17 Days to WCU Football Kickoff - #17 Patrick Harding & Ja’Torian Mack

                                                          

It's now 17 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 #17 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:

#17 Patrick Harding

Position: Quarterback

Height: 6-3
Weight: 190
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Zephyrhills, Fla.
High School: Zephyrhills HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Threw for 2,543 yards and 33 touchdowns in 12 games as a prep senior, averaging nearly 214 yards through the air per game ... Completed 141-of-207 passes ... Added 329 rushing yards and six rushing TDs ... Earned first-team All-County and All-District honors against stout competition in Florida ... Passed for a school record 416 yards in a game.

Personal: Is the son of Timothy Harding and Jennifer Harding... has six siblings named Jonathan, Richard, Luke, Wallace, Jenny Kate, and Stasia

                                                                             

#17 Ja’Torian Mack

Position: Safety
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Eatonville, Fla.
High School: Edgewater HS

College:  Appalachian State

Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Appalachian State … Goes by "Duke" Mack ... Saw action in four games as a freshman at App State … Did not record statistics over four games; At Edgewater HS: Over his final three seasons, tallied 135 tackles, 17 passes defensed, five fumbles forced and recovered and five TFLs … Was a 3-star recruit according to both Rivals and 247Sports.com.

Personal: Nickname: Duke... Is the son of Jwaya Mack and Tarus Mack and the grandson of Danita Brazil... has two brothers named Josiah and Joshua Mack