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Thursday, August 8, 2024

21 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - Jaiden Bond / Bo Simpson-Nealy



It's now 21 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against NC State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, 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 football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we will highlight two players that wear #21, one on offense and one of defense:

#21 Jaiden Bond









Position: Running Back
Height: 5-9
Weight: 190
Class: Redshirt Junior
Hometown: Boone, N.C.
High School: Watagua HS











2023 (Junior)
: Did not see game action despite dressing for several home games during the season … Rushed a scrimmage-high eight times for 63 yards with two touchdowns in WCU’s annual Spring Game.

2022 (Sophomore): Did not see game action ... Missed a good part of 2023 spring drills due to injury, but returned for the 2023 fall season.

2021 (Freshman*): Saw action in two games, mostly on special teams and as a substitution in the offensive backfield ... Did not record any official statistics ... Rushed seven times for 33 yards and added three catches for 25 yards out of the backfield in WCU's annual Spring Showcase scrimmage.

2020-21 (Freshman): Played in four games as an offensive reserve and on special teams, each coming in the spring semester … Did not record any statistics … Made his collegiate debut at Samford (Feb. 27) ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity starter on offense as a wingback and at defensive back … Rushed for 1,584 yards with 16 touchdowns on the ground in 2019, adding 18 catches for 539 yards and six scores through the air … Finished with 2,261 yards of total offense … Added 73 tackles, four for loss with three interceptions and seven fumble recoveries on defense … Selected to the North Carolina East-West All-Star game … Joined WCU as a preferred walk-on … High school coach was Ryan Habich … Also played basketball as a prep.

Personal: Full name is Jaiden Keith Bond ... Is the son of Marissa and Derrick Bond ... Has a brother, Jaxen.




#21 Bo Simpson-Nealy








Position: Defensive Back
Height: 5-10
Weight: 185
Class: Redshirt Freshman
Hometown: Altamonte Springs, Fla.
High School: Seminole HS







2023 (Freshman):
Played in four games as a defensive reserve and on special teams, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Recorded nine total tackles including a pair of solo stops and half a tackle for loss … Made his collegiate debut and recorded his first career tackle in the home win over Charleston Southern (Sept. 23) … Tallied a solo tackle at The Citadel (Sept. 30) … Had three stops against Furman (Oct. 21) while recording a career-best four tackles in the home win over ETSU (Nov. 11)… Credited with four tackles in WCU’s annual Spring Game ... Named to the 2023-24 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Over his final three seasons, recorded 112 total tackles including 65 solo stops and four tackles for loss with two sacks, according to MaxPreps … Had three career interceptions, two as a senior to go along with 34 tackles to earn first-team all-conference honors … Added 91 punt return yards in his final season … Had a 58 tackles junior season … Three-sport prep athlete, also playing basketball and baseball as a prep.

Personal: Is the son of Ebony and Nakoma Simpson … First name is Antonio, but goes by “Bo”.


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