Saturday, August 24, 2024

5 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - Jalynn Williams / Hayward McQueen Jr.







It's now 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 #5, one on offense and one of defense: 


#5 Jalynn Williams











Position: Running Back
Height: 5-10
Weight: 210
Class: Redshirt Senior
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Fla.
High School: St. Petersburg HS









2023 (Senior): Did not see game action.

2022 (Junior): Played in nine of the team’s 11 games as a reserve at running back and on special teams … Rushed 41 times for 204 yards and two touchdowns, adding 31 receptions for 303 receiving yards with a third score … Had six kickoff returns for 95 yards with two punt returns for 11 yards, amassing 613 all-purpose yards on the season for a 68.1 yard per game average … Made his WCU debut in the season-opener at Charleston Southern (Sept. 3), tallying 94 all-purpose yards including seven yards on the ground, 25 receiving yard with a touchdown and 51 yards on kickoff returns … Rushed for a season-best 61 yards on seven carries at Samford (Sept. 24) … Scored two rushing touchdowns including the game-winning score on a six-yard rush off right tackle in the final three minutes of the home win over Wofford (Nov. 5).

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.






#5 Hayward McQueen Jr.













Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200
Class: Junior
Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
High School: TRU Prep Academy









2023 (Sophomore): Played in 10 of the team’s 11 games on the season with eight starts … Finished with 26 total tackles including 14 solo stops … Posted tackles in nine of the 10 games he played … Had 5.0 tackles for loss including a sack … Forced a fumble while also being credited with a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup … Recorded three tackles including a stop for loss in the season opener at Arkansas (Sept. 2) while also posting three stops at Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 16) … Finished with four tackles twice in the home wins over Charleston Southern (Sept. 23) and Furman (Oct. 21) … Credited with a season-high six tackles including four solo stops with a sack and a forced fumble on the road at VMI (Nov. 18).

2022 (Freshman): Early-enrollee where he took part in 2022 spring drills ... Played in all 11 of the team’s games with three starts at linebacker … Finished the season second on the WCU squad with 59 tackles including 27 solo stops with 3.0 tackles for loss with a sack and three quarterback hurries … Ranked 25th in the SoCon – and was the fourth-best freshman – with his 5.3 tackle per game average … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener at Charleston Southern (Sept. 3), recording five tackles including his first career sack … Twice posted double-digit tackles including a career-best 13 tackles with eight solo stops against The Citadel (Oct. 22) … Was listed as an honorable mention for the FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman of the Week on Nov. 21 following a career-high 10 tackle performance that included a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry in the upset win over No. 17/15 Chattanooga in the regular-season finale … Named to the 2022 Southern Conference All-Freshman team on defense … Credited with six tackles including three tackles for loss with a sack in WCU’s annual 2023 Spring Game.

Prior to Western Carolina: Is a hybrid-style linebacker who joined the Catamount football team during the spring 2022 semester, participating in annual spring drills … Was a second-team Class 2-A Independent All-State team selection in the 2020 Independent All-State football team compiled by FloridaHSFootball.com … Posted 90+ tackles with 15 tackles for loss and five sacks, forcing a pair of fumbles as a senior … Listed as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com.




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