60 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #60 Therion Cannon

It's now 60 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the NC State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight an offensive lineman:

#60 Therion Cannon

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-3
Weight 270
Class Redshirt Junior
Hometown Ridgeland, S.C.
High School Thomas Heyward HS









2023 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in one game, making his WCU debut as a reserve along the offensive line in the home win over Charleston Southern (Sept. 23) … Did not record any official statistics.

Prior to Western Carolina: Spent two years on roster at Alabama-Birmingham (UAB), but did not see game action.

61 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #61 Tyler Griffin

It's now 61 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the NC State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight an offensive lineman:

#61 Tyler Griffin

Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-0
Weight: 285
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Thomasville, N.C.
High School: Ledford HS




Prior to Western Carolina: Was a mid-year transfer from Ferrum College where he spent the 2023 season … Transferred to WCU with three years of eligibility remaining ... Enrolled at WCU for the Spring 2024 semester;

Ledford HS: Played along the offensive line at guard, center, and tackle during his prep career.

62 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #62 Peyton Davis

It's now 62 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the NC State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight an offensive lineman:

#62 Peyton Davis

Position: Offensive Line

Height: 6-2
Weight: 305
Class: Redshirt Junior
Hometown: Mooresville, N.C.
High School: Lake Norman HS

2023 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in five games as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams … Saw action in the season-opener at Arkansas (Sept. 2) with games played including Charleston Southern (Sept. 23), at The Citadel (Sept. 30), at Chattanooga (Oct. 7) and ETSU (Nov. 11) … Did not record any official statistics.

2022 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in one game on special teams and as a reserve along the offensive line, seeing action in the home win over Presbyterian (Sept. 17) ... Named to the 2022-23 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll and Received a SoCon Commissioner's Medal.

2021 (Freshman): Saw action in one game on the year, making his collegiate debut against ETSU (Nov. 13) ... Did not record any official statistics ... Named to the 2021-22 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll and Received a SoCon Commissioner's Medal.

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner … Played offensive line at center and guard … Two-time All-County selection, earning first-team honors as a senior … Credited with 18 pancake blocks in seven games in 2021 … Helped guide Lake Norman High to a third-place finish in the highly competitive I-Meck 4-A Conference … Competed in the Queen City Senior Bowl in May 2021 … Was selected to represent the West in the Carolina Clash on the Coast Senior Bowl in Wilmington, N.C.

Personal: Full name is Peyton Anthony-Haynes Davis ... Is the son of Shannon Davis-Flick and Adam Flick.

63 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #63 Maddox Cowart

It's now 63 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the NC State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight a kicker:

#63 Maddox Cowart

Position: Punter
Height: 6-2
Weight: 170
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Tampa, Fla.
High School: Plant HS







Prior to Western Carolina: Played a myriad of positions as a prep -- quarterback, wide receiver, punter, kicker ... Two-time all-conference and two-time All-County selection ... Named 2023 Special Teams Player of the Year in 2023-24 by MaxPreps ... Averaged 42.6 yards per punt with an average hang time of 4.2 per kick ... 60 percent of his punts were downed inside the opponent 20-yard line ... Finalist for the Tampa Area NFF Scholar-Athlete Award ... Was originally committed to Towson.

64 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - Larry Murphy

It's now 64 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the NC State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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.

No one is currently assigned to #64, so today we will highlight an assistant coach:

Larry Murphy

TITLE Assistant Coach / Cornerbacks / Assistant Special Teams



Larry Murphy joined the Catamount football defensive coaching staff in the spring of 2021 where he will coach the cornerbacks. Murphy came to Cullowhee after two years at Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tenn., where he held a similar role. In February 2024, Murphy was additionally named Assistant Special Teams Coordinator.

In his first season at Tusculum, Murphy mentored a pair of All-South Atlantic Conference (SAC) honorees including Dee Alford and Malik Goodman. Alford also garnered All-Region accolades and later signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. In the abbreviated 2021 season, Murphy helped Tusculum to a 4-1 overall record and dethroned Lenoir-Rhyne by claiming the 2021 SAC Spring Football Championship, the first for the Pioneers since 2008.

Under Murphy’s guidance, Tusculum freshman defensive back Jermaine Witherspoon collected a pair of interceptions including one in the title game, adding a pair of breakups on the spring season.

Originally from St. Petersburg, Fla., Murphy served as the cornerbacks coach at Valdosta State University in 2018 where he helped current Catamount head coach Kerwin Bell guide the Blazers to an undefeated season (14-0) and a NCAA Division II national title. VSU also won the Gulf South Conference crown as the Blazer secondary ranked eighth in the nation in passes intercepted and ninth in red zone defense. VSU led the nation in defensive touchdowns with seven.

Murphy originally signed to play football at Georgia Southern and was out of football until his return to the gridiron in 2014 where he was a three-year starter at Valdosta State (2014-2016) at cornerback. He finished his career with 62 total tackles, 13 passes defended, two interceptions, forced two fumbles and recovered another. He garnered 2014 USA Football All-American honors and was named to the All-Gulf South Conference team that same year.

Murphy is a 2018 graduate of Valdosta State.

65 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #65 Camden Myers

It's now 65 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the NC State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight an offensive lineman

#65 Camden Myers

Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-3
Weight: 260
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Irmo, S.C.
High School: Dutch Fork HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on … Three-year varsity letter winner, playing offensive guard and tackle … Was a three-time state champion, posting a 46-7 record as a prep … Selected as an All-American Offensive Lineman by the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl … Also played lacrosse as a prep, earning the sportsmanship award.

Personal: Full name is Camden James Myers ... Is the son of Kacey and Clete Myers, who met while students at WCU ... Was born in Harrisonburg, Va. ... Has an older brother, Jacob.

66 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #66 Derek Simmons

It's now 66 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the NC State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight an offensive lineman

#66 Derek Simmons

Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6-6
Weight: 315
Class: Senior
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
High School: Fletcher HS









2023 (Junior): Started the first six games in which he saw action along the offensive line before being sidelined at the end of the season … Did not record any official statistics … Made his WCU debut in the road game at SEC-foe Arkansas (Sept. 2).

2022 (Sophomore): Did not see game action, missing the season due to transfer rules.

Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU from Abilene Christian where he was on the 2021 roster after beginning his collegiate career at Tusculum in 2020, playing in one game vs. Limestone; High School: Lettered in both football and baseball at Fletcher High where he was coached by Kevin Brown ... Was first-team All-District with 43 pancake blocks as a senior.

Personal: Full name is Derek Joseph Simmons ... Is the son of Stacey and Joe Simmons ... Was born in Fredrick, Md. ... Has two siblings, Taylor Slivka and Hunter Slivka.

67 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #67 Steven Hamby

It's now 67 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the NC State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight an offensive lineman

#67  Steven Hamby

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-5
Weight 285
Class Redshirt Freshman
Hometown Statesville, N.C.
High School Statesville HS









2023 (Freshman): Did not see game action ... Expected to take a redshirt.

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity starter including at right tackle as a sophomore and left tackle his junior and senior seasons ... Team captain as a senior ... Was a two-time All-Western Foothills Athletic Conference selection and a three-time All-County selection along the offensive line ... Named first-team 3-A All-State on the offensive line as a senior while also earning All-State honors as a junior ... Selected to the 2022 North Carolina High School Bluesheet All-State Academic Team in 2022 ... Selected as an alternate for the North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl ... Played for the North Team in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl game in January 2023 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. ... Also wrestled as a prep where he won the conference heavyweight championship as a junior and qualified for the state tournament.

68 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #68 Dale Greene

It's now 68 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight an offensive lineman

#68 Dale Greene

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-3
Weight 285
Class Freshman
Hometown Buford, Ga.
High School Buford HS







Prior to Western Carolina: Four-year varsity letter winner ... Two-time state championship, helping compile a 53-6 record over his four-year career ... Also participated in track & field and wrestled as a prep.

Personal: Full name is Michael Dale Greene, prefers to go by Dale ... Is the son of LuAnn and Mike Greene ... Has an older sister, Caroline.

69 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #69 Caleb Williford

It's now 69 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight an offensive lineman

#69 Caleb Williford

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-6
Weight 295
Class Freshman
Hometown Buford, Ga.
High School Cherokee Bluff HS








Prior to Western Carolina: Three-time first-team All-Region 8-4A selection along the offensive line ... Part of a region championship team as a sophomore … High school head coach was Tommy Jones … Lettered in six varsity sports as a prep.

Personal: Full name is Caleb Duane Williford ... Is the son of Connie and Duane Williford ... Has three older siblings.

70 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - Greg McGruder

It's now 70 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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.

No one is currently assigned to #70, so we will highlight an assistant coach:

Greg McGruder

TITLE Assistant Coach / Wide Receivers

After spending three seasons on the Catamount football staff as a quality control coach working with the offense, Greg McGruder was promoted to wide receiver coach in January 2024.

Working with the WCU offensive unit from 2021-2023, McGruder was a part of an an offense that broke the school record for total offense twice with 5,339 total yards in 2022 eclipsed by a record 5,545 yards last fall in 2023. WCU also scored an average of 33.9 points per game on an average of 486.8 yards of total offense since 2021.

Before coming to Cullowhee, he spent the 2021 season as a graduate assistant coach at Tusculum. He aided the Pioneers’ offensive staff working primarily with the quarterbacks on Tusculum’s spring 2021 South Atlantic Conference (SAC) championship squad.

Tusculum averaged 533.4 yards and scored an average of 37.6 points per game offensively in 2021 on the way to the conference title. The Pioneers averaged nearly 400 passing yards per game to lead the SAC, scoring 15 touchdowns through the air in 2021. In addition, the offensive unit added 139.2 yards per game on the ground and 12 additional scores.

McGruder previously served as a student assistant with the Jacksonville football program during the 2015 season. That year, the Dolphins posted a 9-2 record and he helped with an offense that posted 30.5 points per game and generated 400 yards of total offense per contest, led by former WCU offensive coordinator Kade Bell who was JU's starting quarterback.

During his prep career at the University Christian High School in Jacksonville, Fla., McGruder was a three-year letterman as a defensive back.

McGruder is a 2016 graduate from the University of North Florida majoring in sport management. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Tusculum in 2021.

71 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #71 Cade McClellan

It's now 71 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight an offensive lineman

#71 Cade McClellan

 Position Offensive Line
 Height 6-3
 Weight 305
 Class Redshirt Sophomore
 Hometown Plant City, Fla.
 High School Durant HS









2023 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in two games as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams … Saw action in the home wins over Charleston Southern (Sept. 23) and ETSU (Nov. 11) … Did not record any official statistics.

2022 (Freshman): Saw action in one game as a true freshman on special teams and as a reserve along the offensive line … Made his collegiate debut in the home win over Presbyterian (Sept. 17).

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner ... Coming off a first-team All-Conference nod as a senior, helping pave the way for a conference-leading rushing attack for head coach Clayton Varnam ... Played offensive guard in his final season ... Selected to play for the East Team in the Hillsborough County All-Star game in December 2021 ... Joined the WCU football team as a preferred walk-on.

Personal: Full name is Cade William McClellan ... Is the son of Heather and William McClellan ... Has two younger siblings, Maddy and Colin ... Was born in Brandon, Fla.

72 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #72 Blake Whitmore

It's now 72 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight an offensive lineman

#72 Blake Whitmore

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-2
Weight 295
Class Redshirt Senior
Hometown Raleigh, N.C.
High School Millbrook HS












2023 (Redshirt Junior): Started all 11 games along the offensive line at center … Helped the Catamounts to a school-record 5,545 yards of total offense … Named to the second-team All-Southern Conference by the league’s head coaches … Selected to the 2024 NFF Hampshire Honor Society.

2022 (Redshirt Sophomore): One of seven players to start all 11 games on the season, doing so from his offensive center position … Was one of three offensive linemen to start each game ... Helped the Catamount offense set a single-season school record of 5,339 yards of total offense … Credited with one tackle on the season coming at Georgia Tech (Sept. 10) ... Named to the 2022-23 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2021 (Redshirt Freshman*): Started five games along the offensive line at center before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season ... Recovered a fumble at Gardner-Webb (Sept. 25).

2020-21 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in two games on the season as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams … Did not record any official statistics ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2019 (Freshman): Played in four games on the season as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut at home against Gardner-Webb (Oct. 5).

Prior to Western Carolina: Joined 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.

73 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #73 Xavier Graham

It's now 73 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC 

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 will highlight an offensive lineman

#73 Xavier Graham

 Position Offensive Line
 Height 6-2
 Weight 330
 Class Senior
 Hometown Niceville, Fla.
 College UMass
 High School Niceville HS

2023 (Junior): Saw action in all 11 of the team’s games with nine starts along the offensive line … Made his WCU debut in the season-opener at Arkansas (Sept. 2) as a reserve and again came off the bench against nationally-ranked Samford (Sept. 9) … Started nine straight to conclude the season … Did not record any official statistics.

Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from UMass where he played in seven games as a redshirt sophomore in 2022 … Saw action in four games as a true freshman in 2019, splitting time between the offensive and defensive lines … Saw limited action as a reserve on the offensive line in 2020 as a redshirt freshman … Played in three games in 2021 as a redshirt freshman; High School: Played at Niceville High for head coach John Hicks … Participated in the 2018 Subway High School All-Star Game that pits Escambia County student-athletes against participants from Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County … Was named a 2017 Large School All-Area selection ... Was originally listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports out of Niceville High.

Personal: Is the son of Ronnetta and Kenneth Graham.