured during the November 21, game at Iowa. Following the conclusion of the season, Appleby was given his release to explore transfer options as a graduate student.
Florida
On January 4, 2016, Appleby announced his decision to play his final year of college football at the University of Florida as a graduate transfer. Under head coach Jim McElwain, Appleby competed with Luke Del Rio for the starting quarterback position, and lost out to Del Rio. After an injury early in the season to Del Rio, Appleby started seven games for the Gators in the 2016 season. Despite finishing with a 4-3 record as a starter, Appleby helped lead Florida to an SEC East title and a berth in the 2016 SEC Championship Game. In the 2017 Outback Bowl and his last game as a Gator, Appleby passed for 222 yards in a 30-3 defeat of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
In 2018, he signed with the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football. On November 27, Appleby was selected by the Orlando Apollos in the third round of the AAF QB Draft. He was a backup behind Garrett Gilbert until the league folded in April 2019. Appleby tried out for the XFL in a summer showcase in July 3, 2019, but was not selected in the 2020 XFL Draft in October 2019.
Appleby signed a futures contract for the 2020 CFL season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on November 1, 2019. He was moved to the active roster on November 27, 2019. He retired from playing professional football on March 18, 2020.
Coaching career
Appleby was hired by Central Michigan as a quality control coach after the AAF folded in April 2019. He resigned from his position after the 2019 season, to sign with the Blue Bombers. On March 18, 2020, Appleby announced he accepted the wide receivers coach position for Missouri State.
