8 days to WCU Football Kickoff - Aiava "Va" Lealaimatafao & Jalynn Williams

Welcome to the twelfth annual Catamount Football  "100 days to WCU Football Kickoff Countdown".

It's now 8 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 3rd, 2022, against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, on Buccaneer Field in Charleston, SC

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 will highlight two players assigned to  #8, one offense, one defense, a linebacker and a running back:

#8 Aiava "Va" Lealaimatafao

POSITION Linebacker
HEIGHT 6-1
WEIGHT 230
CLASS Junior
HOMETOWN San Antonio, Texas
COLLEGE Cisco College
HIGH SCHOOL Warren HS








Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-semester transfer from Cisco College in Cisco, Texas, who enrolled at WCU for the spring 2022 semester;

Cisco College (2019-21): Recorded with 62 tackles over three seasons with 31 solo stops and a tackle for loss ... Tallied six pass break-ups including five in 2021;

High School: Three-year varsity letter winner at Warren High (2016-2019) ... Credited with 116 career tackles including 51 solo stops and 9.0 tackles for loss with three sacks, according to MaxPreps ... Forced two fumbles and recovered one during his prep career.

Personal: Full name is Aiava Xavier Louis Lealaimatafao ... Is the son of Diana and Semaia Lealaimatafao ... Has one brother, Trey and a sister Leilani ... Was born in Honolulu, Hawai'i.


#8 Jalynn Williams

POSITION Running Back
HEIGHT 5-10
WEIGHT 205
CLASS Junior
HOMETOWN St. Petersburg, Fla.
HIGH SCHOOL St. Petersburg HS








Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU from the University of Toledo prior to the start of 2022 fall camp ... Originally committed to the University of Florida out of high school ... Played defense at Toledo, but is expected to play wide receiver at WCU;

At Toledo: Played for the Rockets from 2018 through 2021, appearing in 20 games as a defensive reserve ... Credited with 38 total tackles including a career-high six against BYU in 2019;

High School: Was a three-star product out of St. Petersburg High according to 247Sports ... Played wide receiver, defensive back, and on special teams as a prep ...

Personal: Is the son of Talya Williams.