9 Days until WCU Football Kickoff - Bode Burns & Eldrick Robinson II

                                                          

It's now 9 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 29, 2026, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

To help pass those long summer days and get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season and more knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day. 

Today we highlight two (2) Catamount players currently assigned to #9 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:

#9 Bode Burns  

Position: Tight End
Height: 6-5
Weight: 245
Class: Junior
Hometown: Dunnellon, Fla.
High School: Dunnellon HS

2025 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in three games as an offensive reserve and special teams before being sidelined by injury … Appeared in the home-opener against Gardner-Webb (Aug. 30), and road contests at Wake Forest (Sept. 6) and Campbell (Sept. 27) … Made his first career reception in the road win at Campbell, hauling in a 23-yard pass ... Named to the 2025-26 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2024 (Freshman): Appeared in one game as a true freshman, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut against VMI (Nov. 16) … Did not record any official statistics … Caught a pair of passes for 32 yards in WCU’s annual Spring Game.

Prior to Western Carolina: Two-way player as a prep playing wide receiver on offense and on defense, at defensive end and outside linebacker for head coach Price Harris … Was named second-team All-County along the defensive line as a senior … Also selected to the All-District team and the FACA D-7 All-Senior team … Received the Dunnellon High ‘Big Cat’ Award in Jan. 2024 ... Played for head coach Tommy Sutton … Also plays basketball as a prep.

Personal: Full name is Bode Keith Burns ... Is the son of Julie Limbaugh and Daryl Burns... has nine siblings named Coley, Daryl, Lennon, Gerrit, Bradley, Dona, Deja, Delani, and Mia


                                                                      

#9 Eldrick Robinson II

Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-0
Weight: 230
Class: Fifth Year
Hometown: Pensacola, Fla.
High: School Booker T. Washington HS

College:  Robert Morris 

Prior to Western Carolina: Started his collegiate career at Georgia Southern before spending three seasons on roster at Wake Forest ... Transferred to WCU from Robert Morris after the 2025 season, but did not see game action ... Was named to the 2025 Northeast Conference (NEC) Fall Academic Honor Roll; 

At Wake Forest: Played in 14 games over three seasons, credited with 16 tackles ... Helped the Deacs to a seventh-consecutive bowl game in 2022; 

At Georgia Southern: Played in 11 games with nine starts, including 616 total snaps (560 on defense, 56 on special teams) ... Recorded 74 tackles with 5.5 for loss and half a sack ... Earned third-team All-Sun Belt Conference in 2021, and collected third-team All-Sun Belt honors from Phil Steele; 

High School: Over three seasons, recorded 248 tackles ... Named a 2021 All American by Podium Preps ... Collected first-team All-Area defensive from the Pensacola News-Journal in 2020 ... Was a Class 6A All-State honorable mention in 2019.

Personal: Eldrick "Draco" Robinson II.

10 Days to WCU Football Kickoff - Santana Carlos & Jabari McWilliams

                                                          

It's now 10 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 29, 2026, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

To help pass those long summer days and get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season and more knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day. 

Today we highlight two (2) Catamount players currently assigned to #10 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:

#10 Santana Carlos  

Position Wide Receiver
Height 5-11
Weight 175
Class Freshman
Hometown Hollywood, Fla.
High School Flanagan HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Signed during the early period in December and enrolled at WCU mid-year … As a junior in 2024, caught 30 passes for 441 yards and three touchdowns, according to MaxPreps … Added 113 kick return yards for 554 all-purpose yards … Listed as a three-star recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports … Originally committed to UCLA.

                                                                      

#10 Jabari McWilliams

Position: Defensive Line
Height: 6-0
Weight: 270
Class: Junior
Hometown: Picayune, Miss.
High School: Picayune HS

College:  Mississippi Gulf Coast CC

Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC … Spent the past two seasons at MGCCC, playing in 20 games over two seasons … Totaled 57 tackles, including 20 solo stops and eight tackles for loss with 1.5 sacks … In 2025 season, credited with 44 stops with 6.5 TFLs, along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery; 

At Picayune HS: Credited with 34 tackles, 34 assists, 13 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 17 QBH, 1 PD, 3 FR … Selected to play in Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game ... As a junior, was a part of a Class 5A state title for second straight season.

Personal: Is the son of Latoya McWilliams and the nephew of Meaka McWilliams and Quettia McWilliams... has four siblings named Iosiah, Elijah, Jabria, and Aualynn

11 Days to WCU Football Kickoff - Isaac Lee & Marco Patierno

                                                          

It's now 11 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 29, 2026, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

To help pass those long summer days and get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season and more knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day. 

Today we highlight two (2) Catamount players currently assigned to #11 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:

#11 Isaac Lee  

Position: Quarterback

Height: 6-4
Weight: 190
Class: Junior
Hometown: Concord, N.C.
High School: Jay M. Robinson HS

2025 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in five games as a reserve at quarterback … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against Gardner-Webb (Aug. 30) … Finished the season 31-for-54 (57.4%) passing for 279 yards and two touchdowns, adding 21 rushes for 145 yards and a rushing score … Tossed his first career TD pass on a 69-yard toss to Malik Knight midway through the second quarter against Gardner-Webb (Aug. 30) … Posted his best completion percentage with an 8-for-10 (80%) effort at Wake Forest (Sept. 6), adding 40 rushing yards on five carries … Finished with a career-best 19 completions (19-of-31) for a career-high 132 yards and a touchdown against Elon (Sept. 13) … Capped scoring in WCU’s 52-7 rout of Furman (Oct. 11) with a 66-yard touchdown rush … Also saw limited time in the regular-season finale against VMI (Nov. 22) ... Named to the 2025-26 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2024 (Freshman): Did not see game action, remaining eligible for a redshirt ... Named to the 2024-25 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Joined the Catamount football team as a walk-on, providin depth at the QB position ... Three-year varsity letter winner, playing in 31 career games ... According to MaxPreps, finished 288-of-434 passing (66.4%) for 4,666 yards and 57 career touchdowns ... Tossed 30 TD passes as a senior, averaging 203.6 passing yards per game coming on 150 completions (150-of-224) ... Rushed for 161 yards on 53 carries as a prep with a pair of rushing TDs as a senior ... Two-sport athlete as a prep, playing football and basketball.

Personal: Is the son of Grey Lee and Erin Kee... has five siblings named Anna Grace, Jonathan, Samuel, Rachel, and Nathaniel

                                   

#11  Marco Patierno

Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 230
Class: Fifth Year
Hometown: Wake Forest, N.C.
High School: Heritage HS
College:  EMU & Elon

Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU after spending the 2025 season at Eastern Michigan and three seasons at Elon; 

At EMU: Played in nine games with three starts, recording 42 total tackles, including 13 solo stops and 1.5 for loss ... Recorded a quarterback hurry against LIU on Sept. 6; 

At Elon: Played in 22 career games for the Phoenix, finishing with 109 tackles, including seven for loss with a sack, and three fumble recoveries ... Played in three games in 2022, remaining eligible for a redshirt ... Earned Freshman All-America honors from FCS Stats Perform, FCS Football Central, and Phil Steele in 2023 ... Named on the Jerry Rice Award Watch List at midseason, given to the nation's top freshman ... Played in 11 games with nine starts, recording 68 tackles, including 36 solo stops and five tackles for loss with 0.5 sack ... Added two fumble recoveries, a QBH and PBU, and scored a defensive touchdown on a 23-yard fumble recovery returned for a TD against Hampton ... In 2024 for Elon, started eight games with 39 tackles, including two for loss ... Had nine tackles against Richmond and posted eight stops against Western Carolina ... Was listed among FloFootball's Top 10 Defensive Players in the CAA.

Personal: Full name is Marco Joseph Patierno ... Is the son of Alycia and Vito Patierno... has a brother also named Vito ... Majored in Sport Management.

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12 Days to WCU Football Kickoff - Jake Morrow & Julian Quintero

                                                          

It's now 12 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 29, 2026, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

To help pass those long summer days and get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season and more knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day. 

Today we highlight two (2) Catamount players currently assigned to #12 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:

#12 Jake Morrow

Position: Quarterback

Height: 6-0
Weight: 195
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Grand Blanc, Mich.
High School: Grand Blanc Community School









Prior to Western Carolina: High School senior season, completed 3,110 Total yards 43 TDS;

2,633 passing yards, 34 tds; 477 Rushing yards 9 tds; Conference MVP; 1st team all Distract; 1st team all Region; 1st team all State; Michigan player of the year finalist.

Personal: Is the son of Clint Morrow and Bobbi Morrow... has a brother named Gabe

                                   

#12 Julian Quintero

Position: Safety
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
Class: Junior
Hometown: St. Augustine, Fla.
High School: St. Augustine HS











2025 (Redshirt Freshman): Appeared in all 12 of the team’s games, each coming on special teams and as a defensive reserve … Credited with four total tackles on the year with one forced fumble … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against Gardner-Webb (Aug. 30), recording his first career tackle … Also posted solo stops against Elon (Sept. 13) and at Wofford (Oct. 4), forcing a fumble in the road win against the Terriers … Had a tackle assist at VMI (Nov. 22) ... Named to the 2025-26 Academic All-Southern Conference team ... Named to the 2025-26 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2024 (Freshman): Did not see game action, remaining eligible for a redshirt ... Credited with three tackles and recorded an interception in WCU's annual Spring Game ... Named to the 2024-25 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Named first-team All-County defense as a senior … Recorded 112 tackles including two TFLs and a forced fumble as a senior … Part of a 13-1 state runner-up in his final season … Played football, basketball, and ran track as a prep … Started his high school career at Pedro Menendez HS.

Personal: Full name is Julian Andres Quintero ... Is the son of Dr. Ricardo J. Quintero-Herencia and Barbara Hornsby and the stepson of Tom Hornsby ... Has two siblings - older, Barbara and younger Tomilynn ... Father is a physician and played college football at Brown University ... His stepfather is Thomas Hornsby.

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13 Days to WCU Football Kickoff - #13 Richard Hollis & Caleb Turner-Allen

                                                          

It's now 13 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 29, 2026, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

To help pass those long summer days and get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season and more knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day. 

Today we highlight two (2) Catamount players currently assigned to #13 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:

#13 Richard Hollis

Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 5-8
Weight: 170
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Pompano Beach, Fla.
High School: Blanche Ely HS









2025 (Freshman): Played in one game, remaining eligible for a redshirt ... Made his collegiate debut in the home win over Furman (Oct. 11), recording one catch for four yards.

Prior to Western Carolina: Amassed 1,360 all-purpose yards including 1,060 receiving yards as a senior with 11 touchdowns … Selected to play in the Dade vs. Broward All-Star game … Also ran track as a prep.

Personal: Is the son of Dominque Spencer and Richard Hollis Sr. ... Has a brother named Da'mar Hollis and a sister named Da'ysha Hollis

                                   

#13 Caleb Turner-Allen

Position: Defensive Line
Height: 6-2
Weight: 250
Class: Junior
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
High School:  Dr. Michael M. Krop HS










2024 (Freshman): Did not see game action, remaining eligible for a redshirt.

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner after starting his high school career at St. Athony’s School of Higher Education … Credited with 88 tackles including 42 for loss including a county-leading 27 sacks as a senior … Earned first-team All-Dade County honors as a senior.

14 Days to WCU Football Kickoff - #14 Kale Woodburn & Vanier Baptiste III

                                                          

It's now 14 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 29, 2026, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

To help pass those long summer days and get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season and more knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day. 

Today we highlight two (2) Catamount players currently assigned to #14 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:

#15 Michael Davis Jr.

Position Wide Receiver

Height 5-8
Weight 170
Class Junior
Hometown Warner Robins, Ga.
High School Houston County HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU from Cincinnati after spending two seasons with the Bearcats

At Cincinnati: An early enrollee who redshirted in 2024 before seeing action in two games in 2025, but did not record any statistics;

High School: Consensus three-star recruit and Top 100 prospect in Georgia in the 2024 Class ... Scored 20 career touchdowns along with 1,881 receiving yards for Houston County HS … Caught 67 passes for 1,044 and 13 touchdowns as a junior in 2022 ... Added 49 receptions for 625 yards and five touchdowns as part of Houston County’s loaded offense in 2023, helping his high school to a 9-3 record and advanced to the second round of the Georgia State Playoffs ... Preseason All-Georgia 6A first-team Selection in 2023 ... Ranked the 80th-best prep wide receiver prospect in his class by ESPN ... Entered his senior season as the highest-rated wide receiver recruit in Houston County history.

Personal: Is the son of Jamika Reese and Michael Woodburn

                                   

#14 Vanier Baptiste III

Position Defensive Tackle

Height 6-3
Weight 280
Class Junior
Hometown Lehigh Acres, Fla.
High School Dunbar HS







2025 (Redshirt Freshman): Saw action in all 12 games as a reserve along the defensive line and on special teams … Finished the year with 10 total tackles, including six solo stops … Credited with his first career tackle on a solo stop at Wake Forest (Sept. 6) … Posted a career-high three tackles in the road win at Chattanooga (Nov. 1).

2024 (Freshman): Saw action in three games as a defensive reserve, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Was not credited with any official stats … Made his collegiate debut against Chattanooga (Nov. 2), while also seeing action against VMI (Nov. 16) and at Samford (Nov. 23).

Prior to Western Carolina: Named second-team All-State and to the News-Press All-Area team as a senior … Listed on the 2023 News-Press and Naples Daily News Big 15 recruit list … Recorded 99 total tackles including 28 tackles for loss as a junior … Began his prep career at St. Augustine High … Also plays basketball as a prep.

Personal: Is the son of Vanier Baptiste and Vitgen Osorio

15 Days to WCU Football Kickoff - #15 Michael Davis Jr. & Hank Bodine

                                                          

It's now 15 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 29, 2026, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

To help pass those long summer days and get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season and more knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day. 

Today we highlight two (2) Catamount players currently assigned to #15 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:

#15 Michael Davis Jr.

Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Leesville, La.
High School: Leesville HS

Personal: Is the son of Martina Davis and Michael Davis Sr. ... Nickname is Mikey

                                                                             

#15 Hank Bodine

Position: Linebacker

Height: 6-0
Weight: 230
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Velva, N.D.
High School: Velva DAG HS

2025 (Freshman): Saw action in all 12 of the team’s games as a defensive reserve and on special teams … Credited with 16 total tackles, including seven solo stops and one tackle for loss … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against Gardner-Webb (Aug. 30), recording his first career tackle against the Runnin’ Bulldogs … Posted three tackles both at Wake Forest (Sept. 6) and in the home win over Samford (Sept. 20) … Had a tackle for loss for his lone stop against Elon (Sept. 13) … Recorded a career-high five tackles in the home victory over Furman (Oct. 11).

Prior to Western Carolina: Was a four-time All-State selection in football, and was part of two state championship teams ... Four-year starting linebacker and running back ... Recorded 406 career tackles, leading his team all four seasons ... Rushed for 2,624 yards and totaled 1,025 receiving yards as a prep ... Was a part of the Class A state championship team where he played running back and linebacker for coach Matt Weidler … Named NDHSCA Class 11A first-team All-State at linebacker, his second all-state selection … Also played baseball, basketball golf, and track as a prep.

Personal: Is the son of Kerry Wyche and Tom Bodine, who played football at Western Carolina and the school’s all-time leading tackler with 453 tackles and was a 2010 inductee into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame ... His uncle, Rob Bodine, played football at Clemson where he was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 2009 ... Is the grandson of Sam Wyche, who played at Furman and the NFL, while also coaching in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers... has two sisters named Ryan and Caroline Bodine

16 Days to WCU Football Kickoff - #16 Caleb Tucker & Chase Kerns

                                                          

It's now 16 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 29, 2026, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

To help pass those long summer days and get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season and more knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day. 

Today we highlight two (2) Catamount players currently assigned to #16 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:

#16 Caleb Tucker

Position Quarterback
Height 6-2
Weight 200
Class Freshman
Hometown Woodbridge, Va.
High School Woodbridge HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Named both District and Region Player of the Year, as well as first-team All-District and All-Region at quarterback … Finished his senior season 236-for-356 passing for 3,470 yards with 52 touchdowns … Amassed 3,560 yards of total offense.

Personal: Is the son of Paige Tucker and Tim Tucker... has a brother named Cody Tucker

                                                                             

#16 Chase Kerns

Position Defensive Line
Height 6-1
Weight 280
Class Junior
Hometown Decatur, Ga.
High School Cedar Grove HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU from Georgia Military, after starting his collegiate career at Iowa Western Community College where he redshirted in 2024; At GMC: Credited with 26 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss with five sacks last season.

Personal: Is the son of Shana Kerns and the grandson of James Kerns... Has two brothers named Jamal and Jemel Kerns

17 Days to WCU Football Kickoff - #17 Patrick Harding & Ja’Torian Mack

                                                          

It's now 17 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 29, 2026, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

To help pass those long summer days and get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season and more knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day. 

Today we highlight two (2) Catamount players currently assigned to #17 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:

#17 Patrick Harding

Position: Quarterback

Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Zephyrhills, Fla.
High School: Zephyrhills HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Threw for 2,543 yards and 33 touchdowns in 12 games as a prep senior, averaging nearly 214 yards through the air per game ... Completed 141-of-207 passes ... Added 329 rushing yards and six rushing TDs ... Earned first-team All-County and All-District honors against stout competition in Florida ... Passed for a school record 416 yards in a game.

Personal: Is the son of Timothy Harding and Jennifer Harding... has six siblings named Jonathan, Richard, Luke, Wallace, Jenny Kate, and Stasia

                                                                             

#17 Ja’Torian Mack

Position: Safety
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Eatonville, Fla.
High School: Edgewater HS

College:  Appalachian State

Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Appalachian State … Goes by "Duke" Mack ... Saw action in four games as a freshman at App State … Did not record statistics over four games; At Edgewater HS: Over his final three seasons, tallied 135 tackles, 17 passes defensed, five fumbles forced and recovered and five TFLs … Was a 3-star recruit according to both Rivals and 247Sports.com.

Personal: Nickname: Duke... Is the son of Jwaya Mack and Tarus Mack and the grandson of Danita Brazil... has two brothers named Josiah and Joshua Mack