4 Days until Catamount Football Kickoff - CJ Williams and De'Andre Tamarez

It's now 4 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023, against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, AR.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little 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 highlight two players assigned to #5, one on defense and one on offense

#4 CJ Williams​  and  #4 De'Andre Tamarez

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#4 CJ Williams

Position: Cornerback
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Class: Senior
Hometown: Gallion, Ala.
High School: Demopolis HS






2022 (Redshirt Sophomore): Converted to defensive back during the offseason entering 2022 camp … Played in all 11 of the team’s games as a defensive reserve and on special teams … Credited with 14 total tackles on the season including seven solo stops with one pass breakup … Posted tackles in eight of the 11 games with multiple tackles five times … Made his first tackle as a part of a career-best three solo stops in the season-opener at Charleston Southern (Sept. 3).

2021 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in nine of the team's 11 games with a pair of starts at wide receiver ... Finished with four receptions for 80 yards, adding one rush for a four-yard gain for 84 all-purpose yards on the season ... Made his WCU debut against Eastern Kentucky (Sept 4), rushing ones and hauling in a fourth-quarter pass on a two-point conversion ... Caught a season-best two passes for 28 yards at Oklahoma (Sept. 11) ... Recorded a career-long 39-yard reception in the road win at The Citadel (Oct. 23) ... Caught four passes for 120 yards including a 19-yard touchdown from QB Parish Metzger in WCU's annual Spring Showcase scrimmage.

Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU in the summer of 2021 from Alabama … Originally committed to Army West Point as a prep; Alabama: Did not see playing time for the Crimson Tide as a true freshman in 2020. 

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.

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#4 De'Andre Tamarez

Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180
Class: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: Overtown, Fla.
High School: Carol City HS






2022 (Freshman): Played in four games as a true freshman, remaining eligible for redshirt … Caught three passes for 62 yards and three touchdowns … Added one kickoff return for five yards to tally 67 all-purpose yards … Made his collegiate debut at Georgia Tech (Sept. 10) … Caught a career-high three passes for a career-best 62 yards and two touchdowns in the home win over Presbyterian (Sept. 17) … Scored his first career touchdown on his first career reception, an 18-yard pass from QB Parish Metzger late in the third quarter before adding a career-long 36-yard scoring reception from QB Samuel Cornett … Caught a pass for 13 yards in WCU’s annual Spring Game.

Prior to Western Carolina: Caught 24 passes as a junior for 407 yards and six TDs … Recorded 381 receiving yards and six scores as a sophomore in 2019 … Also ran track as a prep.

Personal: Full name is De'Andre Jouan Tamarez ... Is the son of Andrea Tamarez ... Has two brothers, one older and one younger Has a cousin, Nigel Bethele Jr., who plays football at Colorado.