2021 Western Carolina Football Media Guide by Western Carolina University Athletics

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEW TURF WAS INSTALLED AT E.J. WHITMIRE STADIUM / BOB WATERS FIELD DURING THE SUMMER OF 2020.

2021 SEASON OUTLOOK...........................1–12

2021 Quick Facts......................................................2 Fall 2021 Schedule / 2020-21 Results......................3 Media Information....................................................4 CSN Radio Broadcasts / Affiliates.............................5 Preseason 2021 Rosters........................................6-7 Preseason Two-Deep / Pronunciations.....................8 2021 Season Preview..........................................9-12

WCU COACHING STAFF & DEPT. ............ 13–38

Head Coach Kerwin Bell.....................................14-16 Offensive Coord. Kade Bell......................................17 Defensive Coord. Justin Hinds............................... 18 Special Teams Coord. Kerry Webb.......................... 19 Co-Defensive Coord., Chazmon Scales................. 20 Jon Cooper, OL Coach............................................ 21 JJ Laster, WR Coach................................................22 Larry Murphy, CB Coach.........................................23 In Memory of John Peacock.................................24 Rudi Small, RB Coach.............................................25 Dennis Thomas, DL Coach......................................26 Rylan Wells, TE Coach.............................................27 Football Support Staff........................................28-31 WCU Director of Athletics, Alex Gary................ 32-33 WCU Senior Staff............................................... 34-35 WCU Athletics Staff Directory.................................36 FIGHTON! Mission & Vision.....................................37 The Cullowhee Experience.....................................38

WCU PLAYER PROFILES (alphabetical)...........39-70 2021 OPPONENTS...................................71-74 EKU / OKLA / SAM / GAWB / UTC / MER..................72 VMI / CIT / MER / ETSU / UTC / WOF........................73 Series Scores vs. 2021 Opponents.........................74

2020-21 SEASON REVIEW.......................75-86

2020-21 Season Highlight Notes............................76 2020-21 Statistics..............................................77-79 Game Summaries.............................................. 80-85 2020-21 SoCon Standings and Honors..................86

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

WCU RECORDS AND HISTORY............. 87–156

Rushing Records............................................... 88-92 Passing Records................................................ 93-95 Receiving Records.......................................... 96-100 Total Offense Records.....................................101-102 Offensive Team Stats Year-by-Year....................... 103 Defensive Records......................................... 104-106 Defensive Team Stats Year-by-Year...................... 107 Scoring Records............................................. 108-109 Misc. Team Records.............................................. 109 Kicking Records.....................................................110 Punting Records......................................................111 Kick Return Records...............................................112 Punt Return............................................................ 113 E.J. Whitmire Stadium Records.............................. 114 Catamounts in NCAA Records.........................115-116 Catamounts in SoCon Records........................ 116-117 All-Time Year-by-Year Results......................... 118-124 All-Time Series Records........................................ 125 Games Vs. Ranked Teams..................................... 126 Games When Nationally Ranked.......................... 127 WCU's Postseason Teams..................................... 128 WCU’s Postseason Games.............................. 129-131 WCU Head Coaching History................................ 132 WCU's All-Time Assistant Coaches....................... 133 A Tribute to Bob Waters........................................ 134 History of the Victory Bell..................................... 135 All-Time Letterwinners.................................... 136-141 All-SoCon Selections (Weekly/Annual)............142-143 SoCon Individual Honors...................................... 144 All-Americans / Other Honorees.....................145-146 E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field..........147-148 WCU Athletics Hall of Fame.................................. 149 WCU Football in the Hall of Fame...................150-151 Catamounts in the NFL.................................. 152-153 Catamounts in Professional Football............. 154-155 WCU’s Honored Numbers..................................... 156

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIV................. 157–174

Western Carolina in Pictures.......................... 158-159 Campus Life....................................................160-161 Dr. Kelli R. Brown, WCU Chancellor...................... 162 Progress: Cullowhee............................................. 163 Band, Spirit, & Tradition................................. 164-165 First-Class Facilities........................................166-167 The Southern Conference............................... 168-171 2021 SoCon FB Composite Schedule.................... 171 WCU Academics & Service Learning......................173 Football Student-Athlete Success..........................174

The 2021 Western Carolina Catamount Football Media Guide is a publication of the Western Carolina Office of Athletic Media Relations. It was written, edited and designed by Daniel Hooker (Western Carolina ‘01), with special assistance from Directors of Media Relations, Denise Gideon and Steven Grandy. Special thanks to Mike Cawood, Steve White, the WCU football staff and additional WCU Sports Information predecessors in compiling information. An additional thanks to Greg McLamb (Western Carolina ‘00) for his continued support with both research and editorial assistance. Special thanks to Mark Haskett for his dedication, patience and timeliness with photography. Also, thanks to Ashley Evans, Caitlin Penna and Samuel Wallace in the WCU Communications and Marketing photography department and to Spencer Douglas, Jared Draney, Jason Hall, Jarrett Frazier, Keith Cline, Brendan Maloney, Jeremy McKnight and Andy Padyk for various photos used in the publication. Other historical photographs provided by Danny Hirt, Terry C. Davis, Steve Cook, Harry Duke, Tyson Cathey, June Glenn, Keith Kountz, the Asheville Citizen-Times, Karl Roser (Pittsburgh Steelers), Getty Images, C-sportpics, and the National Football League. Printing for media was completed by the Western Carolina University Print Shop (828-227-7159). The guide is also available online through CatamountSports.com under the “Football” tab. ON THE FRONT COVER: Head coach Kerwin Bell and 2021 WCU seniors LB Ty Harris (37), DL Ricky Palao (99) and QB Rogan Wells (11) ON THE BACK COVER: 2021 WCU seniors NIC Curtis Roach (33), RB Kenny Benjamin (8), WR Daquan Patten (6), OL Matt Bair (51), TE Owen Cosenke (84) and TE Trae Churn (83)

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 WCU FOOTBALL QUICK FACTS

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF

LOCATION: Cullowhee, N.C. ENROLLMENT: 12,000 FOUNDED: 1889 NICKNAME: Catamounts COLORS: Purple (PMS 267) & Gold (PMS 467 STADIUM (CAPACITY): E.J. Whitmire Stadium (13,742) FIELD (SURFACE): Bob Waters Field (Artificial – IronTurf) CONFERENCE: Southern (SoCon) AFFILIATION: NCAA Div. I – Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) CHANCELLOR: Dr. Kelli R. Brown (Univ. of Toledo, 1982) ATHLETICS DIRECTOR: Alex Gary (VCU, 2005)

Kerwin Bell Kade Bell Justin Hinds Kerry Webb Chaz Scales Jon Cooper JJ Laster Larry Murphy John Peacock Rudi Small Dennis Thomas Rylan Wells

CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL HISTORY

CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATION & SUPPORT STAFF

FIRST YEAR OF FOOTBALL / SEASONS: 1931 / 87 ALL-TIME RECORD: 342-510-23 (.404) NCAA POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: 2 – 1974 (NCAA D-II), 1983 (NCAA D-I) BEST FINISH: 1983 National Finalist (lost 43-7 to Southern Illinois) LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 1983

Todd Shealy Trent Turknett Cody Edwards Greg McGruder Jeff Burger Jacob Floyd Dante Johnson Dylan Quick Jess Smith Sandy Neuenschwander Mike Taylor Ben Jacobs Steven Honbarger Robert Reyburn

BASIC CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL TEAM INFORMATION

BASIC OFFENSE: Pro Spread BASIC DEFENSE: 4-2-5 2020-21 RECORD: 1-8 (Home: 1-1 | Away: 0-7) Southern Conference Record 1-5 (Home: 1-1 | Away: 0-4) HEAD COACH: Kerwin Bell (Florida, 1987) Record at WCU / Overall: 1st season / 93-42 (12 yrs) D-I: Jacksonville, 66-35 (2007-2015) | D-II: Valdosta State, 27-7 (2016-2018) LETTERMEN RETURNING: 53 – (21 offense, 28 defense, 4 specialists) LETTERMEN LOST: 18 – (11 offense, 7 defense, 0 specialists) Other Returners: 17 – (10 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialists) NEWCOMERS: 46 – (28 freshmen, 18 transfers) STARTERS RETURNING: 20 – (6 offense, 10 defense, 4 specialists) STARTERS LOST: 7 – (5 offense, 2 defense, 0 specialists)

Daniel Hooker, Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations (football contact) Email: dhooker@email.wcu.edu | Office: (828) 227-2339 | Cell: (828) 508-2494 Steven Grandy, Director of Media Relations (secondary contact) Email: sgrandy@email.wcu.edu | Office: (828) 227-2655 Denise Gideon, Director of Media Relations Email: dgideon@email.wcu.edu | Office: (828) 227-2336 Patrick Mullaney, Assistant Director of Video Operations Email: pmullaney@email.wcu.edu | Office: (828) 227-2458

OFFENSE (6): DEFENSE (9): Matthew Bair.................................... OL Ronald Kent Jr....................................... CB Owen Cosenke..................................TE Aaron Gethers....................................... CB Raekwon Heath............................... WR Jaquarius Guinn.................................... DL Dillon Luther..................................... OL Willie Hampton.......................................LB Daquan Patten................................ WR Jacob Harris..........................................DB Tyler Smith........................................ OL Ty Harris.................................................LB LA Rogers-Anderson................................S K.J. Milner............................................. DL Micah Nelson.........................................LB SPECIALISTS (4): Colby Cross.......................................LS Richard McCollum................................. PK Brandon Dickerson............................ P Paxton Robertson.............................. PK /P STARTERS LOST: ..........................................6 – (5 offense – 1 defense – 0 specialist)

OFFENSE (5): Jacob Combs................................... OL Ryan Glover......................................QB Isaiah Helms..................................... OL Reggie Jones.................................. WR Donnavan Spencer........................... RB

CATAMOUNT ATHLETICS MAILING ADDRESS Western Carolina University Ramsey Center – Athletics 92 Catamount Road Cullowhee, NC 28723

CONTACT & SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION OFFICIAL ATHLETICS WEBSITE: CatamountSports.com ATHLETICS / FOOTBALL TWITTER: @Catamounts / @CatamountsFB ATHLETICS / FOOTBALL PHONE: (828) 227-7338 / (828) 227-7395 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE WEBSITE: SoConSports.com SOUTHERN CONFERENCE TWITTER: @SoConSports

DEFENSE (5): Dorian Davis..........................................DB Roman Johnson.................................... DL

Western Carolina's 2018 and 2019 Catamount Football Media Guides were selected “FIRST IN THE NATION” in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) annual Publications and Digital Designs Contest. The 2017 Catamount Football Media Guide garnered a runner-up finish in the 2017-18 contest. WCU's 2020 Catamount Football Media Guide received "Best Cover" honors in FCS for the 2020-21 contest.

2020-21 WCU POSTSEASON RETURNING AWARD WINNERS: Ty Harris All-SoCon LB (2nd team media) Ronald Kent Jr. All-SoCon DB (2nd team media) Jaquarius Guinn SoCon All-Freshman team Paxton Robertson SoCon All-Freshman team

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

Director of Football Operations Director of Player Personnel Quality Control Coach – Defense Quality Control Coach – Offense Volunteer Assistant Coach Student Assistant Student Assistant Student Assistant Student Assistant Football Administrative Support Head Athletic Equipment Manager Director of Sports Performance & Nutrition Director of Sports Medicine Associate Head Athletic Trainer

CATAMOUNT ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACTS

STARTERS RETURNING: ...................................19 – (6 offense – 9 defense – 4 specialist)

Head Coach Assistant Coach / Offensive Coordinator / QBs Assistant Coach / Defensive Coordinator / LBs Assistant Coach / Special Teams Coordinator / Nickels Assistant Coach / co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs Assistant Coach / Offensive Line Assistant Coach / Wide Receivers Assistant Coach / Cornerbacks Assistant Coach / Offensive Line Assistant Coach / Running Backs Assistant Coach / Defensive Line Assistant Coach / Tight Ends & Fullbacks

An annual production by Western Carolina Athletics Media Relations, the media guide is packed with information on the current student-athletes, coaches and staff, as well as historical records for the football program.

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

2021 SCHEDULE & 2020-21 RESULTS

CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL – 2021 SCHEDULE DATE

OPPONENT

LOCATION

TIME

SERIES

6:00 PM

WCU trails, 2-4

6:00 pm CT

First Meeting

Sept. 4

EASTERN KENTUCKY

CULLOWHEE

Sept. 11

at Oklahoma

Norman, Okla.

Sept. 18

SAMFORD *

CULLOWHEE

2:30 PM

Sept. 25

at Gardner-Webb

Boiling Springs, N.C.

Oct. 2

at Chattanooga *

Chattanooga, Tenn.

Oct. 9

MERCER *

Oct. 16

Bye Week

Oct. 23

STREAK

LAST MTG

L–1

Nov. 21, 2020

–

First Meeting

WCU trails, 3-15

L–3

Feb. 27, 2021

6:00 pm

WCU leads, 6-4

L–1

Oct. 5, 2019

1:30 pm

WCU trails, 17-39

L–2

Sept. 28, 2019

CULLOWHEE

3:30 PM

WCU trails, 2-5

L–5

March 20, 2021

at The Citadel *

Charleston, S.C.

2:00 pm

WCU trails, 18-26-1

W–1

March 13, 2021

Oct. 30

at Wofford *

Spartanburg, S.C.

1:30 pm

WCU trails, 14-28

L–4

Oct. 19, 2019

Nov. 6

FURMAN *

CULLOWHEE

2:00 PM

WCU trails, 12-33-2

L–5

Feb. 20, 2021

Nov. 13

ETSU *

CULLOWHEE

2:00 PM WCU leads, 25-24-1

L–1

March 27, 2021

Nov. 20

NCAA FCS Playoffs – First Round

TBA

WESTERN CAROLINA FIGHT SONG Fight on! You Catamounts, Fight for purple and gold. Fight on to victory, True warriors bold. Wave the royal banner high, And let it fill the Western sky. So, fight on! you Catamounts, Fight to vic–to–ry! Western, Western, Go–Western! Go—Cats! Fight on! You Catamounts, Fight for purple and gold. Fight on to victory, True warriors bold. Wave the royal banner high, And let it fill the Western sky. So, fight on! you Catamounts, Fight to vic–to–ry! Adopted in 1981, Western Carolina’s fight song was composed by members of the University faculty

TBA

* – Denotes Southern Conference game /// All dates and times subject to change /// All times listed are LOCAL

CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL – 2020-21 RESULTS OVERALL RECORD: 1-8

HOME: 1-1

AWAY: 0-7

SOCON: 1-5

DATE

OPPONENT

LOCATION

W / L SCORE TIME RECORD SOCON

Nov. 14

at #22 Liberty

Lynchburg, Va.

14-58

3:16

0-1

0-0

1,000

Nov. 21

at Eastern Kentucky

Richmond, Ky.

17-49

3:17

0-2

0-0

3,009

Dec. 11

at #17 North Carolina

Chapel Hill, N.C.

9-49

2:54

0-3

0-0

3,524

Feb. 20

at Furman *

Greenville, S.C.

7-35

2:42

0-4

0-1

1,994

Feb. 27

at Samford *

Birmingham, Ala.

27-55

3:47

0-5

0-2

1,276

March 6

VMI *

CULLOWHEE

7-30

3:05

0-6

0-3

1,300

ATT. ^

March 13 THE CITADEL *

CULLOWHEE

21-14

3:09

1-6

1-3

980

March 20 at Mercer *

Macon, Ga.

28-45

3:24

1-7

1-4

3,527

March 27 at ETSU *

Johnson City, Tenn.

17-24

3:26

1-8

1-5

2442

April 3

CHATTANOOGA *

CULLOWHEE CANCELED – COVID

April 10

WOFFORD *

CULLOWHEE CANCELED – COVID * – Denotes Southern Conference game /// ^ – Attendance numbers limited by COVID-19 protocols

CATAMOUNT ATHLETICS ON THE WEB CatamountSports.com is a fast and accurate Internet source for official information and coverage of Western Carolina athletics. No matter where you are or what time of day, you can access up-to-date information on your favorite Catamount team. After nearly 20 years with CBS Interactive, Western Carolina signed an agreement with NeuLion College to handle its website, donor engagement, and ticketing during the summer of 2018. WCU previously worked with NeuLion on the Southern Conference Digital Network video streaming. NeuLion and its collegiate enterprise NeuLion College was acquired by Learfield IMG College during the summer of 2019 with WCU embarking on a new partnership with SIDEARM Sports for its website beginning in the fall of 2019. WCU’s website uses responsive technology to optimize on any device and includes select video features, live stats, features stories, live audio broadcasts through Stretch Internet and statistics on all 16 WCU-sponsored sports.

PAWS

WESTERN CAROLINA ALMA MATER Hail to thee, our Alma Mater; Faithful, kind, and true; Every son and every daughter Offers praise to you. – CHORUS – Hail to the dearest spot of all; Hail to WCU! Light and life and fond devotion, All to thee are due. Purple robes and colors golden, Streaming everywhere, Swell our hearts with pride for olden Days and friendships dear. – CHORUS – Under shade trees’ friendly bowers, Voices, ever gay, Mingles with breath of flowers And the song birds’ lay.

Thanks to members of the Western Carolina Media Relations staff, pregame releases, game notes and up-to-date statistics, results, photos, and videos are updated regularly.

– CHORUS – Shout aloud with one loud chorus, Voices clear and true, Lifted high in praise and honor, All for WCU! – CHORUS –

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

MEDIA INFORMATION

MEDIA PARKING

WESTERN CAROLINA MEDIA RELATIONS

Media parking for Western Carolina football home games is available in a designated parking lot – BY PERMIT ONLY – in the St. David's Episcopal Church parking lot located directly behind the press box at Whitmire Stadium. Media wishing to obtain media parking for a home game in Cullowhee must contact WCU Office of Athletics Media Relations in advance for more information on location and credential availability. The lot is identified and a media parking placard must be displayed to gain admittance. The lot will be managed by a member of the WCU Athletics Media Relations support staff who will have a checklist of those authorized to park in the media lot.

WORKING MEDIA CREDENTIALS Daniel Hooker, Western Carolina ‘01 Assistant Athletics Director / Media Relations

Steven Grandy

Director of Media Relations (2nd FB, VB, MBK, TRK/XC)

News and electronic media representatives planning to cover football games at Western Carolina University are asked to request in written form working credentials from WCU’s Media Relations Office. Season passes will be issued to those who cover the Catamounts on a permanent basis. Our limited working space in the press box will be assigned by priority to WCU beat writers, beat writers of the opponents, metropolitan media filing for deadline and specialty publications.

Denise Gideon

Director of Media Relations (WSOC, WBK, SB, WTN)

WCU FOOTBALL PRIMARY CONTACT E-Mail: dhooker@email.wcu.edu Office: (828) 227-2339 Cell: (828) 508-2494

WCU PRESS BOX / GAME DAY STAFF FB Game Day Admin.:...............Rory Jimerson and .............................................................Eynde Frazier Video:.................Sam Wallace and Patrick Mullaney Marketing:..................Tyler Pope and Chad Gerrety Scoreboard:............................................ Phil Woody Public Address Announcer:..................Ryan Hipps Game Day Assistants:........................ David Barbee ............Charlotte Craven, Tori Powell, and Will Prater

If time permits, credentials will be mailed. If not, credentials can be picked up on game day (two hours prior to kickoff) at the media will call on the upper plaza of the Ramsey Center at the south end of the stadium (nearest the press box side of Whitmire Stadium, across the street from media parking). Credentials will be issued only to those attending the game in a working capacity. Spouses, dates, children and other nonworkers will not be permitted in the press box. TBA

Director of Video Operations

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Patrick Mullaney

Asst. Director of Video Ops

Credentials for sideline photographers will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis with agencies covering the participating schools on a regular basis receiving priority. Freelance photographers may request credentials on a game-by-game basis. All free-lance photographers must submit proofs featuring game or sideline action to the Media Relations Office no later than four days following the game. Each photographer must pick up a photo pass from the press box or media will call prior to the game.

PRESS RELEASES/STATISTICS The Western Carolina Office of Athletics Media Relations produces a weekly football release prior to each game during the season. Cumulative statistics will be updated as soon as possible after each contest. Media members may receive the releases and statistics by accessing the Athletics Department website at www.CatamountSports.com. E-mail service is available upon request. To be added to or removed from Western Carolina’s media E-mail list, media members are asked to contact the Office of Athletics Media Relations.

BY RULE, NO PHOTOGRAPHERS OR MEDIA PERSONNEL ARE PERMITTED WITHIN THE DESIGNATED TEAM AREAS AT ANY TIME – ADDITIONALLY, PERMISSIBLE WORKING AREAS COULD BE ALTERED DUE TO COVID-19

VISITING TEAM RADIO

WCU INTERVIEW POLICY

The visiting radio station or network (limited to one crew only as designated by the visiting school’s sports information director) is asked to request credentials through Western Carolina’s Office of Athletics Media Relations. An IP internet line and a B-1 dialtone phone line are available at no charge to all Southern Conference opponents and others who wish to enter into a reciprocal agreement with WCU. Otherwise, the lines are available to visiting radio crews on a pro rata basis or special broadcast lines can be ordered.

The Western Carolina Office of Athletics Media Relations will assist media personnel with interview requests of Western Carolina student-athletes, coaches and administrators. To arrange interviews, please contact Daniel Hooker, the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations at least 24 hours in advance. Head Coach Kerwin Bell will be available for interviews following each practice and following games. Other interviews with Coach Bell must be set-up in advance and it is requested that the nature of the interview be submitted to WCU Media Relations in writing at least 24 hours prior.

CATAMOUNTS ON THE WEB

Student-athletes will be available for interviews after practices through Wednesday. Unless special permission is granted well in advance, the cut-off time for student-athletes during game weeks will be Noon on Thursday.

The WCU football home page at CatamountSports.com provides the latest information regarding the Catamounts, including updated statistics, rosters, game notes and press releases. Also on the department’s main site is information on all of WCU athletics programs, lodging, directions to campus and the latest ame promotions. For those unable to attend contests, the Catamount Sports Network will broadcast each game over the Internet through the home page. WCU will provide video coverage of all football home games through the ESPN3 (free with cable subscription) and ESPN+ (subscription fee). All the current data you need on the Catamounts is as close as your computer at www.CatamountSports.com.

Practices are open to the public – for player and spectator safety, it is requested that those viewing practice do so from the stadium grand stand area. Media members are asked to refrain from contacting student-athletes at their home or residence; student-athletes’ phone numbers will not be released by the Office of Athletics Media Relations. Out-of-town media may set up phone interviews to be conducted in the Department of Athletics. Coach Bell may also be reached weekday mornings prior to Friday; however, it is asked that a specific interview time be scheduled through the Media Relations office.

SoCon MEDIA SERVICES

The Southern Conference maintains a comprehensive site at www.SoConSports.com. In football, standings, notes, schedule/results and statistics for each league member are updated on a weekly basis. Similar information on the SoCon’s other 18 sports are available as well. Please contact Phil Perry at (864) 591-5100 in the Southern Conference Public Affairs Department for additional information.

POSTGAME INTERVIEWS The Western Carolina locker room is CLOSED at the end of all games played. However, following a 10-minute “cooling off” period, head coach Kerwin Bell and requested players will be brought to the TEAM FILM ROOM located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center – these interviews may be conducted over Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NON-SMOKING FACILITIES

In accordance with an ordinance passed by the North Carolina General Assembly and mandated for all State facilities, smoking is not permitted within 50-feet of State buildings, including all buildings on the campus of Western Carolina University. As a result, E.J. Whitmire Stadium – including the press box, restrooms and concourse levels – are non-smoking.

The availability of the visiting locker room will be announced in the press box after conferring with the visiting SID. The visiting locker room is located in the back portion of the Jordan-Phillips Field House. A space for interviews will be available outside the locker room or up on the Field House patio, if available. 2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

COVERING THE CATAMOUNTS

Four radio station affiliates across eight frequencies in North Carolina and streaming audio online at CatamountSports.com are set to carry football broadcasts of the Catamount Sports Network (CSN) during Western Carolina’s 2021-22 season. The Catamounts have a strong presence on the air across the mountains of Western North Carolina including WISE Sports Radio 102.9 FM and 1310 AM out of Asheville; 970 AM WYSE in Canton; 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC “The River” in Sylva; 104.9 FM and 1050 AM WFSC, "Franklin's First Voice" in Franklin and north Georgia; and the new 95.3 FM WWCU, which originates on-campus in Cullowhee and is expected to be live over the air during the fall semester. CSN again partners with PrestoSports to not only provide an affiliate acquisition site, but also unlimited free streaming audio through the athletics web site, CatamountSports. com, giving WCU a worldwide reach. Longtime play-by-play voice of the Catamounts, Gary Ayers, returns to the microphone this football season, and will be flanked by returning crew members in producer Jeff Bryson and WCU alum, Greg McLamb, who will both patrol the sidelines on road games and provide color commentary for home broadcasts. Another WCU alum will again join the broadcast during the 2021-22 seasons as Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations – and WCU football contact – Daniel Hooker will join Ayers and Bryson in the broadcast booth during games played away from Cullowhee for color commentary. Ayers has been behind microphone for 35 of the past 36 years at WCU, and has been a familiar voice to the region’s sports fans for over four decades. In addition to serving as the “Voice of the Catamounts,” on football and men’s basketball broadcasts, the Swain County native has done play-by-play for Pisgah, Tuscola, Franklin, Cherokee and Swain high school football and basketball. Ayers, who retired from Allison Outdoor Advertising in Sylva, also spent several seasons as the public address announcer for WCU Athletics. Bryson serves as the program’s producer, as well as the in-booth host of the pregame, halftime and post-game shows. His radio experience dates back over 30 years. During that time, he has worked at a variety of stations including WZZU-FM in Raleigh; WCHL-AM in Chapel Hill; WKSF-FM in Asheville; and served as the program director at WRGC-AM in Sylva. Bryson is no stranger to the Catamount Sports Network as he previously worked with CSN providing color analysis for football and men’s basketball for the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Additionally, he has provided various play-by-play football and basketball broadcasts for Smoky Mountain, Franklin, Cherokee and Pisgah high schools. Bryson, too,

PRINT MEDIA

ASSOCIATED PRESS 4020 W. Chase Blvd., Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27606-3933 (919) 510-8937 - phone www.apnews.com/hub/raleigh ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES 14 O’Henry Avenue Asheville, NC 28802 (828) 232-5866 - phone www.citizen-times.com FRANKLIN PRESS Will Woolever PO Box 350 Franklin, NC 28734 (828) 524-2010 - phone www.thefranklinpress.com THE GRAHAM STAR Kevin Hensley, Editor PO Box 69 Robbinsville, NC 28771 (828) 479-3383 - phone www.grahamstar.com

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

The Catamount Sports Network Crew (l-r): Jeff Bryson, Greg McLamb, Gary Ayers, and Daniel Hooker

has served as a Public Address voice for WCU Athletics, while also working with WCU’s basketball crew for in-house ESPN television productions. McLamb – a 2000 graduate of WCU – will roam and report from the sidelines for a 15th-straight season after joining the CSN crew on-the-air in 2007. His radio experience also includes stints on the weekly sports talk shows, “Sports Talk Live” and “In the Litterbox,” both produced on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5. McLamb also works on-campus as an Academic Advisor at Western Carolina. Aiding with pre-production work and as on-air talent as the color commentary on road games is WCU Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations, Daniel Hooker, who is also a part of Catamount men’s basketball and baseball broadcasts. A 2001 Western Carolina graduate, his sportscasting experience began in 1997 as a student announcer at WWCUFM in Cullowhee and includes both play-by-play and color analyst roles in broadcasting Catamount women’s basketball, Thomasville Hi-Toms baseball in the Coastal Plain League, and two seasons on broadcasts of the Charleston Swamp Foxes in the arenafootball2 league. He also spent one season on the sidelines during CSN’s 2001 football coverage. Hooker also provides play-by-play during home ESPN broadcasts for football, volleyball, basketball, and baseball. Each week, the CSN pregame tailgate show starts 60 minutes prior to the scheduled kickoff time and includes comments from WCU head coach Kerwin Bell, in-game scoreboard updates, as well as other special features including the Catamount Calendar and the loveable “Two-Minute Drill” with Greg McLamb for a lighter-side look at Catamount football. The Catamount Sports Network broadcasts using the Tie-Line i-Mix G3 unit, with network breaks transmitted on-location. Also in use are a six-channel Shure M367 mixer and a Shure PGX2/SM58 Handheld Transmitter and PGX4 Diversity Receiver.

• COVERING THE CATAMOUNTS – MEDIA OUTLETS • HENDERSONVILLE TIMES-NEWS Dean Hensley, Sports PO Box 490 Hendersonville, NC 28739 (828) 694-7868 - phone www.blueridenow.com

WAYNESVILLE MOUNTAINEER Andrew Schnittker, Kyle Perrotti Drawer 19 Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 452-0661, ext. 126 www.themountaineer.com

WWNC RADIO (570 AM) Brian Hall, Jessica Lee 13 Summerlin Road Asheville, NC 28806 (828) 257-2700 - phone www.wwnc.com

MORGANTON NEWS HERALD Paul Schenkel, Sports Editor PO Box 280 Morganton, NC 28680 (828) 432-8950 ext. 2112 - phone www.morganton.com

ELECTRONIC MEDIA

WPTL RADIO (101.7 FM, 920 AM) PO Box 909 Canton, NC 28716 (828) 648-3576 - phone www.wptlradio.net

WLOS-TV (ABC) Chris Womack, Maria Santora 110 Technology Drive Asheville, NC 28803 (828) 651-4563 - phone www.wlos.com

WFSC RADIO (104.9 FM, 1050 AM) Sean Gibson, General Manager Ethan Confer, News Director PO Box 470 Franklin, NC 28744 (828) 524-4418 - phone www.1050wfsc.com

SMOKY MOUNTAIN TIMES Jessica Webb PO Box 730 Bryson City, NC 28713 (828) 488-2189 - phone www.thesmokymountaintimes.com SYLVA HERALD & RULARITE Carey Phillips, Sports Editor Box 307 – Sylva, NC 28779 (828) 586-2611 - phone www.thesylvaherald.com

CAROLINASPORTSNUT.COM Chris Kelly (828) 989-0500

WRGC RADIO (540 AM) Roy Burnette, GM Box 1044 Sylva, NC 28779 (828) 586-2221 - phone www.wrgc.com

WISE SPORTS RADIO (102.9 FM, 1310 AM) Neal Sharpe, Pat Ryan The WISE Guys 1190 Patton Ave. Asheville, NC 28806 (828) 259-9695 - phone www.WISESportsRadio.com WTZQ (1600 AM) Mark Warwick, GM PO Box 462 Hendersonville, NC 28793 (828) 692-1600 - phone www.wtzq.com WWCU RADIO (95.3 FM) Western Carolina University Old Student Union Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828) 227-7173 - phone www.wwcufm.com

WESTERN CAROLINA HOME GAMES & SOCON ROAD GAMES WILL BE BROADCAST ON ESPN3 OR ESPN+

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PRESEASON ROSTERS

NUMERICAL

ALPHABETICAL NO. NAME

POS.

HT.

WT.

CLASS

87 Dylan Abernethy

6-0

175

Fr.

19 Branson Adams

5-9

180

Fr.

90 Marlon Alexander

6-0

320

So.

81 Kendall Alford

5-10

185

R-Fr.

79 Aidan Alston

6-2

270

R-Fr.

57 Tyler Anderson

6-0

225

Fr.

Anthony Badgett

5-9

170

R-So.

51 Matthew Bair

6-3

285

5th Yr.

86 Clayton Bardall

6-3

230

R-So.

92 Darrius Bell

6-2

240

R-Fr.

8 Kenny Benjamin

5-7

180

Gr.

39 Brayden Blackmon

6-3

215

Fr.

25 Jaiden Bond

5-9

180

Fr.

78 Garrett Bowman

6-4

280

R-So.

Bryson Boyette

6-1

285

Fr.

15 Solomon Butler

6-0

195

Fr.

75 Caleb Carter

6-3

285

Fr.

27 Trevor Childers

6-1

215

5th Yr.

83 Trae Churn

6-5

240

Gr.

84 Owen Cosenke

6-3

235

5th Yr.

70 Christian Coulter

6-5

335

So.

64 Colby Cross

6-0

220

Fr.

5 Carlos Davis

6-3

225

R-So.

Peyton Davis

6-2

290

Fr.

82 Miller DeArmond

6-1

175

Fr.

38 Brandon Dickerson

5-11

195

So.

31 Jerius Edwards

NIC

6-0

180

Fr.

Brady Elms

6-4

170

Fr.

52 Antwann Fann

OL 6-3 310 R-Fr.

53 Caleb Fisher

6-3

230

Fr.

0 Jaylen Floyd

5-9

185

Gr.

Trevor Fournet

5-11

215

Fr.

5-9

175

R-So.

7 Charles Gadie

12 Rod Gattison

2 Aaron Gethers

5-11

185

So.

5-10

190

R-So.

61 Anthony Giansante

6-4

300

Fr.

Bryson Grabowski

6-1

180

Fr.

71 Austin Grunden

6-2

250

Fr.

91 Jaquarius Guinn

6-2

280

Fr.

13 Keenan Hambrick

6-3

205

Fr.

10 Willie Hampton

6-1

220

R-Jr.

Nick Hapeshis

6-1

250

Fr.

62 Michael Harper

6-4

280

R-Jr.

98 Christian Harris

6-3

285

R-Fr.

45 Ethan Harris

5-8

165

Fr.

3 Jacob Harris

6-1

190

So.

37 Ty Harris

6-1

235

5th Yr.

95 Laquavion Haynes

6-4

220

Fr.

17 Raekwon Heath

6-2

205

R-Jr.

80 Shammond Hicks

5-10

180

Gr.

1 Ivan Hogans

6-2

220

5th Yr.

43 Luke Hoggard

6-0

230

R-Jr.

47 Neil Ilenrrey

6-0

185

So.

85 Talon James

6-4

235

R-Jr.

94 Timothy Jamison

6-4

255

Jr.

48 Tre’ Jolly

6-2

220

R-Fr.

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

NO. NAME

POS.

HT.

WT.

YR.

HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS COLLEGE/HIGH SCHOOL) Lakeland, Fla. (Tusculum / GMC / Lake Gibson HS)

T.J. Jones

5-11

200

Jr.

Jaylen Floyd

5-9

180

Sr.

Miramar, Fla. (Lehigh / Miramar HS)

C.J. Williams

5-10

165

So.

Gallion, Ala. (Alabama / Demopolis HS)

Ivan Hogans

6-2

220

5th

Stockbridge, Ga. (Tusculum / Stockbridge HS)

Raphael Williams

5-10

160

R-Fr.

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Tusculum / Dillard HS)

Aaron Gethers

5-10

190

R-So.

Blythewood, S.C. (Boston College / Bishop McDevitt HS)

Calvin Jones

5-10

175

Fr.

Forest City, N.C. (East Rutherford HS)

Jacob Harris

6-1

190

Jr.

Greer, S.C. (Independence CC / Greer HS)

Kason Lincke

6-1

195

Fr.

Mobile, Ala. (Mobile Christian HS)

Cameron McCutcheon

6-3

195

Sr.

Seneca, S.C. (Gardner-Webb / Seneca HS)

Carlos Davis

6-3

225

R-So.

Jayden Pauling

6-3

245

Jr.

Daquan Patten

5-6

180

R-5th

Nick Oelrich

6-1

205

Gr.

Terrence Horne

5-7

180

So.

Charles Gadie

5-9

175

R-So.

Kenny Benjamin

5-7

180

Gr.

Lehigh Acres, Fla. (Valdosta State / Dunbar HS)

LA Rogers-Anderson

NIC

6-0

215

Jr.

Sumter, S.C. (Western Kentucky / Ridgeview HS)

Mydreon Vines

6-2

190

Sr.

Greenville, N.C. (ECU / Tusculum / J.H. Rose HS)

Kareem Taylor

6-0

215

Gr.

Rincon, Ga. (Kennesaw State / South Effingham HS)

JaKobe Quillen

6-3

200

Fr.

Willie Hampton

6-1

220

R-Jr.

Rogan Wells

6-4

220

Gr.

Meziah Scott

6-0

200

Fr.

Petersburg, Va. (Petersburg HS)

Rod Gattison

5-11

185

So.

Hartsell, S.C. (Georgia Military / Hartsell HS)

Keenan Hambrick

6-3

205

Fr.

Athens, Ala. (Athens HS)

Ronald Kent Jr.

5-10

175

Jr.

Harrisburg, Pa. (Harrisburg HS)

Toler Keigley

6-1

190

Fr.

Pensacola, Fla. (Mobile Christian HS)

Malik Richardson

NIC

6-4

210

R-Fr.

Solomon Butler

6-0

195

Fr.

Brody Palhegyi

5-9

180

Fr.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Cardinal Gibbons HS)

Raekwon Heath

6-2

205

R-Jr.

Columbia, S.C. (Independence CC / Irmo HS)

Branson Adams

5-9

180

Fr.

Greensboro, N.C. (Dudley HS)

Dramarian McNulty

5-11

185

Fr.

Brookhaven, Miss. (Niceville (Fla.) HS)

Andreas Keaton

6-2

190

Fr.

Powder Springs, Ga. (Hillgrove HS)

Mikai Stanley

6-2

235

Fr.

Wilmington, N.C. (New Hanover HS)

Quintin Talley

6-0

190

Fr.

Spartanburg, S.C. (Byrnes HS)

Jaiden Bond

5-9

180

Fr.

Boone, N.C. (Watagua HS)

Tyree Nelson

5-10

200

Fr.

Atlanta, Ga. (Mays HS)

Trevor Childers

6-1

215

5th

Lincolnton, N.C. (East Lincoln HS)

Willie Rice

6-0

185

Fr.

St. Louis, Mo. (East Coweta (Ga.) HS)

Micah Nelson

6-3

235

R-Fr.

Jerius Edwards

NIC

6-0

180

Fr.

Curtis Roach

NIC

6-1

200

R-Sr.

Quenten Zanders

5-8

175

Jr.

Shelby, N.C. (Cleveland CC / Crest HS)

Glenn Young

5-9

200

Fr.

Fayetteville, N.C. (Trinity Christian HS)

Skylin Thomas

NIC

5-10

195

So.

Lenoir, N.C. (Hibriten HS)

Ty Harris

6-1

235

5th

Dacula, Ga. (Dacula HS)

Brandon Dickerson

5-11

195

So.

Fort Mill, S.C. (Indian Land HS)

Brayden Blackmon

6-3

215

Fr.

Duncan, S.C. (Byrnes HS)

Caleb Scott

6-2

225

Fr.

Black Mountain, N.C. (Owen HS)

Jontavious Shotwell

5-11

185

R-So.

Hoschton, Ga. (Mill Creek HS)

Luke Hoggard

6-0

230

R-Jr.

Edenton, N.C. (North Carolina / Edenton HS)

Nigel Manns

6-1

225

Fr.

Ethan Harris

5-8

165

Fr.

Duncan, S.C. (Byrnes HS)

Paxton Robertson

6-0

200

Fr.

Knoxville, Tenn. (Knoxville Catholic HS)

Baltimore, Md. (East Mississippi CC / Mergenthaler Vo-Tech HS) Raleigh, N.C. (Louisburg College / Millbrook HS) Columbia, S.C. (Blythewood HS) Newberry Fla. (Florida / Newberry HS) Miami, Fla. (USF / Miramar HS) Douglasville, Ga. (Douglas County HS)

Florence, S.C. (Wilson HS) Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Garden City CC / American Heritage HS) Fort Mill, S.C. (Tusculum / Fort Mill HS)

Sumter, S.C. (Lakewood HS) Moncks Corner, S.C. (Berkeley HS)

Murphy, N.C. (Murphy HS) Carrollton, Ga. (Carrollton HS) Cumming, Ga. (South Forsyth HS)

Byron, Ga. (Peach County HS)

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PRESEASON ROSTERS

NUMERICAL NO. NAME

POS.

HT.

WT.

YR.

HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS COLLEGE/HIGH SCHOOL)

Neil Ilenrey

6-0

185

R-Fr.

Alpharetta, Ga. (Johns Creek HS)

Tre’ Jolly

6-2

220

R-Fr.

Shelby, N.C. (Shelby HS)

Demorian Smith

6-0

220

Fr.

Alex McConnell

6-4

280

R-So.

Matthew Bair

6-3

285

5th

Anderson, S.C. (T.L. Hanna HS)

Antwann Fann

6-3

310

R-Fr.

Perry, Ga. (Kennesaw State / Perry HS)

Caleb Fisher

6-3

230

Fr.

Kevin Thompson

5-10

185

So.

Rock Hill, S.C. (Northwestern HS)

Griffin Sestili

6-3

295

R-Jr.

Sewickley, Pa. (Temple / North Allegheny HS)

Tyler Anderson

6-0

225

Fr.

Greensboro, N.C. (Northern Guilford HS)

Giovanni Ricciardi

6-0

225

Fr.

Clemmons, N.C. (West Forsyth HS)

Joaquin Layno

5-10

280

R-Fr.

Anthony Giansante

6-4

300

Fr.

Michael Harper

6-4

280

R-Jr.

Colby Cross

5-11

190

Fr.

Mooresville, N.C. (Lake Norman HS)

Gabe Jones

6-2

250

Fr.

Southern Pines, N.C. (Pinecrest HS)

Torrion Stevenson

6-1

330

R-So.

Dillon Luther

6-3

300

So.

Asheville, N.C. (Erwin HS)

Christian Coulter

6-5

335

So.

Thomson, Ga. (Tusculum / Thomson HS)

Austin Grunden

6-2

250

Fr.

Kannapolis, N.C. (A.L. Brown HS)

Blake Whitmore

6-2

285

R-Fr.

Raleigh, N.C. (Millbrook HS)

Samari Saddler

6-2

295

So.

Cincinnati, Ohio (Eastern Michigan / Moeller HS)

Tyler Smith

6-8

300

R-So.

Caleb Carter

6-3

285

Fr.

Garrett Bowman

6-4

280

R-So.

Aidan Alston

6-2

270

R-Fr.

Shammond Hicks

5-10

180

Gr.

Kendall Alford

5-10

185

R-Fr.

Miller DeArmond

6-1

175

Fr.

Greer, S.C. (Greer HS)

Trae Churn

6-5

240

Gr.

Columbia, S.C. (SC State / Blythewood HS)

Owen Cosenke

6-3

240

5th

Aldie, Va. (Fork Union Military / John Champe HS)

Talon James

6-4

235

R-Jr.

Fairview, N.C. (Univ. of Richmond / A.C. Reynolds HS)

Clayton Bardall

6-3

230

R-So.

Cumming, Ga. (North Forsyth HS)

Dylan Abernethy

6-0

175

Fr.

Luke Sutton

5-8

170

Fr.

Richard McCollum

5-9

180

R-So.

Marlon Alexander

6-0

320

So.

Smyrna, Tenn. (Gardner-Webb / Smyrna HS)

Jaquarius Guinn

6-2

280

Fr.

Clover, S.C. (Clover HS)

Darrius Bell

6-2

240

R-Fr.

Chris Morgan

6-0

265

Fr.

Maiden, N.C. (Maiden HS)

Timothy Jamison

6-4

255

Jr.

West Columbia, S.C. (Hutchinson CC / White Knoll HS)

Laquavion Haynes

6-4

220

Fr.

Moultrie, Ga. (Colquitt County HS)

K.J. Milner

6-4

265

Jr.

Hinesville, Ga. (Bradwell Institute)

Ronald Wilson

6-2

355

So.

Mocksville, N.C. (Gardner-Webb / Davie County HS)

Christian Harris

6-3

285

R-Fr.

Raleigh, N.C. (Baylor School)

Robersonville, N.C. (South Creek HS) Boone, N.C. (Watagua HS)

Decatur, Ga. (Columbia HS)

Cherokee, N.C. (Cherokee HS) North Huntingdon, Pa. (Norwin HS) Wilkesboro, N.C. (Fork Union Military)

Branchville, S.C. (Branchville HS)

Laurinburg, N.C. (Scotland County HS) Jacksonville, N.C. (Southwest Onslow HS) Arab, Ala. (Arab HS) Southern Pines, N.C. (Pinecrest HS) Raleigh, N.C. (UNC Pembroke / Middle Creek HS) Marietta, Ga. (Walton HS)

Maiden, N.C. (Maiden HS) Concord, N.C. (Cox Mill HS) Sanford, N.C. (Southern Lee HS)

Gilbert, S.C. (Gilbert HS)

Ricky Palao

6-2

285

5th

Anthony Badgett

5-9

185

R-So.

Bryson Boyette

6-1

285

Fr.

Wilmington, N.C. (New Hanover HS)

Peyton Davis

6-2

290

Fr.

Mooresville, N.C. (Lake Norman HS)

Brady Elms

6-4

170

Fr.

Huntsville, Ala. (Huntsville HS)

Trevor Fournet

5-11

215

Fr.

Cornelius, N.C. (Hough HS)

Bryson Grabowski

6-1

180

Fr.

Copperhill, Tenn. (Copper Basin HS)

Nick Hapeshis

6-1

250

Fr.

Central, S.C. (Daniel HS)

Nate Linkous

6-5

295

Fr.

Cramerton, N.C. (Stuart W. Cramer HS)

Parish Metzger

6-0

190

Fr.

Matthews, N.C. (David W. Butler HS)

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

Hoover, Ala. (Hoover HS) Greensboro, N.C. (Southeast Guilford HS)

ALPHABETICAL NO. NAME

3 Calvin Jones 66 Gabe Jones

POS.

HT.

WT.

5-10

175

CLASS Fr.

6-2

250

Fr.

0 TJ Jones

5-11

205

Jr.

21 Andreas Keaton

6-2

190

Fr. Fr.

14 Toler Keigley

6-1

190

13 Ronald Kent Jr.

5-10

175

Jr.

60 Joaquin Layno

5-10

280

R-Fr.

4 Kason Lincke

Fr.

6-1

195

Nathan Linkous

6-5

295

Fr.

6-3

300

So.

69 Dillon Luther

44 Nigel Manns

6-1

220

Fr.

32 Dawson Marchant

6-2

190

R-So.

89 Richard McCollum

5-9

180

R-So.

50 Alex McConnell

6-4

280

R-So.

6-3

195

Sr.

5-11

185

Fr.

Parish Metzger

6-0

190

Fr.

96 K.J. Milner

6-4

265

Jr.

93 Chris Morgan

6-0

265

Fr.

30 Micah Nelson

6-3

235

R-Fr.

26 Tyree Nelson

5-10

200

Fr.

6 Nick Oelrich

6-1

205

Gr.

99 Ricky Palao

6-2

285

5th Yr.

16 Brody Palhegyi

5-9

180

Fr.

6 Daquan Patten

5-6

180

5th Yr.

4 Cameron McCutcheon DB 20 Dramarian McNulty

5 Jayden Pauling

6-3

245

Jr.

10 Jakobe Quillen

6-3

200

Fr. Fr.

58 Giovanni Riccardi

6-0

225

29 Willie Rice

6-0

185

Fr.

14 Malik Richardson

NIC

6-4

210

R-Fr.

33 Curtis Roach

NIC

6-1

200

R-Sr.

46 Paxton Robertson

6-0

200

Fr.

NIC

6-0

215

Jr.

6-2

295

So.

8 LA Rogers-Anderson 73 Samari Saddler

41 Caleb Scott

6-2

225

Fr.

12 Meziah Scott

6-0

200

Fr.

56 Griffin Sestili

6-3

295

R-Jr.

42 Jontavious Shotwell

5-11

185

R-So.

49 Demorian Smith

6-0

220

Fr.

74 Tyler Smith

6-8

300

R-So.

22 Mikai Stanley

6-2

235

Fr.

68 Torrion Stevenson

6-1

305

R-So.

88 Luke Sutton

5-8

170

Fr.

24 Quintin Talley

6-0

190

Fr.

9 Kareem Taylor

6-0

215

Gr.

36 Skylin Thomas

NIC

5-10

195

R-Fr.

55 Kevin Thompson

5-10

185

So.

9 Mydreon Vines

6-2

190

Sr.

11 Rogan Wells

6-4

220

Gr.

72 Blake Whitmore

R-Fr.

6-2

285

1 CJ Williams

5-10

160

So.

2 Raphael Williams

5-10

160

R-Fr.

97 Ronald Wilson

6-2

355

So.

35 Glenn Young

5-9

200

Fr.

34 Quenten Zanders

5-8

175

Jr.

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// EARLY SEASON TWO-DEEP

CATAMOUNT OFFENSE

CATAMOUNT DEFENSE

QB 11 ROGAN WELLS 5 Carlos Davis - or - 4 Kason Lincke

6-4 220 GR. 6-3 225 R-So. 6-1 195 Fr.

8 KENNY BENJAMIN 0 TJ Jones

5-7 180 5-11 200

2 RAPHAEL WILLIAMS 6 Daquan Patten

5-10 5-6

GR. Jr.

160 R-FR. 180 R-Sr.

WR 7 TERRENCE HORNE 1 CJ Williams - or - 10 Jakobe Quillen

5-7 180 5-10 160 6-3 200

SO. So. Fr.

WR 9 MYDREON VINES 3 Calvin Jones - or - 13 Keenan Hambrick

6-2 190 5-10 175 6-3 205

SR. Fr. Fr.

TE 84 OWEN COSENKE 86 Clayton Bardall

6-3 235 SR. 6-3 225 R-So.

LT 74 TYLER SMITH 50 Alex McConnell

6-8 300 R-SO. 6-4 275 R-So.

LG 69 DILLON LUTHER 73 Samari Saddler

6-3 300 6-2 295

C 51 MATTHEW BAIR 72 Blake Whitmore

6-3 285 R-SR. 6-2 285 R-Fr.

RG 78 GARRETT BOWMAN - OR - 56 GRIFFIN SESTILI

6-4 270 R-SO. 6-3 295 R-JR.

RT 70 CHRISTIAN COULTER 75 Caleb Carter

6-5 335 6-3 285

SO. So.

SO. Fr.

CATAMOUNT SPECIAL TEAMS

96 K.J. MILNER 53 Caleb Fisher

6-4 265 6-3 230

JR. Fr.

PK 46 PAXTON ROBERTSON 6-0 200 FR. - OR - 89 RICHARD MCCOLLUM 5-9 170 R-SO.

NOSE

99 RICKY PALAO 90 Marlon Alexander

6-2 6-0

270 320

SR. So.

KO 46 PAXTON ROBERTSON 6-0 200 FR. - OR - 89 RICHARD MCCOLLUM 5-9 170 R-SO.

91 JAQUARIUS GUINN 94 Timothy Jamison

6-2 295 6-4 255

FR. Jr.

H 38 BRANDON DICKERSON 5-11 88 Luke Sutton 5-8

BNDT

5 JAYDEN PAULING 30 Micah Nelson

6-3 245 6-3 200

JR. R-Fr.

37 TY HARRIS 58 Giovanni Ricciardi

6-1 245 6-0 225

9 KAREEM TAYLOR 27 Trevor Childers

6-0 6-1

LB 1 IVAN HOGANS 8 LA Rogers-Anderson CB S

13 RONALD KENT JR. 2 Aaron Gethers 3 JACOB HARRIS 6 Nick Oelrich

195 180

SO. Fr.

P 38 BRANDON DICKERSON 5-11 195 46 Paxton Robertson 6-0 200

SO. Fr.

SR. Fr.

LS 55 KEVIN THOMPSON 64 Colby Cross

5-10 5-11

210 190

SO. Fr.

215 215

GR. Sr.

6-2 220 6-0 200

SR. Jr.

KOR 3 CALVIN JONES 7 TERRENCE HORNE 8 Kenny Benjamin - and - 26 Tyree Nelson

5-10 170 5-7 180 5-7 180 5-10 200

FR. So. Gr. Fr.

5-6 5-10

5-10 5-10

165 JR. 185 R-SO.

6-1 195 6-1 205 6-2 5-9

6 DAQUAN PATTEN 3 Calvin Jones

185 R-SR. 170 Fr.

JR. Gr.

21 ANDREAS KEATON 7 Charles Gadie

190 FR. 170 R-So.

CB - OR -

12 ROD GATTISON 5-11 180 SO. 4 CAM McCUTCHEON 6-3 195 SR.

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

2 4 6 6 7 9 10 11 14 16 17 20 22 27 32 42 49 51 56 58 60 61 79 82 84 89 91 95 99 AC

Aaron GETHERS......................................... GETH - hers KASON LINCKE............................ KAY - son LINK - kuh DAQUAN Patten..........................................DAY - qwan Nick OELRICH.............................................OHUL - rich Charles GADIE...............................................GAD - dee MYDREON Vines.................................... MY - dree - on JAKOBE QUILLEN............. juh - KOE - bee QUILL - luhn ROGAN Wells.............................................ROW - guhn TOLER KEIGLEY..........................TOLL - lurr KEY - glee Brody PALHEGYI.................................... pal - HEE - gie RAEKWON Heath........................................RAY - qwan DRAMAIAN McNulty......................dre - MARE - e - uhn MIKAI Stanley................................................muh - KYE Trevor CHILDERS..................................... CHILL - durrs Dawson MARCHANT............................... MARR - chant JONTAVIOUS Shotwell.................. john - TAY - vee - us DEMORIAN Smith.........................dee - MORE - e - uhn Matthew BAIR................................................like BEAR Griffin SESTILLI........................................ses - TILL - ee Giovanni RICCIARDI.......................... rich - CHAR - dee JOAQUIN LAYNO........................... wa - KEEN LAY - no Anthony GIANSANTE....................gee - ann - SAN - tay AIDAN Alston....................................................AY - den Miller DeARMOND..............................de - ARE - mond Owen COSENKE....................................co - SEEN - key Richard McCOLLUM........................mick - CALL - uhm JAQUARIUS Guinn..........................juh - QUARE - e - us LAQUAVION Haynes....................luh - QUAY - vee - on Ricky PALAO............................................puh - LAY - oh KERRY Webb...............................................like "Curry"

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// SEASON PREVIEW

Western Carolina rings in a new era for Catamount football entering the 2021 fall season as head coach KERWIN BELL prepares for his first year on the sidelines in Cullowhee. An accomplished player who worked his way from walk-on to All-American to the National Football League, Bell brought tremendous success as a collegiate head coach to his post in Cullowhee, introduced as the 14th head coach in WCU’s program history in late April 2021. Over a 12-year head coaching career Bell led football programs at FCS-member Jacksonville University and NCAA Division II Valdosta State, doing so on the heels of a 13-year playing career in professional football. He guided Valdosta State to the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship. With WCU coming off the postponed conference season in spring 2021 and having just been hired before the semester ended, Bell had to hit the ground running – first, assembling an assistant coaching staff and second, building a roster for the fall season. Bell didn’t have to look too far to assemble a top-notch staff for the Catamounts. On his assistant Catamount coaching staff, nine previously worked alongside Bell, and five of those were recruited by and played for Bell at his various previous coaching stops. Without having a traditional spring practice – and with the opening preseason camp coming just 132 days removed from the end of a peculiar 2020-21, fall and spring season – the summer months and team’s fall camp was paramount for the Catamounts. Ushering in a new coaching staff and players to implementing new schematics on either side of the football, work in the meeting rooms, film sessions, and the abbreviated off-season were all heightened as WCU prepares for success in the 2021 fall season.

Graduate transfer QB ROGAN WELLS (11) is very familiar with the hybrid, "Pro Spread" offensive system used by Kerwin and Kade Bell having played in the system the previous four years of his career between Valdosta State and Tusculum (pictured).

CATAMOUNT OFFENSE: Offensive coordinator KADE BELL inherited more than just the family name from his offensive-minded father and WCU head coach Kerwin Bell. Utilizing variations and principles of both the Pro Style and Spread offensive systems, the “Play Fast, Score Faster” offense that Bell brings to Cullowhee has a proven track record of success that includes three championships.

Western Carolina's new-look Nike football uniforms for the 2021 season.

Bell’s system led Valdosta State to the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship, scoring at a staggering pace – 52.0 points per game – while racking-up 7,334 yards of total offense – 3,658 passing and 3,676 rushing – for an average of 523.9 per game. Most recently at Tusculum, the Pioneers averaged 533.4 yards of offense per game with over 37 points per contest in claiming the South Atlantic Conference spring football title. Kade Bell isn’t the only common denominator between the championships and videogame-like numbers this offensive system has put up. The offense comes to Cullowhee with a ready-made trigger-man – graduate transfer, fifth-year quarterback ROGAN WELLS, who was with Bell at both aforementioned schools. The MVP of the 2018 D-II national championship game, Wells is a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy finalist who has thrown for nearly 9,000 yards over the past four seasons, amassing 8,982 yards passing in 39 career games with 84 career touchdown passes. Adding in over 2,000 rushing yards and 27 scores, Wells has accounted for 11,014 yards of total offense and 111 TDs. Wells is flanked by a pair of returners in the WCU backfield in redshirt sophomore transfer CARLOS DAVIS and second-year freshman KASON LINCKE. The duo saw limited action a season ago with Davis tossing a 44-yard touchdown pass at ETSU in the spring while Lincke finished 3-for-3 for 21 yards adding 17 rushing yards at nationally-ranked North Carolina. Several incoming freshmen quarterbacks saw reps during preseason camp including MEZIAH SCOTT (Petersburg, Va. / Petersburg HS), BRODY PALHEGYI (Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Cardinal Gibbons HS), and PARISH METZGER (Matthews, N.C. / Butler HS) seeing the bulk of the reps outside the previous trio. The targets for WCU’s quarterbacks at both wide receiver and tight end are both deep and talented entering the 2021 season. Nine different players return having caught passes a season ago between the two position groups led by second-year freshman CALVIN JONES who led the team with 24 receptions for 198 yards and a score last spring. Jones paces six returning wide outs, each with four-or-more catches last season. He’s joined by classmates KEENAN HAMBRICK (9 catches, 74 yards), LUKE SUTTON (9 catches, 32 yards), DYLAN ABERNETHY (7 catches, 55 yards), and JAKOBE QUILLEN (4 catches, 53 yards) to provide a youthful side to the receiver’s room. Fifth-year redshirt senior and WCU legacy DAQUAN PATTEN returns after catching six passes for 92 yards last season, giving him 1,092 career yards on 91 catches with seven going for touchdowns in his Catamount career.

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// SEASON PREVIEW

Transfers in the skill positions have added immediate depth – and speed – to the Catamount wide receiving group. Tusculum transfers RAPHAEL WILLIAMS (13 catches, 194 yards, TD) and MYDREON VINES (19 catches for 236, TD at ECU) join Alabama transfer C.J. WILLIAMS, TERRENCE HORNE (508 all-purpose yards, 5 TDs) from USF, and UNC Pembroke graduate transfer SHAMMOND HICKS (69 catches, 898 yards, 8 TDs) to give WCU added play-making ability on the perimeter. Second-year returning freshmen in KENDALL ALFORD and BRANSON ADAMS join incoming freshmen SOLOMON BUTLER (Moncks Corner, S.C. / Berkeley HS), TOLER KEIGLEY (Pensacola, Fla. / Mobile Christian HS) and MILLER DeARMOND (Greer, S.C. / Greer HS) to provide a deep room. Eight players carry the tight end designation entering the season paced by seniors OWEN COSENKE and TRAE CHURN, who transferred in prior to last season from South Carolina State. Converted wide receiver RAEKWON HEATH moved to the position after hauling in 12 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown as a wide receiver last season, while redshirt sophomore CLAYTON BARDALL (10 catches, 156 yards) led all receivers with three scores in the spring. Local product from Asheville – and Univ. of Richmond transfer – TALON JAMES, along with returner Luke Hoggard are joined by freshmen BRAYDEN BLACKMON (Duncan, S.C. / Byrnes HS) and CALEB SCOTT (Black Mountain, N.C. / Owen HS) to provide depth. In the backfield, WCU looks to replace tailback Donnavan Spencer who closed his career with 2,079 yards on 403 touches in 40 games with five 100-yard rushing performances and 20 touchdowns. The new offensive staff has a pair of transfers who look to fill the void in 2021 in both Valdosta State transfer KENNY BENJAMIN and junior TJ JONES from Tusculum. Benjamin played in 30 games with 16 starts at VSU where he amassed 2,086 career all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns, while Jones – who began his career at Georgia Military College – scored eight TDs for the Pioneers last spring (five rushing, three receiving) to give him 16 scores as a collegian. Returning running backs in second-year freshmen MIKAI STANLEY (45 carries, 222 yards, 2 TDs) and TYREE

Western Carolina's defense returns these three upperclassmen – fifth-year senior defensive lineman RICKY PALAO (99), redshirt senior nickelback CURTIS ROACH (33) and junior defensive lineman K.J. MILNER (96) for the 2021 season.

NELSON (169 all-purpose yards) are viable options to carry the load, while their classmate JAIDEN BOND (Boone, N.C. / Watagua HS), junior QUENTEN ZANDERS (Shelby, N.C.), and freshman GLENN YOUNG (Fayetteville, N.C.) each add necessary depth at the position. Stanley returns the only two rushing scores for WCU from 2020-21. From the first day that he stepped onto campus at his introductory press conference, Bell has stressed that he feels the success of his 2021 football season will stem from the play up front – and that starts with the offensive line. WCU returns a trio of starters from the core group a season ago including fifth-year senior MATTHEW BAIR (34 games, 19 starts), who is expected to transition to the center position. He is flanked by returning starters in redshirt sophomore TYLER SMITH (25 games, 21 starts), a preseason All-SoCon selection, and sophomore DILLON LUTHER (18 games, 15 starts) who is from Asheville. That

trio has combined to start 55 of 77 games collectively. Redshirt junior MICHAEL HARPER has also played in 19 games with seven starts and ALEX MCCONNELL (eight games) gaining valuable experience. The 6-5, 355-lbs., Tusculum transfer OL CHRISTIAN COULTER is expected to have a break-out season up front with Temple transfer GRIFFIN SESTILI adding experience and depth. The coaching staff is also high on freshman ANTHONY GIANSANTE (North Huntingdon, Pa. / Norwin HS) among others to step up throughout the season. All told offensively, WCU returns 59% of is point production from the 2020-21 season – 87 of its 147 points scored. In terms of career numbers, six players who have recorded touchdowns in their Catamount careers are back this fall, paced by Cosenke with 11 and Patten with seven scores.

CATAMOUNT DEFENSE: First-year defensive coordinator JUSTIN HINDS wants his defensive unit to play fast and with a proverbial chip on their shoulder – to play with swagger and confidence. He and his staff have coined DWA this season – meaning, Defense With Attitude – for his squad’s rally this season. Hinds’ experience includes a stop at Valdosta State with Kerwin Bell, and was most recently a part of turning around a Central Michigan program in the Mid-American Conference behind an aggressive defensive unit. The Chippewa defensive line racked up 18 sacks in 2020 – second-best in the MAC – and help produce a league-best eight interceptions.

Second-year freshman RB MIKAI STANLEY (22) scored both of WCU's two rushing touchdowns that return this season. Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman TYLER SMITH (74) was the lone Catamount to earn preseason All-Southern Conference accolades entering 2021.

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Western Carolina returns nine total players that earned starts on defense during the 2020-21 season with 82% of the tackles and 94% of its tackles for loss back. Headlining the returners on defense is fifth-year senior linebacker TY HARRIS. The Dacula, Ga., product ranked fourth in the Southern Conference a season ago with a 9.9 tackles per game average – 19th overall in the NCAA FCS. His 8.5 tackles per loss last spring additionally placed him fourth among the league leaders. Harris enters the season just 13 tackles shy of climbing inside WCU’s all-time career Top 10.

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both transfers and true freshmen. Junior cornerback RONALD KENT JR. (124 career tackles, 22 PBU, INT), a second-team All-SoCon selection in 2020-21, highlights an experienced backend. Kent is flanked Boston College transfer AARON GETHERS (24 tackles, 6 PBU, INT) with ROD GATTISON (26 tackles, 2 PBU, INT), a transfer from Georgia Military a season ago, adding experienced depth along with true freshman WILLIE RICE (St. Louis, Mo./ East Coweta (Ga.) HS). Among this year’s transfers in the secondary are Lehigh graduate Jaylen Floyd (31 games played, 16 starts), graduate transfer Nick Oelrich (23 games played) from Florida, and Cameron McCutcheon (87 career tackles, 7 PBU) from Gardner-Webb. Adding more teeth to the WCU defensive unit are returning safeties JACOB HARRIS (34 tackles), CHARLES GADIE (25 tackles), Quintin Talley (23 tackles) and JONTAVIOUS SHOTWELL (10 tackles). That foursome is joined by returner NEIL ILENRREY and true freshman ANDREAS KEATON (Powder Springs, Ga. / Hillgrove HS) to all battle for playing time this fall. Western Carolina's defensive unit returns nine players that saw starts during the 2020-21 season. Combined, 82-percent (626-of-762) of the team's tackles return this fall with 31-of-34 (94%) of the team's tackles for loss coming back.

Harris is flanked by a fellow fifth-year player at linebacker in TREVOR CHILDERS (171 career tackles, 9.5 TFL) in the middle of the defense with key transfers in two-time All-Big South selection KAREEM TAYLOR (92 tackles, 12 TFL) from Kennesaw State and fifth-year senior IVAN HOGANS (256 career tackles, 29 TFL) from Tusculum expected to add experience in the middle of the defense. Second-year freshmen NIGEL MANNS – who had a scoop-and-score on a fumble at North Carolina last season, DEMORIAN SMITH, TYLER ANDERSON and GIOVANNI RICCIARDI each provide youthful depth. Up front, fifth-year senior RICKY PALAO (63 tackles, 7.5 TFL) leads a talented group of linemen who like their offensive counterparts will be heavily leaned upon for the success of the team. Junior K.J. MILNER (71 tackles, 9 TFL) has 21 career starts along the line and is joined by returning SoCon All-Freshman team selection JAQUARIUS GUINN (21 tackles) Other returners along the defensive line include TIMOTHY JAMISON (20 tackles), TORRION STEVENSON (28 tackles, 1 TFL), and CHRIS MORGAN (6 tackles).

with second-year freshman LAQUAVION HAYNES (23 tackles) each seemed to thrive in their new roles as rush ends in the current scheme during fall camp and will provide tremendous depth. Moving through the middle of the defense are WCU’s nickelbacks that include redshirt senior – and WCU legacy – CURTIS ROACH (45 tackles) and junior LA RogersAnderson (23 tackles), who transferred in prior to last season from Western Kentucky. Redshirt freshman SKYLIN THOMAS played in nine games in 2020-21 and true freshman JERIUS EDWARDS (Carrollton, Ga. / Carrollton HS) both showed sparks in preseason camp. Converted offensive player MALIK RICHARDSON – who spent time as a quarterback and a running back – moving to the position this season. WCU’s defensive secondary is loaded with talent with a solid mix of returning players and newcomers in

Western Carolina’s defense returns all six of its interceptions from a season ago and six of its eight fumble recoveries in terms of takeaways in 2020-21. A total of 25 of the team’s 33 pass break-ups are back entering fall 2021.

CATAMOUNT SPECIAL TEAMS: Injury a season ago forced WCU to shuffle its specialists as PAXTON ROBERTSON was pressed into the starting punter role when BRANDON DICKERSON was sidelined. Robertson, now a second-year freshman capitalized on the opportunity, collecting SoCon All-Freshman team plaudits after nailing a both a 40-yard and 52-yard field goal and averaging 39.5 yards per punt, while also handling much of the kickoff duty. Dickerson is poised to return this fall with a career average of 37.1 yards per punt and an impressive 17 of 62 punts downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. Back for his fourth season on the field, redshirt sophomore RICHARD MCCOLLUM handled a bulk of the placekicks last season, converting 18 PATs and hitting three field-goals including a pair of 45 yarders. Freshman

Among the newcomers along the defensive line for returning assistant coach DENNIS THOMAS, who coached at WCU in 2014-15, are Gardner-Webb transfers MARLON ALEXANDER and RONALD WILSON, with ANTWANN FANN, a former three-star recruit, from Kennesaw State. Freshman CALEB FISHER (Decatur, Ga. / Columbia HS) was among those players impressive during fall camp. As a part of the 4-2-5 schematic for Coach Hinds are hybrid rush defensive ends – defenders who stand along the end of the line and are critical in pass defense, but must also be relied on to stop the run. Headlining that group are returners JAYDEN PAULING, who was a preseason All-SoCon selection in 2020-21 before missing the season due to injury. Pauling, who recorded 51 tackles and led the NCAA with five forced fumbles in 2019, converts from a linebacker position to end much like Garden City Community College transfer WILLIE HAMPTON who started all nine games in the spring, finishing with 44 tackles. Redshirt freshmen DARRIUS BELL (28 tackles), MICAH NELSON (27 tackles), and TRE JOLLY (16 tackles) along

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Second-year freshman PK PAXTON ROBERTSON (46) nailed a 52-yard field goal at Eastern Kentucky last fall out of the hold of BRANDON DICKERSON (83). Robertson later filled in for Dickerson as the team's primary punter during the 2021 spring season.

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punter BRADY ELMS (Huntsville, Ala. / Huntsville HS) is among the newcomers for the Catamount specialists. Two players entered camp vying for the long-snapper job including second-year freshman COLBY CROSS (nine games played) and returning sophomore KEVIN THOMPSON (11 games played). Preseason auditions for WCU’s primary kickoff and punt returners saw numerous individuals dropping back on special teams. Among the favorites on kickoff returns are returners CALVIN JONES (21.0 average) and TYREE NELSON (27.0 average), with Jones and DAQUAN PATTEN the two who returned punts last year. The speedy, multipurpose back Terrence Horne is also expected to factor in the return game for the Catamounts this fall.

2021 WCU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE: Western Carolina’s 11-game schedule opens with a Labor Day weekend nonconference match-up against Eastern Kentucky in Cullowhee and the regular-season culminates with a trip to defending SoCon champion VMI in Lexington, Va., on Nov. 20 ahead of the restored, 24-team NCAA FCS Playoffs. The 2021 fall schedule features eight Southern Conference games split evenly between home and away that are flanked by a trio of September nonconference match-ups, two coming away from Cullowhee. The 2021 regular season schedule opens on Sept. 4 at home as the Eastern Kentucky Colonels travel to E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. It's the first meeting between the two programs in Cullowhee since 2006 when WCU upset the then 19th-ranked Colonels. The following week, the Catamounts venture to Norman, Okla., to face the defending Big XII champion Sooners in OU's home opener. It's just the second match-up all-time between the Catamounts and a current member of the Big XII Conference as WCU visited Kansas back in 1993. WCU opens SoCon play on Sat., Sept. 18 as it hosts the Samford Bulldogs on WCU's Family Weekend before closing the month with a nonconference road trip to GardnerWebb (Sept. 25) in Boiling Springs. The Catamounts lead the series with the Runnin' Bulldogs 6-4 including three wins on the road.

ROGAN WELLS earned the top quarterback spot on the second-team offense while junior defensive back RONALD KENT JR. landed on the second-team defense ... Fifth-year senior linebacker TY HARRIS highlighted three on the third team that also included senior transfer defensive back CAMERON MCCUTCHEON and redshirt sophomore offensive lineman TYLER SMITH.

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October opens with a road trip to Chattanooga (Oct. 2) before Mercer comes to Cullowhee for WCU's annual Homecoming game on Sat., Oct. 9. Following a bye-week in midOctober, the Catamounts close the month with consecutive road games at The Citadel (Oct. 23) and Wofford (Oct. 30).

RNK PLAYER 1. Tom Bodine 2. Ace Clark 3. Daniel Riddle 4. Kenny Banks 5. Eric Johnson Julius Grant 7. Bernard Jones Ricky Smith 9. Rock Williams 10. Everett Spellman 11. Louis Cooper 12. Clyde Simmons 13. Steve Yates TY HARRIS

Rivalry match-ups on consecutive weekends open the November portion of the 2021 schedule as chromatic-rival Furman invades Whitmire Stadium on Nov. 6 with WCU hosting the Blue Ridge Border Battle match-up with ETSU on Nov. 13, looking to reclaim the traveling trophy after last year’s one-possession road loss in Johnson City, Tenn.

ADDITIONAL PRESEASON NOTES: •

Western Carolina was picked to finish ninth in the nine-team Southern Conference by both the league’s head coaches and voting media as polls were released as a part of the league’s 2021 Football Kickoff and Media Day held at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville;

•

Chattanooga was selected as the SoCon preseason favorite by both the head coaches and voting media, receiving four of nine first-place votes from the coaches and 18 of 30 in the media tabulation … the coaches narrowly selected Samford over VMI for the runner-up spot with both collecting two first-place votes, while VMI collected six first-place votes to finish just behind the Mocs in second in the media poll;

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Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman TYLER SMITH represented WCU on the 2021 preseason All-SoCon team announced at the late-summer kickoff event … Smith’s first-team selection is the first for a WCU offensive lineman since Zach Weeks collected first-team preseason accolades prior to the 2018 season … Smith is among five returning starters on the Catamount offense, leading three starters back along the offensive line … WCU's lone selection on the preseason all-conference team marked its fewest since 2012 when LB Rock Williams garnered the squad's only preseason nod;

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All nine SoCon teams were represented on the preseason all-conference teams, with each program securing at least one first-team selection … ETSU led the way with 10 All-SoCon selections, matching Samford with six on the first team as the Bulldogs and Chattanooga both had nine honorees combined … the Mocs and Furman both had a league-best five second-team selections;

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Five Catamounts landed on Phil Steele's Preseason All-Southern Conference teams as selected and announced by the publication ... Western Carolina put two players on the second team and three on the third team ... Graduate transfer quarterback

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

Returning for his fifth-year due to the COVID-19 exemption, Western Carolina senior linebacker TY HARRIS has shot at etching his name in the Catamount football record books for career tackles ... Harris enters the season just 13 tackles shy of WCU’s career Top 10 list and is just 39 away from second-place in WCU’s career ledgers:

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YEARS 1991-94 2011-14 2013-17 1990-94 1996-98 1990-93 1981-84 1977-80 2009-12 1984-87 1981-84 1982-85 1971-74 2017-PRES

+152 +39 +32 +30 +25 +19 +18 +13 +11 +6 +5

Senior LB TY HARRIS enters his fifth season also eyeing Western Carolina’s career Top 10 list for tackles for loss ... Harris is coming off a career-best 8.5 tackles for loss in the 2020-21 season, tied for fourth in the SoCon: RNK PLAYER 1. Michale Spicer 2. Louis Cooper 3. Clyde Simmons 4. Rod Dunlap Nick McNeil 6. Billy Bumper Geno Segars 8. Anthony Jenkins 9. Derek Summerour 10. John Scott – TY HARRIS

UA A TOTAL 296 157 453 169 171 340 133 200 333 227 104 331 219 107 326 215 111 326 185 135 320 132 188 320 153 166 319 201 113 314 189 123 312 191 116 307 191 115 306 153 148 301

YEARS TOTAL 2000-03 56.5 +35.5 1981-84 48.0 +27 1982-85 47.0 +26 2000-03 45.0 +24 2000-03 45.0 1991-94 38.0 +17 1985-88 38.0 1997-99 37.0 +16 1992-95 32.0 +11 1995-98 31.0 +10 2017– 21.0

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head coach

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

KERWIN BELL

An accomplished player who worked his way from walkon to All-American to the National Football League, and a 12-year veteran head coach who won a combined four conference championships and the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship, Kerwin Bell was named the 14th head football coach at Western Carolina University by Director of Athletics Alex Gary on April 27, 2021. “We talk every day about Catamount Athletics having a winning mentality and the confidence to believe we can bring championships to our university,” said Gary. “Kerwin is a proven winner and has shown the ability to build successful programs. We are thrilled to welcome him and his family to Cullowhee.” Bell comes to Cullowhee having served as the offensive coordinator at the University of South Florida under head coach Charlie Strong in 2019. He most recently walked off the field as a head coach following the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship, leading the Valdosta State Blazers where he coached for three seasons, twice making playoff appearances.

and won both a conference and a national championship in 2018. He was named the 2018 Don Hansen NCAA Division II Co-Coach of the Year and the Gulf South Conference CoCoach of the Year after leading VSU to a 14-0 record – the first unbeaten season in program history that included a thrilling 49-47 victory over Ferris State in the D-II National Championship game. Picked fifth in their conference in the preseason and the No. 3 seed entering the playoffs, the Blazers finished No. 1 nationally in the final AFCA Division II poll. Bell’s 2018 offense led the nation in scoring (52.0 ppg), ranked second in first downs (341), and was fourth in total offense (523.9 ypg), red-zone offense (.901), and pass efficiency (167.37). The Blazers scored 728 points on the year, the most in NCAA Division II history, as they posted 7,334 yards (3,676 rushing/3,658 passing) and 7.9 yards per play on the year. Within Bell’s system, VSU sophomore quarterback Rogan Wells finished as the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy, presented to the Division II Player of the Year, and was

BORN: June 15, 1965 HOMETOWN: Mayo, Fla. ALMA MATER: Florida, 1987 FAMILY: Wife, Cosette Odom; Three children; Kade, Kolton, and Kenzley

PLAYING EXPERIENCE: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, former walk-on, three-year starter at QB (1984-88); SEC Player of the Year (1984); First-Team All-SEC (1985) and Honorable mention AllAmerica (1985, 1986) u

Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame, 1996 inductee

Univ. of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, 1997 inductee

MIAMI DOLPHINS (NFL), 7th-round draft pick (180), 1988 ATLANTA FALCONS (NFL), 1988 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (NFL), 1989 ORLANDO THUNDER (WLAF), 1991-92 SACRAMENTO GOLD MINERS (CFL), 1993-94 EDMONTON ESKIMOS (CFL), 1995 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (NFL), 1996-97 TORONTO ARGONAUTS (CFL), 1998 u

CFL East All-Star (1998)

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (CFL), 1999-2000 TORONTO ARGONAUTS (CFL), 2000-01

COACHING EXPERIENCE: UNIV. OF FLORIDA, graduate assistant (1990) TORONTO ARGONAUTS, offensive coordinator (2000-01) TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH, head coach (2002-06) JACKSONVILLE UNIV., head coach (2007-15) u

Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year (2008)

VALDOSTA STATE UNIV., head coach (2016-18) u u u

Gulf South Conference Co-Coach of the Year (2018) Don Hansen NCAA Division II Co-Coach of the Year (2018) NCAA Division II National Champion (2018)

UNIV. OF SOUTH FLORIDA, offensive coordinator (2019) WESTERN CAROLINA UNIV., head coach (2021–)

“I am excited and honored to be named the new head football coach at Western Carolina University,” said Bell. “We are coming here to win championships on the field and help mentor the young men who are in our program. I am ready to get started building this into a championship program that the Catamount Nation can be proud of.” Over a 12-year head coaching career, Bell led the football programs at Valdosta State (2016-18) and Jacksonville University (2007-15). He did this coming on the heels of a 13-year playing career in professional football that included several stops in the NFL and the Canadian Football League. Bell served three seasons as the head coach at Valdosta State where he also guided the offense. He led the Blazers to a 27-7 record during his tenure including a school-record 15 straight victories, two Division II playoff appearances,

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named both the Region Two and Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Wells accounted for 50 touchdowns on the year (including one receiving), led the nation in points responsible for (300), was second in passing touchdowns (38) and points responsible for per game (21.4 ppg), 10th in passing yards (3,075), 12th in passing efficiency (160.6) and 25th in total offense (271.9 ypg). He finished second on the team with 732 yards rushing and led the team with 11 rushing touchdowns. Additionally, senior offensive linemen Jeremy King was the runner-up for the Gene Upshaw Award presented to the most outstanding Division II lineman. Bell led VSU to runner-up conference finishes in his first two years guiding the program and went 8-3 with a playoff appearance in his first season at the helm in 2016 as the Blazers led the nation with 27 interceptions on defense. Prior to Valdosta, Bell led Jacksonville University for nine seasons, guiding the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program to a 66-35 record and three Pioneer Football League (PFL) championships. Serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach as well as head coach, Bell was named the 2008 PFL Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award after leading the Dolphins to a 9-4 seasonal record and conference title. He also led Jacksonville to a school-best 10-1 record and conference championship in 2010 as the Dolphins led the nation in total (486 ypg) and scoring (42.2 ppg) offense. JU also posted a 9-2 overall mark and won a conference title in 2014. Before taking over the Jacksonville program, Bell led Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala, Fla., for six seasons (2001-06), earning a Florida 2B state title in 2005 and runner-up finish in 2006. His coaching career began in earnest at the end of his professional playing career as he served as the offensive coordinator for two seasons while still a player for the Toronto Argonauts (2000-01). Originally from Mayo, Fla., Bell was a quarterback at the University of Florida from 1983-87 where he completed over 57 percent of his 953 pass attempts for 7,585 yards and 56 touchdowns. A former walk-on, Bell concluded his collegiate career as the SEC Player of the Year in 1984 after leading Florida to a 9-1-1 record and a conference championship, and both a first-team All-SEC selection and All-America honorable mention in 1985, a season that saw the Gators earn the programs first-ever No. 1 national ranking in the Associated Press poll. Garnering a second honorable mention All-America honor in 1986, Bell was a 1987 team captain and earned the program’s Fergie Ferguson Award.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT KERWIN BELL: “Western Carolina is getting a good one in Kerwin Bell. If you look at his track record, he wins. He won the national championship at Valdosta State and will bring championships to Western Carolina.” – Steve Spurrier, former Univ. of Florida and Univ. of South Carolina head coach “Kerwin is a winner! The majority of my development as a coach came during my time working for Kerwin Bell. He is a man of high character, high integrity, and high intelligence. His development of players and coaches is second to none. Having coached both defense and offense for him, I was able to witness his brilliant football mind. The Western Carolina University fan base should be ecstatic about their new head ball coach.” – James Rowe, Defensive Backs Coach for the Indianapolis Colts “I’m excited for Kerwin and for the Catamount fans. Kerwin will bring an exciting brand of football to Western Carolina and I fully expect that he will revitalize Catamount football. The folks of Cullowhee will enjoy getting to know him. Kerwin joins women’s basketball head coach Kiley Hill as former Blazer head coaches that are now at WCU.” – Herb Reinhard, Director of Athletics at Valdosta State University “I’m so excited for Kerwin and his family. The Catamounts are getting one of the best leaders and coaches I’ve ever been around in my career. Buckle your seatbelts, WCU fans. Points and wins are about to come your way.” – Alan Verlander, former Director of Athletics at Jacksonville University

Bell was ranked the No. 26 Greatest Gator of all-time from the first 100 years of football at Florida in 2006 by The Gainesville Sun. Bell later served as a graduate assistant for the 1990 season under Steve Spurrier at Florida after earning a degree in psychology in 1987. He was selected in the seventh round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, beginning his 13-year professional career that saw stops with the NFL teams in Miami, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Indianapolis as well as stops in the Canadian Football League, where he passed for 19,538 yards and 101 touchdowns in nine seasons, and the World League of American Football (WLAF). Married in 1986 while both students at Florida, Bell and his wife, Cosette, have three children: Kade, Kolton, and Kenzley.

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ASSISTANT COACH

KADE BELL

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR / QUARTERBACKS

PERSONAL INFORMATION: HOMETOWN: ALMA MATER:

Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville Univ., 2015

FAMILY:

Wife, Charlotte

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY Offensive graduate assistant / QBs (2016) VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY Assistant coach / offensive coordinator / QBs (2016-18) UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA Offensive analyst (2019) TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY Associate head coach / offensive coordinator (2021)

NOTABLE:

Played for his father, Kerwin Bell, at Jacksonville where he was a four-year starting QB and finished his career with 9,613 total yards and accounted for 93 TDs ... Named All-Pioneer Football League (2014)

Kade Bell was named the offensive coordinator at Western Carolina in the spring of 2021, coming to Cullowhee from Tusculum University, where he served as the associate head coach and offensive coordinator for the Pioneers. Highly regarded as one of the finest up-and-coming offensive minds in collegiate football, Bell will also coach the Catamount quarterbacks.

Under Bell's tutelage at Valdosta State, Wells earned the 2018 Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was twice runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy. Valdosta State's quarterbacks amassed 4,855 total offensive yards and accounted for 69 total touchdowns while throwing only six interceptions. In addition, the 2018 VSU offense was one of the most balanced in college football producing 262 rushing yards per game along with 261 passing yards per game while scoring 50 passing touchdowns along with 40 rushing scores.

Bell helped lead Tusculum to the 2021 South Atlantic Conference Spring Football Championship as his offense averaged 533.4 yards and scored 37.6 points per game in a 4-1 seasonal record. The Pioneers averaged nearly 400 passing yards per game to lead the SAC, scoring 15 touchdowns through the air in 2021. In addition, the unit added 139.2 yards per game on the ground and 12 additional scores.

The VSU offense produced five All-GSC performers that season, including Wells, wide receivers Lio'undre Gallimore and Brian Sands, running back Jamar Thompkins, and allpurpose back Seth McGill. Thompkins was also named the 2018 GSC Freshman of the Year.

Graduate transfer quarterback Rogan Wells, who began his playing career with Bell at Valdosta State, led the SAC in pass completions (117), pass attempts (189), passing yards (1,852), passing yards per game (370.4), and touchdown passes (15) in the 2021 spring season.

In 2017, Bell served as the offensive passing game coordinator with the Valdosta State program while also mentoring the Blazers' receiving corps, including All-GSC standout Dallas Baldner. Over the 20 combined games that he was the chief play-caller for Valdosta State, the Blazers posted a stellar 19-1 record.

Also among Bell's coaching experience is a year on the coaching staff at the University of South Florida in 2019, where he was an offensive analyst with the Bulls passing attack. Bell earned his start as a graduate assistant coach in 2016, where he coached the quarterbacks as Valdosta State went 8-2 during the regular season and advanced to the NCAA II Playoffs. The Blazers averaged 311 passing yards per game, tops in the Gulf South and eighth-best in the country. Bell played collegiate football at Jacksonville University from 2011-2015, where he was coached by his father. He was a four-year starting quarterback and finished his career with 9,613 total offensive yards and accounted for 93 touchdowns. He earned All-Pioneer Football League honors and led the Dolphins to a 2014 conference championship. Bell graduated from Jacksonville in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports management and later completed his master's degree in public administration from Valdosta State in 2018. He and his wife Charlotte were married in February 2019.

Originally from Jacksonville, Fla., Bell previously coached at Valdosta State University, where he served three seasons on the coaching staff under his father – and current WCU head coach Kerwin Bell. The younger Bell was on the Blazers' staff from 2016-18, where he was as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He helped guide the Blazers to a perfect 14-0 record and an NCAA Division II national championship in 2018. VSU led the nation in scoring offense that season averaging an outstanding 52 points per game and broke the Division II and Gulf South Conference record for most points scored in a single season (728). The Blazers also led the country in yards per play (7.9), points per play (.78 - NCAA II record), yards per rush (7.2), and passing touchdowns (50). Valdosta was also fourth in the country in red-zone offense (.901), fourth in total offense (524.0 ypg), and fourth in passing efficiency (167.37).

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ASSISTANT COACH

JUSTIN HINDS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR / LINEBACKERS

PERSONAL INFORMATION: HOMETOWN: ALMA MATER:

Port Reading, N.J. Rowan Univ., 2009

COACHING EXPERIENCE: ROWAN UNIVERSITY, defensive assistant (2009) PLAINFIELD (N.J.) HIGH, assistant coach (2010) WOODBRIDGE (N.J.) HIGH, assistant coach (2011) WAGNER (N.Y.) COLLEGE, assistant coach / DL & OLB (2012-13) MISSISSIPPI STATE, graduate assistant (2014) FLORIDA, graduate assistant (2015) VALDOSTA STATE UNIV., assistant coach / DL (2016-17) LAFAYETTE COLLEGE, assistant coach / DL (2018) CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIV., assistant coach (2019-20)

Justin Hinds joined the Western Carolina football coaching staff during the spring of 2021 as the Catamounts' defensive coordinator. Hinds comes to Cullowhee after most recently serving two seasons as the defensive line coach at Central Michigan in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Hinds mentored All-MAC selections along the defensive line in 2020, including Troy Hairston II and Mohamed Diallo. Hairston, who also earned All-America honorable mention from Phil Steele and was also dubbed the MAC co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, led the MAC with 5.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Diallo ranked second with 9.5 TFLs in 2020. Combined, Hinds' defensive line unit racked up 18 sacks in 2020, the second-highest total in the MAC, and helped produce a league-best eight interceptions by the Chippewa defense.

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In 2019, Hinds was part of head coach Jim McElwain's staff that engineered a remarkable turnaround, taking a program that won one game in '18 to an 8-6 finish, a MidAmerican Conference West Division title, and a berth in the New Mexico Bowl. Hinds led a Chippewa defensive front that featured two All-MAC honorees, Sean Adesanya, who was named to the all-conference first team, and Robi Stuart, who earned a spot on the third team. In addition, CMU ranked second in the league in 2019 in total defense.

ence and NCAA Division II in interceptions, turnovers gained, first downs allowed, and third-down defense. Hinds earned a bachelor of science degree from Rowan (N.J.) and a master's degree from Wagner (N.Y.) College where he coached the defensive line and outside linebackers in 2012-13. Hinds was a two-time All-New Jersey Athletic Conference defensive lineman during a four-year career at Rowan and then served as a graduate assistant on McElwain's staff at Florida in 2015 after coaching the 2014 season as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State.

Before moving to Central Michigan, Hinds was the defensive line coach in 2018 at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. The Leopards finished among the top 25 teams in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in takeaways with 23, and they were second in the Patriot League with 15 interceptions. Hinds helped cultivate similar success at Valdosta State, where he served as the defensive line coach under current WCU head coach Kerwin Bell. The Blazers program regularly ranked among the top teams in both the Gulf South Confer-

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ASSISTANT COACH

KERRY WEBB

SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR / NICKELS

PERSONAL INFORMATION: HOMETOWN:

DeFuniak Springs, Fla.

ALMA MATER:

Univ. of Florida, 2004

COACHING EXPERIENCE: VALDOSTA STATE, graduate assistant coach (2005-06) JACKSONVILLE UNIV., assistant coach / special teams coordinator / RBs (2007-15) TUSCULUM UNIV., associate head coach / special teams coordinator / WRs (2016) VALDOSTA STATE UNIV., assistant coach / special teams coordinator / RBs (2017-20)

NOTABLE: Was a member of Kerwin Bell’s coaching staff at both Jacksonville (2007-15) and Valdosta State (2017-18).

Kerry Webb (pronounced "Curry") joined the Western Carolina football coaching staff in the spring of 2021, where he will serve as the special teams coordinator and coach the nickelbacks on defense. Webb's collegiate coaching experience spans four different institutions, including Valdosta State, Tusculum, Jacksonville University, and the University of Florida, where he earned his start as a student video assistant. During his coaching career, Webb has coached 14 all-conference players, and his recruiting efforts led to the signing of two All-Americans and three players who progressed onto the NFL. Webb came to Cullowhee after a couple of coaching stints at Valdosta State, starting as a graduate assistant in the mid-2000s and most recently, returning as the special teams coordinator and running backs coach from 2017-20. He was

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the program’s recruiting coordinator from 2019-2021 and was named interim head coach in January of 2019 during VSU’s coaching search. Webb was a part of Kerwin Bell's staff on Valdosta State's 2018 undefeated season, winning the NCAA Division II National Championship. In 2019, VSU also won the Gulf South Conference title as it went 10-0 overall through the regular season and 8-0 in conference play. VSU finished the season 10-1 as it earned a berth in the NCAA Second Round.

Webb's direction helped produce first-team All-South Atlantic Conference honors for return specialist Jay Boyd in 2016. On the back end of his time with the Blazers as a graduate assistant in the mid-2000's, Webb transitioned into his first full-time coaching position as a running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Jacksonville University under Bell.

Under Webb's guidance, 2018 VSU freshmen running backs Jamar Thompkins (first-team) and Seth McGill (second-team) both garnered All-Gulf South Conference honors. In addition, kicker Andrew Gray became the VSU Blazer all-time leading scorer while also being voted second-team All-Gulf South Conference. In 2019, Thompkins and McGill earned firstteam all-conference honors, while kicker Fernando Ramirez earned second-team all-league accolades.

Notable accomplishments throughout Webb's career include the guidance of the Jacksonville running backs in 2010, which led the Dolphins offense to a No. 1 ranking in the country. The squad nearly repeated the feat in 2013 with a No. 5 ranking, and the Dolphins ranked 3rd nationally in overall scoring during that same season. Webb also coached Jacksonville University's career all-time leading rusher Rudell Small and second all-time leading rusher Ulysses Bryant. He additionally coached the school's career all-time leader in kickoff return yards and average per return, Colby Walden.

Before returning to Valdosta in 2017, Webb took a position at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn., where he spent one year as the associate head coach and special teams coordinator while also coaching the wide receivers.

A 2004 graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology, Webb earned his Master's degree in Education Health and Physical Education from Valdosta State in 2006.

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ASSISTANT COACH

CHAZMON SCALES CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR / SAFETIES

PERSONAL INFORMATION: HOMETOWN: ALMA MATER:

Franklin, Tenn. Arkansas State Univ., 2012

COACHING EXPERIENCE: UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA, defensive graduate assistant (2014) VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY, quality control assistant (2015) NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE, assistant coach / RBs (2016) TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY, assistant coach / pass game coordinator / CBs (2017-18) CENTRAL ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY, Assistant coach / Safeties (2019-21) u

Chazmon Scales joined the Catamount football coaching staff in early July 2021 as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Scales, a former football student-athlete at Arkansas State comes to Cullowhee after serving two seasons on staff at Central Arkansas in the same capacity.

Scales earned his coaching start in 2014 as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of West Georgia where he was a part of a 12-3 season that included a semifinal appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Wolves finished tied for third in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) and finished the year ranked sixth in the nation according to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

Scales helped Central Arkansas to the 2019 Southland Conference Championship and competing in the fall of 2020, to a 5-4 overall in his second season. Scales guided Cameron Godfrey to Fall All-Southland Conference honors after leading the Bears with 51 tackles including 31 solo stops, adding a pair of interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He also worked with first-team All-America selection Robert Rochelle, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, and second-team All-Southland honoree Juan Jackson.

Scales instructed West Georgia safety Carlos Hutton, who led the GSC with 13 passes defended and was second with four interceptions, garnering USA College Football AllAmerica plaudits. In addition to Hutton, cornerback Laronji Vason earned All-GSC honors as Vason notched 72 stops, two interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries under Scales.

While at Central Arkansas, Scales was selected as a participant in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. He interned with the New York Giants through mini-camp and team training camp where he assisted with the defensive backs.

In 2015, Scales served as a quality control assistant working with the cornerbacks and special teams at Valdosta State helping the Blazers to nine victories and a NCAA Division II playoff berth, finishing the year ranked 14th in the final AFCA poll. Defensive back Kenny Moore thrived under Scales, tallying three interceptions including two returned for touchdowns in earning USA College Football All-America and All-GSC plaudits.

Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, NEW YORK GIANTS (DBs)

In 2016, he served as running backs coach at Northeast Mississippi Community College. As a player, Scales was a four-year contributor on defense at Arkansas State where he was a part of two consecutive Sun Belt Conference championship teams as a junior and senior, earning berths in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala. He helped the Red Wolves win nine-straight games in 2011 and seven-consecutive to end his senior season. Scales was a standout player at Centennial High School where he was selected to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Class 5A All-State team following a senior season in which he accounted for 2,400 yards and 29 touchdowns as the quarterback for the Cougars. Originally from Franklin, Tenn., Scales is a 2012 graduate of Arkansas State with a bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies.

Prior to accepting the position at UCA, Scales was an assistant coach at Tusculum for the 2017 and 2018 seasons where coached the cornerbacks and was the pass game coordinator while also serving as the co-special teams coordinator. ScaleS mentored All-South Atlantic Conference and All-Region cornerback Martez Thompson, All-SAC selection Malik Goodman, and two-time All-South Atlantic performer Dee Alford who went on to sign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. With Scales on staff, the Pioneer defense led the conference in turnovers with 13 interceptions and a league-best 12 fumbles recovered, while also pacing the SAC in pass defense in limiting opponents to just 170 yards per game through the air.

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ASSISTANT COACH

JON COOPER OFFENSIVE LINE

PERSONAL INFORMATION: HOMETOWN:

Fort Collins, Colo.

ALMA MATER: FAMILY:

Univ. of Oklahoma, 2009

Wife, Julia; Son, Cage; Daughter, Carter

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, graduate assistant coach (2013-14) UTAH STATE UNIV., graduate assistant coach (2015) UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, offensive analyst (2016-17) UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, assistant coach / TEs (2018-19) UNIV. OF ARKANSAS, assistant coach / TEs (2020)

NOTABLE:

Played offensive line at Oklahoma (2005-08) and four seasons in the NFL between the Minnesota Vikings (2009-11) and Tennessee Titans (2012).

Jon Cooper joined the Western Carolina football coaching staff as the offensive line coach in the days prior to the 2021 fall season. A four-year starter along the offensive line at Oklahoma and a four-year NFL veteran, Cooper comes to Cullowhee having spent the 2020 season as the tight ends coach at Arkansas. Under his guidance, former walk-on TE Blake Kern recorded a careerbest 201 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while freshman TE Hudson Henry earned a spot on the All-SEC Freshman team. Before coaching at Arkansas, Cooper coached at Central Florida where he coached the Knights’ tight ends for two seasons. During his two years in Orlando, the Knights went an impressive 22-4 including a 2018 American Athletic Conference championship, an undefeated regular season, a trip to the 2019 Fiesta Bowl and a spot in the final Associated Press poll (No. 11).

Cooper also had coaching stops at Missouri for two seasons and Utah State as a graduate assistant. At Mizzou, he worked as an offensive analyst with then-offensive coordinator Josh Heupel. The Tigers’ offense exploded to lead the Southeastern Conference in yards per game in 2017 (502.2 ypg) and points per game (37.5 ppg), while ranking second in passing yards (308.6 ypg). In his final season in Columbia, Cooper helped the offensive line finish the year ranked eighth nationally in total offense, fifth in sacks allowed (13.0), 14th in scoring offense and passing yards, 18th in first downs (23.4 per game) and 16th in red zone offense (90.6% scoring). In his lone season with the Utah State Aggies in 2015, the offense climbed 21 spots nationally in scoring offense, despite losing its starting quarterback Chuckie Keeton to injury. Cooper was a four-year starter at center for Oklahoma, earning Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year in his senior season in 2008 while blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. During his playing days with the Sooners, he

helped lead Oklahoma to a 42-12 overall record and a spot in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game in his final season, while garnering two All-Big 12 selections and All-America honors as a senior. Following his graduation, Cooper spent four seasons in the NFL, playing 13 games during his first three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and made his first career start against the Dallas Cowboys at center. He originally joined the Vikings in 2009 as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma before signing with the Tennessee Titans in 2012. Cooper began his coaching career at his alma mater, Oklahoma, as a graduate assistant coach. He spent two seasons with the Sooners while the program went 19-7, including 45-31 victory over Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl. Originally from Fort Collins, Colorado, Cooper graduated from Oklahoma in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in human relations. He and his wife, Julia, have a son, Cage, and a daughter, Carter.

UCF’s offense was one of the most productive in the nation each of Cooper’s two seasons. The 2019 offense finished the regular season in the top 10 nationally in total offense (2nd – 540.5 ypg), scoring (5th – 43.4 ppg) and passing yards (8th – 316.7 ypg). The Knights’ total offense set a school record and marked the second straight year under head coach Josh Heupel the UCF offense gained more than 500 yards per game. In 2018, the Knights scored 43.2 points per game, ranking sixth in the nation, and gained 522.7 yards per game to finish the season ranked fifth in the country. The UCF ground game set a program-best with 265.2 yards per game to finish eighth in the nation. Senior Michael Colubiale led the way for Cooper’s tight ends with 21 catches and three touchdowns to earn All-American Athletic honorable mention status in 2018.

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ASSISTANT COACH

J.J. LASTER WIDE RECEIVERS

PERSONAL INFORMATION: HOMETOWN: ALMA MATER: FAMILY:

Graceville, Fla. Jacksonville Univ., 2012 Wife, Rodricka; Son, Jesse James III

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

ALLEN D. NEASE (FLA.) HIGH, assistant coach / RBs (2013) JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY, graduate assistant / LBs (2014-15) TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY, assistant coach / RBs (201617) & WRs (2018) GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY, assistant coach / RB & TE (2019)

NOTABLE:

Played for Kerwin Bell at Jacksonville University where he was a two-time All-Pioneer Football League (PFL) selection. JJ Laster joined the Western Carolina football offensive coaching staff in the spring of 2021, coaching the Catamount wide receivers. He comes to Cullowhee after spending the 2019 season at Gardner-Webb where he coached the running backs and tight ends, while also overseeing the return teams for special teams. While in Boiling Springs, Laster mentored a trio of All-Big South Conference selections in the three areas he coached. GWU running back Jaylin Cagle earned second-team All-Big South honors after rushing for 930 yards and eight touchdowns with four 100-yard rushing games in 2019, while tight end AJ Alexander was also a second-team selection, hauling in a career-high 16 passes for 155 yards and a TD. Devron Harper collected first-team All-Big South honors while also finishing as the runner-up for the conference’s freshman of the year accolade in addition to collecting first-team FCS Freshman All-America

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plaudits. Harper finished with 1,600 all-purpose yards in 2019 including 928 return yards that featured a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against FBS-foe, Charlotte. Prior to Gardner-Webb, Laster spent three seasons coaching football at Tusculum University, first working with the Pioneers' running backs for two seasons and most recently the wide receivers for a year while also serving as the team's recruiting coordinator. Laster had a distinguished playing career at Jacksonville University, where he was a two-time All-Pioneer Football League (PFL) selection and helped the Dolphins to conference championships in 2008 and 2010. In 40 career games as a running back with the Dolphins from 2008 to 2011, Laster rushed for 1,796 yards on 343 carries (5.2 yards per carry) with 19 touchdowns while adding 67 receptions for 606 yards and two scores. Laster led FCS with 8.5 yards per rush in 2010 as he gained a career-best 810 yards on 95 carries with seven touchdowns to earn first-team all-PFL honors. As a senior, he had 610 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns while catching 41 passes for 317 yards and one score and was named second-team All-PFL.

After his playing career ended, Laster began his coaching career as a running backs coach at Allen D. Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., before returning to Jacksonville in 2014-15 as a graduate assistant coach working on the defensive side of the ball with the linebackers. In two seasons, Laster helped the Dolphins develop six All-PFL selections while assisting in developing the defensive game plan. Laster's experience also includes serving as the running backs coach at Rockledge High School in Brevard County, Fla., where he oversaw the summer speed and conditioning workout program and helped with all other aspects of the offseason program. Jesse James Laster, Jr. is a native of Graceville, Fla., where he set the school career rushing record at Graceville High before attending Jacksonville University. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in geography from Jacksonville in 2012 and a master of education in leadership and learning in 2015. He and his wife Rodricka Laster have a son, Jesse James Laster III (Third).

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ASSISTANT COACH

LARRY MURPHY CORNERBACKS

PERSONAL INFORMATION: HOMETOWN: ALMA MATER:

St. Petersburg, Fla. Valdosta State Univ., 2018

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY, assistant coach / CBs (2018) TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY, assistant coach / CBs (2019-21)

NOTABLE:

Finished his collegiate career on Kerwin Bell’s 2016 squad at Valdosta State before returning in 2018 to join Bell’s NCAA Division II national championship-winning staff ... Earned USA Football All-American honors and All-Gulf South Conference in 2014.

Larry Murphy joined the Catamount football defensive coaching staff in the spring of 2021 where he will coach the cornerbacks. Murphy came to Cullowhee after two years at Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tenn., where he held a similar role. In his first season at Tusculum, Murphy mentored a pair of AllSouth Atlantic Conference (SAC) honorees including Dee Alford and Malik Goodman. Alford also garnered All-Region accolades and later signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. In the abbreviated 2021 season, Murphy helped Tusculum to a 4-1 overall record and dethroned Lenoir-Rhyne by

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claiming the 2021 SAC Spring Football Championship, the first for the Pioneers since 2008. Under Murphy’s guidance, Tusculum freshman defensive back Jermaine Witherspoon collected a pair of interceptions including one in the title game, adding a pair of breakups on the spring season. Originally from St. Petersburg, Fla., Murphy served as the cornerbacks coach at Valdosta State University in 2018 where he helped current Catamount head coach Kerwin Bell guide the Blazers to an undefeated season (14-0) and a NCAA Division II national title. VSU also won the Gulf South Conference crown as the Blazer secondary ranked eighth in the nation in passes intercepted and ninth in red zone defense. VSU led the nation in defensive touchdowns with seven.

Murphy originally signed to play football at Georgia Southern and was out of football until his return to the gridiron in 2014 where he was a three-year starter at Valdosta State (2014-2016) at cornerback. He finished his career with 62 total tackles, 13 passes defended, two interceptions, forced two fumbles and recovered another. He garnered 2014 USA Football All-American honors and was named to the All-Gulf South Conference team that same year. Murphy is a 2018 graduate of Valdosta State.

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ASSISTANT COACH

JOHN PEACOCK OFFENSIVE LINE

PERSONAL INFORMATION: HOMETOWN: ALMA MATER: FAMILY:

Gainesville, Fla. Valdosta State Univ., 2018 Fiance, Erika Alexander

COACHING EXPERIENCE: BUCHHOLZ (FLA.) HIGH, assistant coach / OL & DL (2008-15) VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY, assistant coach / TEs & FBs (2016-18) UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, graduate assistant / OL (2019) TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY, assistant coach / run-game coordinator / OL (2021)

John Peacock joined the Western Carolina football coaching staff in the spring of 2021 as the offensive line coach. Peacock came to Cullowhee after a year as an assistant coach, recruiting coordinator, and run game coordinator at Tusculum University, where he also coached the offensive line. Peacock helped lead the top offense in the South Atlantic Conference in the spring 2021 season as the Pioneers averaged a league-best 533.4 yards of offense per game, including 1,971 passing yards and 696 rushing yards. Prior to making a move to Greeneville, Tenn., Peacock spent three seasons (2016-2018) on the coaching staff at his alma mater, Valdosta State University, where he coached the tight ends and fullbacks. While on staff, the Blazers' running attack led the nation in yards per carry (7.2). He was also a part of the perfect 14-0 season and both Gulf South Conference

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and NCAA Division II national championships. During the 2018 title run, the Blazers finished the season leading the country in scoring (52.0 ppg) and ranked fourth nationally in total offense (523.9 yards per game - 1st in Gulf South). While at Valdosta, Peacock mentored a combined seven All-Conference selections, including three All-American linemen. In 2019, Peacock served as the offensive line graduate assistant coach at the University of South Florida and was part of a rushing team that led the Bulls to a team yards per carry average (4.4). His top two ball carriers each netted more than 5.1 yards per rush attempt. Before returning to Valdosta State in 2016, Peacock coached eight years (2008-2015) at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, where he mentored the offensive and defensive line with both the junior varsity and varsity programs. A native of Gainesville, Fla., Peacock earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Valdosta State while also minoring in philosophy. John and his fiance, Ms. Erika Alexander of Clermont, Fla., were planning to wed in February 2022.

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ASSISTANT COACH

RUDI SMALL RUNNING BACKS

PERSONAL INFORMATION: HOMETOWN: ALMA MATER:

Ocala, Fla. Jacksonville Univ., 2011

FAMILY:

Wife, Evelyn

COACHING EXPERIENCE: JACKSONVILLE UNIV., graduate assistant (2014-15) VALDOSTA STATE UNIV., assistant coach / RBs (2016-18)

NOTABLE: Played for Kerwin Bell at Jacksonville, leading the Dolphins in rushing from 2007-2010 with three-straight 1,000-yard seasons ... Was a Walter Payton Award candidate in 2010 ... Finished with 4,073 career rushing yards at Jacksonville with 43 TDs.

Rudi Small, the all-time leading rusher in Jacksonville University football history, has been tabbed to coach the Catamount running backs, joining the Western Carolina coaching staff in the spring of 2021. Small earned his coaching start as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2014, parlaying that experience into an assistant coaching position at Valdosta State in 2016. Working alongside his former position coach at Jacksonville – current WCU assistant coach Kerry Webb – Small helped coach the Blazers’ running backs at Valdosta State and was on staff during the 2018 undefeated season and national championship run. Small led the Dolphins in rushing from 2007-2010 with three-consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2008

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(1,364), 2009 (1,074), and 2010 (1,145) – six of the top 10 individual season records in program history. A Walter Payton Award candidate in 2010, Small finished his career with 4,073 career rushing yards and 43 rushing touchdowns. He continues to hold the Jacksonville record for all-purpose yards in a career with 5,765, career touchdowns with 49, and career points with 294 scored over his four-year career. A former Trinity Catholic High product, Small matched a Jacksonville record with five rushing touchdowns against UNC Pembroke on Sept. 22, 2007, a 55-10 home victory for the Dolphins. Small is a two-time graduate of Jacksonville University, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Management in 2012 and his Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Organizational Leadership Learning in 2016. He and his wife, Evelyn, were married on August 3, 2014.

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PERSONAL INFORMATION:

ASSISTANT COACH

DENNIS THOMAS DEFENSIVE LINE

HOMETOWN:

Calhoun Falls, S.C.

ALMA MATER: FAMILY:

South Carolina, 2001 Wife, Kyla; Son, Klay Brayden

COACHING EXPERIENCE: CALHOUN FALLS (S.C.) HIGH, assistant coach / DL (2002-03) GREENWOOD (S.C.) HIGH, assistant coach / DL (2004-08) UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, graduate assistant / DL (2010-14) WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, assistant coach / pro scout liaison / DL (2014-15) TUSCULUM UNIV., defensive coordinator / DL (2016) GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY, co-defensive coordinator / DL (2017-19)

NOTABLE: Previously coached defensive line at Western Carolina from 2013-2015 under former head coach Mark Speir. A member of the Western Carolina football coaching staff from 2013-15, Dennis Thomas returned to Cullowhee as the defensive line coach in the spring of 2021. Thomas rejoins the Catamount staff after spending the three years as the defensive line coach and two the co-defensive coordinator at Gardner-Webb (2017-19) and a season at NCAA Division II Tusculum (2016). Thomas had a quick impact both in developing a strong group in the trenches and on the recruiting trail in his three seasons on staff at GardnerWebb. His work in recruiting spearheaded Gardner-Webb gaining significant ground with two highly-rated classes in both 2018 and 2019. In Thomas’ first season at Gardner-Webb, nose guard Josh Ramseur emerged as a second-team All-Big South Conference performer. A rash of injuries forced Thomas to develop a very young group in 2018 and he excelled in that role, molding defensive end John Singleton into the 2018 Big South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year and a HERO Sports Freshman All-America choice.

lowing season in 2015, defensive tackle Helva Matungulu was invited to play in the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Collegiate Bowl, ultimately signing as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s New York Jets. Before WCU, Thomas spent four seasons on the University of South Carolina staff under head coach Steve Spurrier while pursuing a Master’s of Science degree in rehabilitation counseling. Thomas worked with the Gamecock defense, along with assistant defensive line coach Brad Lawing, on the development of the defensive front under defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward. He additionally aided in the recruitment of players in South Carolina while assisting in opponent scouting. While in Columbia, USC made four consecutive bowl game appearances with Thomas working with the program. He assisted with the development of NFL players Jadeveon Clowney, Melvin Ingram, Cliff Matthews, Travian Robertson, Clifton Geathers, and Devin Taylor. Thomas’s career includes coaching at Greenwood (S.C.) High School working with the defensive line on the gridiron as well as with the wrestling and track & field teams for

five years. He was a part of football region championships at GHS from 2004-2008. Under his guidance, the Eagles boasted the state of South Carolina’s top-ranked defense in 2006 in winning the state championship, while finishing runner-up defensively in 2007 and 2008. Thomas was a three-year letterman at South Carolina from 1997-2001, playing both offensive and defensive lines under Lou Holtz. He was a part of the Gamecocks’ 2001 Outback Bowl championship team, defeating Ohio State University, 24-7. A 2001 graduate from South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology and a minor in physical education, Thomas began his coaching career at Calhoun Falls (S.C.) High School. He not only served as the defensive line coach, helping CFHS to the regional championship in 2002 but also the strength & conditioning coach and an assistant with the track & field program. Thomas and his wife, Kyla, were married on June 14, 2015. The couple’s son, Klay Brayden Thomas, was born on March 7, 2020.

Prior to joining the Gardner-Webb coaching staff, Thomas helped develop Tusculum lineman Brandon Williams into an All-South Atlantic Conference performer in 2016. Williams led the SAC with 22.0 tackles for loss, which ranked among the NCAA Division II leaders as well. Williams finished with 78 tackles and four sacks, breaking the Tusculum school record for tackles for loss in a season. Thomas served two seasons on the coaching staff at Western Carolina in his first stint in Cullowhee, joining the Catamounts before 2013 spring drills. Thomas coached WCU’s defensive line with a concentration on the defensive tackles while also serving as WCU’s pro scout liaison. The Catamounts finished with back-to-back, seven-win seasons in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, Thomas helped rookie standout Derrick Davis earn Southern Conference All-Freshman honors. The fol-

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ASSISTANT COACH

RYLAN WELLS TIGHT ENDS / RECRUITING COORDINATOR

PERSONAL INFORMATION: HOMETOWN: ALMA MATER:

Fort Mill, S.C. Jacksonville Univ., 2018

COACHING EXPERIENCE: JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY, offensive graduate assistant / OTs (2018), WRs (2019) TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY, assistant coach / RBs / video coordinator (2020-21)

NOTABLE:

Recruited to and played quarterback for three seasons for Kerwin Bell at Jacksonville University (2013-17) ... Finished ranked among the top-five in Jacksonville history in rushing TDs (20), completions (257), attempts (444), completion percentage, and total offense (5,519 yds).

Rylan Wells joined the Western Carolina football coaching staff in the spring of 2021 after a year at Tusculum University where he mentored the Pioneers’ running backs as a part of claiming the 2021 spring South Atlantic Conference championship. Wells also served as the video coordinator while at Tusculum. With the Catamounts, Wells will work with the tight ends and fullbacks within the offensive set, while also serving as the program's recruiting coordinator. In the five-game 2021 spring schedule, Tusculum averaged 37.6 points per game and over 530 yards of offense per game including 139.2 yards per game on the ground. Under Wells’ tutelage, the junior running back tandem of TJ Jones and Maurice Gomillion accounted for 501 rushing

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yards and nine of the team’s 12 scores on the ground. The duo also recorded 26 receptions for 368 yards in five games, an average of 73.6 receiving yards per game, and amassed 173.8 yards of total offense per game. Wells earned his start on the coaching staff at his alma mater at Jacksonville University for two seasons (20182019) where he was an offensive graduate assistant. With the Dolphins, he coached the offensive tackles in 2018 and the wide receivers in 2019. The 2018 Jacksonville offense ranked third in the nation in rushing, averaging 345.3 yards per game while boasting the nation’s fifth-ranked individual rusher in Calvin Turner, who ran for 1,431 yards in 10 games and posted the nation’s third-best average per game (143.1). Wells additionally served as the film coordinator for JU during the 2019 campaign. Originally from Tega Cay, S.C., Wells was a member of the Jacksonville football team from 2013-2017 where he started at quarterback for 34 games. He finished his collegiate career ranked among the top-five in Jacksonville history in rushing

touchdowns (20), pass completions (257), passing attempts (444), completion percentage, and total offense (5,519 yds). A 2017 team captain at Jacksonville, Wells started in all 11 games under center, passing for 1,480 yards and 11 touchdowns while also rushing for 472 yards and eight scores. A three-time Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Week honoree, he was recognized as an Honorable Mention for the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Week following a performance against Davidson College that included five combined touchdowns and a Dolphins win. In 2016, he became the first Jacksonville player to lead the Dolphins in both rushing and passing yards in the same season, accumulating 1,744 passing yards and 614 yards on the ground in 10 games. He scored 11 touchdowns each way, he fell one score shy of the program single-game record against Marist, rushing for four in one game. Wells earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Jacksonville in 2018 and completed his master’s degree in sport management in 2020.

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CODY EDWARDS

TODD SHEALY

QUALITY CONTROL COACH – DEFENSE

DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

Cody Edwards joined the Western Carolina football staff as a quality control coach working primarily with the defensive unit. Edwards came to Cullowhee after working at Tusculum University from 2018 through 2021, progressing to associate head coach and defensive coordinator. Edwards served as the Tusculum safeties coach and was also the running game coordinator during the 2018 campaign. He took over coaching the TU linebackers and was promoted to defensive coordinator in March 2019. The 2020-21 Pioneers posted a 4-1 record during the COVID shortened spring campaign where TU won the SAC's Mountain Division and followed with a 28-23 win at defending league champion Lenoir-Rhyne to win the program its first SAC Championship since 2008. The Tusculum defense limited the opposition to 17.6 points per contest while holding teams to 311.2 yards per game including a SAC-best 84 rushing yards per outing. In his first year as defensive coordinator, the 2019 Pioneers led the SAC in defensive touchdowns scored (3 – 23rd in NCAA II), first down defense (175 – 21st in NCAA II), and fourth down percentage defense (.286 - 10th in NCAA II). Tusculum was also 28th in the country in total defense (309 ypg). He coached two All-South Atlantic Conference linebackers in Ivan Hogans and Jackson Cauthen, who was also recognized for his work off the field where he was an honors student and a two-time member of the CoSIDA Academic All-District Football first team. A Haysi, Va., native Edwards earned his start in the coaching profession at Eastside High in Coeburn, Va., as the wide receivers and defensive backs coach, while also serving as the junior varsity head coach. He also has high school coaching experience at Pinecrest High in Southern Pines, N.C., in 2012. Prior to going to Tusculum, Edwards served as the co-defensive coordinator at Keiser University and was defensive coordinator at The John Cooper School in 2016. He was the run game and defensive coordinator at Royal Palm Beach High School for two seasons and coached safeties and was the assistant secondary coach at John Carroll University in 2013, helping the team to a 9-2 record and a berth to the NCAA Playoffs. He mentored three allconference players including one All-American. Edwards served as an intern on the football staff at Tennessee during the 2012 season where duties included being a liaison for all NFL and professional scouts and the "Vol for Life" Program. He also aided the football operations staff and worked with the university’s summer football camps. Edwards is a 2010 graduate of the University of Virginia's College at Wise with a BS in business administration while also lettering on the football team. He earned his Master's degree from Tusculum in May 2021.

Todd Shealy joined the Western Carolina football staff as the Director of Football Operations in the spring of 2021. Shealy’s background includes extensive managerial experience and eight years at the intercollegiate level working at his alma mater, the University of Florida in athletics’ administration. He also spent a season in administration with the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. Shealy’s background includes 20 years of experience in the private sector, managing teams in real estate brokerage and professional staffing. Since 2006, he owned and operated the Focus Real Estate Group, Inc., based in Gainesville, Fla., developing and sharpening leadership, business, and operational skills. Shealy’s professional career began at Florida in 1988 working in athletics administration that included responsibility for the Student-Athlete Insurance Program which set the standard for other NCAA Division I programs to follow. While with the Gators, Florida won five national championships in women’s indoor track & field (1992), women’s tennis (1992), men’s golf (1993), women’s tennis (1996), and football (1996). He was also on staff for five SEC football championships (1991, 1993-96) and he also aided and supported the NCAA Regional Championships across multiple sports including the 1994 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four. Shealy is a 1988 graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in sports administration. He is married to the former Beth Watkins and the couple has four children; Austin, Hayley, Hunter, and Jaron.

GREG McGRUDER QUALITY CONTROL COACH – OFFENSE Greg McGruder came to Cullowhee before the 2021 season, added to the WCU staff as a quality control coach working with the offense. McGruder spent the 2021 season at Tusculum as a graduate assistant aiding with the offense and working primarily with the quarterbacks on the Pioneers' spring 2021 South Atlantic Conference championship squad. Tusculum averaged 533.4 yards and scored 37.6 points per game on offense in 2021. The Pioneers averaged nearly 400 passing yards per game to lead the SAC, scoring 15 touchdowns through the air in 2021. In addition, the unit added 139.2 yards per game on the ground and 12 additional scores. McGruder previously served as a student assistant with the Jacksonville football program during the 2015 season. That year, the Dolphins posted a 9-2 record and he helped with an offense that posted 30.5 points per game and generated 400 yards of total offense per contest, led by Bell who was JU's starting signal-caller. During his prep career at the University Christian High School in Jacksonville, Fla., he was a three-year letterman as a defensive back. McGruder is a 2016 graduate of the University of North Florida. 2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

TRENT TURKNETT DIRECTOR OF PLAYER PERSONNEL Trent Turknett joined the Catamount football staff in the spring of 2021 after a season at Tusculum University where he served as the tight ends coach and the director of football operations. With the Catamounts, Turknett assumes the role as the director of player personnel while also overseeing WCU's video. Turknett was a part of the Pioneers’ offensive unit that led the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) in scoring (53.5 ppg) and yards per game (603.5 yds/gm) in earning the 2021 spring conference championship. His tight ends accounted for 17 receptions and 247 receiving yards in the five-game season in 2021. During his time on staff, he also aided the assistant line coach with weekly run game plans. Prior to making the move to Tusculum, Turknett was the video coordinator and director of player personnel at Murray State University in Murray, Ky., during the 2019 season. Supervising a staff of three, he was in charge of the video staff and oversaw the program’s multimedia department which included graphics for social media, a crucial part of the recruiting process. As the director for player personnel at Murray State, Turknett was the liaison between the student-athletes, professors, coaches, and administration. Turknett earned his start at the intercollegiate level while pursuing a graduate degree at Valdosta State. As a graduate assistant from August 2017 through May 2019, he worked with the offensive line as a part of the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship squad that posted a perfect 14-0 record and led the nation in scoring while accounting for one of the most balanced offensive attacks in collegiate football. He was also the program’s on-campus recruiting coordinator. His professional experience also includes the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) as he worked with eligibility and compliance, as well as athletic services. He also worked with ProAthlete.TV assisting with all aspects of video with high-profile athletes and companies. Originally from Fleming Island, Fla., Turknett is a 2016 graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in sport management and a minor in business. He earned his Master’s in public administration from Valdosta State in May 2019.

WCU FOOTBALL VIDEO ASSISTANTS

Donavon Barnes

Carter Honeycutt

Nate Nunamaker

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WCU FOOTBALL – VOLUNTEER / STUDENT ASSISTANTS

SANDY NEUENSCHWANDER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ASSOCIATE, FOOTBALL OFFICE Sandy Neuenschwander joined the Western Carolina football administrative support staff during the summer of 2011.

Jeff Burger Volunteer Assistant Coach

Jacob Floyd

Dante Johnson

Student Assistant

Neuenschwander is entering her 15th year of service at Western Carolina University, working with both the Office of Admissions and Human Resources prior to joining the staff of the Catamount Club staff. Most recently before moving into athletics, Neuenschwander was employed by the WCU Office of Law, Equity and Audit. Prior to coming to work at WCU, Neuenschwander spent 10 years as the office manager at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. Her work experience also includes two years as an administrative assistant at the Irene Wortham Center in Asheville and two years of inside sales at Carolina Builders in Fletcher, N.C.

Dylan Quick

Jess Smith

Student Assistant

BEN JACOBS

MIKE TAYLOR

DIRECTOR OF SPORTS PERFORMANCE & NUTRITION

HEAD ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT MANAGER Mike Taylor is in his 20th year of his second stint at Western Carolina, returning in the spring of 2001 after a five-year absence. The Raleigh, N.C., native’s first full-time stay on WCU’s staff was for five seasons from 1991-95, also serving as the athletics equipment manager. All told, Taylor is entering his 24th season on staff at Western Carolina University. A member of the National Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA), Taylor’s numerous duties include purchasing, fitting, maintenance, administration and organization, management, professional relations and education, accountability, overseeing the laundry operation, coordinating field setup for games and practices, and supervising the student assistant managers. Taylor’s ties to Western Carolina extend further. He was the football sideline reporter for the Catamount Sports Network while working as store manager at Sylva’s Four Seasons Sports. Taylor was also a student manager for four years, including one year (1990) as head student manager. Taylor also served as the football equipment manager at Arizona State from 1995-96.

SPENCER WRIGHT ASSISTANT ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT MANAGER Spencer Wright returned to his alma mater, Western Carolina University, just before the start of the 2021 season to work within the Catamount Athletics Equipment Room. During his time as an undergraduate, Wright spent four years working within the WCU Athletics Equipment Room, finishing his time as the Head Student Equipment Manager. Following his graduation, Wright earned the opportunity to work with the Carolina Panthers during the 2021 training camp held on the campus of Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., as the equipment intern, a position he also held during the Panthers' 2020 training camp. A 2021 WCU graduate with a BSBA in Sport Management, Wright also has experience as the Assistant Clubhouse Manager with the Hickory Crawdads baseball team, an affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Wright spent two summers as an intern in both 2018 and 2019.

Ben Jacobs joined the Catamount Athletics staff as the Director of Sports Performance and Nutrition in February 2021. In addition to managing WCU's efforts in the weight room, Jacobs will also oversee the Catamount football program’s strength and conditioning initiatives. A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) as well as Sports Nutritionist (Pn1), Jacobs brings over a decade of physical preparation experience to the position in Cullowhee that includes a combined nine years at the collegiate level. His high-energy and passionate coaching style, coupled with his holistic training approach, creates a unique training environment that allows the student-athletes he trains to thrive physically and psychologically in their respective sport. Jacobs comes to Cullowhee having spent five years building the athletic performance staff and program at the University of Louisiana Monroe where he served as the Director of Sports Performance and Nutrition. He designed and implemented training for the Warhawks football program as the director and has experience working with both the baseball and golf programs while in an assistant role at ULM. Prior to moving to Monroe, Jacobs spent two years an assistant performance coach at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, where he worked with the Mean Green football team and assisted with the UNT softball program. On the gridiron, he primarily worked with the wide receivers and defensive backs, while also overseeing all the speed development for the football team. He also spent time as an assistant performance coach at Davidson College in 2013. Originally from Greensboro, N.C., Jacobs lettered twice as a goalkeeper at Lafayette College (2005-06) in Easton, Pa. He completed his undergraduate work at East Carolina where he earned a B.S. in exercise science in 2010. From 2009-11, he worked as a volunteer student performance coach at ECU working with the Pirates’ football, baseball, and track & field programs. Jacobs earned his professional start at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., following his graduation where he progressed from an intern up to an assistant performance specialist where he learned from world-renowned speed coach Loren Seagrave and his assistant Kevin Heiberger. While working at the IMG Performance Institute, Jacobs assisted with National Football League Scouting Combine prep, NFL and Major League Baseball offseason training programs as well as the athletic development of hundreds of student-athletes.

WCU ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT STUDENT ASSISTANTS

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Eli Lautzenheiser Andrew Smith

Cole Watson

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COLLIN LAWLESS

RYAN GIPSON

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SPORT PERFORMANCE

ASSISTANT SPORTS PERFORMANCE COACH

Collin Lawless was named the Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Western Carolina in June, 2021. Lawless will oversee the sports performance training of the Men’s Basketball and Volleyball programs. Coach Lawless will also assist in the training of the Football, Women’s Basketball, and Baseball programs as well. Coach Lawless will be working to improve the sports performance programs by designing systematic training programs for reliable long-term athletic development.

Ryan Gipson joined the Catamount Athletics' staff as an Assistant Sports Performance coach in March 2021. Gipson assists heavily with the training of the Catamount football team and is in charge of the athletic development of the men’s golf and women’s tennis programs. His leadership, speed development, and training knowledge along with his high-energy and passionate coaching style allows student-athletes to reach their physical and psychological potential. A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Gipson recently completed his Master’s degree in Exercise Science and Nutrition at Sacred Heart University while serving as a Graduate Assistant for the Pioneers' Strength and Conditioning Department. Gipson was responsible for designing and implementing the athletic development of men’s volleyball, women’s rugby, men’s and women’s tennis, swim and dive, equestrian, women’s bowling, and fencing teams. He assisted heavily with football and men’s lacrosse with Director of Strength and Conditioning, Chris Fee. Gipson spent a summer as an intern at Dartmouth College prior to Sacred Heart University working with multiple Olympic Sports including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s lacrosse, softball, rowing, and field hockey, as well as football. He was able to lead several teams through training sessions as his responsibilities grew at the Big Green under coach Spencer Brown. Raised in Fayetteville, N.C., Gipson attended undergrad at Appalachian State University (2011-2015) in Boone, N.C., while playing for the men’s rugby club and serving as its strength and conditioning coach. Gipson interned for two separate strength and conditioning staffs at Appalachian State (2012-13 & 2014-15) working with several Olympic sports, but mainly with the Mountaineers' football team. Post-graduation, Gipson has experience working in the private sector as well in various other fields as well.

Prior to arriving at WCU, Lawless was the Assistant Director of Sports Performance at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. At UAPB, he oversaw the sports performance training of the Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs as well as the Volleyball and Golf programs. Coach Lawless also assisted the training of the Football, Baseball and Women’s Soccer programs as well. In addition to his training duties, Coach Lawless improved the sports performance programs through reliable athletic-based testing protocols, nutrition education, & training education on multiple social media platforms as well as designing systematic training programs for reliable long-term athletic development. Lawless has had stops at the University at Buffalo (Fall 2020), the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2018-2020), William Penn University & Pella High School (2017-2018), Appalachian State (Summer 2017), and Christopher Newport University (2015-2017). Lawless holds a bachelor's degree in Pre-Law/American Studies from Christopher Newport University (2017) where he was a four-year letterman on the varsity baseball team. Lawless also holds a master's degree in Exercise Science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2020). Coach Lawless is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a certified Level 1 Sports Performance Coach through USA Weightlifting as well as a certified Level 1 Coach through Precision Nutrition.

BAILEY FORST

BRIAN DRYDEN

ASSISTANT SPORTS PERFORMANCE COACH

Bailey Forst joined the Catamount Athletics staff as an Assistant Sports Performance Coach in June 2021. He is responsible for the athletic development of WCU baseball, women's golf, and assists with football. Coupled with his high-energy and passionate personality, Forst also brings an extensive background in Olympic lifting, speed development, and the development of athletic performance across a multitude of sports. Forst is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He earned his Masters in Exercise Science and Nutrition from Sacred Heart University. Before that he obtained a Bachelors in Exercise Science at the University of West Florida. Prior to coming to Cullowhee, Forst spent two years as a Graduate Assistant for Strength and Conditioning at Sacred Heart where he managed the training for softball, wrestling, men's and women's golf, women's rowing, and cross country, as well as assisted with football and women's basketball. Before SHU, Forst spent time with the University of Maryland football program in 2019. While at UMD, Forst oversaw the training for the specialist group. Forst's experience also includes working at the University of West Florida working with the football, baseball, women's basketball, and volleyball programs. Prior to entering collegiate strength and conditioning, Forst spent time as a high school strength coach working West Florida High School as a strength coach and conditioning for both the football and baseball teams. He also worked at Pensacola High School as the volleyball strength and conditioning coach and at Booker T. Washington High School as a strength and conditioning coach for football.

Brian Dryden was named an Assistant Sports Performance Coach at Western Carolina in July of 2021. Dryden oversees the sports performance training of the Catamount women’s basketball, women’s soccer, and softball programs. Dryden also assists in the training of the men’s basketball and volleyball programs. Dryden will be working to improve the sports performance programs by designing systematic training programs for reliable long-term athletic development.

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Prior to arriving at WCU, Dryden was the Assistant Sports Performance Coach at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. At UNCP, he oversaw the sports performance training of the men’s and women’s track and field programs, women’s volleyball, women’s swimming, and women’s golf. Dryden also assisted with football, men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, wrestling, baseball, and softball. In addition to his training duties, Dryden improved the sports performance programs through reliable athletic-based testing protocols, nutrition education, & training education on multiple social media platforms as well as designing systematic training programs for reliable long-term athletic development. Dryden performed a Graduate Internship at Arizona State University from 2018-2020 working with their Olympic Sports Programs including multiple national championship, Olympic, and professional caliber athletes across 16 Division I sports. Dryden holds a bachelor's degree in Exercise and Wellness from Arizona State University (2018) and master's degree in Exercise and Wellness with an emphasis in Fitness and Conditioning from the Arizona State (2020). Dryden is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

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STEVEN HONBARGER

ROB REYBURN

DIRECTOR OF SPORTS MEDICINE

ASSOCIATE HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER

Steven Honbarger came to Cullowhee during the summer of 2005 and served as the trainer for Catamount women's basketball before taking over operation of the Sports Medicine Department during the summer of 2006.

Rob Reyburn came to Western Carolina as an Associate Head Athletic Trainer in October of 2020. He is responsible for the overall daily health care of the Catamount football athletes, including prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation for injuries and illnesses.

He currently serves as the primary athletic training contact for the Catamount football team.

Prior to coming to WCU, Reyburn served as the Head Athletic Trainer for Savannah State University as an outreach athletic trainer from St. Joseph’s Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. He provided care to 15 varsity sports and coordinated the daily operations of the SSU athletic training department.

Honbarger is a licensed athletic trainer (LAT) and also holds certification in athletic training (ATC). In addition to his athletic training accreditations, he is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS). Honbarger earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. He graduated with his Bachelor's of Science in Athletic Training in 2001, earning his Master's in Exercise Science in 2004. While an undergraduate, he worked as an intern in the App State athletic training room, a position he expanded to a graduate assistantship for two years while in graduate school. Upon his graduation, Honbarger continued his service in the Mountaineer athletic training room, working as an Intern/Assistant Athletic Trainer for a year before being hired at WCU as an Assistant Athletic Trainer. Steven is originally from China Grove, N.C. He was married to the former Elizabeth McLeod, who is an administrative support associate within WCU's Office of Alumni Engagement, during the summer of 2015.

Originally from Green Bay, Wis., Reyburn earned his Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Athletic Training from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He then earned his Master of Science Degree from the University of North Georgia while serving as a graduate assistant athletic trainer through the Vereen Rehabilitation Center providing outreach services to Brooks County High School. Most recently, Reyburn earned his Doctorate in Athletic Training from Indiana State University. Reyburn is also a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and had his Doctorate in Athletic Training research paper published in the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation.

Nicole Bohannon

Alisha Grisby

Tyler Spain

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Braxton Zeigler

Lindsey Bartle

LeeAnn Grayson

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Athletic Training Intern

WCU ATHLETIC TRAINING STUDENT ASSISTANTS Ashlyn Ellenburg Taylor Lee Emma Shirley

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Olivia Weeks Jordyn Wills

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ALEX GARY

DIRECTOR OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

Alex Gary, a former student-athlete on the Western Carolina University baseball team was dubbed the next director of the Catamount athletics program in late February 2020. Gary had most recently served as senior associate athletics director for development at Oregon State University. WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown announced the selection of Gary on Friday, Feb. 28 to serve as director of athletics following approval of his contract by the university’s Board of Trustees during a special conference call meeting earlier in the day. The appointment, which is effective May 1, follows a national search conducted by a 15-member committee working with the assistance of the North Carolina-based executive search consulting firm Collegiate Sports Associates. During his first year as the Athletics Director at WCU, Gary successfully navigated the department through the COVID-19 pandemic while also overseeing the hiring of 50 employees including two high-profile sport head coaches – men's basketball head coach Justin Gray, and Kerwin Bell, head football coach. Prior to coming to Cullowhee, Gary served as senior associate director of athletics and the department’s chief development officer at Oregon State beginning in September 2017. He previously served as associate athletics director for development and external relations at the University of Maryland from 2014 until 2017. He also has held development positions at the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Gary’s professional experience in major collegiate athletics conferences, such as the Pac-12 and Big Ten, combined with his personal familiarity with WCU as a former student-athlete make him a perfect fit to take over the helm of the Catamount athletics program, Brown said. “I asked the search committee to identify an extraordinary leader to guide the Catamount athletics program into the next era and who will provide our coaches and professional staff with the resources necessary to help 2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

our student-athletes enjoy the same level of success on the fields and courts of competition that they have had in the classroom in recent years,” she said. “The committee has found exactly that in Alex Gary,” Brown said. “To borrow some terminology from the sport that Alex once played while representing the Catamounts, this hire is a grand slam homerun and one that touches all of the bases.” A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, who grew up in Charlotte, Gary was an outfielder on the WCU baseball team from 2001 until 2004, earning Southern Conference Player of the Week honors in March 2004. During his junior year of 2003, he was a member of WCU’s regular season and Southern Conference Tournament championship baseball team and participated in the NCAA regionals held in Wilson. “I have a strong affinity and love for WCU. Three groomsmen in my wedding came from my time in Cullowhee as a three-year student athlete. WCU had an immeasurable impact on my life, and I welcome the opportunity to come back in a leadership capacity,” Gary said.

“My personal experience as a former student-athlete at WCU deepens my understanding of this institution and what is needed to advance Catamount Athletics. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to help develop student-athletes during a critically important time in their lives, especially at a place where I spent those same significant years,” he said. At Oregon State, he has been a member of the executive leadership team responsible for the athletics department’s $85 million budget, 150 employees and more than 500 student-athletes. He oversees the 16-member athletics development team, which raised nearly $26 million in 2019, a record for the Beavers’ athletics program. That fundraising effort included a $3.5 million sports performance center renovation, $2.3 million women’s locker room renovation, and $2.6 million baseball stadium expansion. During his stint at the University of Maryland, Gary chaired a committee focused on the financial sustainability of the athletics department, and he led annual giving growth in the Terrapin Club by 22 percent in 2015 and 13 percent in 2016. As a member of the development team at the University of Michigan from 2010 until 2014, he worked closely with the university’s athletics department, raising $12.8 million to support the Wolverines’ athletics program’s capital and endowment needs. He began his career in 2009 as assistant director of annual giving at UNC Charlotte. “Western Carolina University’s growth and development over the past decade have been impressive. WCU athletics has the ability to assist in that growth by raising the competitive bar across the 16 sports,” Gary said. “Research has proven that high-level athletics performance is symbiotic with university success, allowing the university to increase its visibility and further its mission. I am confident in my ability to lead what may not be the most important room in the house, but potentially the most visible.” He earned a degree in business administration in 2005 from Virginia Commonwealth University and his master’s degree in business administration at UNC Charlotte in 2009. Gary was selected from a slate of more than 40 qualified candidates for the position after an initial narrowing of a larger list of possibilities, said Ivy Gibson, WCU associate general counsel and chair of the athletics director search committee. Six candidates were interviewed by the search committee off-site in Charlotte.

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“We had a very strong pool of candidates with a vast array of professional and personal experiences in the profession of athletics administration,” Gibson said. “I think that Alex Gary’s track record in athletics fundraising in particular will be a tremendous asset as the university begins to work toward implementation of some of the construction and renovation projects proposed in the recent athletics facilities master planning process.” Brown appointed the search committee on Dec. 18 and set an ambitious and accelerated timetable to find a permanent successor for Randy Eaton, who served as WCU’s athletics director from Dec. 14, 2011, until Dec. 10, 2019. Mike Byers, WCU vice chancellor of administration and finance, managed the athletics department until Gary officially took over the helm in May 2020. Gary and the former Katie Mavis of Saint Joseph, Mich., were married in a mountain-top ceremony in Oregon on Aug. 28, 2020.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT ALEX GARY: “Alex has a unique and natural ability to connect with broad, diverse groups. He is authentic in developing relationships and is a gifted leader well beyond his years.” - S. Scott Barnes, Vice President & Director of Athletics at Oregon State University “I vividly remember when Alex first met with me. He was eager to get into intercollegiate athletics and that hunger was obvious. He started in fundraising where he was a natural fit. His personality and his people skills along with his experience will greatly benefit Western Carolina. Congratulations to both Alex and the University.” - Judy Rose, former Director of Athletics at Charlotte “Alex Gary is a perfect choice for Western Carolina University. Alex has built an incredible reputation as a leader in intercollegiate athletics; focused on serving others and stewarding institutions with the highest level of integrity. He will keep student-athletes and their experience at the forefront of every decision. Under Alex’s leadership, Catamount students, coaches and staff will thrive.” - Joe Parker, Director of Athletics at Colorado State University “I am very happy for Alex becoming the new Athletics Director at Western Carolina University because I know he loves WCU and he is a wonderful young man. I feel sorry for us in losing Alex to this opportunity. Western Carolina is lucky to have him as AD. We will miss him greatly but we also want him to be happy. Sometimes, we have to let go of outstanding colleagues because we care about their happiness and it is best for them.” - Ed Ray, President of Oregon State University

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// ATHLETICS SENIOR STAFF

record during her career. In her senior season, Barton won the regular season and tournament championships of the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (CVAC) and hosted the NCAA Division II South Regional championship match.

KYLE PIFER DEPUTY ATHLETICS DIRECTOR / COO Kyle Pifer joined the Catamount Athletics staff as deputy athletics director and chief operating officer in November of 2020. A member of the WCU Athletics Senior Staff and second in command within the department, Pifer manages and coordinates all internal functions for the Catamounts including business and budgetary operations, sport administration, human resources, equipment, and facility operations. Among other responsibilities, he will work with WCU Athletics Director Alex Gary to manage all day-to-day internal operations for Catamount Athletics. Pifer is a skilled college athletics administrator that has spent the past 18 years of his professional career working in higher education and intercollegiate athletics. Most recently as the senior associate AD for compliance at Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore., Pifer possesses a vast experience within on-campus and department operations including a wealth of knowledge on NCAA compliance. As a part of the OSU athletics executive staff, Pifer was provided with invaluable experience as the sport supervisor for the Beavers’ men’s golf and the women’s cross country/ track & field teams. He provided tremendous leadership and direction for the OSU compliance program during his tenure. He was also particularly influential in the development of Oregon’s States emerging track & field program, rekindling the program after a nearly 20-year hiatus from the sport sponsorship. During his eight-plus years at OSU concluding as the senior compliance administrator, Pifer served on a variety of campus committees including the Enrollment Management Leadership Team, the High Incident and Event Group, and the Criminal History Attendance and Participation Committee. Pifer began his professional career as an NCAA compliance officer in 2003 at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., employed there for four years. He departed in 2007 for the first of two stints at Oregon State beginning as an Assistant Director of Compliance. He then took on the role o the Director of Compliance at the University of Washington in Seattle, working his way to an Associate Athletics Director position and served on the UW Athletics Department Senior Staff before returning to Corvallis in 2013. A native of Frankfort, Ind., Pifer earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C., in 1999. While at FMU, Pifer was a four-year letter winner in track & field, earning academic all-district honors and graduated summa cum laude. Pifer and his wife Sydney are the parents of three girls; Reese, Delaney and Ellis.

In 2006, Miller completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in sport administration from East Carolina. Miller, who is a member of both the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) and National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC), is married to WCU’s current head women’s soccer coach, Chad Miller. The couple has two sons, Thomas and Carson.

CHAD GERRETY ASSOCIATE AD FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Chad Gerrety stepped into the role of Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs in October of 2013 in the Western Carolina University Athletic Department. In this role, he directly supervises the marketing, corporate sales, and media relations activities of the department, and is heavily involved with department branding. Additionally, as a member of WCU Athletics Senior Staff, Gerrety is the direct sport administrator for the Catamount women’s soccer, women's tennis, and cheerleading, and works with football scheduling. In the face of tremendous economic struggles in 2019-20, WCU’s sponsorship and fundraising efforts held course and finished the fiscal year strong under Gerrety’s leadership. Corporate sponsorship surpassed its annual goal of $400K for a second-consecutive year representing the highest two-year total on record, while ticket revenue was likewise at an all-time high eclipsing $500K between 2018 and 2020 combined. Prior to coming to Western Carolina, Gerrety had spent the previous seven seasons as General Manager of the Akron ISP / IMG Sports Network at the University of Akron. He was responsible for the multimedia rights of the Akron Zips. During his tenure with IMG at Akron, Gerrety oversaw corporate sponsorship sales that more than tripled, reaching an all-time high during the 2012-13 season. He produced the Terry Bowden and Keith Dambrot Television Show, a broadcast which aired throughout the country on SportsTime Ohio. He also oversaw the Akron IMG Sports Radio Network, expanding the reach of Zips broadcast throughout Northeast Ohio. Gerrety also managed the sponsorship of a new $61 million on-campus football stadium at Akron. He also managed the corporate sponsorship program for the men’s soccer team which earned the NCAA Division I National Championship in 2010. Gerrety won the 2010 ISPY Chairman Cup award for top GM.

STACEY MILLER ASSOCIATE AD FOR STUDENT SUCCESS / SWA Stacey Miller was promoted to the title of Associate Athletic Director for Student Services in 2017. In this position, Miller oversees the areas of student-athlete academic support service, sports medicine, athletic performance, and NCAA compliance. As a member of WCU Athletics' Senior Staff, Miller is also the primary sport administrator for Catamount men's basketball and softball. Miller came to Western Carolina in 2010 as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance where she worked directly with both the Southern Conference and NCAA as WCU’s liaison. During the summer of 2013, her title changed to Assistant Athletic Director for Academics & Compliance, at which time she also assumed the role of Senior Woman Administrator. Prior to getting back into intercollegiate athletics, Miller taught business and law courses at the high school level from 2007-2010, and also worked with at-risk students through the public education system. Miller is a 2002 graduate of Barton College in Wilson, N.C., with a Bachelor of Science degree while majoring in sport management with a minor in business administration. While at Barton, Miller was a four-year letter winner on the women’s soccer team and was the program’s first-ever All-America selection helping the Bulldogs compile a 46-27-2 overall

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

Miller later coached Barton’s women’s soccer program, guiding the Bulldogs to a 38-31-1 record as the team’s head coach from 2004-06. She was inducted into the Barton College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.

Prior to his stint at Akron, Gerrety was at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Hired in 1995 as Director of Athletic Marketing and Promotions, he was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing, Promotions and Community Relations during the summer of 2000. Gerrety oversaw corporate sponsorship, marketing and promotions for all 15 NCAA Division I sports programs. He was also responsible for all ticket sales. Weber State men’s basketball led the Big Sky Conference in attendance for eight seasons during his time at WSU. In 2005, Weber State set an all-time single game attendance record at their home opener, with over 17,000 fans in attendance. Gerrety was also involved in several facility improvements to Stewart Stadium including a new Sky-Box/Press Box facility in 2001. He also served on several search committees including the 2005 Athletic Director Search and 2004 Head Football Coaching Search. Gerrety had previous ties to the Southern Conference as he served as a Graduate Assistant in the Athletic Department at East Tennessee State University, earning his Masters degree in 1995. As an undergraduate at Bowling Green State University, he was a student assistant in the athletic marketing department. He also interned for the Toledo Mud Hens during the summer of 1992. Gerrety is originally for Erie, Pa. He and his wife, Kristin, are the parents of a daughter, Payton, who is a student at UNC Charlotte, and a son, Tanner.

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North Carolina. He also worked as the Public Affairs Assistant with the Southern Conference for the 2001-02 season where he was the primary contact for women’s soccer, volleyball and wrestling, while also assisting with football and men’s basketball.

JULIE MILLER ASSOCIATE AD FOR DEVELOPMENT / CATAMOUNT CLUB Julie Miller was named Associate Athletics Director for Advancement and the Director of the Catamount Club by Western Carolina Athletics Director Alex Gary in early August 2021. Miller, who was a part of the Catamount Club staff for five years from 2010 through 2015, returns to WCU after spending the past six and a half years working in athletics fundraising at Arizona State University in Tempe. Miller will also serve as the sports administrator for both the WCU’s men’s and women’s golf programs. Miller assumes the lead role within the Catamount Club after having spent four and a half years as the Senior Director of Major Gifts and Engagement with the Sun Devil Club. Within her role at Arizona State, she has been an integral part of Campaign ASU 2020, a successful university-wide campaign in which Sun Devil Athletics played a leading role. The results included facility support for Sun Devil Stadium, The Thunderbirds Golf Complex, and the Arenas Campaign, while also affording families an opportunity to establish endowments. As the Senior Director of Major Gifts and Engagement, Miller helped revitalize the sportspecific fundraising efforts for the ASU men’s basketball, women’s triathlon, men’s and women’s golf programs. She was also selected to help lead and develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the department. Her duties at Arizona State also included sport supervision for the Sun Devil women’s golf program. Originally from Jeannette, Pa., Miller earned her start in collegiate athletics as an athletics development intern at Western Carolina in August 2010. A year later, she worked her way into a full-time position as an assistant director within the Catamount Club and ultimately rose to the associate director title in 2013. She helped orchestrate and key many donor stewardship events including the Catamount Golf Tour, Coach’s Caravans and Holiday Socials, and the Student-Athlete Scholarship Gala. Miller earned a bachelor of arts degree in communication in 2009 from the USC Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C., where she was a member of the women’s golf team.

DANIEL HOOKER

Hooker also take turns behind the microphone in helping deliver play-by-play and color analysis alongside “Voice of the Catamounts,” Gary Ayers during football, men’s basketball season, and on the baseball call. His radio experience began in 1997 as a student announcer on WWCU-FM in Cullowhee where he served as an on-air personality for daily shifts, as well as helped start a weekly, interactive sports talk show which covered Catamount athletics, “Sports Talk LIVE.” He continued that role with a weekly sports talk show, “In the Litterbox,” on WWCU through the spring of 2009. His sportscasting experience includes broadcasting Catamount women’s basketball, Catamount baseball, a season as the play-by-play announcer for the Thomasville Hi-Toms and two seasons as a color analyst for the Charleston Swamp Foxes. He also spent one season on the sidelines during the Catamount Sports Network’s coverage of Catamount football in 2001. Hooker got his start in sports information in the mid-1990s by doing statistics for Eastern Randolph High football and baseball, while also working as a sports stringer for his hometown newspaper, The Liberty News. While a student at Western Carolina, Hooker served as the sports editor for the school newspaper, the Western Carolinian, for two years after two years as the assistant. He also served as a student assistant with the WCU Sports Information Office all four years, working under predecessors like Steve White, Craig Wells, Jody Jones, and Mike Cawood. A member of WCU’s Honors College, Hooker is a 2001 cum laude graduate of Western Carolina University where he earned a BS in Communications, while pursuing a double-major in Sport Management with a concentration in Sports Information. He is a member of the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) and the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

AMANDA MURCHIE ASSISTANT AD FOR BUSINESS OPERATIONS Amanda Magruder Murchie was named Assistant Athletics Director for Business Operations beginning in the fall 2021 after serving as the interim business manager for the department during the 2020-21 academic year. A two-time graduate of Western Carolina University, Murchie was the Director of Finance & Administration for Facilities Management, a position she held for 11 years prior to making the move to Athletics. In her previous role, she led, developed, and managed all financial and administrative functions with the Facilities Management unit. Among her duties were oversight of university surplus, motor pool and contract vehicle operations, budget and finance, work control and human resources, as well as information technology in support of over 200 employees.

ASSISTANT AD FOR MEDIA RELATIONS Daniel Hooker returned to his alma mater at Western Carolina in the athletic department in 2004. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the WCU Athletics Media Relations Office, Hooker is also the main sport contact for baseball and the men’s & women’s golf programs. He is also a part of Western Carolina Athletics Senior Staff. In addition, Hooker handles most aspects of the Catamount Sports Network audio broadcast and coordinates WCU’s video streaming efforts on ESPN, providing play-by-play for football, volleyball, basketball and baseball. Hooker's publications have won several awards through the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) publications contests. The 2017 WCU Football media guide received second-place national honors at the FCS level at the 2017 CoSIDA Convention in Washington, D.C., with both the 2018 and 2019 media guides being awarded “First in the Nation” at the NCAA FCS level from CoSIDA. Most recently, the 2020 Catamount Football Media Guide earned the "Best Cover" designation in the CoSIDA publications awards. Prior to returning to Cullowhee in 2004, Hooker spent four years in Charleston, S.C., working for two minor league sports franchises. He started in the Lowcountry with the Charleston Swamp Foxes arenafootball2 (af2) team, serving as the Director of Media & Public Relations for three years. He also worked one season for the Charleston Lowgators of the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) as an Account Executive and Game Day Operations Assistant.

In addition, during her time working on campus, Murchie was selected to participate in WCU's Women's Leadership in Action program in 2017-18. She has also served as a co-facilitator for the WCU Chancellor’s Leadership Academy, a program aimed at the development of current and future leaders within the university’s faculty and staff. Murchie also attended the Harvard Institute for Management and Leadership in Education in 2018, the College Business Management Institute from 2016-18, and took part in the APPA Institute from 2018-20. Prior to her employment at WCU, Murchie worked at a public accounting firm in Asheville, N.C., and started her professional career as an office manager and a paralegal in Sylva. Murchie is a 2004 graduate of Western Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science degree while majoring in Business Administration and Law. She returned to Western Carolina University and received a Master’s degree in Accountancy in 2010. She is a member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA). Murchie has three children: Joe, Amelia, and Dex.

He got his start in athletics working a pair of internships, first with the Thomasville HiToms – a Coastal Plains League, a collegiate summer wooden bat franchise based in central

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT STAFF

ADDITIONAL CATAMOUNT ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT STAFF MEMBERS

Greg Camillone

Tyler Pope

Director of Athletics Marketing

Brigham Waginger

Director of Student-Athlete Development & Alumni Engagement

Ric Sisler

Director of Creative Media

Director of Corporate Sponsorship

Rory Jimerson

Mark Conlin

Director of Game Operations & Facilities

Director of Athletic Facilities

Ben Page

Director of Athletics Ticketing

Eynde Frazier

Game Operations and Facilities Assistant

Zach Denitto

Athletics Ticketing and Marketing Assistant

Kim Jamison

Athletic Department Administrative Assistant

Anita Puerto

Director of Student-Athlete Academic Support Services

Blake Cantrell

Associate Director of the Catamount Club

Ashley Buck

Justin Dowd

Assistant Director of Academic Support

Anthony Miele

Jeff Bewsey

Assistant Director of the Catamount Club

Haley Townsend Academic Support Assistant

Catamount Club Assistant

CATAMOUNT COACHING STAFF MEMBERS

Bobby Moranda Head Coach Baseball

Molly Bachand

Director of Men's Basketball Operations

Taylor Sandefur Head Assistant Coach Baseball

Cody Cohen

Video Coordinator Men’s Basketball

Andrew Cox

Jeff Lavin

Justin Gray

Assistant Coach Baseball

Volunteer Assistant Coach Baseball

Head Coach Men’s Basketball

Associate Head Coach Men’s Basketball

Jayson Gee

Brian Graves

Zack Freesman Assistant Coach Men’s Basketball

Graduate Assistant Coach Men’s Basketball

Kiley Hill

Kendra Samuels-Eaton

Shyla Coleman

Megan Brown

Darryln McDonough

Ashley Morgan Crowe

Kourtney Sandefur

Head Coach Women’s Basketball

Associate Head Coach Women’s Basketball

Assistant Coach Women’s Basketball

Assistant Coach Men’s Basketball

Director of Women's Basketball Operations

Head Coach Cheerleading

Vince Grier

Assistant Coach Cheerleading

CATAMOUNT ATHLETICS DIRECTORY INFO

Tim Eckberg Head Coach Men’s Golf

Jesse Norman

Head Coach Cross Country / Track & Field

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Courtney Gunter

Chad Miller

Head Coach Women’s Golf

Head Coach Women’s Soccer

David Johnston

Greg Lambert

Assistant Coach Track & Field

Todd Herman

Jim Clift

Associate Head Coach Women’s Soccer

Head Coach Softball

Josh Hall

Karen Glover

Graduate Assistant Coach Track & Field

Head Coach Volleyball

Madison Armstrong Assistant Coach Softball

Chelsi Carter

Associate Head Coach Volleyball

Bret Beaver Head Coach Women's Tennis

Nick Collins Assistant Coach Volleyball

Department Mailing Address: Western Carolina University Attn: Contact, Sport Ramsey Center – Athletics 92 Catamount Road Cullowhee, NC 28723 Athletics Phone Number: (828) 227-7338 - or - (800) 34-GOWCU Athletics Fax Number: (828) 227-7688 Athletics Ticket Office: (828) 227-2401 WCU Football Office: (828) 227-2015 Catamount Club: (828) 227-3047 Ramsey Center Office: (828) 227-2047

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// MISSION AND VISION

Western Carolina Code of Fan Conduct It is the policy of Western Carolina University that all fans at athletic sporting events must maintain the highest degree of credibility and decorum possible. All fans must make every attempt to conduct themselves in a manner as not to embarrass the institutions by their actions. Behavior by fans that does not meet this standard and which has the potential of harming the reputation of the institution or any of its units is prohibited. Good sportsmanship must be an integral part of every sport sponsored by WCU. The ethical environment of the university must assert and reflect primacy of human dignity, must encourage growth and achievement, and must insist on respect in all interpersonal relations. WCU students and fans must be held accountable for their use of profane and vulgar language, banners, posters, signs, flags, treatment of opponents, and treatment of officials. In respect to NCAA policies, WCU is held accountable for the actions of its fans.

MISSION STATEMENT:

Catamount Athletics strives to foster a championship culture while preparing student-athletes for lifelong success. #FIGHTON Derived from the lyrics of the Western Carolina University Fight Song, the phrase "Fight On" has been a part of Catamount Athletics for many years. This year, it just means more. Under the direction of Director of Athletics Alex Gary, WCU Athletics restructured its vision, mission, and guiding principles. In Catamount Athletics, EVERYTHING WE DO is shaped by these Guiding Principles:

F irst-class Student Experience • I nnovate and Build our Brand • G row in Every Way • H olistic Student-athlete Development • T alent and Culture Wins • O utreach and Alumni Engagement • N ow is Our Time! •

Southern Conference Code of Spectator Conduct Southern Conference teams shall be supported with enthusiasm and dedication, for strong spectator support is a vital part of the experience of college competition. We expect good sportsmanship from players and coaches. They have a right to expect the same from spectators. Therefore, we urge Southern Conference students, alumni and friends to cheer their teams to victory while upholding those ideals our colleges and universities have nurtured during the long history of the Southern Conference. Our spectators should be courteous and judicious in choice of expression, and should exhibit good manners and kindness to all others. The scoreboard will reflect the quality of the teams in competitions while the kind of support given by the spectators will reveal the character of Southern Conference fans.

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Dylan ABERNETHY 6-0 l 175 lbs. l 2nd Year Fr. l WR Maiden, N.C. | Maiden HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in eight of the team’s nine games with one start … Made his collegiate debut at Liberty (Nov. 14), securing his first career reception on a 10-yard grab … Recorded seven receptions for 55 yards on the season … Caught two passes for 15 yards at Mercer (March 20) … Made his first career start in the spring season finale at ETSU (March 27) finishing the game with a career-best three receptions for 25 yards, adding a fumble recovery on a muffed punt that led to a WCU field goal ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll ... Received a SoCon Commissioner's Medal. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-time, all-conference selection ... Won the county's Golden Helms Award as a senior ... Caught 72 passes for 1,156 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns ... Added 29 rushes for 173 yards while also passing for 123 yards and two touchdowns on five attempts ... Selected as conference specialist of the year as a junior ... Was a three-sport athlete as a prep, also playing basketball and baseball ... Was a member of the Beta Club, Varsity Blue and FCA ... Joined the team as a preferred walk-on.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU from Gardner-Webb during the summer of 2021; Gardner-Webb: In four games in 2021, recorded 14 tackles including two solo stops and 2.0 tackles for loss with a pair of half sacks … Had five tackles against Presbyterian High School: Was rated a two-star prospect from 247Sports … Two-time All-Region 5-6A selection and was an all-district choice … Selected to play in the Toyota Tennessee East / West Game … Named 2018 Region 5-AAAAAA Defensive Player of the Year … A first-team All-Area selection by the Murfreesboro Daily News-Journal in 2018 … Wendy's High School Heisman Award winner … Finished 2018 season with 48 total tackles (30 solo), 14.0 tackles for loss and four sacks … Also recovered two fumbles … Blocked a pair of field goals … Had a season-high nine stops vs. Christ Presbyterian … Made seven stops vs. Stewarts Creek … Earned third-team All-Area honors from the Murfreesboro Daily News-Journal in 2017 … Had 44 total tackles (25 solo) as a junior … Added two sacks, two passes broken up and a blocked field goal … High school coach was Matt Williams.

5-10 l 185 lbs. l R-Fr. l WR Marietta, Ga. | Walton HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Did not see game action. 2019 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action, taking a redshirt. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letter winner … Earned first team all-county and first team all-region honors as a senior … Was also dubbed first-team All-AAAAAAA by Recruit Georgia and a received a second-team nod from the Georgia Sports Writers Association … Recorded 114 career receptions for 1,923 yards and 16 touchdowns in his prep career including a singleseason high of 59 catches for 1,071 yards and 11 TDs as a senior as a part of amassing 1,285 all-purpose yards … Caught 35 passes for 599 yards and four scores as a junior … Added three career rushing scores and completed 3-of-4 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown ... High school coach was Daniel Brunner.

DY L A N A B E R N E T H Y ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Receptions:............................................................................................3, at ETSU (3/27/21) Receiving Yards:.................................................................................. 25, at ETSU (3/27/21) DY L A N A B E R N E T H Y ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll SoCon Commissioner's Medal (2020-21)

5-9 l 180 lbs. l 2nd Year Fr. l WR Greensboro, N.C. | Dudley HS

6-0 l 320 lbs. l So. l DL Smyrna, Tenn. | Gardner-Webb / Smyrna HS

Kendall ALFORD

DY L A N A B E R N E T H Y ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G Rush Yds TD Lng Rec Yds TD Lng KR Yds TD Lng APYds 20-21 8 – – – – 7 55 0 11 – – – – 55

Branson ADAMS

Marlon ALEXANDER

PERSONAL: Full name is Kendall Rishun Alford … Is the son of Sandra and Travis Alford … Has two younger siblings, Jackson and Olivia … His father played football at Auburn.

Aidan ALSTON

2021-21 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Four-year varsity letter winner … Began his prep career at Northern Guilford while also playing at Page HS before finishing at Dudley HS … Rushed for 1,211 yards over his final two seasons as a prep, scoring 21 touchdowns on the ground … Made 32 career receptions for 503 yards and three receiving scores … Added 150 yards on kickoff returns and 17 on punt returns for 1,881 career all-purpose yards … Defensively, tallied 59 tackles as a senior including 36 solo stops and 1.5 sacks with three interceptions as a senior … Rushed for 183 yards and two TDs while catching two passes for 44 yards as a sophomore at Page HS … Four-year, A-B Honor Roll as a prep while also running track … Joined the WCU football team as a walk-on.

6-2 l 270 lbs. l R-Fr. l OL Southern Pines, N.C. | Pinecrest HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): After opening the fall 2020 in the defensive line position group, converted to offensive line in the spring 2021 … Played in two games on defense in the fall, making his collegiate debut at Liberty (Nov. 14) … Did not record any statistics.. 2019 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action, taking a redshirt. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Two-year varsity letter winner on the defensive line and as a long snapper … Credited with 59 career tackles with five tackles for loss … Also wrestled as a prep. PERSONAL: Full name is Aidan Neuman Alston … Is the son of Willow and Anthony Alston.

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Tyler ANDERSON

6-0 l 225 lbs. l 2nd Year Fr. l LB Greensboro, N.C. | Northern Guilford HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Did not see game action ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letter winner playing primarily on defense and as a blocking fullback … Finished with 432 career tackles as a prep including 186 solo stops and 56 tackles for loss including 17 sacks according to MaxPreps.com … Named All-Mid-State 2A/3A Athletic Conference … Twice competed in the CrossFit Games while a prep … Joined WCU as a walk-on. T Y L E R A N D E R S O N ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

Anthony BADGETT 5-9 l 185 lbs. l R-So. l CB Greensboro, N.C. | Southeast Guilford HS 2020-21 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Did not see game action ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2019 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in eight games as a defensive reserve and on special teams … Made his collegiate debut at Chattanooga (Sept. 28) … Credited with three tackles with two solo stops … Tallied his first career tackle on an assist at The Citadel (Oct. 12). 2018 (FRESHMAN): Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on prior to the 2018 season, participating in practice but did not see game action

MATTHEW BAIR 2018 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Saw action in eight of the team’s 11 games on the season, all as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams … His eight seasonal appearances came in succession from the season-opener against Newberry (Sept. 1) through the road loss at nationally-ranked ETSU (Oct. 27) … Missed the final three games of the regular season.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was a two-way player on offense and defense as a prep, earning three varsity letters ... Collected Greensboro Rotary / Sawyer Guilford County Football Player of the Week accolades in 2017, scoring two TDs including an 83-yard kickoff return for a score and a 68-yard touchdown rush ... Was a member of Southeast Guilford's Leadership Team … Also ran track and field in high school.

2017 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Saw action in nine games as a reserve along the offensive line and in special teams ... Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener at Hawai'i ... Selected to the 2017 Fall Academic All-Southern Conference team and was named to the 2017-18 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

PERSONAL: Full name is Anthony Shammah Badgett … Is the son of Anthony and Anita Badgett.

2016 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action; expected to take a redshirt ... Named to the 2016-17 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

A N T H O N Y B A D G E T T ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Named to the High School Sports Report (HSSR) South Carolina Division II AAAA All-State team as an offensive lineman following his senior year ... Also garnered all-region plaudits ... Graded out at 90 percent with 78 pancake blocks and scored a touchdown as a senior ... Was a two-time Offensive Lineman of the Week from the Anderson Area Touchdown Club ... Twice named T.L. Hanna’s Most Valuable Offensive Lineman (2014, 2015) and received the Captain’s Award in 2015 ... ... High school coach was Bruce Ollis.

Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2019 8 2 1 3 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 ANTHONY BADGETT’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:..........................................................................1, three times – MR: ETSU (11/9/19) A N T H O N Y B A D G E T T ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

Matthew BAIR 6-3 l 285 lbs. l 5th-Year Senior l OL Anderson, S.C. | T.L. Hanna HS

PERSONAL: Full name is Matthew David Bair ... Is the son of David and Sonya Bair.

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SENIOR): Saw action in eight of the team’s nine games on the year with eight starts along the offensive line … Also saw time on WCU’s special teams ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

M AT T H E W B A I R ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Three-time Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2016-17, 2017-18, & 2020-21) 2017 Fall Academic All-Southern Conference

2019 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Started 11 of the team’s 12 games in which he saw action along the offensive line and on special teams … Missed the N.C. State (Sept. 7) game … Credited with one tackle in the season finale at Alabama (Nov. 23).

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C L AY T O N B A R DA L L’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G Rush Yds TD Lng Rec Yds TD Lng KR Yds TD Lng APYds 2018 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2019 12 – – – – 8 119 1 28 – – – – 119 20-21 9 – – – – 10 156 3 44 – – – – 156 TOTALS 23 – – – – 18 275 4 44 – – – – 275 C L AY T O N B A R DA L L’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Receptions:.................................................................. 4, twice – MR: at Samford (2/27/21) Receiving Yards:...............................................................................74, SAMFORD (11/16/19) Receiving Touchdowns:..............................................1, four times – MR: at ETSU (3/27/21) C L AY T O N B A R DA L L’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Three-time Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21) Two-time Academic All-Southern Conference (2019, 2020-21)

Darrius BELL Clayton BARDALL 6-3 l 230 lbs. l R-So. l TE Cumming, Ga. | North Forsyth HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Played in all nine of the team’s games with four starts on offense at tight end … Led WCU’s tight ends with 10 receptions and finished second on the team with 156 receiving yards … Paced the team with three receiving touchdowns on the season … Caught a nine-yard touchdown reception at Liberty (Nov. 14) … Was a team captain at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21) where he met his older brother at midfield for the pregame coin toss … Made a then career-long 40-yard reception at EKU … Matched a career-high with four receptions for 42 yards and a TD at Samford (Feb. 27) … Hauled in a career-long 44-yard touchdown catch for a score at ETSU (March 27) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll and was named Academic AllSouthern Conference. 2019 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in all 12 games on the season with three starts at tight end … Recorded eight receptions for 119 yards and his first career touchdown … Caught his first pass as a collegiate tight end in the home win over North Greenville (Sept. 14) in a six-yard TD reception … Caught a career-high four passes for 74 yards against Samford (Nov. 16) … Recorded a career-long reception of 28 yards against Samford, matching it a week later at nationallyranked Alabama (Nov. 23) … Named 2019 Fall Academic All-Southern Conference and to the 2019-20 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2018 (FRESHMAN): Played in two games as a true freshman on special teams … Made his collegiate debut at Mercer (Oct. 20), recording a tackle assist … Also saw game action in the regular season finale at North Carolina (Nov. 17) … Expected to take a redshirt ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was a four-year varsity letter winner and starter … Caught two passes for 61 yards and a touchdown before an injury cut his senior season short … Had 15 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns as a junior, earning honorable mention All-Region accolades … Two-time Offensive Player of the Week … Received the Jack Snook Memorial Award at North Forsyth High ... High school coach was Robert Craft… Finished his career with 34 tackles including 24 solo stops with two sacks and a pair of interceptions … Took part in the Blue-Grey AllAmerican Combine prior to his senior season … Also played baseball as a prep where he was the team leader in home runs.

6-2 l 240 lbs. l R-Fr. l DE Gilbert, S.C. | Gilbert HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in all nine of the team’s games as a defensive reserve and on special teams … Finished the season with 26 total tackles including 10 solo stops and half a tackle for loss … Tallied six tackles including two solo stops at Furman (Feb. 20) … Credited with a career-best eight stops including three solo stops against The Citadel (March 13) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2019 (FRESHMAN): Played in three games as a defensive reserve as a true freshman, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Credited with two tackles, both coming as solo stops at The Citadel (Oct. 12) … Made his collegiate debut at N.C. State (Sept. 7). PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Multi-sport athlete, three-year varsity letter-winner … Three-time all-region and all-county selection and a two-time all-state honoree … Finished his career with 329 career tackles including 134 career solo stops and 25 sacks … Tallied 44 career tackles for loss, both forcing and recovering eight career fumbles and scoring two defensive touchdowns … Recorded 96 tackles including 34 solo stops as a senior, collecting AAA Lower State Lineman of the Year honors … Was listed among the top 50 ranked prospect in the state of South Carolina by 247Sports entering his senior year after posting 113 tackles and nine sacks as a junior … Listed as a two-star recruit from both 247Sports. com and Rivals.com … Also participates in track & field as a prep ... High school coach was Chad Leaphart. PERSONAL: Full name is Darrius Travon Bell … Is the son of Jessica Bell … Has a younger brother, Kelvin … His uncle, Johnell, played college football at North Greenville University.

PERSONAL: Is the son of Rachael and Brad Bardall … Has an older brother, Jackson, who played football as an offensive lineman at Eastern Kentucky.

DA R R I U S B E L L’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2019 3 2 0 2 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 20-21 9 10 16 26 0.5–1 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 12 12 16 28 0.5–1 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 DA R R I U S B E L L’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Tackles:..........................................................................................8, THE CITADEL (3/13/21) Tackles for Loss:..............................................................................0.5, at Liberty (11/14/20) DA R R I U S B E L L’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

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Kenny BENJAMIN

Garrett BOWMAN

5-7 l 180 lbs. l Graduate Student l RB Lehigh Acres, Fla. | Valdosta State / Dunbar HS

6-4 l 270 lbs. l R-So. l OL Arab, Ala. | Arab HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 from Valdosta State through the transfer portal;

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Played in five games as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams … Did not record any official statistics playing along the offensive line.

Valdosta State: Played in 30 games over three seasons with 16 starts … Caught 75 passes for 765 yards and nine receiving touchdowns, adding 34 rushes for 265 yards with one score … Also returned 48 kicks for 1,056 yards, amassing 2,086 career all-purpose yards … Missed four games due to injury as a junior in 2019 … Scored 10 career touchdowns for 60 points … Led the Blazers in receptions with 40 catches for 444 receiving yards and seven TDs on the national championship team, averaging 11 yards per reception … Enrolled early at Valdosta as a part of the 2017 signing class; Dunbar HS: Was a second-team News-Press all-area selection as a senior, leading his high school team to a district title in 2015 and the regional final … Caught 42 passes for 748 yards while rushing for 509 yards over his final two yards as a prep, scoring 14 touchdowns – eight receiving, three rushing, two on kick returns, and one passing … Played for high school coach Sam Brown … Also played baseball as a prep. PERSONAL: Is the son of Syretta Johnson and Kenny Benjamin … Has a younger brother, Brandon Benjamin.

Brayden BLACKMON 6-3 l 215 lbs. l True Freshman l TE Duncan, S.C. | Byrnes HS

2019 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Saw action in 10 of the team’s 12 seasonal games with one start … Made his first collegiate start at nationally-ranked FBS opponent, Alabama (Nov. 23) … Did not record any official statistics playing along the offensive line. 2018 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in one game, making his collegiate debut on the road at Mercer (Oct. 20) … Did not record any official statistics playing along the offensive line … Took a redshirt. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Recruited as an offensive lineman … Two-year varsity letter winner on both the offensive and defensive line for high school coach Adam Gilbert … Credited with 72 career tackles including 46 as a senior … Credited with 20 career tackles for loss including nine sacks … Added four receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown as a senior … Name first team AllMarshall County and earned all-region plaudits … Earned Zaxby’s Player of the Game eight times during his junior and senior years including five times in his final season. PERSONAL: Full name is Matthew Garrett Bowman … Is the son of Lisa and Joel Bowman … Has two younger siblings, John Brady and Drew.

Bryson BOYETTE 6-1 l 285 lbs. l True Freshman l OL Wilmington, N.C. | New Hanover HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letter winner, played in 22 career games … Versatile athlete that played running back, wildcat, wide receiver, tight end and quarterback … Rushed 134 times for 908 career yards averaging 6.8 yards per rush with 18 rushing touchdowns … Added 13 career receptions for 182 yards and one score … Completed 34-of-62 passes for 334 yards and a touchdown at quarterback.

Jaiden BOND 5-9 l 170 lbs. l 2nd Year Fr. l WR Boone, N.C. | Watagua HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Played offensive center position as a prep … Received both first-team and second-team All-State plaudits … Selected to play in the 2020 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas for North Carolina … Was named first-team All-Mideastern Conference as a junior after helping New Hanover rush for 3,199 yards and 40 TDs.

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in four games as an offensive reserve and on special teams, each coming in the spring semester … Did not record any statistics … Made his collegiate debut at Samford (Feb. 27) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity starter on offense as a wingback and at defensive back … Rushed for 1,584 yards with 16 touchdowns on the ground in 2019, adding 18 catches for 539 yards and six scores through the air … Finished with 2,261 yards of total offense … Added 73 tackles, four for loss with three interceptions and seven fumble recoveries on defense … Selected to the North Carolina East-West All-Star game … Joined WCU as a preferred walkon … High school coach was Ryan Habich … Also played basketball as a prep.

Solomon BUTLER 6-0 l 195 lbs. l True Freshman l WR Moncks Corner, S.C. | Berkeley HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity starter … Finished his prep career with 144 career receptions for 2,571 yards and 25 touchdowns … Earned all-region plaudits twice including as a senior after helping guide his team to a runner-up finish in the region … Was invited to the 2021 Senior Game … Tallied a career-best 56 receptions 13 touchdowns as a junior … Also plays basketball as a prep … High school coach was Randy Robinson. PERSONAL: Is the son of Karen and Arthur Butler … Has five older siblings.

J A I D E N B O N D ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

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break-ups from his linebacker position ... Named to the 2019-20 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: A mid-semester enrollee at WCU … Two-year varsity letter winner along both the offensive and defensive line … Played center and offensive guard … Recorded 50 tackles including six tackles for loss and forced a fumble on defense … Collected school Freshman Athlete of the Year accolades and garnered varsity offensive lineman of the year honors as a senior … Also plays basketball as a prep.

2017 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in all 12 of the team’s games as a defensive substitution and on special teams ... Made his collegiate debut in the road game at Hawai’i (Sept. 2) ... Finished the year with five total tackles including two solo stops ... Recorded his first collegiate tackle in the home-opener against Davidson (Sept. 9) ... Credited with a then career-high two tackles both assists - against nationally-ranked Wofford (Oct. 7) on the road.

Caleb CARTER

6-3 l 275 lbs. l 2nd Year Fr. l OL Jacksonville, N.C. | Southwest Onslow HS 2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action.

2018 (SOPHOMORE): Played in 10 of the team’s 11 games as a defensive substitution and on special teams, missing the Gardner-Webb game with a hand/wrist injury … Finished the year with nine total hits including three solo stops … Recorded two tackles including a solo stop at Mercer (Oct. 20) … Posted a career-high four tackles in the triple-overtime game at ETSU (Oct. 27).

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year letter winner who finished with a school-record 366 career tackles including six sacks, recording 133 stops as a senior ... Also stepped in at running back as a senior, adding over 800 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns on the ground in his final season to earn the Denver Weekly Two-Way Player of the Year honor and All-Gazette accolades ... Collected Southern District-7 all-conference plaudits and SD-7 Defensive Player of the Year honors as a junior after finishing with 123 tackles including a school-record 26 tackles for loss and a career-best five interceptions ... Earned the Newcomer Award on the North Carolina State Championship team as a sophomore ... High school head coach was Mike Byus ... Also played baseball as a prep where he hit .292 with 26 runs scored, 22 RBI, and six extra-base hits as a junior, collecting all-conference accolades. PERSONAL: Full name is Trevor Dean Childers ... Is the son of Angela and Paul Dean Childers.

T R E V O R C H I L D E R S ’ C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2017 12 2 3 5 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 2018 10 3 6 9 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 2019 12 44 55 99 7.5–14 1.0–3 0–0 0 2 0 0 0 20-21 9 28 30 58 2.0–11 1.0–9 1–14 0 1 0 1 0 TOTALS 43 77 94 171 9.5–25 2.0–12 1–14 0 3 0 1 0 TREVOR CHILDERS’ SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:............................................................................................16, SAMFORD (11/16/19) Tackles for Loss:.................................................................................2.0, MERCER (8/31/19) Sacks:...............................................................1.0, twice: MR – at North Carolina (12/5/20) T R E V O R C H I L D E R S ’ C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Two-time Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2019-20, 2020-21)

TREVOR CHILDERS Trevor CHILDERS 6-1 l 215 lbs. l 5th-Year Senior l LB Lincolnton, N.C. | East Lincoln HS

2020-21 (SENIOR): Played in all nine of the team’s games between the fall and spring season making two starts against VMI (March 6) and The Citadel (March 13) … Finished second on the team with 58 total tackles including 28 solo stops and 2.0 tackles for loss with a sack … Recorded a tackle in each game on the season including a season-high nine twice, both at North Carolina (Dec. 5) where he was a team captain and at Mercer (March 20) … Posted tackles for loss at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21) and North Carolina, forcing a fumble on a sack that led to a WCU touchdown … Tallied his first career interception at EKU, returning the pick 14 yards … Had six solo stops twice coming at Samford (Feb. 27) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2019 (JUNIOR): Started 11 of the 12 seasonal games in which he played … Finished the season second on the team with 99 total tackles including 44 solo stops and 7.5 tackles for loss with a sack … Recorded double-digit tackles six times including a career-high 16 against Samford (Nov. 16) … Tallied his first career double-digit tackle game against Mercer (Aug. 31) in the season-opener with a career-high 2.0 TFLs … Collected his first career sack as a part of an 11-tackle performance against Gardner-Webb (Oct. 5) … Also credited with two pass

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

Trae CHURN

6-5 l 240 lbs. l 5th-Year Senior l TE Columbia, S.C. | SC State / Blythewood HS

2020-21 (GRADUATE STUDENT): Played in five of WCU’s six spring football games as a reserve on offense and on special teams ... Was not credited with any stats … Made his WCU debut in the spring-opener at Furman (Feb. 20). PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Joined the Catamount football team as a mid-semester graduate transfer in January 2020 from South Carolina State … Played in three games in 2018 with a pair of receptions for 1 yards; High School: Was an All-Region selection as a wide receiver finishing with 749 career receiving yards and eight touchdowns … Also played basketball as a prep where he was both an All-Region and All-State selection PERSONAL: Is the son of Herbert Churn, Jr.

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in his first collegiate touchdown pass on a three-yard scoring strike in the home win over ETSU (Oct. 14) ... Named second-team Freshman All-America by Phil Steele ... Hauled in a 20-yard pass in WCU’s annual Spring Game. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Played for head coach Jason Dawson at John Champe HS in Aldie, Va., before finishing his prep career at Fork Union Military where he played for head coach Col. John Shuman ... Started all 12 games at FUMA ... At John Champe HS, garnered first team all-conference and second team All-Region honors as a senior as a part of a conference championship team in just the Knights’ fourth year of existence ... Garnered MaxPreps Offensive Player of the Game accolades in a game against Dominion (Oct. 16, 2015) ... Recorded 35 catches for over 400 yards and four touchdowns in his final season ... Also played basketball at John Champe HS where he was a two-year varsity starter. PERSONAL: Full name is Owen Mattingly Cosenke ... Is the son of Kelly and Stephen Cosenke ... Has two younger brothers, Trevor and Calvin. O W E N C O S E N K E ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G Rush Yds TD Lng Rec Yds TD Lng KR Yds TD Lng APYds 2017 10 – – – – 9 82 1 21 – – – – 82 2018 11 – – – – 23 261 8 25 – – – – 261 2019 12 – – – – 22 246 2 21 – – – – 246 20-21 6 – – – – 9 108 0 40 – – – – 108 TOTALS 39 – – – – 63 697 11 40 – – – – 589 OWEN COSENKE’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Receptions:.......................................................................6, twice – MR: MERCER (8/31/19) Receiving Yards:.................................................................................66, at ETSU (10/27/18) Receiving Touchdowns:................................................... 2, twice – MR: at ETSU, 10/27/18)

OWEN COSENKE Owen COSENKE

O W E N C O S E N K E ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S 2018 Third Team All-America by the Associated Press (AP) 2018 Sophomore All-America Team by HERO Sports 2018 First Team All-Southern Conference (Coaches & Media) 2017 Second Team Freshman All-America by Phil Steele

6-3 l 235 lbs. l 5th-Year Senior l TE Aldie, Va. | Fork Union Military / Champe HS

2020-21 (SENIOR): Played in six of the team’s nine games on the season with four starts at tight end … Caught nine passes for 108 yards on the season with one solo tackle coming at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21) … Hauled in a season-best five receptions at Liberty (Nov. 14) in the season-opener, posting a season-high 56 receiving yards … Caught two passes for 44 yards including a seasonlong 40-yard reception at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Missed part of the spring semester with a hand injury. 2019 (JUNIOR): Played in all 12 of WCU’s seasonal games with nine starts at tight end … Caught 22 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns, posting receptions in 11 of the 12 games on the year … Matched his career-high by catching a season-best six passes in the season-opener against Mercer (Aug. 31), finishing with 63 receiving yards and a touchdown … Only other receiving TD came at Chattanooga (Sept. 28), finishing with three receptions for 30 yards … Credited with one tackle on special teams … Selected first-team All-Southern Conference at TE at the annual SoCon Football Media Day … Was a preseason first-team honoree by Phil Steele. 2018 (SOPHOMORE): Saw action in all 11 of the team’s games making 10 starts … Recorded 23 receptions for 261 yards and a career-best eight touchdowns, a mark that ranked him third in the Southern Conference and represented the most by a Catamount tight end in a single season alltime … Posted receptions in nine of the 11 games with scores in six games, amassing 48 seasonal points … Twice posted two receiving touchdowns in the same game, doing so at Furman (Sept. 29) and in the triple-overtime thriller at #25 ETSU (Oct. 27) … Hauled in a career-best six catches for 66 yards in the 3-OT loss against the Buccaneers … Named firstteam All-Southern Conference by both the league’s head coaches and the voting media … Selected to the Sophomore All-America Team by HERO Sports … Was dubbed a third team All-America selection by the Associated Press … Added two tackles on special teams play.

Christian COULTER

6-5 l 335 lbs. l So. l OL Thomson, Ga. | Tusculum / Thomson HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU from Tusculum during the summer of 2021; Tusculum: Played in 14 games for the Pioneers over the past two seasons including 11 starts on the offensive line at right tackle in 2019 … Was selected to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll... Athletic Director's Honor Roll. High School: Graduated from Thomson (Ga.) HS ... Coached by Michael Youngblood ... Lettered four seasons in volleyball ... 2018 GACA All-State... AAAA-All-Region 3 first team (2017, 2018) ... 2015 & 2016 AAAA 3A Region Champions ... 2016 AAAA State Runner-Up. PERSONAL: Is the son of Tiffany Neal and Curtis Coulter ... Siblings: Kent Medlock, Kenneth Medlock, Cain Coulter, Chancellor Coulter, Ethan Coulter.

2017 (FRESHMAN): Played in 10 of the team’s 12 games including nine starts at tight end ... Finished the year with nine receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown ... Made his debut in the season-opener at Hawai’i (Sept. 2), finishing with a career-best three catches for 28 yards ... Hauled

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Colby CROSS 6-0 l 220 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l LS Mooresville, N.C. | Lake Norman HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in all nine of the team’s games as the long-snapper … Was not credited with any official statistics … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener at Liberty (Nov. 14) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was a two-year varsity letter winner at Lake Norman High as the long-snapper on special teams ... Joined the WCU football team as a walk-on. PERSONAL: Is the son of Kim Cross.

6-3 l 225 lbs. l So. l QB Baltimore, Md. | East Mississippi CC / Mergenthaler Vo-Tech HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letter winner and a two-time All-Region selection who garnered All-State plaudits as a senior … Recorded 125 career receptions for 1,662 yards and 20 touchdowns … Caught 30 passes with eight TDs over a shortened five-game senior season … Recorded a career-best 57 catches for 730 yards and seven scores as a junior … Tabbed his team’s offensive MVP and the Greer Citizen Player of the Year as a senior … High school coach was Will Young … Is also a three-year varsity basketball captain as a prep earning All-Region and All-State honors.

Brandon DICKERSON

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Played in two games in the spring semester, both as a reserve at quarterback … Rushed once for three yards at Samford (Feb. 27) in his WCU debut … Completed his first pass as a Catamount, tossing a 44-yard touchdown pass to tight end Clayton Bardall at ETSU (March 27) after lining up as a wide receiver. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Joined the Catamount football team as a mid-semester transfer in January 2020 from East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Miss., where he earned an associate’s degree … Also played at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kansas … In nine games, completed 60-percent of his passes for 833 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 256 rushing yards and three scores … Garnered a two-star ranking from Gridiron RR among the nation’s junior college quarterbacks. PERSONAL: His twin sister plays women’s basketball at Temple where she was a USBWA All-American honorable mention in 2020

Year 20-21

6-1 l 175 lbs. l True Freshman l WR Greer, S.C. | Greer HS

PERSONAL: Full name is Carson Miller DeArmond but prefers to go by Miller … Is the son of April Bennett and Maurice DeArmond … Has an older brother, Caleb.

C O L BY C R O S S ’ C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

Carlos DAVIS

Miller DeARMOND

C A R LO S DAV I S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S G Cmp–Att–Int Pct Yds TD Lng A/Gm Rush Yds TD Lng Avg A/Gm 2 1–1–0 100.0 44 1 44 22.0 1 3 0 3 3.0 1.5

Peyton DAVIS 6-2 l 290 lbs. l True Freshman l OL Mooresville, N.C. | Lake Norman HS PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letter winner … Played offensive line at center and guard … Two-time All-County selection, earning firstteam honors as a senior … Credited with 18 pancake blocks in seven games in 2021 … Helped guide Lake Norman High to a third-place finish in the highly competitive I-Meck 4-A Conference … Competed in the Queen City Senior Bowl in May 2021 … Was selected to represent the West in the Carolina Clash on the Coast Senior Bowl in Wilmington, N.C.

5-11 l 195 lbs. l So. l P Fort Mill, S.C. | Indian Land HS

2020-21 (SOPHOMORE): Saw action in each of the team’s three games in the fall as the starting punter before missing the spring semester games due to injury … Punted 20 times for 770 yards, averaging 38.5 yards per punt including a season-long punt of 52 yards at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21) … Downed 10 of his 20 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line including seven at EKU … Credited with a solo tackle at North Carolina (Dec. 5) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2019 (FRESHMAN): Played in eight games as a true freshman handling the bulk of the team’s punting duties … Punted a combined 42 times for 1,533 yards, averaging 36.5 yards per punt one kick sailing 50+ yards and seven downed inside the opposition’s 20-yard line … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against Mercer (Aug. 31), punting seven times with a 36.3 average … Punted a career-high 10 times at N.C. State (Sept. 7) including his career-long 59-yard punt and twice downing the football inside the Wolfpack 20-yard line … Punted three-or-more times in seven of his eight games on the year … Credited with two solo tackles ... Named to the 2019-20 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-time all-region selection and a threetime Special Teams Player of the Year for his squad … Averaged 41 yards per punt as a senior including a long of 68 yards … Connected on 6-of-8 (75%) of his field goals including a long of 49 yards, while hitting all 21 of his PAT attempts … Added 17 touchbacks on kickoffs … Selected to represent North Carolina in the International Bowl – US vs. Canada – for four-consecutive seasons … High school coach was Horatio “HB” Blades. PERSONAL: Is the son of Shanna and Lyn Dickerson and an older sister, Brenna. B R A N D O N D I C K E R S O N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year Punts Yds Avg. TB FC In20 50+ Lng FG-FGA PAT 2019 42 1,533 36.5 1 16 7 1 59 0–0 0 20-21 20 770 38.5 0 3 10 1 52 0–0 0 TOTALS 62 2,303 37.1 1 19 17 2 59 0–0 0

Pts 0 0 0

BRANDON DICKERSON’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Most Punts:.......................................................................................10, at NC State (9/7/19) B R A N D O N D I C K E R S O N ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Two-time Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2019-20, 2020-21)

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Caleb FISHER

6-0 l 225 lbs. l True Freshman l DE Roebuck, S.C. | Dorman HS

6-3 l 230 lbs. l True Freshman l DL Decatur, Ga. | Columbia HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Two-year varsity letter winner at Dorman High … Was an honorable mention on the 2020 South Carolina Football Coaches Association (SCFCA) All-State football team … Earned All-State honors in 2019.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was a two-way player as a prep as a defensive end and tight end … Entered the 2020 season as a preseason all-state selection along the defensive line … Was an honorable mention defensive lineman all-region for 5-AAAAA in Georgia in 2019 after finishing with 30 tackles including 11 for loss with 10 sacks.

Jerius EDWARDS 6-0 l 180 lbs. l True Freshman l Nickel Carrollton, Ga. | Carrollton HS

PERSONAL: Is the son of Mitzi Gant and Cecil Fisher.

Jaylen FLOYD

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letterwinner at strong safety and outside linebacker … Credited with 61 total tackles over his final two seasons according to MaxPreps, recording 32 solo stops and two sacks while breaking-up six passes ... Was a 2020 Class 6A All-Region honorable mention … Also competed in track & field as a prep as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team while also throwing the discus and shot put. PERSONAL: Is the son of Shrica and Melvin Edwards, Sr. … Has five brothers – Sidaris Crowder, Tristan Crowder, Michael Higgins, Melvin Edwards and Myles Edwards – and two sisters – DeAsia Lewis and Jenee Edwards … Brother Tristan is an offensive lineman at Troy and brother Melvin signed to play basketball at UNCW before transferring to Charleston Southern.

Brady ELMS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Finished his prep career in Huntsville, Ala., earning Alabama 7A Region 4 All-Region second-team plaudits as a punter … Averaged 44.06 yards per punt as a senior including a long of 59 yards … Started his prep career at Wakefield High in Raleigh where he was a three-year varsity letter winner … Joined the WCU football team as a preferred walk-on … Was an academic all-conference selection as a prep.

Antwann FANN 6-3 l 310 lbs. l R-Fr. l OL Carrollton, Ga. | Carrollton HS

5-9 l 185 lbs. | Graduate Student | DB Miramar, Fla. | Lehigh / Miramar HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Graduate transfer from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. … Did not play in Lehigh’s abbreviated, three-game 2021 spring season ... Was named a team captain as a senior ... Graduated from Lehigh with a bachelors in psychology. 2019 (Junior, Lehigh): Appeared in all 11 games with eight starts at cornerback … Also served as one of Lehigh’s primary kickoff and punt returners ... Named the team's top defensive back … Established a career high with 15 tackles at UC Davis … Finished with team-best six pass breakups on the season … Had five tackles and two pass breakups at Bucknell … Averaged 20 yards on 15 kickoff returns … Career-long 34-yard kickoff return versus Merrimack.

2017 (Freshman, Lehigh): Appeared in 11 games, making six starts at cornerback … Made four straight starts beginning with Penn game … Career-high seven tackles at Colgate … Added four tackles in win over Georgetown. High School: Selected for Florida Public vs. Private School All-Star Game … National Honor Society member. PERSONAL: Is the son of Sherrell and Harold Floyd … Has two siblings, Justyce Floyd and Jamaal Floyd.

Trevor FOURNET 5-11 l 215 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l LB Cornelius, N.C. | Hough HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 from Kennesaw State ... Worked out with both the defensive and offensive line during WCU's preseason fall camp. Kennesaw State: Played in one game in 2019 for the Owls, taking a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut against Gardner-

High School: Was a three-star recruit out of high school by 247Sports … Competed in football and track & field … Garnered first-team all-region honors and was a two-time region Player of the Week.

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll ... Received a SoCon Commissioner's Medal. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letter winner where he played linebacker and ran track as a prep … Credited with 155 career tackles including 86 solo stops in 32 career games including seven tackles for loss with three sacks … Also ran track and a season of rugby as a prep.

PERSONAL: Is the son of Shontorria and Antwann Fann … Has a sister, Jalyn.

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2018 (Sophomore, Lehigh): Played in nine games with two starts at rover at Georgetown and Lafayette … Credited with four pass breakups … Made four tackles versus Fordham … Four tackles and a tackle for loss at Lafayette … Lehigh’s top punt returner with 86 yards on 14 returns.

6-4 l 170 lbs. l True Freshman l P Huntsville, Ala. | Huntsville HS

Webb;

Dreshun DOGAN

T R E V O R F O U R N E T ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21) SoCon Commissioner's Medal recipient (2020-21)

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Charles GADIE 5-9 l 175 lbs. l R-So. l S Douglasville, Ga. | Douglas County HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Saw action in six of the team’s nine games on the season with one start … Finished the season with five total tackles including four solo stops … Recorded a season-best three tackles at Samford (Feb. 27) … Posted solo stops against VMI (March 6) and at Mercer (March 20). 2019 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in 11 games including two starts in the defensive secondary and on special teams … Credited with 17 total tackles including nine solo stops … Made his first career start against Gardner-Webb (Oct. 5), finishing with three tackles … Posted a career-high four tackles including three solo stops and forcing a fumble in the road win at VMI (Nov. 2) … Matched his career-best with four tackles at nationally-ranked Alabama (Nov. 23).

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU from Georgia Military College ahead of spring 2021 … Played in 11 games in 2019 recording 14 tackles with 10 solo stops … Credited with three pass break-ups with one interception while also recovering a fumble; High School: Led Hartsville High with five interceptions as a senior … Finished with 35 total tackles as a prep with one fumble forced and one recovered while recording one defensive touchdown … Also played basketball and ran track as a prep. PERSONAL: Full name is Rod’Darius Gattison … Is the son of Pricilla Gattison.

R O D G AT T I S O N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S

2018 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in four of the team’s 11 games on the year between special teams and as a defensive reserve, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut against Newberry (Sept. 1), recording his first career tackle … Finished the year with three total tackles including two solo stops … Also posted tackles at Samford (Oct. 6) and at North Carolina (Nov. 17).

Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 6 20 6 26 0.0–0 0.0–0 1–30 0 2 0 0 0 R O D G AT T I S O N ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Tackles:.......................................................................................................... 7, VMI (3/6/21) Interceptions:..................................................................................... 1, at Furman (2/20/21)

Aaron GETHERS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was a four-year varsity letter winner … Was a two-time All-Region selection, collecting first-team All-Region 5-6A plaudits following his senior year and honorable mention as a junior … Finished with 34 tackles as a senior including 24 solo stops … Recorded one interception and nine pass break-ups in his final year as a prep, adding a fumble recovery … Also tallied 49 all-purpose yards on kickoff and punt returns … Listed as a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com and 247Sports.com ... High school head coach was Johnny White. PERSONAL: Full name is Charles Amil Gadie … Is the son of Chucquel Davis and Gerald Gadie … Is one of six children: Jerry, Paris, Page, Chloe, Amir and Amar … Is originally from Detroit, Mich. C H A R L E S G A D I E ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2018 4 2 1 3 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 2019 11 9 8 17 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 1 0 20-21 6 4 1 5 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 22 15 10 25 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 1 0 CHARLES GADIE’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:.......................................................................4, twice – MR: at Alabama (11/23/19)

Rod GATTISON

5-11 l 185 lbs. l So. l CB Hartsville, S.C. | Georgia Military / Hartsville HS

2020-21 (SOPHOMORE): Played in all six games in the spring semester with one start … Recorded 26 total tackles on the season including 20 solo stops … Made his WCU debut in the spring-opener at Furman (Feb. 20), finishing with five total tackles … Recorded his first career interception against the Paladins, returning the pick 30 yards … Posted a career-high seven tackles including five solo stops against VMI (March 6) … Credited with three solo stops and a pass break-up at ETSU (March 27).

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

5-10 l 185 lbs. l R-So. l CB Blythewood, S.C. | Boston College / Bishop McDevitt HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): OPlayed in all nine of the team’s seasonal game with eight starts in the defensive secondary … Finished the year with 24 tackles including 14 solo stops, recording tackles in every game … Posted five pass break-ups including a career-best three against VMI (March 6) … Made his WCU debut and first start at Liberty (Nov. 14) finishing with three tackles … Credited with a tackle and recorded his first career interception at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21), returning the pick 22 yards … Recorded a career-best four tackles three times including four stops at North Carolina (Dec. 5), four tackles at Furman (Feb. 20), and a career-best four solo stops against The Citadel (March 13) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Originally signed with and attended Boston College … Played in four games as a redshirt freshman recording one tackle for loss in 2019; High School: Was listed as the No. 2 cornerback prospect in Pennsylvania by 247Sports and was rated as the No. 23 prospect in Pennsylvania and the No. 82 cornerback nationally according to 247Sports … Collected first-team all-con-

A A R O N G E T H E R S ’ C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 9 14 10 24 0.0–0 0.0–0 1–22 0 5 1 0 0 AARON GETHERS’ SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:............................................................4, three times – MR: THE CITADEL (3/13/21) Interceptions:.....................................................................1, at Eastern Kentucky (11/21/20)

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

ference honors as a junior after totaling 30 tackles and three interceptions … Was an All-Mid-Penn Conference selection according to the Harrisburg Patriot-News … As a senior, led Bishop McDevitt with five pass break-ups and was second on the team in total tackles, helping guide the Crusaders to a 10-3 record and state quarterfinal appearance … Was listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and a two-star cornerback by Rivals.com … High school coach was Jeff Weachter. PERSONAL: Is the son of Ivory and Lynda Gethers.

Anthony GIANSANTE 6-4 l 300 lbs. l True Freshman l OL North Huntingdon, Pa. | Norwin HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity starter … Named first-team all-conference in Pennsylvania’s largest football classification and was a secondteam All-State selection in Pennsylvania 6-A … Nominated for the Bill Fralic Memorial Award that is given to the best lineman in the WPIAL in 2020 … Selected as a team captain as a senior … Was a two-star recruit from both Rivals.com and 247Sports.com … Originally committed to Conference USA-member, Western Kentucky … High school coach was Dave Brozeski.

20) … Named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman team. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Named South Carolina (SCFCA) 5-A AllState along the defensive line and was selected to the North team in the South Carolina 2019 North-South game … Garnered Defensive Lineman of the Week honors from the The Herald in Rock Hill after tallying six tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection on the game-sealing interception … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports. com and a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … High school coach was Brian Lane. PERSONAL: Full name is Jaquarius Jerome Guinn … Is the son of David Guinn and Gracie Kirkpatrick.

J AQ U A R I U S G U I N N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S

PERSONAL: Is the son of Kim and John Giansante … Has a twin brother, John … His cousin, Jimmy Giansante, played wide receiver at New Hampshire (2010-14).

Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 9 11 10 21 0.5–4 0.5–4 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 J AQ U A R I U S G U I N N ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Tackles:.............................................................................................. 5, at Mercer (3/20/21) Tackles for Loss:............................................................................ 0.5, at Samford (2/27/21) Sacks:............................................................................................ 0.5, at Samford (2/27/21)

Bryson GRABOWSKI 6-1 l 180 lbs. l True Freshman l QB Copperhill, Tenn. | Copper Basin HS PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letter winner … Threw for 3,947 yards over three years on 220-of-379 passing with 36 touchdowns … Added 1,397 career rushing yards with four 100+ rushing games and 16 rushing touchdowns … Finished with 5,344 career yards and 104 career points scored … Named Division I Class 1A AllState team as an athlete … All-Region selection in 2018 and 2019 … Was named TNFCA All-State in 2019 … Also played baseball as a prep … Played for his father, Chad Grabowski.

Austin GRUNDEN 6-2 l 250 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l OL Kannapolis, N.C. | A.L. Brown HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Started the season working with the WCU tight ends before finishing the year working with the offensive line … Did not see game action. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Varsity letter winner where he was a tight end and H-back … Was a team captain as a senior … Caught 16 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown, adding a two-point conversion to his point tally according to MaxPreps … High school coach was Mike Newsome … Also played tennis as a prep ... Joined the WCU football team as a walk-on.

Jaquarius GUINN 6-2 l 280 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l DL Clover, S.C. | Clover HS

J AQ U A R I U S G U I N N ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference All-Freshman Team (2020-21)

Keenan HAMBRICK 6-3 l 205 lbs. 1 l 2nd-Year Fr. l WR Athens, Ala. | Athens HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in eight of the team’s nine games on the season with one start at wide receiver … Caught nine passes for 74 yards and added one tackle … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener at Liberty (Nov. 14) … Made his first career reception at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21), a four-yard grab from QB Will Jones … Caught a career-best four passes for a career-high 42 yards at Samford (Feb. 27) that included a career-long grab of 14 yards … Also caught two passes against The Citadel (March 13) … Made his first career start at Mercer (March 20).. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: As a junior, caught 24 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … Verbally committed to Kansas as a junior … Played for Austin HS in the Hoover City Elite 7-on-7 Championship in Hoover … Also, plays basketball and participates in jumping events in track & field as a prep. PERSONAL: Is the son of Larinda Donnell.

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in all nine of the team’s seasonal games with four starts along the defensive line … Finished the year with 21 tackles including 19 coming in Southern Conference play in the spring semester with half a tackle for loss … Credited with a pair of quarterback hurries … Made his WCU debut in the seasonopener at Liberty (Nov. 14), recording a solo tackle … Posted two tackles including half a tackle for loss at Samford (Feb. 27) … Recorded a career-best five tackles at Mercer (March

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K E E N A N H A M B R I C K ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G Rush Yds TD Lng Rec Yds TD Lng KR Yds TD Lng APYds 20-21 8 – – – – 9 74 0 14 – – – – 74 KEENAN HAMBRICK’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Receptions:...................................................................................... 4, at Samford (2/27/21) Receiving Yards:............................................................................. 42, at Samford (2/27/21)

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Michael HARPER

6-4 l 280 lbs. l R-Jr. l OL Wilkesboro, N.C. | Fork Union Military Academy

2020-21 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Played in seven of the team’s nine seasonal games as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams. 2019 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Played in eight games with six starts along the offensive line … Started the first six games of the year before missing the road game at Wofford (Oct. 19) due to injury … Only saw action in two games following the injury, both coming in a reserve role … Named to the 2019-20 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Willie HAMPTON 6-1 l 220 lbs. l R-Jr. l DE Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. | Garden City CC / American Heritage HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Started all nine seasonal games at linebacker … Finished fifth on the team with 44 tackles including 21 solo stops and 2.0 tackles for loss with a sack … Forced a pair of fumbles and was credited with a pair of pass break-ups … Made his WCU debut with a five-tackle performance at Liberty (Nov. 14), forcing a fumble … Recorded a career-best eight tackles at Furman (Feb. 20) … Credited with three tackles including a sack at Samford (Feb. 27) … Had a career-high four solo stops among six tackles against VMI (March 6) … Had three tackles and forced a fumble against The Citadel (March 13)..

2018 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in four games on the season with one start … Made his collegiate debut and his first career start at Furman (Sept. 29), starting the game at offensive left tackle … Was a part of the WCU offensive line unit that paved the way for a fourth-consecutive, 1,000-yard rusher in QB Tyrie Adams ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2017 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action, taking a redshirt. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Played both OL & DL, staring as a defensive end for head coach Col. John Shuman for three years at FUMA ... As a senior collected All-Prep and All-State honors, as well as received The Cobb Award given to the Prep MVP ... Awarded the Distinguished Cadet Award at FUMA where he served as an officer ... Was named second-team VISAA Div. I All-State in 2015 ... Earned the 2013 Pioneer League All-Conference Award and Christian Character Award. PERSONAL: Full name is Michael Brian Harper ... Is the son of Michelle and Michael Harper Sr. ... Is one of seven children in his family.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Originally signed and attended Nebraska where he redshirted in 2017 … Transferred to Garden City CC for two seasons where he recorded 129 tackles including 15.5 tackles for loss with 7.5 sacks … Credited with four pass break-ups and forced three fumbles, each in his second season in 2019 … Finished second on the team with 99 tackles as a redshirt sophomore … Played in the Junior College National Championship game as a redshirt freshman recording three tackles for the Jayhawk Conference champions … High School: Was originally a three-star recruit out of high school … High school coach was Pat Surtain … Recorded 71 tackles and six sacks as a senior in helping lead American Heritage High to a 14-0 record and a 5A state title.

M I C H A E L H A R P E R ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Two-time Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2018-19, 2019-20)

PERSONAL: Is the son of Kim Ridley … Has a younger sister. W I L L I E H A M P T O N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 9 21 23 44 2.0–7 1.0–4 0–0 0 2 0 2 0 WILLIE HAMPTON’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:............................................................................................. 8, at Furman (2/20/21) Sacks:.............................................................................................1.0, at Samford (2/27/21) Fumbles Forced:........................................................ 1, twice – MR: THE CITADEL (3/13/21)

Nick HAPESHIS 6-1 l 250 lbs. l True Freshman l OL Central, S.C. | Daniel HS PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Multi-year starter along the offensive line as a prep … Finished his senior campaign with a lineman grade of 93, leading the team with 27 pancake blocks … Named to the 2020 South Carolina Football Coaches Association’s Class 3-A All-State team.

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Christian HARRIS

6-3 l 260 lbs. l R-Fr. l DT Raleigh, N.C. | Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.) School 2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Did not see game action.

2019 (FRESHMAN): Played in three games as a defensive substitution and on special teams at the end of the season, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Did not record any official statistics … Made his collegiate debut against ETSU (Nov. 9) … Additionally saw action against Samford (Nov. 16) and at Alabama (Nov. 23) ... Named to the 2019-20 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Four-year letter winner including one season at Ravenscroft HS and three at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn. … Two-time All-Region and twice named All-City as a junior and senior … Named Dynamite Dozen as a senior … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … Was invited to the All-American Army Bowl, Hawaiian Bowl, and Top Elite All-American Bowl … Had over 30 offers to play college football ... Was a three-sport standout as a prep, playing football, basketball, and track & field ... High school coach was Phil Massey.

Was originally recruited by Appalachian State and Miami (OH) ... Was listed as a two-star prospect out of high school by both 247Sports and Rivals.com ... Also ran track as a prep. PERSONAL: Is the son of Andre Harris. J AC O B H A R R I S ’ C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S

PERSONAL: Full name is Christian Xavier Harris … Is the son of Lisa Harris … Has a younger brother, Caleb.

Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 7 13 21 34 2.5–7 1.0–5 1–46 0 3 0 0 0

C H R I S T I A N H A R R I S ’ C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2019-20)

J AC O B H A R R I S ’ S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Tackles:............................................................................................10, at Furman (2/20/21) Sacks:..............................................................................................1.0, at Furman (2/20/21) Fumbles Forced:................................................................................ 1, at Furman (2/20/21)

Ethan HARRIS 5-8 l 165 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l DB Duncan, S.C. | Byrnes HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in two games on the year, making his WCU debut at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Also played at Samford (Feb. 27) … Did not record any official statistics ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was listed as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com ... In addition to playing football, also ran track as a prep ... Was a member of the National Senior Beta Club and National Honor Society. E T H A N H A R R I S ’ C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

Jacob HARRIS

6-1 l 190 lbs. l So. l S Greer, S.C. | Independence CC / Greer HS

2020-21 (SOPHOMORE): Played in seven of the team’s nine games, each in the starting role in the defensive secondary … Finished the season with 34 tackles including 13 solo stops and 2.5 tackles for loss with a sack … Credited with two pass break-ups with an interception … Made his WCU debut, recording nine tackles including half a stop for loss at Liberty (Nov. 14) … Recorded a career-high 10 tackles with a sack at Furman (Feb. 20), intercepting a pass with a 46-yard return against the Paladins… Had five stops at Samford (Feb. 27) and at ETSU (March 27) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Played in four games with 12 tackles including a TFL at Independence CC in the 2018 season ... High School: Selected as a All-Upstate, North-South All-Star and was All-Region 2-AAAA selection as a senior in 2017 after recording 126 tackles and five interceptions ... CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

J AC O B H A R R I S ’ C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

Ty HARRIS 6-1 l 235 lbs. l 5th-Year Senior l LB Dacula, Ga. | Dacula HS

2020-21 (SENIOR): Started all nine games at linebacker … Led the team with 90 tackles including 50 solo stops and a career-best 8.5 tackles for loss with four sacks … Finished fourth in the Southern Conference with a 9.9 tackle per game average … His 8.5 TFLs ranked him fifth in the league … Posted double-digit tackles in six games and recorded nine-or-more stops in all seven of the SoCon games … Named second-team All-Southern Conference at linebacker by the voting members of the media … Opened the season with 11 tackles at nationally-ranked Liberty (Nov. 14) … Forced a fumble to accompany five tackles at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Posted a season-high 14 tackles twice including an 11 solo stops, 14 tackle outing against VMI (March 6) and 14 stops against The Citadel (March 13) … Was a preseason second-team All-SoCon selection from the league’s coaches ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2019 (JUNIOR): Started all 12 games at linebacker … Led the Catamounts in tackles finishing with a careerbest 106 total hits including 45 solo hits and 7.0 tackles for loss ... Ranked fourth in the SoCon with 106 tackles and an average of 8.8 tackles per game … Credited with two quarterback hurries … Posted four double-digit tackle games including a career-high 17 at home against Samford (Nov. 16) ... Claimed SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting 11 tackles including 4.0 TFLs in the OT victory over ETSU (Nov. 9) … Recovered a fumble to accompany eight tackles against nationally-ranked Alabama (Nov. 23) in the season finale … Named second-team All-Southern Conference by the league’s voting media. 2018 (SOPHOMORE): Started 10 of WCU’s 11 games on the year, missing the season-opener against Newberry … Finished the year ranked fourth on the Catamount defense with 87 total tackles including 46 solo stops and five tackles for loss with a pair of sacks … His 8.7 tackle per game average ranked him fourth in the SoCon … Tallied double-digit tackles four times on the season, credited with a single-game career-high 14 on the road at Samford (Oct. 6) … Had

T. HARRIS BIO CONCLUDED ON PAGE 54 2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

11 stops against Chattanooga (Oct. 13), The Citadel (Nov. 3), and at North Carolina (Nov. 17) … Credited with three QB hurries … Also recorded a pair of interceptions coming in the road games at Furman (Sept. 29) and Samford (Oct. 6), returning both nine yards for a total of 18 yards on the year … Named to the Sophomore All-America team by HERO Sports. 2017 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in all 12 of the team’s games on the season on special teams and as a defensive substitution ... Recorded 18 tackles on the season including 12 solo stops with half a tackle for loss ... Made his collegiate debut on the road at Hawai’i (Sept. 2) with his first career tackle coming in the home-opener against Davidson (Sept. 9) ... Posted a career-best three tackles twice - in the road win at Chattanooga (Sept. 30) and in the season-finale against FBS-foe, North Carolina (Nov. 18) ... Made two tackles including half a tackle for loss in the home win over nationally-ranked Samford (Sept. 23). PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was highly recruited, originally committed and signed with Army West Point ... Was a running back and outside linebacker as a prep ... Named Honorable Mention All-State in Georgia’s Class AAAAAA as a senior ... Rushed for over 1,000 yards with eight touchdowns as a senior ... Also finished with 70 tackles including 43 solo stops as a senior with five tackles for loss including three sacks ... Was a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com and 247Sports. PERSONAL: Full name is Paul Tyreon Harris ... Is the son of Kisemee and Paul Harris. T Y H A R R I S ’ C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2017 12 12 6 18 0.5–1 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 2018 10 46 41 87 5.0–16 2.0–10 2–18 0 2 0 0 0 2019 12 45 61 106 7.0–15 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 1 0 0 20-21 9 50 40 90 8.5–34 4.0–25 0–0 0 1 0 1 0 TOTALS 43 153 148 301 21.0–66 6.0–35 2–18 0 3 1 1 0

LaQuavion HAYNES 6-4 l 220 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l DE Moultrie, Ga. | Colquitt County HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in eight games with a pair of starts along the defensive line … Finished with 23 total tackles including 17 solo stops with 1.5 tackles for loss … Made his WCU debut in the fall opener against Liberty (Nov. 14) … Recorded his first career tackles at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Posted a career-best seven tackles, all solo stops, at Samford (Feb. 27) … Collected two stops including his first career tackle for loss against VMI (March 6) … Credited with six tackles including half a tackle for loss at Mercer (March 20). PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Named first-team all-region by the league's coaches as a senior in 2019 after leading Colquitt's defensive linemen in tackles and tackles for loss ... Twice garnered defensive player of the game accolades, once as a junior vs. Lowndes and once as a senior vs. Tift County ... Had multiple interest from FBS programs as a prep including ECU, UAB, Central Michigan, and Western Kentucky. L AQ U AV I O N H AY N E S ’ C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S

TY HARRIS’ SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:.............................................................................................17, SAMFORD (11/16/19) Tackles for Loss:....................................................2.5, three times – MR: at ETSU (3/27/21) Sacks:...................................................................................... 1.5, twice – MR: VMI (3/6/21) Interceptions:...................................................................1, twice (MR: at Samford, 10/6/18) T Y H A R R I S ’ C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Two time Second Team All-Southern Conference (Media) (2020-21, 2019) Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21) SoCon Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 11, 2019) 2018 Sophomore All-America Team by HERO Sports

Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 8 17 6 23 1.5–3 0.0–0 0–0 0 1 0 0 0 L AQ U AV I O N H AY N E S ’ S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Tackles:.............................................................................................7, at Samford (2/27/21) Tackle for Loss:........................................................................................... 1.0, VMI (3/6/21)

Raekwon HEATH

6-2 l 205 lbs. l R-Jr. l TE Irmo, S.C. | Independence College / Irmo HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Started all six games at wide receiver in the spring semester … Finished third on the team with 12 receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown … Made his WCU debut at Furman (Feb. 20) … Recorded his first reception at Samford (Feb. 27), finishing with three catches for a career-high 65 yards including a careerlong of 47 yards … Caught a career-high four passes against The Citadel (March 13) … Tallied a solo tackle at Mercer (March 20) … Finished with three catches for 55 yards and his first career touchdown on a 21-yard reception from QB Ryan Glover at ETSU (March 27). PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: In nine games as a sophomore at Independence College in Independence, Kansas, caught 23 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns … Played in two games as a freshman catching three passes for 62 yards and a TD; High School: A 2018 graduate of Irmo High where he played football and basketball as a prep … Was a South Carolina state runner-up in 2018 … Averaged 12.4 points per game as a senior … Was named South Carolina 5-A All-State in basketball. PERSONAL: Is the son of LaToya and Derrick Killingworth. R A E K W O N H E AT H ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G Rush Yds TD Lng Rec Yds TD Lng KR Yds TD Lng APYds 20-21 6 – – – – 12 152 1 47 – – – – 152 R A E K W O N H E AT H ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Receptions:....................................................................................4, THE CITADEL (3/13/21) Receiving Yards:............................................................................. 65, at Samford (2/27/21) Receiving Touchdowns:......................................................................... 1, at ETSU (3/27/21)

TY HARRIS

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Shammond HICKS 5-10 l 180 lbs. l Graduate Student l WR Raleigh, N.C. | Middle Creek HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Is a graduate transfer from UNC Pembroke where he played in 26 career games from 2017 to 2020 ... Caught 69 career passes for 898 yards and eight touchdowns, catching at least one TD pass per year 2020 (Senior at UNCP): Played in three games with 14 receptions for 161 yards and a career-best four touchdowns 2019 (Junior at UNCP): Played in four games … Caught 12 passes for 98 yards (8.2 yards/ catch) and one touchdown. Gave UNCP the lead for good with a 14-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter against Winston-Salem State ... Posted season-highs in both receptions (5) and receiving yards (67) against Virginia State.

2018 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Only played in one game on special teams, suiting up against his former team at North Carolina (Nov. 17) ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU from North Carolina after attending UNC as a walk-on ... Did not see game action ... High School: Recorded 2,341 career passing yards and 26 touchdowns through the air as a two-year starter ... Helped guide his high school team to the state championship game as a senior ... Named all-conference and all-area as a senior ... Threw for 667 yards and eight TDs while rushing for 484 yards and six TDs as a senior ... Played for the winning East All-Stars in the 2017 North Carolina Coaches Association (NCCA) EastWest All-Star game, completing 4-of-7 passes for 70 yards ... Also played baseball and basketball as a prep, helping Holmes High to a baseball state championship. PERSONAL: Is the son of Paul Hoggard. LU K E H O G G A R D ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Two-time Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2018-19, 2020-21)

2018 (Sophomore at UNCP): Played in 10 games … Caught 31 passes for a team-best 463 yards (14.9 yards/catch) and two touchdowns … Logged two or more receptions in nine games.

Terrence HORNE

2017 (Freshman at UNCP): Played in nine games … Caught 12 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown … Also ran for 22 yards on two carries … Made multiple receptions in three games, including a season-best four receptions for 31 yards against Catawba … Hauled in three catches for 24 yards in the season opener with Winston-Salem State.

5-7 l 180 lbs. l So. l WR Miami, Fla. | South Florida / Miramar HS

High School: Prepped at Middle Creek High School for coach Randy Ragland … Earned all-conference honors as a senior after hauling in 31 catches for 718 yards and 13 touchdowns … Tallied 15 catches for 348 yards and five touchdowns as a junior … Also lettered in basketball for the Mustangs.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 from South Florida through the transfer portal;

PERSONAL: Is the son of Cassandra and Reginald Hicks … Has an older brother, Maurice, and two younger brothers, Sean and Seth.

South Florida: Saw action in 20 career games at USF, catching 15 passes for 90 yards and three touchdowns including two in 2019 … Posted a career-long 24-yard TD reception at East Carolina in 2019 … Also returned 14 kicks for 418 yards with two TDs, both coming in his redshirt freshman season in 2018 … Earned American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors after tying an NCAA record with two kickoff returns of 98 and 97 yards for TDs in the win over ACC-foe, Georgia Tech … Also named to the Paul Hornung Award national honor roll and the College Football Performance Awards Honorable Mention Performer of the Week … Suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice in mid-September of his redshirt freshman season;

Ivan HOGANS

6-2 l 220 lbs. l 5th-Year Senior l LB Stockbridge, Ga. | Tusculum / Stockbridge HS PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 from Tusculum; Tusculum: Played in 36 career games for the Pioneers, amassing 256 career tackles including 115 solo stops and 29 tackles for loss with 8.5 sacks … Named first-team All-South Atlantic Conference as a junior in 2019, finishing with 85 tackles … Posted a career-high 92 tackles in 10 games as a sophomore in 2018, adding two interceptions in earning first-team AllSouth Atlantic Conference plaudits … Was also named D2CCA All-Region second team and Football Gazette All-Region third team … Recorded eight career pass break-ups including three in the spring 2021 season … Forced three career fumbles;

High School: Named 2017 second-team Class 8A All-State by FloridaHSFootball.com in helping his team to a 9-2 record and a playoff appearance ... Caught a 55-yard touchdown to help his team capture the District 12-8A championship in 2017 … As a senior, caught 36 passes for 780 yards and 11 touchdowns with five 100-yard receiving games … Was the 100-meter champion in the 2018 FHSAA 4A State Track and Field Championships, posting a time of 10.48 ... Has a career-best 100-meter time of 10.29 ... As a junior, finished second in the state championships in the 100 meters and was named to the All-Broward boys track team in the 100, 200 and 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams…won the district and region 100 meters.

High School: Lettered in varsity football two seasons ... Selected all-Conference in 2014 and 2015 ... A part of a three-time region champions coached by Kevin Whitley.

PERSONAL: Is the son of Vanessa Cotton and Terrence Horne.

PERSONAL: Full name is Ivan Hogans, Jr.

Luke HOGGARD

Neil ILENRREY 6-0 l 185 lbs. l So. l S Alpharetta, Ga. | Johns Creek HS

6-0 l 220 lbs. l R-Jr. l TE Edenton, N.C. | North Carolina / Holmes HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Saw action in four of the team’s nine games on the season between offense and special teams … Returned a kickoff six yards as an up-back against The Citadel (March 13) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll ... Is coming off of off-season shoulder surger entering fall of 2021. 2019 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Played in seven games on the season as a reserve on offense and on special teams … Appeared in four-straight games to conclude the season … Did not record any official statistics.

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2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Originally signed with Western Carolina in 2019 … Over his final two seasons as a prep, tallied 116 tackles including 36 solo stops and 10 tackles for loss with five sacks and an interception … Invited to play in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) Football All-Star game as a senior … Listed as a three-star recruit from both 247Sports.com and Rivals.com … Also played basketball at Johns Creek, finishing as the program's all-time leading scorer with over 1,000 career points … High school coach was Matt Helmerich. PERSONAL: Is the son of Franca Ogbemudia and Charles Ilenrey … Has eight siblings including seven sisters and a brother.

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Talon JAMES

6-4 l 235 lbs. l R-Jr. l TE Fairview, N.C. | Univ. of Richmond / A.C. Reynolds HS

Received the Sportsmanship Award from the NCHSAA after the state title game. PERSONAL: Full name is Tre’ Christopher Jolly … Is the son of Deneen and Allen Jolly … His older brother, Tavorris, earned a scholarship to North Carolina as a safety.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to Western Carolina late in the summer of 2021 during preseason fall camp from the Univ. of Richmond;

T R E ' J O L LY ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2019-20)

Richmond: Played in 13 games for the Spiders between the 2018 and 2019 seasons … Most of his action came on special teams. High School: Was a three-time all-conference honoree and a two-time team captain … Helped lead AC Reynolds HS to the state championship as a senior … Scored four TDs as a tight end … Piled up 170 tackles over his final two seasons including 106 stops as a senior.

Timothy JAMISON

6-4 l 255 lbs. l Jr. l DL Lexington, S.C | Hutchinson CC / White Knoll HS

2020-21 (JUNIOR): Saw action in all six of the team’s games in the spring, each coming as a defensive reserve along the line … Finished with 20 tackles on the year including seven solo stops … Made his WCU debut with a career-high five tackle outing at Furman (Feb. 20) … Posted a pair of four tackle outings against both VMI (March 6) and at Mercer (March 20). PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU from Hutchinson CC in Hutchinson, Kansas … Played in six games in 2019-20 recording six tackles including one for loss; High School: Three-year varsity letter winner … Played as an outside linebacker as a prep where he was an honorable mention All-Midlands selection in 2017 … Recorded 122 total tackles including 93 solo stops and 17 tackles for loss over 24 varsity games as a prep … Tallied seven sacks, five quarterback hurries, and five pass break-ups … Recovered two fumbles while forcing one and also blocked a kick. PERSONAL: Is the son of Geraldine Jamison. T I M O T H Y J A M I S O N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 6 7 13 20 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 TIMOTHY JAMISON’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:............................................................................................. 5, at Furman (2/20/21)

Tre' JOLLY 6-2 l 220 lbs. l R-Fr. l DE Shelby, N.C. | Shelby HS

Calvin JONES 5-10 l 170 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l WR Forest City, N.C. | East Rutherford HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in all nine games on the season with three starts at wide receiver … Led the team with 24 receptions and 198 receiving yards, catching one touchdown pass … Returned seven kickoffs for 147 yards including a long of 44 yards, and returned one punt for 12 yards … Made his collegiate debut at Liberty (Nov. 14), recording a rush, a reception, and a kickoff return … Caught a career-best seven passes for a career-high 62 yards and his first career touchdown at Samford (Feb. 27) … Hauled in a two-yard TD reception against the Bulldogs … Amassed a career-best 159 all-purpose yards at Mercer (March 20) including five catches for 45 yards, one rush for 14 yards, three kickoff returns for 88 yards and a 12-yard punt return. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Four-year varsity letter winner who rushed for 2,437 career yards and 30 touchdowns while also hauling in 71 passes for 1,428 career receiving yards … Finished his prep career with 5,320 all-purpose yards … Listed as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … Amassed 542 all-purpose yards – 346 rushing, 111 receiving, 60 punt return and 25-yard passing – and scored eight touchdowns – rushing, receiving, passing, and on a punt return – in his final high school game … Earned both News 13 WLOS Player of the Week and Player of the Week honors from The Daily Courier … As a junior in 2018, rushed for 683 yards and 10 TDs while catching 16 passes for 308 yards and two TDs as a part of 1,259 all-purpose yards … Defensively, had 77 tackles including 11 for loss and eight interceptions, scoring a pair of defensive touchdowns … High school coach was Clint Bland … Also ran track and wrestled as a prep. PERSONAL: Full name is Calvin Malik Jones, prefers to go by Cal … Is the son of Aqueesha Mapp.

2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in all nine games on the season with a pair of starts … Finished with 16 total tackles including six solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss coming on sacks … Collected his first tackle of the season at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Recorded a career-high seven tackles with 1.5 TFLs on 1.5 sacks with a fumble recovery in the win over The Citadel (March 13) … Had six stops at Mercer (March 20). 2019 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in four games as a defensive substitution as a true freshman … Was not credited with any official statistics … Made his collegiate debut at The Citadel (Oct. 12) … Three of the four games he appeared in came on the road ... Was named to the 2019-20 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

C A LV I N J O N E S ’ C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G Rush Yds TD Lng Rec Yds TD Lng 20-21 6 4 33 0 14 24 198 1 28

KR Yds TD Lng APYds 7 147 0 44 390

C A LV I N J O N E S ’ S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Rushes:................................................................... 1, four times – MR: at Mercer (3/20/21) Rushing Yards:..................................................................................14, at Mercer (3/20/21) Receptions:.......................................................................................7, at Samford (2/27/21) Receiving Yards:............................................................................. 62, at Samford (2/27/21) Receiving Touchdowns:.................................................................... 1, at Samford (2/27/21)

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity winner … Recorded 188 career tackles including 72 solo stops, finishing his senior year with a career-best 76 tackles on the 2-A State Championship squad … Credited with 49 tackles for loss including 23 as a senior and 21 as a junior … Recovered three fumbles in his high school career … Named to the All-Shelby Star team as a senior … 2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Gabe JONES 6-2 l 250 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l OL Southern Pines, N.C. | Pinecrest HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Two-year varsity letter winner … Was a part of the squad that made it to the final four in the state 4-AA playoffs as a junior … Played center, guard, and tackle along the offensive line during his prep career … High school coach was Chris Metzger ... Joined the WCU football team as a walk-on.

TJ JONES 5-11 l 205 lbs. l Jr. l RB Lakeland, Fla. | Tusculum / Lakeland HS

Toler KEIGLEY

6-1 l 190 lbs. l True Freshman l WR Pensacola, Fla. | Mobile (Ala.) Christian HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Started his prep career at Gulf Breeze High before playing his final two prep years at Mobile Christian … Named second-team All-State in Alabama as a senior … Over his final three seasons, caught 84 passes for 1,439 career yards with 22 touchdowns … Had 30+ receptions in his final two seasons at Mobile Christian with 18 TDs … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … Originally committed to East Carolina as a prep … High school coach was Ronnie Cottrell. PERSONAL: Full name is Toler Thomas Keigley … Is the son of Ashley and Brian Keigley … Father played football at Georgia Tech and LSU as a kicker … Has a younger sibling, Stella Keigley.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 from Tusculum after spending a season at Georgia Military College; Tusculum: In five games in the spring season, led the Pioneers with 337 rushing yards on 62 carries, averaging 67.4 rushing yards per game and 5.4 yards per rush … Scored five touchdowns on the ground … Added 18 receptions for 243 receiving yards and three scores out of the backfield; Georgia Military College: Scored eight touchdowns in 2019 in helping GMC to an 8-3 record … Rushed for 458 yards on 56 carries (8.2 ypc average) ... Rushed for a season-best 140 yards and three TDs at Hocking College including a 93-yard TD run ... Also returned punts and kickoffs during the season.... Coached by Bert Williams; High School: Accumulated 3,769 rushing yards and a school-record 54 TDs ... Rushed for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons ... Named first-team All-State ... All-County first team selection .... Offensive MVP ... 3-time District Champions ... State Runner-Up ... Coached by Doug Deymer and Keith Deymer. PERSONAL: Full name Travell Jones ... Prefers to go by "TJ"... Son of Sherry Carson... Has four siblings: Trenard Carter, Lakeith Wilson, Keonte Wilson, Derwin Carter.

Andreas KEATON 6-2 l 190 lbs. l True Freshman l S Powder Springs, Ga. | Hillgrove HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year letterman at Hillgrove High where he played 7A football ... Recognized on the 2021 All-Metro High School Football Defense Team and 2020 All-Region Team 7A Second Team ... Finished his prep career with eight interceptions – three returned for touchdowns – with 37 pass breakups, four fumble recoveries and two forced including one for a touchdown … Amassed 248 career tackles and three quarterback sacks … Was named the Defensive Player of the Game and Team Captain numerous of times as a prep … In December 2019, he received the Atlanta Falcons/Georgia Power “Power Player Award” … In November 2019, was recognized as the Q99.7 Atlanta Radio Station Player of the Week ... In October 2019, received the Otters Chicken Athlete of the Week Award ... Selected to be a member of the Hillgrove High School Football Leadership Program … Also played basketball and ran track as a prep. PERSONAL: Full name is Andreas Gregory Keaton ... Is the son of Wyoka and Andre Keaton ... Has a younger sister named Madison.

Ronald KENT Jr. 5-10 l 175 lbs. l Jr. l CB Harrisburg, Pa. | Harrisburg HS

2020-21 (JUNIOR): Started all nine games in the defensive secondary … Finished fourth on the team with 47 total tackles in the season including 29 solo stops … Recorded four-or-more tackles in eight of the team’s nine games including a season-best seven at Furman (Feb. 20) … Defended three passes with a pair of pass breakups and an interception … Forced a fumble at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21) … Tallied his first career interception at North Carolina (Dec. 5), returning it for a touchdown that was called back due to a penalty but was credited with a 24-yard return … Earned second-team AllSouthern Conference honors at defensive back from the league’s head coaches. 2019 (SOPHOMORE): Started 11 of the team’s 12 seasonal games, missing the season-finale at Alabama (Nov. 23) … Finished the year with 32 total tackles including 20 solo stops and half a tackle for loss … Led the team with seven pass break-ups, twice posting two in a game against North Greenville (Sept. 14) and ETSU (Nov. 9) … Posted a season-high five tackles including half a tackle for loss at home against Furman (Oct. 26) … Recovered a fumble at VMI (Nov. 2) … Selected preseason first-team All-Southern Conference at DB at the annual SoCon Football Media Day. 2018 (FRESHMAN): Played in all 11 of the team’s games, making seven starts in the defensive secondary … Finished sixth on the team with 45 total tackles including 31 solo stops and five tackles for loss while also being credited with forcing a fumble … Ranked second in the Southern Conference with a team-best 12 pass break-ups – a mark that ranked the rookie tied for

KENT BIO CONCLUDED ON PAGE 58 CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

sixth in WCU’s single-season record books ... It was the first time a Catamount defender hit double-digit passes defended since Trey Morgan recorded 10 back in 2016 … Kent’s 12 PBUs are the most by a Catamount since Ahmed Green had 12 back in 2002 … Tallied three pass break-ups in three different games … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against Newberry (Sept. 1), recording four tackles … Made his first career start against VMI (Sept. 22), posting six total stops with three PBUs … Posted a career-high nine tackles in the triple-overtime thriller against nationally-ranked ETSU (Oct. 27) … Graced the watch list as a semifinalist for the Jerry Rice Award which is given annually by STATS FCS to the top freshman player … Named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman team defense by the league’s head coaches … Tagged a Freshman All-America selection by both Phil Steele and HERO Sports. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was a two-way athlete at Harrisburg High … Was a first-team defensive back on the AllState postseason team … Selected first-team PennLive defensive all-star, finishing with 27 tackles and five interceptions in the secondary … Listed as the No. 9 corner back in Pennsylvania’s 2018 recruiting class by Penn Preps through 247Sports … Caught 21 passes for 385 yards and a touchdown on offense as a senior and had 22 receptions for 287 yards and three scores as a junior … Also wrestled as a prep. PERSONAL: Full name is Ronald Lewis Kent Jr. … Is the son of Ronald Sr. and Kathy Kent ... Younger brother, Donte, accepted a football scholarship to Central Michigan.

6-1 l 195 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l QB Mobile, Ala. | Mobile Christian HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in one game on the season, making his collegiate debut at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Rushed for 17 yards on eight carries including a long of nine yards … Completed all three of his pass attempts for 21 yards including a long of 12 yards … Finished with 38 yards of total offense at UNC ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Dual-threat quarterback, three-year varsity letter winner … Played three years at Pace High in Florida before transferring to Mobile Christian as a senior … Threw for over 5,969 yards with 57 passing touchdowns adding 2,348 rushing yards and 21 TDs on the ground … Threw for over 1,100 yards in each season as a prep … As a senior, accounted for over 3,120 yards including 2,112 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and 1,008 yards on the ground for the Alabama state runner-up … High school coach at Mobile Christian was Ronnie Cottrell. PERSONAL: Full name is Kason Shane Lincke … Is the son of Beverly and Shane Lincke … Has a sister, Kailey.

R O N A L D K E N T ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2018 11 31 14 45 5.0–15 0.0–0 0–0 0 12 0 1 0 2019 11 20 12 32 0.5–1 0.0–0 0–0 0 7 1 0 0 20-21 9 29 18 47 0.0–0 0.0–0 1–24 0 3 0 1 0 TOTALS 31 80 44 124 5.5–16 0.0–0 1–24 0 22 1 2 0

Year 20-21

Nathan LINKOUS 6-5 l 295 lbs. l True Freshman l OL Cramerton, N.C. | Stuart W. Cramer HS

R O N A L D K E N T ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S

2020-21 Second Team All-Southern Conference (Coaches) Two-time Freshman All-America by Phil Steele and HERO Sports Southern Conference All-Freshman team Jerry Rice Award Watch List

5-10 l 280 lbs. l R-Fr. l DL Cherokee, N.C. | Cherokee HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Four-year varsity letter winner at offensive guard and tackle … Named third-team All-State by High School OT … Was a threestar recruit from 247Sports … On defense, recorded 38 career tackles over two seasons with 18 solo stops and 4.0 tackles for loss with a sack … High school coach was Ben McMillan.

Dillon LUTHER 6-3 l 300 lbs. l So. l OL Asheville, N.C. | Erwin HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in one game on the season, making his collegiate debut at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Did not record any statistics on the year ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2019 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action, taking a redshirt. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Joined the WCU football team as a preferred walk-on … Four-year varsity letter-winner, winning a state championship as a junior … Played both offensive and defensive line as a prep … Finished with 259 career tackles including 57 solo stops … Recorded 82 total tackles as a senior, averaging 7.5 tackles per game to earn All-Smoky Mountain Conference plaudits … Also participated in throw events in track & field including shot put and discus. PERSONAL: Full name is Joaquin Gabriel Layno ... Is the son of Joselito & Carla Layno. J OAQ U I N L AY N O ' S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

K A S O N L I N C K E ' S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S G Cmp–Att–Int Pct Yds TD Lng A/Gm Rush Yds TD Lng Avg A/Gm 1 3–3–0 100.0 21 0 12 21.0 8 17 0 9 2.1 17.0 K A S O N L I N C K E ' S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

RONALD KENT’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:..................................................................................................9, at ETSU (10/2/18) Tackle for Loss:....................................................................2.0, at Gardner-Webb (9/14/18) Pass Breakups:..........................................................3, three times (MR: at ETSU, 10/27/18)

Joaquin LAYNO

Kason LINCKE

2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Started all nine games of the season along the offensive line at left guard … Credited with one tackle assist at Liberty (Nov. 14) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2019 (FRESHMAN): Played in nine of the team’s 12 games on the year with five starts as a true freshman … Made his collegiate debut in the third game of the season, at home against North Greenville (Sept. 14) … Made his first career start at Wofford (Oct. 19), starting at right tackle … His four remaining starts on the season came at left offensive guard. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letter winner along both the offense and defensive line … Was a two-time all-conference selection as a junior and senior … Also played baseball as a prep ... High school coach was Rodney Pruett.

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Richard McCOLLUM

PERSONAL: Full name is Dillon Alan Luther … Is the son of Karen and Ryan Luther … Has two younger siblings, Kaylee and Cody. D I L LO N LU T H E R ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

Nigel MANNS 6-1 l 220 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l LB Byron, Ga. | Peach County HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in five of the team’s nine games on the season with one start … Missed the first four games of the spring semester due to injury … Finished with five total tackles including three solo stops … Made his collegiate debut and recorded a career-best three tackles at Liberty (Nov. 14) … Credited with a solo tackle and a pass break-up at North Carolina (Dec. 5), while also scooping a fumble and scoring on a 42-yard return for a touchdown … Returned to the line-up for the final two games of the spring at Mercer (March 20) and at ETSU (March 27). PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Two-way player as a prep as a linebacker and a running back … Listed among the top 130 high school prospects in Georgia by SouthernPigskin.com … Was a Region 4-AAA honorable mention all-region selection in 2018 … High school coach was Chad Campbell … Also ran track as a prep. PERSONAL: Full name is Nigel Isaiah Manns … Is the son of Chandra and Emmerson Manns … His brother, Ethan, plays football at Shorter College.

N I G E L M A N N S ’ C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 5 3 2 5 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 1 1 1 0 0 NIGEL MANNS’ SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:.............................................................................................. 3, at Liberty (11/14/20) Fumble Recoveries:................................................................1, at North Carolina (12/5/20) Fumble Returns (TD)............................................42 yds (1 TD), at North Carolina (12/5/20)

5-9 l 180 lbs. l R-So. l K Sanford, N.C. | Southern Lee HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Saw action in all nine of the team’s seasonal games on special teams … Connected on three of his six field goal attempts on the season and was 18-of-19 on PATs … Scored 27 points on the year … Matched a career-best with two made field goals (2-for2) at Samford (Feb. 27) including a career-long 45-yard boot … Tied his career-high with a 45-yard field goal at ETSU (March 27) … Added two kickoffs on the year for an average of 40.0 yards per kick ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll and was named Academic All-Southern Conference. 2019 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in five games on the season handling placekicks including field goals, PATs, and kickoffs … Connected on a career-best two field goals (2-for-3) in the home win over North Greenville (Sept. 14), scoring a career-high six points … Finished 5-for-5 including a careerbest 4-for-4 on PATs at Chattanooga (Sept. 28) … Kicked off a total of 17 times for an average of 49.4 yards per kick with one touchback. 2018 (FRESHMAN): Played in four games on the year, remaining eligible for a redshirt ... Made his collegiate debut at Gardner-Webb (Sept. 14) … Handled kickoff duties in four games, kicking 20 times for an average of 56.0 yards per kick with two touchbacks … Kicked off a career-high nine times against VMI (Sept. 22) … Did not attempt a field goal or PAT ... Named to the 2018-19 SoCon Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Connected on 13-of-20 field goals as a senior including a career-long 51-yard field goal in 2017, adding 31 touchbacks on kickoffs … As a junior, connected on 44of-45 PATs and was 14-of-20 on field goals including a long kick of 47-yards in a game as a part of earning the Cape Fear Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the Year … Connected on a 60-yard field goal at practice in Twitter post that went viral … Received the Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award from WRAL-TV in Raleigh ... High school coach was Joe Allison … Is bi-lingual and was the leader of his school’s Spanish Club … Also played baseball as a prep. PERSONAL: Full name is Richard Larry McCollum … Is the son of Carolina and Freddy McCollum … Has two brothers, Freddy and Bryan … His older brother, Freddy, kicked collegiately at Wingate. R I C H A R D M C O L LU M ’ S C A R E E R Year FGM FGA FG% Lng PAT Pts 2018 0 0 0.0 0 0-0 0 2019 2 3 66.7 33 5–5 11 20-21 3 6 50.0 45 18–19 27 TOTALS 5 9 55.6 45 23–24 38

S TAT I S T I C S KO Yds OB TB 20 1,121 1 2 17 840 0 1 2 80 0 0 39 2,041 1 3

R I C H A R D M C O L LU M ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Most FGs:..................................................................... 2, twice – MR: at Samford (2/27/21) Longest Field Goal:...................................................45 yds, twice – MR: at ETSU (3/27/21) PATs:...................................................................... 4-for-4, twice – MR: at Mercer (3/20/21) R I C H A R D M C O L LU M ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Two-time Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2018-19, 2020-21)

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2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Alex McCONNELL 6-4 l 280 lbs. l R-So. l OL Boone, N.C. | Watagua HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Played in six of the team’s nine seasonal games on the season between offense and special teams … Opened the year working with the offensive line before moving over to tight end where he saw action as a lead blocker … Converted back to offensive line before the end of the season … Did not record any official statistics ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

offensive touchdowns as a senior with 18 receptions for 388 yards and four scores with 137 rushing yards and a touchdown … Listed as a three-star recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports … Also runs track as a prep. PERSONAL: Full name is Dramarian Marquiese McNulty … Is the son of Princess Buie and Ronnie McNulty … Nicknamed “Juice” … Was born in Brookhaven, Miss. … Has five siblings – Reece McNulty, Keelan Buie, Tylan Buie, Violette McNulty, and Rose McNulty.

Parish METZGER 6-0 l 190 lbs. l True Freshman l QB Matthews, N.C. | David W. Butler HS

2019 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Saw action in two games on special teams and as a reserve along the offensive line … Made his collegiate debut at home against Samford (Nov. 16) while also seeing playing time on the road at nationally-ranked Alabama (Nov. 23). 2018 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action, taking a redshirt. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was a two-time Northwestern 3A/4A Conference selection – once along the offensive line as a junior and along the defensive line as a senior … Was a part of a Watauga High offense that averaged 331.6 yards per game with 74 touchdowns scored while blocking for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in 2017 … On defense, recorded 44 tackles including 10.5 for loss with a pair of sacks ... High school coach was Ryan Habich … Also played basketball as a prep.

at Providence High.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year letter varsity letter winner at Butler High … Threw for 1,445 yards on 82-of-167 passing with 21 touchdown passes as a senior, guiding Butler to the NCHSAA 4-A semifinals … Attended the Carolina eXperience Prep Football Showcase … Passed for 1,089 yards as a junior … Began his prep career

PERSONAL: Full name is Alexander Raven McConnell … Is the son of Kim and Jim McConnell … Is a first-generation college student in his family. A L E X M c C O N N E L L’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

Cameron McCUTCHEON

6-3 l 195 lbs. l Sr. l DB Seneca, S.C. | Gardner-Webb / Seneca HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to Western Carolina from Gardner-Webb during the summer of 2021; Gardner-Webb: Played in 25 games at Gardner-Webb beginning in 2018, recording 87 career tackles including 63 solo stops and a tackle for loss … Recorded his first career interception as a junior in the 202021 season against Elon … Credited with seven passes defended in his career … Posted a career-high 11 tackles in the 2019 season-opener at Charlotte … Had eight solo stops against N.C. Central in 2019 … Made his collegiate debut against Limestone in 2018 with his first career tackle coming against Wofford (9/29/2018). High School: Played at Seneca (S.C.) High under Coach Hal Capps … Earned first-team All-Region honors in 2017 as a senior … Helped squad to an 8-4 record … Named secondteam All-Area by the Anderson Independent-Mail … Picked off four passes on the season … Broke up six passes and had one fumble recovery … Returned one punt for a touchdown … Earned honorable mention All-Area honors as a junior in 2016 … Also a standout in Track & Field, running the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles.

KJ MILNER 6-4 l 265 lbs. l Jr. l DL Hinesville, Ga. | Bradwell Institute

2020-21 (JUNIOR): Started all seven of the games in which he saw action, missing the final two games of the spring semester … Recorded 15 total tackles including seven solo stops with three tackles for loss with a sack … Credited with four quarterback hurries … Posted a season-best three solo stops at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21), including a TFL and two hurries … Made a season-high four tackles against The Citadel (March 13).

2019 (SOPHOMORE): Started 11 of WCU’s 12 games along the defensive line … Recorded 41 total tackles, eighth on the defense but was the top defensive lineman … Posted 15 solo tackles and four tackles for loss including one sack and was credited for a team-best seven quarterback hurries … Recovered a pair of fumbles … Tallied five tackles at N.C. State (Sept. 7) and six tackle assists against Furman (Oct. 26) … Posted a season-high seven tackles against Samford (Nov. 16), charting three hurries and recovering a fumble.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Four-year varsity letter winner, two-way defensive back and wide receiver as a prep … Recorded 61 career tackles including 45 solo stops with 24 pass break-ups and four interceptions … Twice dubbed overall player of the game in the 2020 season by MaxPreps … Tallied 30 tackles, 19 pass deflections and three interceptions as a junior, adding a pair of offensive touchdowns in 2019 … Scored five

2018 (FRESHMAN): Played in eight of the team’s 11 seasonal games, making three starts along the defensive line … Missed the final three games of the regular season … Finished with 15 total tackles with five solo stops … Tallied two tackles for loss including one sack … Credited with two quarterback hurries and a pass break-up … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against Newberry (Sept. 1) … Recorded his first career tackles at Gardner-Webb (Sept. 14) … Made his first career start at Furman (Sept. 29), posting a career-high five tackles including four solo stops … Matched his career-best with five tackles at Samford (Oct. 6) …

Dramarian McNULTY

5-11 l 185 lbs. l True Freshman l DB Brookhaven, Miss. | Niceville (Fla.) HS

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Had one tackle in the triple-overtime game at ETSU (Oct. 27), tallying his first career sack ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Starting his prep career on junior varsity, played on the varsity roster all four years … Recorded 66 total tackles including 32 solo stops with a sack as a senior, earning him 2-AAAAAA First Team Defense plaudits … Had a fumble recovery and returned an interception for a touchdown … Was selected to the 2018 Blitz Border Bowl and the 2018 “War of the Border” High School All-Star football game … Earned the football “Captain’s Award” … Posted the highest grade point average on the team and saw time at tight end as a sophomore ... High school coach was Ross Couch … Joined the National Honor Society as a junior … Also participated in track & field as a prep, placing third in the shot put, and was a four-year letter winner in varsity boys basketball as a center and power forward. PERSONAL: Full name is Willie Keith Milner Jr., but goes by K.J. … Is the son of Francesca and Willie Keith Milner Sr. … Was born in Wurzburg, Germany … Has three younger siblings, Andre, Trey, and Xavier … His father owns a music store and his mother is a United States soldier. K . J. M I L N E R ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S

6-3 l 235 lbs. l R-Fr. l DE Murphy, N.C. | Murphy HS

K . J. M I L N E R ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Tackles:..............................................................................................7, SAMFORD (11/16/19) Tackle for Loss:................................1.0, seven times – MR: at Eastern Kentucky (11/21/20) Sacks:.......................................................... 1.0, twice – MR: NORTH GREENVILLE (9/14/19) K . J. M I L N E R ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2018-19)

Chris MORGAN 6-0 l 255 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l OL Maiden, N.C. | Maiden HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Converted from tight end to defensive line, seeing action in each of the team’s six games in the spring semester as a reserve on defense … Credited with six total tackles including half a tackle for loss … Made his collegiate debut at Furman (Feb. 20) … Tallied his first career tackle against VMI (March 6) … Posted a career-best three tackles including half a tackle for loss at Mercer (March 20). PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letter winner and a three-time All-South Fork 2A Conference selection ... Played as a middle linebacker and tight end as a prep ... Caught three TD passes as a tight end as a senior coming on nine total receptions for 133 yards, according to MaxPreps ... Selected to the 83rd annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolina's, just the 12th from his high school all-time ... As a sophomore linebacker, recorded 118 tackles in helping Maiden go undefeated in the regular season, winning the South Fork 2A conference championship.

2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in all nine of the team’s games with four starts … Recorded 27 total tackles including 13 solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss … Credited with two quarterback hurries and one pass break-up … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener at Liberty (Nov. 14) … Recorded his first collegiate tackles including half a tackle for loss at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Tallied seven tackles at Furman (Feb. 20) … Recorded a career-high nine tackles including seven solo stops with a TFL against The Citadel (March 13) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll and was named Academic All-Southern Conference. 2019 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action and is eligible for a redshirt ... Named to the 2019-20 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on after a stellar prep career at Murphy High … Was a two-time state champion (2016 & 2018) and three-time Smoky Mountain Conference champion as a prep … Twice named all-conference and All-Western North Carolina … Played wide receiver, defensive back, and quarterback as a senior during his prep career … Credited with 128 career tackles including seven tackles for loss while totaling 17 pass break-ups and 10 career interceptions … Finished with 57 career receptions for 907 yards, while also passing for 1,130 yards and rushing for 261 – recording 28 career total touchdowns ... High school coach was David Gentry. PERSONAL: Full name is Micah Thomas Nelson … Is the son of Becky and Thomas Nelson … Was born in Bristol, Va. … Has two younger siblings, Grace and Tyra … Father, Thomas, was an AllAmerican football player at Emory & Henry College (1998) and a 2011 inductee into the Emory & Henry College Sports Hall of Fame.

PERSONAL: Is the son of Cheron Russell.

M I C A H N E L S O N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 9 13 14 27 1.5–3 0.0–0 0–0 0 1 0 0 0

C H R I S M O R G A N ' S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 6 1 5 6 0.5–1 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0

MICAH NELSON’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:..........................................................................................9, THE CITADEL (3/13/21) Tackle for Loss:........................................................................... 1.0, THE CITADEL (3/13/21)

CHRIS MORGAN'S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:.............................................................................................. 3, at Mercer (3/20/21) Tackle for Loss:............................................................................... 0.5, at Mercer (3/20/21)

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Micah NELSON

Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2018 8 10 5 15 2.0–10 1–9 0–0 0 1 0 0 0 2019 11 15 26 41 4.07 1–3 0–0 0 0 2 0 0 20-21 7 7 8 15 3.0–8 1.0–3 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 26 32 39 71 9.0–25 3.0–15 0–0 0 1 2 0 0

M I C A H N E L S O N ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2019-20)

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Tyree NELSON 5-10 l 200 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l RB Atlanta, Ga. | Mays HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in five of the team’s nine games, each coming in the spring semester as an offensive reserve and on special teams … Recorded three rushes for four yards and returned six kickoffs for 162 yards, finishing with 169 all-purpose yards … Made his collegiate debut at Samford (Feb. 27), rushing three times for four yards and returned one kickoff for 26 yards … Returned a pair of kickoffs against VMI (March 6) and at Mercer (March 20), tallying a career-long return of 59 yards against the Bears. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-time all-region selection … Tabbed top running back three times and received the Mr. Benjamin E. Mays award as a senior … Rushed for 813 yards on 121 carries with 11 touchdowns before a leg injury in his final season as a prep … Was an honorable mention 6-A Georgia All-State from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution … Rushed for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore, collecting second-team All-Region 5-6A … Earned MVP honors at running back at the Elite GA Showcase … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … High school coach was Niketa Battle … Also ran track as a prep where he was selected MVP. PERSONAL: Is the son of Shavon Howell … Has a sister, Makiya Chandler.

Nick OELRICH 6-1 l 205 lbs. l Graduate Student l DB Newberry, Fla. | Florida / Newberry HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 through the transfer portal after completing his playing career at Florida … Graduated from the M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management; Florida: Played in 23 games for the Gators as a defensive reserve and on special teams, compiling nine tackles … Was twice named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2019 and 2020 … Made his collegiate debut at South Carolina in 2017 … Joined the football team as a walk-on in the summer of 2016; High School: Played quarterback and safety at Newberry HS … Attended the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana. PERSONAL: Is the son of Aimee and Ivan Oelrich … Has two sisters, Ashley, who plays volleyball at Brown, and Grace, who is on the rowing team at Rollins College.

Ricky PALAO 6-2 l 285 lbs. l 5th-Year Senior l DL Hoover, Ala. | Hoover HS

RICKY PALAO 2018 (SOPHOMORE): Played in seven games along the defensive front making two starts … Missed the first four games of the season before seeing his first action at Samford (Oct. 6) … Finished with 24 tackles on the season including eight solo stops and 2.5 tackles for loss … Posted 1.5 tackles for loss including a sack against Chattanooga (Oct. 13) … Credited with a career-high 11 tackles against The Citadel (Nov. 3) 2017 (FRESHMAN): Played in eight of the team’s 12 games on the season as a substitution along the defensive line and on special teams ... Finished the year with six total tackles including four solo stops and one tackle for loss coming against FBS-foe, North Carolina (Nov. 18) ... Made his collegiate debut in the home-opener against Davidson (Sept. 9) ... Recorded his first career tackle against nationally-ranked Samford (Sept. 23) ... Named to the 2017-18 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was a part of the Alabama State 7-A high school football championship team as a senior, collecting one of Hoover High’s nine sacks in the title game ... Selected to the “Over the Mountain Journal” All-OTM football team ... High school head coach was Josh Niblett. PERSONAL: Full name is Ricardo A. Palao ... Is the son of Ricardo Palao, Sr., and Neisha Glapion.

2020-21 (SENIOR): Played in five of the team’s nine games, starting five times along the defensive line … Recorded 16 tackles including two solo stops and half a tackle for loss … Posted a season-high seven tackles at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21) … Scooped a fumble against the Colonels, returning it 54 yards for a touchdown … Had four tackles including half a stop for loss at ETSU (March 27). 2019 (JUNIOR): Saw action in 10 of WCU’s 12 games on the season with a pair of starts along the defensive line … Finished the year with 17 total tackles including 10 solo stops and 3.5 tackles for loss, sixth on the team, with half a sack … Tallied a season-best four tackles including one for loss at The Citadel (Oct. 12) with three solo stops at home against North Greenville (Sept. 14) … Credited with a pass break-up at N.C. State (Sept. 7) … Aided on a sack against Gardner-Webb (Oct. 5).

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

R I C K Y PA L AO ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2017 8 4 2 6 1.0–5 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 2018 7 8 16 24 2.5–5 1.0–2 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 2019 10 10 7 17 3.5–20 0.5–3 0–0 0 1 0 0 0 20-21 5 2 14 16 0.5–0 0.0–0 0–0 1 0 1 0 0 TOTALS 30 24 39 63 7.5–30 1.5–5 0–0 1 1 1 0 0 R I C K Y PA L AO ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Tackles:..........................................................................................11, THE CITADEL (11/3/18) Tackles for Loss:.................................................................... 1.5, CHATTANOOGA (10/13/18) Sacks:.................................................................................... 1.0, CHATTANOOGA (10/13/18) R I C K Y PA L AO ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2017-18)

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Brody PALHEGYI

5-9 l 180 lbs. l True Freshman l QB Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Cardinal Gibbons HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Dual-threat quarterback … Led Cardinal Gibbons High to two Florida Class 4A state championships, the first after taking over as the back-up in 2018 … Completed 107-of-158 passes for 1,242 yards and 17 touchdowns in just eight games as a senior … Added 41 rushes for 263 yards and two scores on the ground … Completed 29-of-33 passes for 358 yards and four touchdown passes in the 2020 state title game … High school coach was Matt DuBuc … Was a high school teammate of fellow WCU walk-on recruit, Mason Polivka.

Daquan PATTEN 5-6 l 185 lbs. l 5th-Year Senior l WR Columbia, S.C. | Blythewood HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was a three-year varsity letter winner at Blythewood HS, playing wide receiver on the football team. PERSONAL: A Catamount legacy, is the son of former Catamount wide receiver – and former NFL standout – David Patten.

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SENIOR): Played in all 12 of the team’s games on the season with nine starts at wide receiver … Paced the Catamount wide receivers in 2019 with 46 receptions for 433 yards with two touchdowns and amassed 754 all-purpose yards on the year … Recorded a reception in 11 of WCU’s 12 seasonal games including a career-high 12 catches against North Greenville (Sept. 14) for 82 yards … Finished with 219 all-purpose yards in the win over North Greenville … His 3.8 receptions per game average ranked him eighth in the SoCon … Just missed the 100-yard receiving mark at The Citadel (Oct. 12) catching nine passes for 98 yards … Eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark for just the second time in his WCU career with five catches for 103 yards and a score in the road win at VMI (Nov. 2) … Added 12 kickoff returns for 232 yards including a long of 33 yards, while also returning seven punts for 84 yards … Also credited with four tackles … Was awarded a full grant-in-aid scholarship at the first full team meeting of the 2019 preseason camp ... Named preseason All-Southern Conference second-team as a wide receiver and punt returner by Phil Steele.

DAQ U A N PAT T E N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G Rush Yds TD Lng Rec Yds TD Lng KR Yds TD Lng PR Yds 2017 3 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2018 11 – – – – 39 567 5 51 2 20 0 21 14 124 2019 12 4 5 0 5 46 433 2 42 12 232 0 33 7 84 20-21 6 – – – – 6 92 0 44 2 50 0 28 4 31 TOTALS 26 4 5 0 5 91 1,092 7 51 16 302 0 33 25 239 DAQ U A N PAT T E N ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Receptions:...................................................................... 12, NORTH GREENVILLE (9/14/19) Receiving Yards:.............................................................................159, at Furman (9/29/18) Receiving Touchdowns:.................................................................... 2, at Furman (9/29/18) Kickoff Returns:..............................................3, twice – MR: NORTH GREENVILLE (9/14/19) Kickoff Return Yards:........................................................80, NORTH GREENVILLE (9/14/19) Punt Returns:.................................................................3, twice (MR: THE CITADEL, 11/3/18) Punt Return Yards:................................................................. 37, CHATTANOOGA (10/13/18) DAQ U A N PAT T E N ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2016-17)

2019 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Played in all 12 of the team’s games on the season with nine starts at wide receiver … Paced the Catamount wide receivers in 2019 with 46 receptions for 433 yards with two touchdowns and amassed 754 all-purpose yards on the year … Recorded a reception in 11 of WCU’s 12 seasonal games including a career-high 12 catches against North Greenville (Sept. 14) for 82 yards … Finished with 219 all-purpose yards in the win over North Greenville … His 3.8 receptions per game average ranked him eighth in the SoCon … Just missed the 100-yard receiving mark at The Citadel (Oct. 12) catching nine passes for 98 yards … Eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark for just the second time in his WCU career with five catches for 103 yards and a score in the road win at VMI (Nov. 2) … Added 12 kickoff returns for 232 yards including a long of 33 yards, while also returning seven punts for 84 yards … Also credited with four tackles … Was awarded a full grant-in-aid scholarship at the first full team meeting of the 2019 preseason camp ... Named preseason All-Southern Conference second-team as a wide receiver and punt returner by Phil Steele. 2018 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Started all 11 games of the season at wide receiver … Finished the year with 39 catches for 567 yards and five touchdowns, tallying receptions in 10 of the 11 games … Added two kickoff returns for 20 yards and 14 punt returns for 124 yards to finish the year with 711 all-purpose yards … Nearly hit the 100-yard mark in the season-opener against Newberry (Sept. 1) with four receptions for 92 yards including a career-long catch of 51 yards … Recorded his first career receiving touchdown at Gardner-Webb (Sept. 14) … Tallied a career-high seven catches for 81 yards and a score against VMI (Sept. 22) … Eclipsed the 100 receiving yard mark with a career-high 159 yards and a career-best two TDs at Furman (Sept. 29) … Posted 100+ all-purpose yards three times including against Newberry (126 yards), at Furman (career-high 166 yards), and against The Citadel (Nov. 3, 104 yards) … Injury during spring practice sidelined him during WCU’s annual spring drills.

DAQUAN PATTEN

2017 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Saw action in three games on the year, making his collegiate debut in the home-opener against Davidson (Sept. 9). 2016 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action ... Redshirted ... Caught three passes for 17 yards in WCU’s annual Spring Game ... Named to the 2016-17 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

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2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Jakobe QUILLEN 6-3 l 200 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l WR Florence, S.C. | Wilson HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in nine games with a pair of starts at wide receiver … Caught four passes for 53 yards … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener at Liberty (Nov. 14) … Recorded his first career reception at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Hauled in a 21-yard reception at Mercer (March 20) and a career-long 23-yard catch at ETSU (March 27) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Jayden PAULING

6-3 l 225 lbs. l R-Jr. l DE Raleigh, N.C. | Louisburg College / Millbrook HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: A big-bodied receiver who was a four-year starter … Listed as one of the top 25 recruits in the state of South Carolina by the Charlotte Observer … Caught 104 career passes for 1,662 career yards and 21 touchdowns including 937 receiving yards and 14 TDs on 62 catches as a senior … Tossed a 64-yard touchdown pass to give him 1,726 career yards … Collected Primetime Performer of the Week after catching 13 passes for 174 yards and two scores in a win over West Florence HS … Selected to the South team in the South Carolina 2019 North-South game … High school coach was Derek Howard. PERSONAL: Is the son of Lisa White and Jacob Quillen.

Giovanni RICCARDI

2020-21 (JUNIOR): Was sidelined with injury, missing the fall and spring games ... Named preseason All-Southern Conference ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2019 (SOPHOMORE): Played in all 12 games on the season with seven starts at linebacker including six-straight to conclude the regular season … Finished seventh on the team in overall tackles with 51, but led the Catamounts with 11.0 tackles for loss – tied for the fourth-most in the Southern Conference … His five forced fumbles on the season ranked him tied for first in the NCAA FCS … Credited with a tackle in all 12 seasonal games including a career-high eight against Samford (Nov. 16) to accompany two sacks, forcing the football loose for two of his three forced fumbles in the game … Earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors on Nov. 18 … Dubbed SoCon Defensive Player of the Month for November after tallying 22 tackles including 11 solo stops and 5.5 tackles for loss with four sacks and four forced fumbles in the month … Named second-team All-Southern Conference by the league’s voting media … Additionally named an honorable mention on the HERO Sports Sophomore All-America team. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU prior to the spring, 2019 semester after spending the fall semester at Louisburg College ... Participated in WCU's annual Spring Drills … Earned All-Cap 8 Conference honors as a senior as a defensive lineman, playing at end … Was listed as a Top 100 recruit in the state of North Carolina coming out of high school … Was a two-star recruit by 247Sports ... High school coach was Clarence Inscore.

6-0 l 215 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l LB Clemmons, N.C. | West Forsyth HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in seven games as a reserve on defense and on special teams … Made his collegiate debut at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Credited with one solo stop at Furman (Feb. 20) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Recorded 104 tackles with four for losses and two sacks as a senior at West Forsyth HS where he earned All-Central Piedmont 4-A … Also broke-up 10 passes and forced three fumbles … High school head coach was Adrian Snow … Also played varsity lacrosse as a prep … Started his prep career at R.J. Reynolds High. PERSONAL: Is the son of Chrisann and Ralph Riccardi … Has a sister, Sienna, who is involved in rodeo competitions.

PERSONAL: Is the son of Karen Pauling.

G I O VA N N I R I C C A R D I ' S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 7 1 0 1 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 G I O VA N N I R I C C A R D I ' S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

J AY D E N PA U L I N G ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year 2019

G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 12 24 27 51 11.0–50 6.5–37 0–0 0 0 1 5 1

J AY D E N PA U L I N G ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Tackles:......................................................................... 8, twice – MR: SAMFORD (11/16/19) Tackles for Loss:.....................................................................................2.5, at VMI (11/2/19) Sacks:............................................................................................. 2.0, SAMFORD (11/16/19) Fumbles Forced:............................................................................... 3, SAMFORD (11/16/19) J AY D E N PA U L I N G ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21) 2019 Second-team All-Southern Conference (Media) HERO Sports Sophomore All-America team (Honorable Mention) Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 18, 2019) Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Month (November 2019)

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Willie RICE 6-0 l 185 lbs. l True Freshman l DB St. Louis, Mo. | East Coweta (Ga.) HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letter winner at East Coweta High in Georgia … Recorded 113 career tackles including 93 solo stops and 3.0 tackles for loss … Credited with 31 career passes defended with three interceptions returning one for a touchdown … Also forced three career fumbles, recovering one … Earned Class 7-A All-Region first-team honors in 2020 … Added 777 career all-purpose yards on special teams that included a 91-yard kickoff return for a score … Helped ECHS to the Region 2-7A championship … Scored two career touchdowns, both coming in 2020 as a senior – one on a kickoff return and the other on an interception returned for a score … Selected second team defense All-County as a junior in 2019 … Listed as a two-star recruit by Rivals. PERSONAL: Is the son of Kitina Rice.

Malik RICHARDSON 6-4 l 210 lbs. l R-Fr. l Nickel Sumter, S.C. | Lakewood HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Converted to running back prior to the season … Played in three games as a reserve on offense and on special teams … Rushed seven times for 17 yards … Rushed three times at Liberty (Nov. 14) … Rushed a career-high four times for 15 yards at Furman (Feb. 20) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2019 (FRESHMAN): Only saw action in one game as a reserve at quarterback, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut at Wofford (Oct. 19), recording three rushes and one incomplete pass attempt … Named to the 2019-20 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Two-year varsity starter as a pro-style quarterback … As a senior, completed 69-of-137 passes for 938 yards and five touchdowns against five interceptions … Rushed 177 times for 964 yards and eight TDs … Nominated to compete in the Touchstone Energy NorthSouth All-Star Game … Chosen to play in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl in Dallas, Texas in January 2019 … As a junior, completed 85-of-165 passes for 907 yards and seven scores while also rushing for 769 yards on 132 carries … Is a two-star recruit according to both 247Sports.com and Rivals.com … Also runs track as a prep where he qualified for the state championship ... Originally committed to East Carolina ... Signed in the National Signing Early period … High school head coach was Larry Cornelius. PERSONAL: Full name is Malik Michel Richardson … Is the son of Geraldine Richardson and Malcolm Chatman. M A L I K R I C H A R D S O N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G Cmp–Att–Int Pct Yds TD Lng A/Gm Rush Yds TD Lng Avg A/Gm 2019 1 0–1–0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 3 -3 0 0 -1.0 -3.0 20-21 3 0–0–0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 7 17 0 9 2.4 5.7 TOTALS 4 0–1–0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 10 14 0 9 1.4 3.5 MALIK RICHARDSON’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Rushes:............................................................................................. 4, at Furman (2/20/21) Rushing Yards:.................................................................................15, at Furman (2/20/21) Pass Attempts:................................................................................. 1, at Wofford (10/19/20) M A L I K R I C H A R D S O N ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S

Two-time Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2019-20, 2020-21)

Curtis ROACH 6-1 l 200 lbs. l R-Sr. l Nickel Cumming, Ga. | South Forsyth HS

2020 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Was awarded a grant-in-aid scholarship during preseason camp in the summer of 2020 … Played in all nine games on the season with a pair of starts at spur linebacker … Finished the season with 25 tackles including 13 solo stops … Recorded a career-high eight tackles including four solo stops at North Carolina (Dec. 5), forcing a fumble against the Tar Heels … Collected four tackles and his first career interception at Furman (Feb. 20). 2019 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE*): Played in all 12 of the team’s games on the year between special teams and a defensive reserve … Credited with 18 total tackles including eight solo stops … Recorded a career-high three tackles four times including at N.C. State (Sept. 7), at The Citadel (Oct. 12), at Wofford (Oct. 19) and at home against Samford (Nov. 16) … Added one rush attempt for 11 yards and a first down as the holder on a fake field goal and posted a second rushing attempt on a two-point conversion coming on a fake PAT to score two points at Chattanooga (Sept. 28). 2018 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Limited during the season to just two games played due to injury … Did not record any statistics … Saw action in the season-opener against Newberry (Sept. 1) and at Gardner-Webb (Sept. 14) … Returned to the lineup during WCU’s annual Spring Drills ... Granted a medical hardship redshirt during the summer to regain the year. 2017 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Saw action in nine of the team’s 12 games on the season, making his collegiate debut in the home-opener against Davidson ... Recorded a career-high two tackles - both solo stops - including a tackle for loss against Davidson ... Recovered a fumble in the road win at Chattanooga (Sept. 30). 2016 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action ... Redshirted ... Credited with two tackles including one for a sixyard loss in WCU’s annual Spring Game. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Was twice named first team Forsyth County News All-County after both his junior and senior seasons ... Recorded 78 tackles with 47 solo stops including three tackles for loss,

ROACH BIO CONCLUDED ON PAGE 66

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2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

each coming as a sack as a senior ... Tallied eight passes defended with five interceptions ... Was a Class AAAAAA Georgia All-State honorable mention ... As a junior tallied 65 total hits with a sack, seven pass break-ups, and two interceptions. PERSONAL: Is the son of Carrie and Kirk Roach ... His father, Kirk, is a WCU Hall of Fame placekicker who was a four-time all-conference selection and three-time All-America honoree. C U R T I S R OAC H ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2017 9 2 0 2 1.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 1 0 0 2018 2 0 0 0 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 2019 12 8 10 18 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 20-21 9 13 12 25 0.0–0 0.0–0 1–0 0 2 1 0 0 TOTALS 32 23 22 45 2.0–0 0.0–0 1–0 0 2 2 0 0 C U R T I S R OAC H ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Tackles:.................................................................................. 8, at North Carolina (12/5/20) Tackle for Loss:................................................................................ 1.0, DAVIDSON (9/9/17) Interceptions:..................................................................................... 1, at Furman (2/20/21) Fumble Recovery:...............................................1, twice: MR – at North Carolina (12/5/20) Rush:.........................................................................................2, at Chattanooga (9/28/19) Rushing / All-Purpose Yards:.................................................... 11, at Chattanooga (9/28/19)

Paxton ROBERTSON

LA ROGERS-ANDERSON 6-0 l 215 lbs. l Junior l Nickel Florence, S.C. | Wilson HS

6-0 l 200 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l K Knoxville, Tenn. | Knoxville Catholic HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN) Played in all nine games on the year on special teams, assuming the duties of first-team punter in the spring semester … Named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman team … Connected on both of his field goal attempts (2-for-2) including a career-long 52-yarder at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21) and a 40-yarder at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Punted 34 times for an average of 39.5 yards per kick … Had four punts of 50+ yards including a career-long 58-yard punt against VMI (March 6) … Named Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week and STATS Perform FCS Special Teams Player of the Week after punting a career-high eight times with a 43.0 average at Furman (Feb. 20) … Downed 12 of his 34 punts inside the opponents’ 20yard line … Kicked off 29 times for an average of 59.7 yards per kick with a pair of touchbacks ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Four-year varsity letter winner as a kicker and a punter … Was a two-time All-State selection … Averaged over 39.5 yards per punt and pinned opposing teams inside the 20-yard line four times as a senior … Connected on 45-of-47 PATs and 5-of-9 field goals in 2019 … Named first-team defense on the 2019 All-PrepXtra football team … As a sophomore, set a Tennessee state record for most consecutive extra points in a season (59) … Attended Chris Sailer Kicking where he received a four-and-a-half-star ranking.

2020-21 (JUNIOR): Played in seven games with five starts in the defensive secondary … Finished with 23 total tackles including 19 solo stops and three tackles for loss … Credited with a pair of quarterback hurries and a pair of pass break-ups … Made his WCU debut with a tackle assist at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21) … Posted his first tackle for loss at Furman (Feb. 20) in his first start for WCU … Credited with a season-best six solo tackles at Samford (Feb. 27) … Recorded four tackles with one for loss against VMI (March 6) … Had five tackles with four solo stops at ETSU (March 27). PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU prior to the 2020 fall semester from Western Kentucky ... Played two seasons -- 2016 and 2017 ... Appeared in all 12 games as a key special teams player on coverage and protection units as a sophomore where he was credited with three solo tackles ... Played in seven games on special teams as a true freshman. High School: Was a dual-role senior at Ridgeview High for head coach Perry Parks ... Finished his season for the Blazers with 869 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns to go along with 55 tackles and two interceptions culminating in an invitation to the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives North-South Bowl ... Helped his team to a second round appearance in the South Carolina Class 4A playoffs and earned All-Region 3 4A honors in the process ... Listed as a three-star prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings and was ranked as the No. 25 player in the state by 247Sports and the No. 4 safety in the state by Scout.com. PERSONAL: Name is Latheron "LA" Rogers-Anderson. L A R O G E R S - A N D E R S O N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 7 19 4 23 3.0–6 0.0–0 0–0 0 2 0 0 0 LA ROGERS-ANDERSON’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:............................................................................................ 6, at Samford (2/27/21) Tackle for Loss:..................................................... 1.0, three times: MR – at ETSU (3/27/21)

Samari SADDLER

PERSONAL: Is the son of Beth and Owen Robertson. PA X T O N R O B E R T S O N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year FGM FGA FG% Lng PUNT YDS AVG. Lng 50+ KO Yds OB TB 20-21 2 2 100.0 52 34 1,342 39.5 58 4 29 1,730 2 2 PA X T O N R O B E R T S O N ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Longest Field Goal:.................................................. 52 yds, at Eastern Kentucky (11/21/20) Punts:................................................................................................ 8, at Furman (2/20/21) Longest Punt:........................................................................................ 58 yds, VMI (3/6/21) PA X T O N R O B E R T S O N ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

6-2 l 295 lbs. l So. l DL Cincinnati, Ohio | Eastern Michigan / Moeller HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred just before the start of the season from Eastern Michigan where he had joined the team as a walk-on ... Took a redshirt in 2018 and did not play in 2019; High School: Earned three varsity letters and led the team as a captain on the offensive line ... Named to the first-team All-GCL team and second -team All-City ... Spent a year at Naval Academy Preparatory School PERSONAL: Full name is Samari Deshaun Saddler ... Is the son of Roshawna and Sherman Saddler ... Has a brother, Simeon, and a sister Shyra.

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2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Caleb SCOTT 6-2 l 225 lbs. l True Freshman l TE Black Mountain, N.C. | Owen HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Played as a dual threat quarterback as a prep as a four-year varsity letter winner … Over 33 career games, passed for 2,592 yards on 161-of-327 (49.2%) with 30 TD passes, adding 989 rushing yards and 13 scores … Finished his career with 3,592 total yards, adding 118 total tackles including 77 solo stops with 16.0 tackles for loss and five sacks … In seven games as a senior, passed for 1,225 yards and 13 touchdowns … Threw for over 1,300 yards with 16 touchdowns as a junior, adding seven rushing scores and 627 yards on the ground in 12 games … Also played basketball and baseball as a prep.

Meziah SCOTT 6-0 l 200 lbs. l True Freshman l QB Petersburg, Va. | Petersburg HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Four-year starter at quarterback ... Named the Spring 2021 Region 3A Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team offense selection … Was nominated for the Mark L. Fischer Player of the Year Award ... Broke the Petersburg High career passing record with 5,034 yards and 48 passing TDs over his first 32 career games … Added 1,622 yards and 23 scores on the ground over his first three seasons … Three-time All-Region selection including honorable mention as a freshman in 2017 and twice selected first-team … Dubbed first-team All-State as a junior in 2019 after passing for 2,006 yards and 21 TDs with 630 yards rushing and eight scores … Named the Region 3-A Offensive Player of the Year and Progress Index Athlete of the Year as a sophomore in 2018 … On the PHS Dean’s List ... Earned an associate’s degree from Richard Bland Community College upon his graduation from high school ... Also played baseball as a prep.

Jontavious SHOTWELL 5-11 l 185 lbs. l R-So. l S Hoschton, Ga. | Mill Creek HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Played in six games on the season, each as a defensive substitution and on special teams … Credited with two tackles including a solo stop at Mercer (March 20) and an assisted stop at ETSU (March 27). 2019 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Appeared in three games, each on special teams and as a defensive substitution … Credited with his first career tackle with an assist in the season finale at Alabama (Nov. 23). 2018 (FRESHMAN): Only credited with playing in one game, making his collegiate debut at Samford (Oct. 6) but did not record any statistics … Remained eligible for a redshirt. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Three-year varsity letter winner in football ... Recorded 36 tackles as a senior, breaking up 11 passes with one interception ... Also forced a fumble ... Also ran track as a prep, competing in the 100 and 200-meter individual races, as well as on the 4x100-meter relay, while also competing in the high jump. PERSONAL: Is the son of Tonia and Gerald Abraham. J O N TAV I O U S S H O T W E L L’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2018 1 0 0 0 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 2019 3 0 1 1 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 20-21 6 1 1 2 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 10 1 2 3 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0

PERSONAL: Full name is Meziah Ahman Scott … Goes by Meziah or “Zy” … Is the son of Jamilah and Petersburg High head football coach, Michael Scott … Has one older sibling, Creona, and two younger in Xavier and Micah.

Griffin SESTILI

J O N TAV I O U S S H O T W E L L’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Tackles:.....................................................................1, three times – MR: at ETSU (3/27/21)

6-3 l 295 lbs. l R-Jr. l OL Sewickley, Pa. | Temple / North Allegheny HS

Demorian SMITH

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Played three seasons at Temple after joining the Owls football team as a member of the 2017 recruiting class ... Is a graduate transfer to Western Carolina through the portal.

6-0 l 220 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l LB Robersonville, N.C. | South Creek HS

2018 (Redshirt Freshman at Temple): Saw first game action against Villanova ... played on FG/PAT unit ... Athletic Director’s Honor Roll ... lettered. 2017 (Freshman at Temple): Was a member of the 2017 recruiting class ... did not see game action ... Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week (Army) ... Juice Boyz Player of the Game (Army) ... Athletic Director’s Honor Roll ... Redshirted. High School: Played tight end for coach Art at North Allegheny High in Wexford, Pa. … was a three-year letterwinner and a team captain as a senior … had six catches for 73 yards in just six games his senior year and received first-team all-conference honors … his junior year, he had seven catches for 100 yards and three touchdowns and received secondteam all-conference honors ... also played basketball in high school. PERSONAL: Full name is Griffin Christopher Sestili ... Was born in Raleigh, N.C. … Is the son of Jana and Chris Sestili … Father is the JV coach at North Allegheny High and played at Pitt … Has a younger brother, Carson ... Earned his degree in marketing (Fall 2020).

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2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in four games on the season, each coming on defense and special teams … Did not record any official statistics.

2020 (Redshirt Junior at Temple): Saw action on PAT/FG units throughout the season ... Missed two games due to COVID protocols ... Lettered. 2019 (Redshirt Sophomore at Temple): Saw action on PAT/FG units ... suffered injury vs. #21 Maryland and was sidelined for five games ... returned to play against UCF ... Athletic Director's Honor Roll ... American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Four-year varsity letter winner … Totaled 244 career tackles including 17.0 tackles for loss with three sacks as a prep … Finished his senior season with a career-best 116 total tackles over 12 games, averaging 9.7 stops per game … Credited with 21 tackles in a first-round playoff game in 2019 … Two-way player that amassed 2,117 career all-purpose yards including 1,710 rushing, 209 receiving, 70 on special teams, and 128 return yards on seven career interceptions … Scored 28 career touchdowns – 26 rushing and one apiece on a fumble return and a punt return … Also ran track and threw the shot put, and also played basketball as a prep. PERSONAL: Is the son of Wanda and Maurice Smith … Has an older brother, Darrius.

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Rushed for 1,340 yards and 18 touchdowns on just 139 carries (9.6 yds/carry) posting a total of 19 TDs as a senior … Collected first-team StarNews All-Area and was named the StarNews All-Area Offensive Player of the Year … Also dubbed first-team All-Mideastern Conference and the conference’s offensive player of the year … Earned WECT Athlete of the Week plaudits after rushing for 100 yards and a score in a win over Eastern Wayne High … Was the only back to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark against West Brunswick High all season in 2019 … As a junior, was a first-team all-conference and first-team all-area selection … High school coach was Dillan Dimock … Also played high school basketball earning secondteam all-conference honors as a sophomore and first-team plaudits as a junior.

Tyler SMITH

6-8 l 300 lbs. l R-So. l OL Laurinburg, N.C. | Scotland County HS

PERSONAL: Is the son of LaTonia and Andrew Stanley … Has a younger sibling, Brianna … His mother, LaTonia, played basketball at UNC Wilmington (1996-2000).

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Started all nine of the team’s seasonal games along the offensive line and on special teams … Started the first two games of the season at right tackle before making seven-straight starts at left tackle.

M I K A I S TA N L E Y ' S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G Rush Yds TD Lng Rec Yds TD Lng 20-21 9 45 222 2 21 3 16 0 9

2019 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Started all 12 games along the offensive line including nine games at right tackle and three starts at left tackle … Also saw action on special teams on place kicks … Made his first collegiate start in the 2019 season-opener against Mercer (Aug. 31) … Was named an honorable mention for the HERO Sports Freshman All-America team following the season.

M I K A I S TA N L E Y ' S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Rushes:................................................................................. 11, at North Carolina (12/5/20) Rushing Yards:............................................................................ 65, THE CITADEL (3/13/21) Rushing Touchdowns:................................................ 1, twice – MR: THE CITADEL (3/13/21) Receptions:...............................................................1, three times – MR: at ETSU (3/27/21) Receiving Yards:.....................................................................................9, at ETSU (3/27/21)

2018 (FRESHMAN): Played in four games as a reserve along the offensive line where he was a part of the unit that saw QB Tyrie Adams rush for 1,000 yards, giving WCU its fourth-straight 1,000-yard rusher … Also saw action on special teams … Made his collegiate debut at Mercer (Oct. 20) … Joined the Catamount football team in the spring semester, going through annual Spring Drills along the offensive line. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Two-time all-conference selection, earning All-Southeastern 4A Conference (SEC) selection as a junior and an All-Sandhills Athletic Conference (SAC) nod as a senior … Was named to the WPDE End Zone Team and was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas following his senior season while also collecting 910Prep.com All-State accolades … Was additionally named to the 2017 American Family Insurance All-USA North Carolina Football Team.

T Y L E R S M I T H ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S

2019 HERO Sports Freshman All-America (Honorable Mention)

6-2 l 235 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l RB Wilmington, N.C. | New Hanover HS

Torrion STEVENSON 6-1 l 330 lbs. l R-So. l DL Branchville, S.C. | Branchville HS

WCU Fine Art Museum.

2020-21 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Saw action in three games, each coming in the fall semester … Credited with one solo tackle in the season-opener at Liberty (Nov. 14) ... Had one of his photos taken for class selected for exhibition at Western Carolina’s 53rd Juried Undergraduate Exhibition – his photo, titled Proud, was on display in the

2019 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in 11 of the team’s 12 games with four starts along the defensive front … Recorded 24 total tackles including 10 solo stops and one tackle for loss including half a TFL at The Citadel (Oct. 12) and against Samford (Nov. 16) … Forced and recovered a fumble on the year, recovering the loose football in the penultimate game of the year against Samford and forcing a fumble at Alabama (Nov. 23).

PERSONAL: Full name is James Tyler Smith … Is the son of Betty Jo and Jamie Smith.

Mikai STANLEY

KR Yds TD Lng APYds – – – – 238

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): RSaw action in all nine games with one start at running back … Rushed for 222 yards on 45 carries on the season with two touchdowns, adding three receptions for 16 yards … Recorded 238 all-purpose yards … Made his WCU debut at Liberty (Nov. 14), rushing twice for six yards … Made his first collegiate start at North Carolina (Dec. 5), rushing a career-high 11 times for 46 yards … Scored his first touchdown on a five-yard rush against VMI (March 6) … Posted a career-best 65 rushing yards on eight carries against The Citadel (March 13), scoring his second TD on the ground on an 18-yard second quarter run. 2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

2018 (FRESHMAN): Played in three games on the season along the defensive line, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Recorded three total tackles including two solo stops … Made his collegiate debut at Samford (Oct. 6), finishing with a career-high two tackles – both solo stops … Credited with a tackle assist at North Carolina (Nov. 17). PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Played both offensive and defensive line as a prep ... Selected to the USA Today High School Sports All-USA first second defense ... Was dubbed All-Region as a sophomore and received All-State honors as a junior ... Played for the South team in the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives North-South Bowl Game … Listed as a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com and 247sports.com ... High school coach was Sandy Dukes. PERSONAL: Full name is Torrion Jabree Stevenson … Is the son of Trena Bethea … Has two siblings, Breyonia and Trinity … He also serves as a volunteer firefighter in his community and is a member of the Branchville Christian Church Youth Group. T O R R I O N S T E V E N S O N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2018 3 2 1 3 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 2019 11 10 14 24 1.0–2 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 1 1 0 20-21 3 1 0 1 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 17 13 15 28 1.0–2 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 1 1 0

Quintin TALLEY 6-0 l 190 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l S Spartanburg, S.C. | Byrnes HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in five of the team’s nine seasonal games with one start in the defensive secondary … Recorded 23 tackles on the season with 13 solo stops and was credited with a quarterback hurry … Made his WCU debut at Liberty (Nov. 14) … Recorded a season-high eight tackles twice including six solo stops at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21) … Matched his season-best with eight tackles in his first career start at North Carolina (Dec. 5) … Tallied two tackles and blocked a punt at Mercer (March 20). PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Two-year varsity letter winner … Posted 86 career tackles over the past two seasons with 2.5 tackles for loss including a sack … Tallied three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries … Listed as a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com and 247Sports … Also played baseball as an outfielder as a prep.

TORRION STEVENSON’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:............................................................................................. 6, SAMFORD (11/16/19) Tackles for Loss:......................................................... 0.5, twice – MR: SAMFORD (11/16/19) Fumble Forced:................................................................................1, at Alabama (11/23/19) Fumble Recovery:.............................................................................. 1, SAMFORD (11/16/19)

Luke SUTTON 5-8 l 170 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l WR Concord, N.C. | Cox Mill HS

Q U I N T I N TA L L E Y ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 5 13 10 23 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 1

Q U I N T I N TA L L E Y ’ S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Tackles:.............................................................. 8, twice – MR: at North Carolina (12/5/20) Blocked Kicks:.....................................................................................1, at Mercer (3/20/21)

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in eight of the team’s nine games on the season, each coming as a reserve on offense and on special teams … Finished with nine catches for 32 receiving yards with one rush … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener at Liberty (Nov. 14), catching two passes for seven yards … Caught one pass for a career-long 13-yard reception at Furman (Feb. 20) … Matched a career-best with two catches at Samford (Feb. 27), The Citadel (March 13), and at Mercer (March 20) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll ... Received a SoCon Commissioner's Medal. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Played slot back and wide receiver as a prep where he helped Cox Mill win the South Piedmont 3A Conference title and the Coddle Creek Cup … Dubbed a "possession receiver" because of his sure hands and precise routes … Named All-South Piedmont Conference as a senior. PERSONAL: Is the son of Diana and David Sutton ... Has a sister, Brooke. LU K E S U T T O N ' S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G Rush Yds TD Lng Rec Yds TD Lng 20-21 8 1 -1 0 0 9 32 0 13

KR Yds TD Lng APYds 0 0 0 0 31

Kareem TAYLOR 6-0 l 215 lbs. l Graduate Student l LB Rincon, Ga. | Kennesaw State / South Effingham HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 from Kennesaw State through the transfer portal; Kennesaw State: Two-time All-Big South second-team defense selection as a junior and senior … Recorded 92 tackles over 17 games with 13 starts in two seasons with 12.0 tackles for loss … Forced and recovered two fumbles for the Owls; Shorter College: Played in 18 games in two seasons, recording 104 tackles including 57 solo stops, with 11 tackles for loss and four sacks; High School: Was the second-ranked linebacker in the region in 2016, recording 82 total tackles – 57 solo – with 8.0 tackles for loss … Finished with 182 career tackles with 114 solo stops in three years … Was a two-way player his final two seasons, totaling 236 rushing yards on 50 carries with seven career rushing TDs, six as a senior.. PERSONAL: Is the son of Niasha Jenkins … Has three siblings: Aylah, Isaiah, and Justice.

LU K E S U T T O N ' S S I N G L E - G A M E C A R E E R H I G H S Rushes:..............................................................................1, at Eastern Kentucky (11/21/20) Receptions:.............................................................2, four times – MR: at Mercer (3/20/21) Receiving Yards:...............................................................................13, at Furman (2/20/21)

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Skylin THOMAS 5-10 l 190 lbs. l R-Fr. l Nickel Lenoir, N.C. | Hibriten HS

Mydreon VINES

6-2 l 190 lbs. l Sr. l WR Greenville, N.C. | ECU / Tusculum / J.H. Rose HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in all nine seasonal games on special teams and as a defensive reserve … Recorded one tackle on the season at Furman (Feb. 20) … Made his WCU debut at Liberty (Nov. 14) … Credited with a quarterback hurry at Samford (Feb. 27).

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 from Tusculum, though he did not see game action for the Pioneers … Played 2017-19 at East Carolina, seeing action in 29 games with 19 receptions for 236 yards and a touchdown.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Helped lead Hibriten High to a 14-1 record as a senior in 2018 ... As a defensive back, finished with 46 solo tackles and 13 tackles for loss with a sack as a senior ... Added an interception and a blocked field goal on special teams ... Rushed for 330 on 24 carries with three touchdowns, adding 13 receptions for 273 yards and four scores ... Tallied 511 return yards in 2018 coming on five kickoff returns and eight punt returns, earning 2018 All-State plaudits as a returner ... Was a part of the North Carolina state 2AA championship squad in 2017 ... Played for head coach Clay Lewis.

2019 (Junior, East Carolina): Appeared in eight games where he made five receptions for 42 yards ... Earned starts against N.C. State and Gardner-Webb ... Averaged 8.4 yards per catch with a long of 13 yards... Credited with one fumble recovery in fourth quarter at Navy.

PERSONAL: Is the son of Ledra and Monty Scott. S K Y L I N T H O M A S ’ C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S

2017 (Freshman, East Carolina): Tallied two receptions for 39 yards in nine contest as a true rookie … Made first collegiate catch for 34 yards along the visiting sidelines at DowdyFicklen Stadium against USF.

Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 20-21 9 0 1 1 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 SKYLIN THOMAS’ SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:.............................................................................................. 1, at Furman (2/20/21)

Kevin THOMPSON 5-10 l 185 lbs. l So. l LS Rock Hill, S.C. | Northwestern HS

2020-21 (SOPHOMORE): Played in three games on special teams at long-snapper … Did not record any official statistics. 2019 (FRESHMAN): Played in eight of the team’s 12 games on the season, each coming in succession from the season’s mid-point through the finale … Credited with two solo tackles on special teams … Named to the 2019-20 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Joins the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on … Three-year varsity letter winner … Attended the Rubio Long Snapping Camp Summer Tour in 2018 … Twosport athlete as a prep, playing football and baseball ... High school coach was James Martin.

2018 (Sophomore, East Carolina): Played in all 12 games as a reserve receiver and member of the special teams unit … Collected 12 receptions for 155 yards (12.9 ypr) and one touchdown … Logged two or more catches on three occasions, which included a careerhigh five (37 yards) during a home matchup against Memphis … Did not make first appearance on any statistical reports until Game 6 vs. Houston (three grabs for 31 yards) … Other multiple-catch effort came against Connecticut (2-14) … Longest reception (71-yarder in the second quarter at Cincinnati) also marked only TD of the year … Targeted a total of 16 times (75.0 percent catch rate) … Five receptions resulted in a first down … Part of unit that stood 20th nationally in passing yards per game (284.8).

High School: Helped lead J.H. Rose HS to consecutive playoff appearances as a junior and senior, including a NCHSAA Class 4A Championship Game showing in 2015 … Completed three-year varsity career with 72 receptions for 1,233 yards and 14 touchdowns … Averaged 17.1 yards per catch for coach Dave Wojtecki … Also tallied 123 rushing yards on 14 carries, a clip of 8.8 per attempt … In all, was responsible for a combined 1,454 all-purpose yards from 2014 to 2016 … Caught 28 passes for 552 yards and seven TDs during senior campaign despite being limited to only seven games … Logged 41 receptions for 645 yards and seven scores as a junior while playing key role in Rose’s 12-3 overall record and an Eastern Regional 4A title before a bid for a state championship fell short in a 27-20 loss to Charlotte Catholic … Additionally, rushed for a personal single-season best 105 yards and two TDs on 12 carries, and returned six kickoffs for 60 yards in 2015 … Promoted to varsity squad at end of sophomore season and made four receptions for 86 yards (21.5 ypr) and one touchdown … Opened junior varsity prep career on defensive side of the ball as a safety before being moved to the receiver slot for remainder of freshman year and recording 13 catches for 142 yards … Followed with 32 grabs for 682 yards and 15 TDs during sophomore JV stint before being called up to varsity unit … Considered a three-star prospect, listed among nation’s Top 250 receivers and one of state’s top 50 overall talents by 247Sports.com … Designated as a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com … An academic honor roll performer in the classroom. PERSONAL: Full name is Mydreon Tyreke Vines … Is the son of Angie and Larry Walker, and Michael Croom … Is the cousin of brothers Maleek and Marquis Gorham, who played collegiately at Fayetteville State and North Carolina A&T, respectively.

PERSONAL: Is the son of Mary and Charles Thompson ... Father played football at Western Carolina.

K E V I N T H O M P S O N ’ S C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year G UT AT Tot. TFL–Yds Sack–Yds INT–Yds TD PBU FR FF Blkd 2019 8 2 0 2 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 20-21 3 0 0 0 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 11 2 0 2 0.0–0 0.0–0 0–0 0 0 0 0 0 KEVIN THOMPSON’S SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS Tackles:........................................................................1, twice – MR: at Alabama (11/23/19) K E V I N T H O M P S O N ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2019-20)

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Rogan WELLS 6-4 l 220 lbs. l Graduate Student l QB Fort Mill, S.C. | Tusculum / Fort Mill HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 from Tusculum through the transfer portal as a graduate student … Began his collegiate career at Valdosta State ... Enters the 2021 season having passed for 8,982 career yards on 660-of-1,067 passing with 84 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions ... Added 2,032 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in his collegiate career. Tusculum: Guided the Pioneers to the spring 2021 South Atlantic Conference championship at quarterback … Completed 117-of-189 (61.9%) passes for 1,852 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021, posting a QB rating of 167.2 … Added 32 rushes for 100 yards and two scores on the ground; Valdosta State: Went 28-3 as the Blazers’ starting quarterback, leading Valdosta to a Gulf South Conference 25-game winning streak from the final game of 2017 until his final game in 2019 that included winning the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship … Twotime Gulf South Conference Champion and NCAA D-II playoff berths … Named Gulf South Conference Player of the Decade and first-team GSC All-Decade … Was twice a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, finishing as the runner-up in 2018 and a two-time Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019 … Was an AFCA All-America first-team selection and a D2CCA All-Region first-team selection in 2019 … Finished eighth in VSU program history in rushing yards (1,932), fifth in rushing touchdowns (25), sixth in career completions (543), third in passing touchdowns (69) and second in total offense with 9,026 yards;

Blake WHITMORE 6-2 l 285 lbs. l R-Fr. l OL Raleigh, N.C. | Millbrook HS

2020-21 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in two games on the season as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams … Did not record any official statistics ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. 2019 (FRESHMAN): Played in four games on the season as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut at home against Gardner-Webb (Oct. 5).. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on … Played center, guard, and long-snapper as a prep … Was named All-Cap-7 Conference along the offensive line as a senior ... High school coach was Clarence Inscore. PERSONAL: Is the son of Tina and Barry Whitmore. B L A K E W H I T M O R E ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

C.J. WILLIAMS

High School: Amassed 5,125 passing yards with 32 touchdowns and 1,568 rushing yards with 41 TDs as a prep … Three-time WRHI Offensive Player of the Week and Tri-County Player of the Week once … High school coach was Ed Susi. PERSONAL: Is the son of Jaren and Rick Wells … Was born in Charlotte, N.C. … His older brother is Rylan Wells, who played at Jacksonville and is an assistant coach at WCU … Is the grandson of former Tennessee (1964-69) and Florida (1970-78) head football coach Doug Dickey, who also served as UT’s athletics director (1985-2002) … Graduated from VSU with a degree in business management in 2020. R O G A N W E L L S ' C A R E E R S TAT I S T I C S Year 2017 (VSU) 2018 (VSU) 2019 (VSU) 20-21 (TU) TOTALS

G Cmp–Att–Int 9 121–217–3 14 209–364–4 11 213–297–4 5 117–189–3 39 660–1,067–14

Pct 55.8 57.4 71.7 61.9 61.9

Yds TD Lng 1,405 12 47 3,075 38 88 2,650 19 69 1,852 15 78 8,982 84 88

A/Gm Rush Yds TD Lng Avg A/Gm 156.1 116 498 8 39 4.3 55.3 219.6 136 732 11 81 5.4 52.3 240.9 85 702 6 70 8.3 63.8 370.4 32 100 2 25 3.1 20.0 230.3 369 2,032 27 81 5.5 52.1

5-10 l 160 lbs. l So. l WR Gallion, Ala. | Alabama / Demopolis HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 from Alabama through the transfer portal … Originally committed to Army West Point as a prep; true freshman in 2020.

Alabama: Did not see playing time for the Crimson Tide as a

High School: Was a two-sport standout playing football and running track & field … Was named the Anthony Robinson Player of the Year as a senior … Was a running back, punt and kick returner, and defensive cornerback as a prep … Received a two-star ranking from Rivals as a cornerback where he was an all-state selection with 16 interceptions between his sophomore and junior years … His high school head coach was Brian Seymore. PERSONAL: Is the son of Shenika and Talmus Williams.

Raphael WILLIAMS

R O G A N W E L L S ' C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Two-time finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy (2018, 2019); Runner-up in 2018 Two-time Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2018, 2019) AFCA All-America first-team selection in 2019 D2CCA All-Region first-team selection in 2019 Two-time D2CCA Super Region Two Player of the Year Gulf South Conference Player of the Decade First-team Gulf South Conference All-Decade Two-time South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week (2020) Eight-time Gulf South Conference Player of the Week (2018 & 2019) MVP of the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship game

5-10 l 160 lbs. l R-Fr. l WR Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Tusculum / Dillard HS PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 from Tusculum;

Tusculum: Played in five games in the spring 2021, catching 13 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown … Averaged 38.8 receiving yards per game with a long reception of 51 yards; High School: Was a First-Team All-Broward selection and a Second-Team All-State honoree … Considered one of the best route runners in South Florida … Selected to the Broward All-Star Team ... Named his high school’s team MVP ... 31 catches for 800 yards and 12 TD in his senior campaign ... Was an honors student ... High school coach was Eddie Frasier. PERSONAL: Full name is Raphael Williams, Jr. ... Nickname is "Poppi" ... Is the son of Rachel Sims and Raphael Williams Sr. … Has four siblings: Mikheal McCray, Radaijah McCray, Ryan Sims, Ry'Carri Dailey.

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 CATAMOUNTS /// PLAYER PROFILES

Ronald WILSON 6-2 l 355 lbs. l So. l DL Mocksville, N.C. | Gardner-Webb / Davie County HS

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU from Gardner-Webb during the summer of 2021 through the transfer portal; Gardner-Webb: Played in nine games as a freshman in 2019 … Recorded five total tackles including four solo stops … Made his collegiate debut at Charlotte on Aug. 29, 2019 … Had a career-best three total tackles against Hampton on Oc. 12, 2019; High School: Four-year varsity performer for the War Eagles … Finished senior season with 37 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 12 quarterback pressures … Made 28 stops as a junior, along with one sack and a pass deflection … Caused one fumble in 2017 … Played at Davie County (N.C.) High for head coach Tim Devericks … Also played basketball as a prep.

Glenn YOUNG

Quenten ZANDERS

5-8 l 175 lbs. l Jr. l RB Shelby, N.C. | Cleveland Community College / Shelby Crest HS 2020-21 (JUNIOR): Did not see game action.

PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: Transferred to WCU from Cleveland Community College which does not have football … Has a junior class standing with two years of eligibility, though he must sit out the 2020 season … Is a 2018 graduate of Crest HS where he was a two-way player at running back and linebacker … Rushed for 339 yards and six touchdowns as a senior in 2017, adding 214 yards on kickoff returns … Also wrestled as a prep. PERSONAL: Is the son of Quyen Ngo and Lindell Zanders … His brother, Lannden Zanders, plays safety on the football team at Clemson.

5-9 l 200 lbs. l 2nd-Year Fr. l RB Fayetteville, N.C. | Trinity Christian HS

2020-21 (FRESHMAN): Played in one game, making his WCU debut at Samford (Feb. 27) on special teams … Did not record any official statistics ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. PRIOR TO WESTERN CAROLINA: His prep career included playing at Jack Britt High in Fayetteville before finishing at Trinity Christian … Started high school in Germany where he did not play football … Two-way player who played running back and linebacker … Rushed for 1,080 yards and 11 touchdowns at Jack Britt High as a junior … Listed as a two-star recruit by both 247Sports.com and Rivals.com … Also participated in track & field as a prep. G L E N N YO U N G ’ S C A R E E R H O N O R S A N D AWA R D S Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2021 OPPONENTS

EASTERN KENTUCKY GAME 1 Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021 6:00 pm – Cullowhee, N.C. Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field TV: Nexstar / ESPN+

at OKLAHOMA

GAME 2 Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 7 pm ET / 6 pm CT – Norman, Okla. Gaylord Family–Oklahoma Memorial TV: Pay-Per-View

SAMFORD

GAME 3 – FAMILY WEEKEND Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 2:30 pm – Cullowhee, N.C. Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field TV: Nexstar

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location:.....................................................................Richmond, Ky. Founded:...................................................................................1906 Enrollment:.............................................................................14,980 Nickname:...........................................................................Colonels Colors:.....................................................................Maroon & White Conference:......................................................... ASUN Conference Facility (Capacity):................................ Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000) President:.......................................................... Dr. David McFaddin Athletics Director:............................................................ Matt Roan

Location:.................................................................... Norman, Okla. Founded:...................................................................................1890 Enrollment:............................................................................ 30,903 Nickname:........................................................................... Sooners Colors:.................................................................. Crimson & Cream Conference:.............................................................................Big 12 Facility (Capacity):.. Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (80,126) President:.............................................................Joseph Harroz, Jr. Director of Athletics:...............................................Joe Castiglione

Location:................................................................ Birmingham, Ala. Founded:.................................................. 1841 (as Howard College) Enrollment:..............................................................................5,509 Nickname:...........................................................................Bulldogs Colors:............................................................................. Red & Blue Conference:.......................................................... Southern (SoCon) Facility (Capacity):......................................Seibert Stadium (6,700) President:..................................................................Dr. Beck Taylor Athletics Director:.....................................................Martin Newton

TEAM INFORMATION

Head Coach:...............................................Walt Wells (Belmont,’93) Record at EKU:............................................................... 3-6 (1 year) Career Record:........................................................................ Same Basic Offense:......................................................... Multiple Spread Basic Defense:............................................................................ 4-3 Lettermen Returning / Lost:................................................... 75/35 Starters Returning / Lost (O/D/S):................ 17 (6/9/2) / 13 (5/2/6) Series History:......................WCU trails 2-4 (L–1); Last Mtg 11/21/20

Head Coach:......................................Lincoln Riley (Texas Tech, ‘06) Record at 0U:..............................................................45-8 (4 years) Career Record:.........................................................................Same Basic Offense: .....................................................................Multiple Basic Defense:.....................................................................Multiple Lettermen Returning / Lost:.................................................... 57/17 Starters Returning / Lost (O/D):.........................................22 (15/7) Series History:............................................................. First Meeting

Head Coach:.............................. Chris Hatcher (Valdosta State, ‘94) Record at SAM:........................................................ 36-29 (6 years) Career Record:.......................................................157-86 (21 years) Basic Offense:....................................................................... Spread Basic Defense:........................................................................... 4–3 Lettermen Returning / Lost:..................................................85 / 10 Starters Returning / Lost (O/D/S):.................. 25 (10/10/1) / 3 (1/1/1) Series History:.....................WCU trails 3-15 (L–3); Last Mtg 2/27/21

MEDIA INFORMATION

Football Contact:......................................................... Kevin Britton SID Phone (O/C):.........................(859) 622-2006 / (859) 358-8359 E-mail:...........................................................Kevin.Britton@eku.edu Website:.......................................................... www.EKUSports.com Twitter:..........................................................................@EKUSports Press Box:................................................................ (859) 622-2226

Football Contact:...........................................................Mike Houck SID Phone (O):..........................................................(405) 325-8227 E-mail:.................................................................... mhouck@ou.edu Website:......................................................www.SoonerSports.com Twitter:......................................................................@OU_Athletics Press Box:..................................................................(405) 325-3116

Football Contact:..........................................................Joey Mullins SID Phone (O/C):..........................(205) 726-2799 / (205) 532-3477 E-mail:........................................................... jmmulli1@samford.edu Website:....................................................www.SamfordSports.com Twitter:..................................................................@samford_sports Press Box:.......................................................(205) 726-2143 / 2144

at GARDNER-WEBB

at CHATTANOOGA

MERCER

GAME 4 Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 6:00 pm – Boiling Springs, N.C. Spangler Stadium TV: ESPN+

GAME 5 Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 1:30 pm – Chattanooga, Tenn. Finley Stadium TV: ESPN+

GAME 6 – HOMECOMING Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021 3:30 pm – Cullowhee, N.C. Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field TV: ESPN+

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location:...........................................................Boiling Springs, N.C. Founded:...................................................................................1905 Enrollment:..............................................................................3,500 Nickname:............................................................. Runnin’ Bulldogs Colors:.......................................................................Scarlet & Black Conference:....................................................................... Big South Facility (Capacity):.................................. Spangler Stadium (8,500) President:.............................................................Dr. William Downs Athletics Director:........................................................ Chuck Burch

Location:............................................................ Chattanooga, Tenn. Founded:...................................................................................1886 Enrollment:.............................................................................. 11,728 Nickname:................................................................................ Mocs Colors:..........................................................Navy, Old Gold & Silver Conference:.......................................................... Southern (SoCon) Facility:....................................................... Finley Stadium (20,668) Chancellor:.............................................................Dr. Steven Angle Director of Athletics:.................................................Mark Wharton

Location:......................................................................... Macon, Ga. Founded:................................................................................... 1833 Enrollment:..............................................................................9,000 Nickname:............................................................................... Bears Colors:......................................................................Orange & Black Conference:.......................................................... Southern (SoCon) Facility (Capacity):................................. Five Star Stadium (10,200) President:......................................................William D. Underwood Athletics Director:...............................................................Jim Cole

TEAM INFORMATION

Head Coach:....................................Tre Lamb (Tennessee Tech, ‘12) Record at GAWB:......................................................... 2-2 (2 years) Career Record:.........................................................................Same Basic Offense:....................................................................... Spread Basic Defense:............................................................................ 4-3 Lettermen Returning / Lost:.................................................. 64 / 15 Starters Returning / Lost (O/D+S):....................... 20 (8/4) / 6 (13/2) Series History:..........................WCU leads 6-4 (L–1); Last Mtg 2019

Head Coach:.................................. Rusty Wright (Chattanooga, ‘96) Record at UTC.............................................................. 9-8 (2 years) Career Record:.........................................................................Same Basic Offense:......................................................................Multiple Basic Defense:.....................................................................Multiple Lettermen Returning / Lost:....................................................72 / 4 Starters Returning / Lost (O/D/S):.................25 (11/11/3) / 0 (0/0/0) Series History:...................... WCU trails 17-30 (L–3); Last Mtg 2019

Head Coach:...........................................Drew Cronic (Georgia, ‘96) Record at MER: ..............................................................5-6 (1 year) Career Record: .............................................................52-12 (5 yrs) Basic Offense:..............................................Multiple (Spread/Wing) Basic Defense:.....................................................................Multiple Lettermen Returning / Lost:..................................................61 / 20 Starters Returning / Lost (O/D/S):...................20 (8/9/3) / 7 (3/2/2) Series History:.................... WCU trails, 2-5 (L–5); Last Mtg 3/20/21

MEDIA INFORMATION

Football Contact:............................................................ Marc Rabb SID Phone (O/C):..........................(704) 406-4355 / (704) 974-3662 E-mail:....................................................mrabb@gardner-webb.edu Website:......................................................... www.GWUSports.com Twitter:........................................................................ @GWUSports Press Box:.................................................................(704) 406-3576

Football Contact:............................................................Jim Horton SID Phone (O/C):..........................(423) 425-2350 / (423) 645-8733 Email:............................................................ james-horton@utc.edu Website:.............................................................. www.GoMocs.com Twitter:..............................................................................@GoMocs Press Box:................................................................. (423) 757-9332

Football Contact (interim):......................................Kraig Doremus SID Phone (O):........................................................... (478) 301-5218 E-mail:....................................................... doremus_kj@mercer.edu Website:.......................................................www.MercerBears.com Twitter:.................................................................. @MercerFootball Press Box:..................................................................(419) 615-3968

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

2021 OPPONENTS

at THE CITADEL

GAME 7 Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 2:00 pm – Charleston, S.C. Johnson Hagood Stadium TV: ESPN+

at WOFFORD

FURMAN

GAME 8 Saturday, Oct, 30, 2021 1:30 – Spartanburg, S.C. Gibbs Stadium TV: ESPN+

GAME 9 – HEROES’ DAY Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021 2:00 pm – Cullowhee, N.C. Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field TV: ESPN+

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location:..................................................................Charleston, S.C. Founded:................................................................................... 1842 Enrollment:...............................................................................3,767 Nickname:...........................................................................Bulldogs Colors:..............................................................Citadel Blue & White Conference:.......................................................... Southern (SoCon) Facility (Capacity):.....................Johnson Hagood Stadium (11,332) President:..................................................... Gen. Glenn M. Walters Athletics Director:..................................................... Mike Capaccio

Location:............................................................... Spartanburg, S.C. Founded:................................................................................... 1854 Enrollment:............................................................................... 1,750 Nickname:.............................................................................Terriers Colors:....................................................................Old Gold & Black Conference:.......................................................... Southern (SoCon) Facility (Capacity):...................................... Gibbs Stadium (13,000) President:......................................................... Dr. Nayef H. Samhat Athletics Director:..................................................Richard Johnson

Location:................................................................... Greenville, S.C. Founded:...................................................................................1826 Enrollment:..............................................................................2,600 Nickname:........................................................................... Paladins Colors:.......................................................................Purple & White Conference:.......................................................... Southern (SoCon) Facility (Capacity):.....................................Paladin Stadium (14,518) President:............................................................Dr. Elizabeth Davis Athletics Director:....................................................Jason Donnelly

TEAM INFORMATION

Head Coach:................................... Brent Thompson (Norwich, ‘98) Record at CIT:........................................................... 28-30 (5 years) Career Record:.........................................................................Same Basic Offense:..............................................................Triple Option Basic Defense:.....................................................................Multiple Lettermen Returning / Lost:....................................................47 / 2 Starters Returning / Lost (O/D/S):.................28 (13/12/3) / 1 (1/0/0) Series History:................. WCU trails 18-26-1 (W-1); Last Mtg 3/14/21

Head Coach:..................................Josh Conklin (Dakota State, ‘03) Record at WOF:..........................................................18-12 (3 years) Career Record:.........................................................................Same Basic Offense:..............................................................Triple Option Basic Defense:............................................................... Multiple 50 Lettermen Returning / Lost:....................................................56 / 7 Starters Returning / Lost (O/D/S):................... 19 (7/9/3) / 6 (4/2/0) Series History:...................... WCU trails 14-28 (L–4); Last Mtg 2019

Head Coach:...........................................Clay Hendrix (Furman, ‘86) Record at Furman:.................................................... 25-18 (4 years) Career Record:.........................................................................Same Basic Offense:......................................................................Multiple Basic Defense:........................................................................... 3–4 Lettermen Returning / Lost:...................................................51 / 13 Starters Returning / Lost (O/D/S):.................. 21 (9/10/2) / 3 (2/1/0) Series History:...............WCU trails 12-34-2 (L–5); Last Mtg 2/20/21

MEDIA INFORMATION

Football Contact:............................................................John Brush SID Phone (O):..........................................................(843) 953-5353 E-mail:.................................................................jbrush@citadel.edu Website:......................................................www.CitadelSports.com Twitter:.....................................................................@CitadelSports Press Box:.................................................................(843) 953-9957

Football Contact:.................................................. Brent Williamson SID Phone (O/C):.........................(864) 597-4093 / (864) 809-8900 Email:.....................................................williamsondb@wofford.edu Website:...................................................www.WoffordTerriers.com Twitter:..................................................................@WoffordTerriers Press Box:................................................................. (864) 597-4487

Football Contact:...........................................................Hunter Reid SID Phone (O/C):...........................(864) 294-2061 / (864) 567-1663 E-mail:....................................................... Hunter.Reid@furman.edu Website:..................................................www.FurmanPaladins.com Twitter:.................................................................@FurmanPaladins Press Box:................................................................ (864) 294-3066

ETSU

at VMI

Distances the Catamounts will travel for six road games in 2021

GAME 10 Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 2:00 pm – Cullowhee, N.C. Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field TV: ESPN+

GAME 11 Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021 1:30 pm – Lexington, Va. Foster Stadium TV: ESPN+

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location:............................................................ Johnson City, Tenn. Founded:.................................................................................... 1911 Enrollment:.............................................................................14,400 Nickname:......................................................................Buccaneers Colors:............................................................................Blue & Gold Conference:.......................................................... Southern (SoCon) Facility (Capacity):............... William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium (6,212) President:............................................................... Dr. Brian Noland Director of Athletics:.................................................... Scott Carter

Location:.....................................................................Lexington, Va. Founded:...................................................................................1839 Enrollment:...............................................................................1,685 Nickname:............................................................................Keydets Colors:...............................................................Red, White & Yellow Conference:.......................................................... Southern (SoCon) Facility (Capacity):.....Foster Stadium / Alumni Memorial Field (10,000) Superintendent:................................. Major General Cedric T. Wins Acting Director of Athletics:.......................................Lenny Brown

TEAM INFORMATION

Head Coach:.................................. Randy Sanders (Tennessee, ‘89) Record at ETSU:.........................................................15-15 (3 years) Career Record:.........................................................................Same Basic Offense:....................................................................... Spread Basic Defense:............................................................................ 3-4 Lettermen Returning / Lost:................................................... 50 / 0 Starters Returning / Lost (O/D/S):.................28 (11/11/6) / 0 (0/0/0) Series History:............... WCU leads 25-24-1 (L–1); Last Mtg 3/27/21

Head Coach:............................... Scott Wachenheim (Air Force, ‘84) Record at VMI:...........................................................17-47 (6 years) Career Record:.........................................................................Same Basic Offense:...................................................................... Air Raid Basic Defense:........................................................................... 3–4 Lettermen Returning / Lost:....................................................78 / 9 Starters Returning / Lost (O/D/S):...................17 (8/6/3) / 11 (4/5/2) Series History:......................WCU leads 23-4 (L–1); Last Mtg 3/6/21

MEDIA INFORMATION

Football Contact:..............................................................David Fox SID Phone (O/C):.......................... (423) 439-5263 / (423) 767-3607 E-mail:............................................................ foxdh1@mail.etsu.edu Website:........................................................... www.ETSUBucs.com Twitter: ................................................................... @ETSUAthletics Press Box: .................................................................(423) 747-3877

Football Contact:.......................................................Wade Branner SID Phone (O/H):.............................(540) 464-7515 / (540) 319-1271 E-mail:.............................................................. brannerwh@vmi.edu Website:.........................................................www.VMIKeydets.com Twitter:.......................................................................@VMIAthletics Press Box:.................................................................(540) 464-7834

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

WCU TRAVEL CENTRAL

at OKLAHOMA

Saturday, Sept. 11 – Norman, Okla.

MILEAGE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989.1 miles TRAVEL TIME:. . . . . . . . . . . . 14 hours, 50 minutes

at GARDNER-WEBB

Saturday, Sept. 25 – Boiling Springs, N.C.

MILEAGE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118.7 miles TRAVEL TIME:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 hours

at CHATTANOOGA

Saturday, Oct. 2 – Chattanooga, Tenn.

MILEAGE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162.4 miles TRAVEL TIME:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 hours, 6 minutes

at THE CITADEL

Saturday, Oct. 23 – Charleston, S.C.

MILEAGE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308.7 miles TRAVEL TIME:. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 hours, 46 minutes

at WOFFORD

Saturday, Oct. 30 – Spartanburg, S.C.

MILEAGE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110.7 miles TRAVEL TIME:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 hour, 55 minutes

at VMI

Saturday, Nov. 20 – Lexington, Va.

MILEAGE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336.3 miles TRAVEL TIME:. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 hours, 15 minutes

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

SERIES HISTORY VS. 2021 OPPONENTS

CHATTANOOGA

WCU trails 17–29–0 (L–2) At WCU: WCU trails 10-13-0 At UTC: WCU trails 7-16-0 SoCon: WCU trails 16-27

Year Site Result Score 1973............H......... W................. 14 0 1975...........A...............L................6 27 1976...........H...............L.............. 14 28 1977............H...............L.............. 10 21 1978...........A......... W.................38 21 1979...........H...............L..............35 42 1980...........A...............L.............. 14 39 1981............H......... W.................24 10 1982...........A......... W................ 20 0 1983...........H......... W................ 25 15 1984...........A...............L................6 10 1985...........H...............L................3 23 1986...........A...............L................7 34 1987...........H...............L...............11 13 1988...........A...............L.............. 14 19 1989...........H......... W................ 26 20 1990...........A...............L.............. 21 23 1991............H......... W.................38 35 1992...........A......... W.................44 13 1993...........A......... W................. 41 10 1994...........H......... W.................53 15 1995...........A...............L.............. 14 35 1996...........H...............L................6 20 1997...........A...............L.............. 21 24 1998...........H......... W.................24 21 1999...........A...............L............. 28 56 2000..........H......... W................. 41 36 2001...........A......... W................. 21 3 2002..........H......... W.................45 28 2003..........A...............L............... 0 38 2004..........H...............L..............24 27 2005..........A......... W.................38 20 2006..........H............L-OT........... 14 17 2007..........A...............L.............. 21 39 2008..........H......... W.................27 7 2009..........A...............L............. 20 24 2010...........H...............L.............. 21 27 2011............A...............L................7 51 2012...........H...............L..............24 45 2013...........A...............L.............. 21 42 2014...........H...............L............... 0 51 2015...........A...............L.............. 13 41 2016...........H...............L............. 25 38 2017...........A......... W.................45 7 2018...........H...............L................6 26 2019...........A...............L..............36 60 2021...........A

THE CITADEL WCU trails 18-26-1 (W–1)

At WCU: WCU trails 11-12-0 At The Citadel: WCU trails 7-14-0 At Columbia: Series tied 0-0-1 SoCon: WCU trails 17-26-1 Year Site Result Score 1972...........A......... W................. 10 0 1977............A...............L............... 0 20 1978...........H......... W.................38 24 1979...........A...............L.............. 19 21 1980...........H...............L.............. 21 28 1981............A...............L................3 12 1982...........H...............L............. 20 24 1983...........A......... W.................44 17 1984...........H...............L..............33 34 1985...........A...............L................3 10 1986...........H......... W.................27 12 1987...........A...............L..............24 38 1988...........H...............L.............. 21 27 1989...........N.................. T......... 22 22 1990...........H...............L.............. 10 28 1991............A...............L.............. 13 38 1992...........H...............L.............. 31 36 1993...........H......... W.................38 18

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

1994...........A......... W.................42 38 1995...........H......... W................. 31 14 1996...........A...............L............. 25 39 1997...........H......... W.................45 25 1998...........A......... W................. 14 8 1999...........H......... W.................24 17 2000..........A...............L.............. 10 17 2001...........H......... W................ 28 25 2002..........A......... W.................37 34 2003..........H......... W................ 28 21 2004..........A...............L............... 0 17 2005..........H...............L................7 17 2006..........A............L-OT...........27 30 2007..........H...............L.............. 31 37 2008..........A...............L.............. 14 34 2009..........H......... W................. 14 10 2010...........A......... W.................24 13 2011............H...............L................7 35 2012...........A...............L.............. 31 45 2013...........H...............L.............. 21 28 2014...........H......... W................ 29 15 2015...........A...............L.............. 10 28 2016...........H...............L.............. 14 37 2017...........A......... W................. 31 19 2018...........H...............L..............24 38 2019...........A...............L...............17 35 20-21..........H......... W................. 21 14 2021...........A

N - played in Columbia, S.C.

EKU

WCU trails 2-4 (L–1)

At WCU: Series tied 1-1 At EKU: WCU trails 1-3 Year Site Result Score 1988...........H...............L.............. 14 32 1989...........A...............L.............. 13 31 2006..........H......... W................ 20 17 2007..........A...............L.............. 21 45 2009..........A......... W.................24 7 2020..........A...............L...............17 49 2021...........H

ETSU

WCU leads 25-24-1 (L–1) At WCU: WCU leads 13-10 At ETSU: WCU trails 11-14-1 Neutral: WCU leads 1-0-0 SoCon: WCU leads 19-12-0

Year Site Result Score 1932...........H...............L............... 0 26 1933...........A...............L............... 0 26 1934...........H...............L................2 6 1935...........A...............L............... 0 13 1936...........A...............L............... 0 2 1937............A...............L............... 0 12 1948...........H......... W.................32 12 1949...........A......... W................. 14 0 1950...........N......... W................. 13 7 1951............A......... W...................7 6 1952...........H...............L................7 13 1953...........A...............L................7 34 1954...........H...............L.............. 21 24 1955...........A.................. T............7 7 1956...........H...............L................6 7 1957...........A...............L................6 7 1975...........H...............L................8 29 1976...........A......... W................. 14 0 1977............H......... W.................35 0 1978...........A...............L.............. 14 21 1979...........H......... W................ 20 17 1980...........A......... W................ 20 17 1981............H...............L..............23 32 1982...........A......... W.................27 25 1983...........H......... W..................17 16 1984...........A......... W................. 31 17 1985...........H......... W................. 13 3 1986...........H......... W.................43 16 1987...........A......... W.................37 20 1988...........H......... W.................33 23

1989...........A...............L...............11 30 1990...........H......... W................. 21 17 1991............A......... W................ 29 15 1992...........H......... W................. 41 12 1993...........A......... W.................24 24 1994...........H...............L.............. 31 34 1995...........A...............L.............. 10 36 1996...........H...............L.............. 10 49 1997...........A...............L.............. 18 28 1998...........H......... W–2OT......... 31 24 1999...........A...............L.............. 10 38 2000..........H......... W.................39 27 2001...........A......... W................ 20 6 2002..........H...............L................7 27 2003..........A......... W.................39 16 2016.......... A&..............L.............. 31 34 2017...........H......... W.................49 10 2018...........A.......... L–3OT.........43 45 2019...........H......... W–OT...........23 20 20-21..........A...............L...............17 24 2021...........H &

N – game played in Waynesville, N.C. – played at the Bristol Motor Speedway

FURMAN

WCU trails: 12-34-2 (L–5) At WCU: WCU trails 6-16-1 At FUR: WCU trails 6-18-1 SoCon: WCU trails 11-32-2

Year Site Result Score 1971............A...............L.............. 14 21 1972...........H......... W.................24 15 1975...........A...............L............... 0 35 1977............A.................. T..........24 24 1978...........H...............L................7 24 1979...........A...............L.............. 14 23 1980...........H...............L.............. 14 28 1981............H...............L..............27 31 1982...........A...............L................6 12 1983...........H.................. T...........17 17 1983...........A......... W................. 14 7 1984...........A......... W................ 20 19 1985...........H...............L..............27 31 1986...........A......... W................. 19 13 1987...........H......... W................ 20 14 1988...........A...............L............... 0 31 1989...........H...............L................3 17 1990...........A...............L................9 42 1991............H...............L.............. 14 42 1992...........A......... W................ 29 27 1993...........H......... W.................23 20 1994...........A......... W.................35 24 1995...........H...............L.............. 21 31 1996...........A...............L............. 30 45 1997...........H......... W..................17 16 1998...........A...............L................7 31 1999...........H...............L.............. 19 27 2000..........A...............L.............. 14 38 2001...........H...............L.............. 13 31 2002..........A...............L..............23 24 2003..........H...............L.............. 13 19 2004..........A...............L.............. 10 31 2005..........H......... W................. 41 21 2006..........A...............L................7 42 2007..........H...............L.............. 21 52 2008..........A...............L.............. 21 28 2009..........H...............L.............. 14 33 2010...........A...............L...............17 31 2011............H...............L.............. 21 47 2012...........A...............L..............24 45 2013...........H...............L............. 20 32 2014...........A......... W.................35 17 2015...........H......... W.................48 10 2016...........A...............L.............. 21 49 2017...........H...............L................6 28 2018...........A...............L..............38 44 2019...........H...............L................7 28 20-21..........A...............L................7 35 2021...........H

GARDNER-WEBB WCU leads, 6-4-0 (L–1)

At WCU: WCU trails 1-2-0 At Gardner-Webb: WCU leads 2-1-0 Year Site Result Score 1932...........H...............L................7 23 1983...........H......... W.................43 7 2003..........H......... W.................39 16 2004..........A........... L–OT......... 20 26 2009..........H...............L............. 20 27 2010...........A......... W................ 28 14 2016...........H......... W.................44 14 2017...........A......... W.................42 27 2018...........A......... W................ 28 10 2019...........H...............L.............. 21 24 2021...........A

MERCER

WCU trails 2-5-0 (L–5) At WCU: WCU trails 1-2-0 At MER: WCU trails 1-3-0 SoCon: WCU trails 2-5-0

Year Site Result Score 2014...........A......... W.................35 21 2015...........H......... W.................24 21 2016...........A...............L..............24 38 2017...........H...............L..............33 35 2018...........A...............L..............46 59 2019...........H...............L..............27 49 20-21..........A...............L............. 28 45 2021...........H

OKLAHOMA FIRST SERIES MEETING Year Site Result Score 2021...........A

SAMFORD

WCU trails 3–15–0 (L–3) At WCU: WCU trails 2-6-0 At SAM: WCU trails 1-9-0 SoCon: WCU trails 2-11

Year Site Result Score 1969...........A......... W.................47 13 1991............H...............L................3 16 1992...........A...............L................6 30 1997...........A...............L............... 0 19 1999...........H............L-OT...........32 35 2008..........H...............L................6 21 2009..........A...............L................3 16 2010...........H...............L................7 38 2011............A...............L..............24 52 2012...........H...............L.............. 21 25 2013...........A...............L..............23 62 2014...........A...............L............. 20 34 2015...........H......... W................ 56 36 2016...........A...............L...............17 30 2017...........H......... W.................38 34 2018...........A...............L............. 28 66 2019...........H...............L.............. 13 31 20-21..........A...............L..............27 55 2021...........H

VMI WCU leads 23–4–0 (L–1) At WCU: WCU leads 13-1-0 At VMI: WCU leads 10-3-0 SoCon: WCU leads 23-4

1981............A...............L.............. 14 21 1984...........A......... W................ 22 16 1985...........H......... W.................35 30 1986...........H......... W.................34 0 1988...........A...............L............. 20 24 1990...........H......... W................ 28 20 1991............A...............L............. 25 27 1992...........H......... W................ 28 25 1993...........H......... W.................38 14 1994...........A......... W.................33 7 1995...........H......... W................. 31 14 1996...........A......... W..................17 14 1997...........H......... W.................24 0 1998...........A......... W.................39 17 1999...........H......... W................ 40 2 2000..........A......... W................. 41 31 2001...........H......... W.................44 17 2002..........A......... W.................35 23 2014...........H......... W.................42 27 2015...........A......... W.................24 20 2016...........H......... W.................32 29 2017...........A......... W................ 26 7 2018...........H......... W................ 52 50 2019...........A......... W.................43 35 20-21..........H...............L................7 30 2021...........A

WOFFORD WCU trails 14–28–0 (L–4) At WCU: WCU trails 10-11-0 At WOF: WCU trails 4-16-0 At Asheville: WCU trails 0-1-0 SoCon: WCU trails 4-19

Year Site Result Score 1952...........A...............L.............. 13 20 1953...........H...............L................6 7 1955...........A...............L................7 21 1956...........A...............L................7 39 1957...........A...............L................7 28 1958...........N...............L.............. 15 29 1970...........A...............L............. 22 29 1971............H......... W................. 31 13 1974............A......... W................. 21 9 1975...........H...............L.............. 14 23 1976...........A...............L................6 10 1977............H......... W................. 41 6 1978...........A......... W................ 26 11 1979...........H......... W................ 56 21 1981............A......... W.................37 30 1982...........H......... W.................36 17 1983...........H......... W.................37 20 1984...........H......... W................. 31 0 1996...........H......... W.................24 6 1997...........H...............L................7 17 1998...........A...............L.............. 10 17 1999...........H...............L.............. 21 35 2000..........A...............L.............. 31 40 2001...........H......... W................. 31 28 2002..........A...............L..............24 31 2003..........H...............L................6 38 2004..........A...............L.............. 12 15 2005..........H......... W.................24 0 2006..........A...............L................7 35 2007..........H...............L..............44 47 2008..........A...............L.............. 14 42 2009..........H...............L............. 26 35 2010...........A...............L.............. 14 45 2011............H...............L..............24 42 2012...........A...............L............. 20 49 2013...........H...............L...............17 21 2014...........H......... W................ 26 14 2015...........A......... W.................24 17 2016...........H...............L.............. 19 31 2017...........A............L-OT.......... 28 35 2018...........H...............L..............23 38 2019...........A...............L............. 59 7 2021...........A N - played in Asheville, NC

Year Site Result Score 1978...........A......... W................. 41 12 1980...........H......... W................. 16 14

CATAMOUNTSPORTS.COM

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

2020-21 SEASON IN REVIEW /// RECAP & NOTES

What will go down in the history books as the 2020-21 football season was one unlike any other experienced in recent memory. Coming off a global shutdown through the spring in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, a hopeful return to normalcy in the fall of 2020 for college athletics gave way to more of the same in navigating the on-going health crisis. Ultimately, intercollegiate sports was forced to deal with the postponement of much of the fall seasons into the spring 2021 semester including the Southern Conference football league schedule and the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision postseason. Awarded the freedom to schedule nonconference games in the fall, Western Carolina opted to play three road games including two at nationally-ranked NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision opponents in #22 Liberty and #17 North Carolina, with one FCS match-up against Eastern Kentucky, which chose to play its full, nine-game schedule in the fall semester, in the “Opportunity Bowl” in Richmond, Ky. The Catamounts were among just 17 NCAA FCS football teams – and four from the SoCon – to compete in the 2020 fall semester. The spring was wrought with changes including alterations in the roster and ultimately the game schedule as WCU played six of its scheduled eight league games in the spring before its final two opponents – Chattanooga and Wofford – opted out of the remainder of their respective schedules. WCU stumbled out of the gates to start the spring semester with road losses at chromatic league foe Furman (35-7) and at Samford (55-27) before seeing eventual league champion VMI claim its first-ever victory over the Catamounts in Cullowhee, halting a 17-game drought with a 30-7 win. The following week, the Catamounts halted a six-game seasonal slide and an eight-game overall drought as DONNAVAN SPENCER rushed for a career-high 220 yards and two touchdowns with MIKAI STANLEY adding a third score on the ground in the 21-14 home win over The Citadel, the squad’s first of the season. Spencer added three rushing TDs in a road loss at Mercer the following week, moving into a tie for 11th in program history with 20 career rushing scores where he finished his WCU playing career. In a season that saw just about everything, the annual gridiron grudge match in the “Blue Ridge Border Battle” with mountain-rival ETSU witnessed a freak pregame hail storm that left the turf at Greene Stadium covered in ice that more resembled a late November date than the late March schedule.

2021 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

The Catamounts nearly retained the traveling trophy in the rivalry game, jumping out to a 17-7 second quarter lead only to see a two-headed Buccaneers ground game and a smothering defensive effort in the 24-17 ETSU win. In the end, COVID halted WCU's season with two games remaining as student-athlete health concerns and roster depth ended the season with a pair of no-contests. Even with the altered schedule spread between the fall and spring semesters in 2020-21, stadium capacities were limited throughout the season as face coverings and physical distancing were the order of the day. SEVEN NAMED 2020-21 ALL-SOUTHERN CONFERENCE: Western Carolina landed four players on the 2020-21 postseason All-Southern Conference teams and three on the conference’s all-freshman squad as voted on by the league’s head coaches and members of the SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA). Senior tailback DONNAVAN SPENCER was a first-team All-SoCon selection by both the head coaches and voting media with second-year offensive lineman ISAIAH HELMS joining him on the coaches’ first-team while also earning a second-team nod from the voting media. Senior linebacker TY HARRIS and junior defensive back RONALD KENT, JR., were both selected to the All-SoCon second-team in the media’s tabulation. Three Catamounts were also named to SoCon’s AllFreshman teams by the league’s head coaches including defensive back DORIAN DAVIS, defensive lineman JAQUARIUS GUINN, and punter/placekicker PAXTON ROBERTSON. The three selections were the most for WCU on the first-year player squad since putting four on the allfreshman team back in 2016. The coaches' first-team all-conference honors for both Spencer and Helms are the first of their careers with Spencer also landing on the SoCon All-Freshman team back in 2017. Harris collected his second, second-team media all-conference selection while Kent earned his first since being tabbed on the all-freshman squad in 2018. TOP NOTES FROM WCU’S 2020-21 SEASON: • Western Carolina went 357 days between games – finishing the 2019 season at No. 5 Alabama on Nov. 23, 2019 before playing its latest-ever, season-opener on Saturday, Nov. 14 at No. 22 Liberty in Lynchburg, Va. ... WCU was the last of four SoCon teams to start playing games in the 2020 fall semester; • Western Carolina played FIVE-consecutive games away from Cullowhee to start the 2020-21 season including the

three in the fall and the first two SoCon games in the spring … Adding in the 2019 finale at fifth-ranked Alabama, the Catamounts played six-straight road games between November 2019 and March 2020; • WCU's two FBS opponents ranked nationally in the NCAA FBS in scoring offense – North Carolina at 41.7 ppg (9tht) and Liberty at 38.2 ppg (16th) ... Guided by two of the top quarterbacks in the country, the Tar Heels also finished FIFTH in the country in total offense (537.2 yds/gm) while Liberty was 15th (482.7 yds/gm) ... Liberty's Malik Willis was ninth in total offense (320.4 yds/gm) while UNC's Sam Howell was 12th (311.0 yds/gm) ... EKU ranked FIFTH in total offense in the FCS, boasting the division's top individual rusher in Alonzo Booth (708 yds gained, 7 TDs); • WCU freshman PK PAXTON ROBERTSON nailed a 52yard field goal in the second quarter in the road loss at EKU … It was Robertson's first career field goal attempt, representing a career-long boot … the 52-yard kick tied for the eighth-longest field goal in WCU history and was the longest successful field goal kick since 2000 when Josh Jones nailed a 52-yarder in a win over Lenoir-Rhyne (9/9/00); • WCU sophomore P BRANDON DICKERSON matched his career-high with 10 punts at EKU, tying a mark he set in game two of 2019 at NC State … Dickerson averaged 40.1 yards per punt and impressively downed seven of his 10 punts inside the Colonels’ 20-yard line … Half of his 20 punts in the fall were downed inside the 20.

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2020-21 SEASON IN REVIEW /// STATISTICS

2020-21 OVERALL RECORD: 1-8 SCORE

HOME: 1-1

DATE

OPPONENT

Nov. 14

at #22 Liberty

14-58

0-1

0-0

Nov. 21

at Eastern Kentucky

17-49

0-2

Dec. 11

at #17 North Carolina

9-49

0-3

Feb. 20

at Furman *

7-35

Feb. 27

at Samford *

27-55

March 6

VMI *

7-30

March 13

THE CITADEL *

21-14

March 20

at Mercer *

28-45

1-7

1-4

3:24

3,527

Spencer – 12-78

March 27

at ETSU *

17-24

1-8

1-5

3:26

2,442

Spencer – 12-40

April 3

CHATTANOOGA *

CANCELED – COVID

April 10

WOFFORD *

CANCELED – COVID

OVERALL SOCON TIME ATTEND

AWAY: 0-7

TOP RUSHER

SOCON: 1-5

TOP PASSER