2020 Football Preseason Preview: Furman Paladins

Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western's 2020 football opponents.

For the fourth game of the season, the Cats travel down the mountain to Travelers Rest, SC for the 2020 football edition of The Battle for Purple Supremacy.

The Cats have dropped four straight to the Paladins and are looking for a victory in Paladin Stadium.






Game #4 - Furman Paladins

When: Saturday, September 26 at TBA
Where: Paladin Stadium, Travelers Rest, SC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV/video: TBA

The Series:  The Cats are 12-32-2 overall against the Paladins in the series that started back in 1972. The Cats have lost 4 in a row to the Paladin, with the last win coming in 2015 in Cullowhee, by a final score of  48-10.  Coach Speir is 2-6 overall vs. the Paladins.

The last game played vs. Furman:  October 26, 2019 - Second Half Surge Lifts No. 14 Furman over Western Carolina - Cullowhee, N.C. – Upset-minded Western Carolina went toe-to-toe with No. 14 Furman over the opening two quarters on a rain-soaked Homecoming Saturday afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. However, in the end, the nationally-ranked Paladins used a strong second-half defensive effort and a ball-control offense to bounce back with a road win, fending off the Catamounts, 28-7.

Games that will be played by the Paladins this season before the WCU contest:  (3 games)  The Paladins open at home against Wofford, then travel to Charleston Southern and Tennessee before returning home to face the Catamounts.

Head Coach: Clay Hendrix - Introduced as Furman’s new head football coach on December 19, 2016, Clay Hendrix in three seasons has reinvigorated a Paladin football program accustomed to success. Hendrix, a former standout Paladin offensive guard and assistant coach who returned to his alma mater following a decade as an assistant coach at the US Air Force Academy, directed Furman to an 8-5 campaign and Football Championship (FCS) playoff appearance in 2017, improving on a three-win 2016 season and defying a preseason No. 7 Southern Conference tab by playing for a share of league title in the regular-season finale en route to finishing a consensus No. 20 in two major FCS polls.


Last Season's Record (Furman): 8-5 overall, 5-1 home, 3-4 away, 6-2 in the SoCon - In 2019, the Paladins had conference wins over WCU, Mercer, ETSU, Samford, Chattanooga, and VMI.

Offensive Formation:  Multiple (option - flexbone look)
-2019 Offensive:  33.5 ppg. (23rd in FCS)
Defensive Formation:   3-4
-2019 Defensive:  20.5 ppg (14th in FCS)
Starters returning/lost:    14  /  8
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost:  8  /  3
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 6  /  5
Specialist - Returning/Lost:  0  /  2

Furman is coming off an 8-5 campaign in 2019 that saw the Paladins post a 6-2 SoCon slate en route to an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs. The Paladins return 14 starters and 47 lettermen from that squad, which finished the season ranked inside the top 25 nationally. Furman earned a spot in the 2020 HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25, checking in at Nos. 14.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Paladins return QB Darren Grainger (79-for-161, 1,222 yards, 13 TD, 93 rushes, 316 yards, 5 TD), TB Devin Wynn (179 rushes, 1182 yards, 14 TD), and RB Devin Abrams (100 rushes, 615 yards, 6 TD)

Defensively, Furman returns, LB Braden Gilby (70 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 QB hurries, 2 forced fumbles, 1 PBU), DB Travis Blackshear (59 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 INT, 1.0 sacks), and BAN Adrian Hope (40 tackles, 10.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 4 QB hurries).

Paladin standouts Adrian Hope and Devin Wynn were named to the HERO Sports 2020 Preseason All-American teams.


2019 Furman Statistics
Rushing Offense: 3434 yards
Yards per game: 264.2
Yards per rush: 6.0 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 157
TDs rushing: 39
Passing Offense: 1880 yards or 144.6 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 7.6 yards
Passing 1st downs: 76
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 131-248-6
TDs Passing: 16
Total Offense: 5348 yards or 408.8 ypg
3d Down Conversions: 73/160
4th Down Conversions: 9-19
Field Goal: 13 of 16
On-side kicks: 1 of 3
Red Zone Scores: 40 of 44 (91%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 37 of 44 (84%)
Avg per punt:  43.8 yards
Fumbles-Lost: 18-9
Sacks: 26

Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have only a 10% probability of winning (17-37) against the Paladins. According to Massey, Western Carolina should be 1-3 after this game.

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65 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #65 Isaiah Helms

Due to the date change of the football game opener to Thursday, we skip ahead two days......


It's now 65 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Thursday, September 3th, 2020 at 7 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

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 football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a defensive lineman


#65 Isaiah Helms

POSITION Offensive Line
HEIGHT 6-3
WEIGHT 325
CLASS Sophomore
HOMETOWN Lenoir, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL West Caldwell HS










Prior to Western Carolina: Two-way lineman who played offensive center and defensive tackle … Four-time All-District honoree and a three-time All-Northwestern 3A/4A Conference selection … Selected to play in the 82nd Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas all-star football game as a senior … As a junior recorded 25 total tackles and recovered a pair of fumbles playing along the defensive line … Also participated in baseball and field events in track & field as a prep ... High school coach was DeVore Holman ... Signed in the National Signing Early period.

Personal: Is the son of Jessica Helms.

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68 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #68 Torrion Stevenson

It's now 68 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

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 football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a defensive lineman

 #68 Torrion Stevenson

POSITION Defensive Line
HEIGHT 6-1
WEIGHT 305
CLASS Redshirt Sophomore
HOMETOWN Branchville, S.C.
HIGH SCHOOL Branchville HS










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.

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69 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #69 Dillon Luther

It's now 69 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

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 football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another offensive lineman


 #69 Dillon Luther

POSITION Offensive Line
HEIGHT 6-3
WEIGHT 300
CLASS Sophomore
HOMETOWN Asheville, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL Erwin HS










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.

Personal: Full name is Dillon Alan Luther … Is the son of Karen and Ryan Luther … Has two younger siblings, Kaylee and Cody.

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70 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #70 Caleb Carter

It's now 70 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

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 football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another offensive lineman


#70 Caleb Carter

POSITION Offensive Line
HEIGHT 6-3
WEIGHT 275
CLASS True Freshman
HOMETOWN Jacksonville, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL Southwest Onslow HS






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.

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2020 Football Preseason Preview: Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western Carolina's 2020 football opponents.

In the Catamounts' third game of the 2020 season, the Cats return to Cullowhee to host the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in Cullowhee for the second straight season.

Western faces Gardner-Webb for the 11th time overall on the gridiron, the two teams first met in 1932.



Game #3 - Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

When: Saturday, September 19th at TBA
Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV/video:  TBA

The Series: In the 11th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 6-4 record overall against the dogs and enter the contest on a 1 game losing streak vs. Gardner-Webb. Last season's loss broke a four-game win streak over the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Last Game vs. Gardner-Webb (Oct. 5, 2019) - Late Field Goal Lifts Gardner-Webb over Western Carolina, 24-21 -   Cullowhee, N.C. – Gardner-Webb placekicker Kurt Everett nailed a 33-yard field goal as time expired to cap a 16-play, game-winning drive as the Runnin' Bulldogs downed Western Carolina, 24-21, in nonconference action in front of a Family Weekend crowd of 11,865 Saturday afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. GWU tailback Jayln Cagle patiently rushed for a game-high 138 yards including a crucial 14-yard gain on the game's penultimate play to transform a third-and-13 into a first down while also managing to get out of bounds to preserve five seconds of game clock to set-up Everett's game-winning boot. Despite a pair of timeouts taken by WCU to try and ice the kicker, the redshirt sophomore split the uprights to halt WCU's four-game series winning streak.

Last Season's Record (2019 - GWU): 3-9 overall, 2-3 home, 1-6 away, 1-6 Big South  (wins over NC Central, WCU & Hampton).

Games that will be played by the Bulldogs this season before the WCU contest: 2 games - Gardner-Webb opens the season with Limestone and Georgia Tech before traveling to Cullowhee.

Head Coach: Tre Lamb is in his first season as head coach at Gardner-Webb University. He was named to the position on December 14, 2019. “We are thrilled to have Tre Lamb agree to lead our football program at Gardner-Webb University,” said GWU President Dr. William Downs. “He quickly rose to the top of a large and distinguished list of interested coaches with his bold vision, his unmatched energy and his confident commitment to winning championships at GWU.

Offensive Formation: Spread Option
- 2019 Offense: 23.9 ppg. (85th in FCS)
Defensive Formation: 4-3
- 2019 Defense: 36.2 ppg. (111th in FCS)
Starters Returning/Lost:  17  /  5
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 8 / 3
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 9 / 2

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Runnin' Bulldogs' junior receiver Izaiah Gathings was named to Hero Sports 2020 FCS Preseason All-America third team headlines the offense and All-Big South inside linebackers Darien Reynolds (6-0, 225, Sr.) and Cade Hamilton (6-1, 230, Jr.) headline the defensive returnees, along with All-Conference defensive lineman Janathian Turner (6-3, 306, Jr.). All-Big South mainstay, end John Singleton (6-5, 240, R-Jr.) is recovering from offseason surgery but hopes to return at full speed prior to the start of the season.

This season, new defensive coordinator Josh Reardon moves to a four-man front hoping to play to personnel strength with former linebackers Shai Thomas (6-2, 256, Sr.) and G'Marcus Freeman (6-2, 240, So.) moving down front to help improve a pass rush that produced only 10 sacks last season.

Returning quarterback Jordan Smith (6-1, 216, R-Jr.) is expected back at full strength after an injury, but reserve signal-caller Keegan Smith (6-1, 195, R-Jr.) and mid-year transfer Trayvon Bowers (6-1, 200, R-Jr.) will battle for the start if Jordan Smith is not available starting day.  Bowers is a transfer from Wake Forest and former Netflix series star, played in three games for the Demon Deacons last fall, and was a three-star recruit – as well as the top-rated quarterback in Pennsylvania.

Receivers led by All-America candidates Izaiah Gathings (6-4, 220, Jr.) and Devron Harper (5-10, 170, So.), each caught more than 50 passes last season. Gathings led the Big South with 71 catches for 1,046 yards – and 11 touchdowns last season. Harper had catches of 70 yards and 90 yards one game, while also returning two kickoffs for 80+ yards last season.

2019 Runnin' Bulldogs Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 1592 yards on 3927 attempts
Yards per game: 99.5
Yards per rush: 3.0 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 67
TDs rushing: 13
Passing Offense: 2666 yards or 222.2 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 7.2 yards
Passing 1st downs: 118
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 380-222-12
TDs Passing: 13
Total Offense: 3860 yards or 321.7 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost:  19 - 12
3d Down Conversions: 32.5%
4th Down Conversions: 44.4%
Field goal attempts: 5-5
On-side kicks: 0-2
Red Zone Scores: 30 0f 36
Red Zone Touchdowns: 24 of 36


Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 59% probability of winning (31-28) over the Runnin. Bulldogs.

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71 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - Clyde Simmons

It's now 71 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

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 football countdown each day until kickoff day.

There is no one currently assigned to #71 on the preseason roster, so we'll highlight assistant football coach Clyde Simmons.


Clyde Simmons

A name that is synonymous with the defensive history of Western Carolina Catamount football has come home.

Former Catamount defensive lineman and a 15-year veteran of the National Football League, Clyde Simmons has joined head coach Mark Speir's football staff where he will coach the defensive ends. He comes to WCU after spending the past season as the defensive line coach at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis.

A 2002 Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Simmons played for five different NFL teams following his tremendous collegiate career in Cullowhee. He was drafted in the ninth round (233rd overall pick) of the 1986 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, who likewise enshrined him in their hall of fame back in September 2018. Simmons also brings NFL coaching experience to the trenches at WCU.

"It is always great when you can bring back a former player to the coaching staff – but in Clyde Simmons, we are getting a Catamount Legend," said Speir. "We are so excited as a program to bring back a Catamount Hall of Famer and 15-year NFL great. Simmons had an incredible professional career in the NFL – but moreover, he is a great person who understands the rich history and traditions of Catamount Football. He will bring instant credibility with our players and future Catamount recruits. Clyde brings a lot of knowledge and experience not only as a player but having coached for both the St. Louis Rams and Cleveland Browns. We are so excited to say, 'Welcome Home!'"

After retiring from the professional football ranks in 2000, Simmons worked outside the game until 2008 when he began his coaching career at Greater Atlanta Christian School as the defensive line coach. In 2010, he accepted a position with Rex Ryan, for whom he played for in Arizona in 1994, as a defensive intern coach on the New York Jets staff. Two years later, he parlayed that position into an assistant defensive line coach job with the St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams in 2012.

With the Rams, Simmons helped develop top-end talent like pass-rush specialist, Robert Quinn, who set a franchise single-season record with 19 sacks in 2013. He also coached 2014 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl selection Aaron Donald, who broke Quinn's mark in 2018 with 20.5 sacks – a franchise record and the most by a defensive tackle in NFL history.

After four seasons with the Rams franchise, Simmons landed the defensive line coach position with the Cleveland Browns in 2017, working along the shore of Lake Erie for two seasons. While along the North Coast, Simmons helped groom the top draft pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, Myles Garrett. During Simmons's tenure, the Browns' rushing defense vaulted from 31st in the league in 2016 to seventh a year later, limiting opponents to an average of just 3.35 yards per rush and the franchise's best finish in rush defense since 1992.

Born in Lane, S.C., and hailing from Wilmington where he is a 2008 inductee in the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame, Simmons played his high school football at New Hanover High before heading to the mountains of Western North Carolina. He was a leader along the Catamount defensive line from 1982-85 where he was a part of the magical 1983 season. He returned to WCU in 1996 to complete his bachelor's degree in industrial distribution.

With 307 career tackles along the defensive line at WCU, Simmons ended his collegiate career ranked ninth in program history, currently 12th on the tackles chart. He was additionally second in school history in tackles for loss – now third with 47 – and was third in sacks when he left Cullowhee, currently fourth in the record books with 23 sacks.

In 1985, Simmons was named first-team All-Southern Conference, as well as first-team All-America by both the Associated Press and on the Kodak / AFCA All-America squad. Simmons went on to play eight professional seasons with the franchise that drafted him in 1986, the Philadelphia Eagles (1986-1993), under two head coaches, Buddy Ryan and Rich Kotite, before heading west with Ryan for two years with the Arizona Cardinals (1994-95). It was in Phoenix that he played under defensive line coach Rex Ryan, who later gave him the coaching opportunity with the Jets. Simmons additionally spend two years playing with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1996-97) and Chicago Bears (1999-2000) with one year stint in between with the Cincinnati Bengals (1998).

Over his 15-year career, Simmons played in 236 games recording 121.5 career sacks, forcing 25 fumbles and making three interceptions, twice returning picks for touchdowns while adding a safety to his scoring ledger in 1988. A three-time NFL Player of the Week, he was twice selected to the Pro Bowl and named first-team All-Pro in both 1991 and 1992, leading the NFL in sacks in the latter.

72 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #72 Blake Whitmore

It's now 72 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

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 football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another offensive lineman


#72 Blake Whitmore

POSITION Offensive Line
HEIGHT 6-2
WEIGHT 285
CLASS Redshirt Freshman
HOMETOWN Raleigh, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL Millbrook HS











2019 (Freshman): Played in four games (ETSU, Furman, Wofford, Alabama) last year as a long snapper for field goals/extra points.  His highlight of the season was snapping for FG vs. Alabama.

Prior to Western Carolina: Joins 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.

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73 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - Nick Newsom

It's now 73 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

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 football countdown each day until kickoff day.

There is no one currently assigned to #73 on the preseason roster, so we'll highlight assistant football coach Nick Newsom.


Nick Newsom

Position: Assistant Coach / S





Nick Newsome joined the Western Carolina defensive coaching staff in mid-March 2020 where he will primarily work with the Catamount safeties. Newsome comes to Cullowhee after two years as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech and a total of eight years of coaching experience including six at the collegiate level.

During his career, Newsome has coached a myriad of positions in all three facets of the game. Most recently, he had coaching responsibilities with the Yellow Jackets’ running backs and wide receivers for the nation’s top rushing offense in 2018 (325.0 yards/gm), while also assisting with all special teams units.

While at Georgia Tech, Newsome mentored All-ACC selection, running back Jordan Mason who accounted for nearly 900 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, while also assisting with freshman WR Ahmerean Brown who caught 21 passes for 396 yards and seven TDs earning PFF All-Freshman Team accolades.

Prior to making the move to Atlanta, Newsome spent three seasons at Capital University (2015-17), a NCAA Division III program in Columbus, Ohio. In his first year at Capital (2015), he coached the A-backs and was the special teams coordinator. He spent his final two seasons as the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator, while also heading up the recruiting efforts. He recruited three of Capital’s top offensive players in two-time all-conference selection – and program’s all-time leading receiver – David Barnett (2016-17), wide receiver Dartavious Stanford (2017), and quarterback Thomas Wibbler (2017).

Newsome got his first hands-on experience in the coaching profession while still an undergraduate as a volunteer at Dyersburg High in Tennessee, briefly assisting with all backfield positions and the defensive safeties in 2008. He returned to DHS in the spring of 2012 as the interim physical education teacher and an assistant football coach before landing a position at the collegiate level at Tennessee-Martin in June 2012.

He began his time at UT-Martin in 2012 as the defensive graduate assistant working with the linebackers, special teams, and assisting strength & conditioning. In the spring of 2013, he moved to the offense in assisting with tight ends and H-backs.

All told, three players in which Newsome has worked with during his collegiate coaching career – Tony Bell (Cincinnati Bengals), Ben Johnson (Kansas City Chiefs), and Corey Jordan (Jacksonville Jaguars) – have gone on to play in the NFL.

Newsome also spent two years teaching and coaching at South Gibson County High in Medina, Tenn., working with the quarterbacks and defensive backs while also coaching special teams both seasons.

A four-year letterwinner as an H-back and long snapper at Austin Peay (2008-11) where he played in 39 career games, Newsome graduated from APSU with a bachelor’s degree in political science while minoring in secondary education. He was named the Austin Peay Athlete Leader of the Year in 2010-11. He later earned his master’s degree in sport management from UT-Martin in 2014.

Originally from Dyersburg, Tenn., Newsome is married to the former Mary Beth Ozment of Dyersburg; the couple has a son, William “Will” Newsome.

2020 Season Tickets Push with Coach Speir

74 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #74 Tyler Smith

It's now 74 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

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 football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another offensive lineman


#74 Tyler Smith

POSITION Offensive Line
HEIGHT 6-8
WEIGHT 300
CLASS Redshirt Sophomore
HOMETOWN Laurinburg, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL Scotland County HS










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 WCU's 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.

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

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75 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #75 Zach Hayes

It's now 75 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

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 football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another offensive lineman

#75 Zach Hayes





POSITION Offensive Line
HEIGHT 6-3
WEIGHT 325
CLASS Freshman
HOMETOWN Jonesboro, Ga.
HIGH SCHOOL Jonesboro HS










Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner … Two-time all-county selection and was also selected all-region and all-state … Did not allow a sack from his left tackle position over his final two varsity seasons … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … Three-sport athlete, competing in baseball and throwing the shot put in track & field ... High school coach was Daniel Brunner. Personal: Full name is Zachary Hayes … Is the son of Dawn Carter and Nathan Hayes … Has one sibling, Carter … His father played collegiate football at North Carolina.

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner … Two-time all-county selection and was also selected all-region and all-state … Did not allow a sack from his left tackle position over his final two varsity seasons … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … Three-sport athlete, competing in baseball and throwing the shot put in track & field ... High school coach was Daniel Brunner. Personal: Full name is Zachary Hayes … Is the son of Dawn Carter and Nathan Hayes … Has one sibling, Carter … His father played collegiate football at North Carolina.

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76 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #76 Jacob Combs

It's now 76 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

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 football countdown each day until kickoff day.


Today we'll highlight another offensive lineman


#76 Jacob Combs

POSITION Offensive Line
HEIGHT 6-4
WEIGHT 280
CLASS Freshman
HOMETOWN North Wilkesboro, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL North Wilkes HS











2019 (Freshman): Played in nine games with one start as a true freshman along the offensive line … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against Mercer (Aug. 31) … His first career start came on the road against FBS-foe, N.C. State (Sept. 7) … Missed the final two games of the regular season.

Prior to Western Carolina: Two-time All-Mountain Valley Conference selection playing both offensive and defensive line … Earned Winston-Salem Journal All-Northwest team accolades twice over his final two seasons as a prep ... High school coach was Monty Chipman; Note: Signed in the National Early Signing period and joined the WCU football team in the spring, participating in WCU's annual Spring Drills.

Personal: Full name is Jacob Lee Combs … Is the son of Vicki Phillips and Ricky Combs

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