12 Days to WCU Football Kickoff - Jake Morrow & Julian Quintero

                                                          

It's now 12 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 29, 2026, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

To help pass those long summer days and get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season and more knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day. 

Today we highlight two (2) Catamount players currently assigned to #12 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:

#12 Jake Morrow

Position: Quarterback

Height: 6-0
Weight: 195
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Grand Blanc, Mich.
High School: Grand Blanc Community School









Prior to Western Carolina: High School senior season, completed 3,110 Total yards 43 TDS;

2,633 passing yards, 34 tds; 477 Rushing yards 9 tds; Conference MVP; 1st team all Distract; 1st team all Region; 1st team all State; Michigan player of the year finalist.

Personal: Is the son of Clint Morrow and Bobbi Morrow... has a brother named Gabe

                                   

#12 Julian Quintero

Position: Safety
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
Class: Junior
Hometown: St. Augustine, Fla.
High School: St. Augustine HS











2025 (Redshirt Freshman): Appeared in all 12 of the team’s games, each coming on special teams and as a defensive reserve … Credited with four total tackles on the year with one forced fumble … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against Gardner-Webb (Aug. 30), recording his first career tackle … Also posted solo stops against Elon (Sept. 13) and at Wofford (Oct. 4), forcing a fumble in the road win against the Terriers … Had a tackle assist at VMI (Nov. 22) ... Named to the 2025-26 Academic All-Southern Conference team ... Named to the 2025-26 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2024 (Freshman): Did not see game action, remaining eligible for a redshirt ... Credited with three tackles and recorded an interception in WCU's annual Spring Game ... Named to the 2024-25 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Named first-team All-County defense as a senior … Recorded 112 tackles including two TFLs and a forced fumble as a senior … Part of a 13-1 state runner-up in his final season … Played football, basketball, and ran track as a prep … Started his high school career at Pedro Menendez HS.

Personal: Full name is Julian Andres Quintero ... Is the son of Dr. Ricardo J. Quintero-Herencia and Barbara Hornsby and the stepson of Tom Hornsby ... Has two siblings - older, Barbara and younger Tomilynn ... Father is a physician and played college football at Brown University ... His stepfather is Thomas Hornsby.

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