Sunday, August 25, 2024

4 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - De'Andre Tamarez / CJ Williams







It's now 4 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 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 #4, one on offense and one of defense: 


#4 De'Andre Tamarez












Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
Class: Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown: Overtown, Fla.
High School: Carol City HS










2023 (Sophomore): Played in all 11 of the team’s games with one start at wide receiver … Caught seven passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns … Bookended the season as he twice caught a pass for 21 yards, at Arkansas (Sept. 2) and at VMI (Nov. 18), recording his first TD of the year … Recorded a season-best 31 yard reception against Charleston Southern (Sept. 23) … Caught a season-high two passes for 13 yards with a touchdown at The Citadel (Sept. 30) … In WCU’s annual Spring Game, caught two passes for 23 yards.

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. Footer




#4 CJ Williams











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










2023 (Redshirt Junior)
: Started all 11 games on defense as a cornerback … Finished the season tied for third on the WCU squad with 44 total tackles including 32 solo stops and three tackles for loss … Recorded tackles in all 11 games on the season with six or more stops four times … Credited with six pass breakups and his first career interception … Posted six tackles including five solo stops at Arkansas (Sept. 2) … Had four solo tackles among his six stops in the road win at Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 16), adding an interception with a 30-yard return to accompany three pass breakups … Recorded six tackles against Mercer (Oct. 28) … Posted a career-best nine tackles in the road win at nationally-ranked Chattanooga (Oct. 7) including eight solo stops … Credited with three tackles and returned an interception 100 yards to end WCU’s annual Spring Game.

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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