19 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #19 Devarius Cortner

It's now 19 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 31, 2019, against the Mercer Bears, in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a defensive back 

#19 Devarius Cortner

Class: Senior
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn
High School: East Nashville Magnet HS
Height / Weight: 6-1 / 190
Position: Defensive Back

2018 (Junior): Played in all 11 of the team’s games on defense and special teams, making two starts in the first two games of the season at safety … Recorded 16 total tackles including 10 solo stops … Posted a career-high 11 tackles in the season-opener against Newberry (Sept. 1) with eight solo tackles.

2017 (Sophomore): Saw action in nine of the team's 12 games ... Finished the year with nine total tackles including three solo stops ... Recorded a then career-high eight tackles against FBS-foe, North Carolina (Nov. 18).

2016 (Freshman): Played in nine of the team's 11 games as a defensive reserve and on special teams ... Recorded seven total tackles on the year including two solo stops ... Tallied his first collegiate tackles in his collegiate debut in the season-opener at East Carolina (Sept. 3) ... Matched his then career-best with two solo stops at Samford (Oct. 22) ... Credited with four total tackles including one for loss in WCU's annual Spring Game ... Named to the 2016-17 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Two-way player who played quarterback in addition to defensive back ... Finished his senior season with 1,251 passing yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 185 yards and two scores ... Recorded 40 tackles on defense with four interceptions and five pass breakups at free safety ... Received the prestigious Hume Award, an honor bestowed upon the best Metro Nashville football player based on scholarship, sportsmanship, individual performance and value to his team ... Listed as a two-star athlete by both Rivals.com and 247Sports.com ... High school coach was Brian Waite.

Personal: Full name is Devarius Quantez Cortner ... His mother is the late Sherika Cortner ... His guardian is Vanessa Cortner ... Has an older sister, Doncoria, and younger cousin, Nakia Hayes.