It's now 8 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 #8 (one offense, one defense) on the WCU Preseason Roster:
#8 Marlin Cochran
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
Class: Senior
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
High School: Miami Northwestern HS
2025 (Redshirt Sophomore): Did not see game action, missing the season due to injury ... Named to the 2025-26 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
2024 (Redshirt Freshman): Saw action in all 12 seasonal games as a reserve on offense and on special teams … Finished the season with 48 rushes for 148 yards, adding 17 receptions for 127 yards … Recorded rushes in 11 of the 12 games he played and caught a pass in eight games … Rushed eight times for 24 yards and caught a career-high three passes for 22 yards against The Citadel (Oct. 12), and was also credited with one tackle … Rushed a career-high nine times against Chattanooga (Nov. 2) … Recorded a career-high 47 rushing yards against VMI (Nov. 16).
2023 (Freshman): Played in four games as an offensive reserve, maintaining his eligibility for a redshirt … Rushed eight times for 45 yards with a touchdown and caught one pass out of the backfield … Made his collegiate debut with one rush for three yards and a reception at Arkansas (Sept. 2) … Posted a career-long 31-yard rush to score his first collegiate touchdown in the fourth quarter of the home win over Charleston Southern (Sept. 23) … Recorded a career-high four rushes in the home win over ETSU (Nov. 11).
Prior to Western Carolina: Rushed for 945 yards on 108 carries over his final two seasons as a varsity tailback posting a pair of 100-yard rushing games and scoring nine touchdowns on the ground, according to MaxPreps … Added 23 receptions for 305 yards and a score … Also ran track as a prep.
Personal: Is the son of Luther Cochran and Mia Smith
2024 (Redshirt Freshman): Saw action in all 12 seasonal games as a reserve on offense and on special teams … Finished the season with 48 rushes for 148 yards, adding 17 receptions for 127 yards … Recorded rushes in 11 of the 12 games he played and caught a pass in eight games … Rushed eight times for 24 yards and caught a career-high three passes for 22 yards against The Citadel (Oct. 12), and was also credited with one tackle … Rushed a career-high nine times against Chattanooga (Nov. 2) … Recorded a career-high 47 rushing yards against VMI (Nov. 16).
2023 (Freshman): Played in four games as an offensive reserve, maintaining his eligibility for a redshirt … Rushed eight times for 45 yards with a touchdown and caught one pass out of the backfield … Made his collegiate debut with one rush for three yards and a reception at Arkansas (Sept. 2) … Posted a career-long 31-yard rush to score his first collegiate touchdown in the fourth quarter of the home win over Charleston Southern (Sept. 23) … Recorded a career-high four rushes in the home win over ETSU (Nov. 11).
Prior to Western Carolina: Rushed for 945 yards on 108 carries over his final two seasons as a varsity tailback posting a pair of 100-yard rushing games and scoring nine touchdowns on the ground, according to MaxPreps … Added 23 receptions for 305 yards and a score … Also ran track as a prep.
Personal: Is the son of Luther Cochran and Mia Smith
#8 Ryan McKinnis
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220
Class: Senior
Hometown: Buford, Ga.
High School: Buford HS
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220
Class: Senior
Hometown: Buford, Ga.
High School: Buford HS
2025 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in all 12 of the team’s games with one start at linebacker … Recorded 31 total tackles with 14 solo stops and three tackles for loss, including two sacks … Also credited with a pair of quarterback hurries … Made his WCU debut in the season-opener against Gardner-Webb (Aug. 30) … Posted his first tackles at ACC-foe Wake Forest (Sept. 6), finishing with four tackles, including three solo stops … Started his first game at Chattanooga (Nov. 1), posting his first double-digit tackle effort with 10 total tackles, including five solo stops and two for loss coming on a pair of sacks … Had five tackles at VMI (Nov. 22).
Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU during the spring after spending the past two years at Appalachian State … Saw action in six games over two seasons as a defensive reserve and on special teams, sitting out 2023 as a redshirt;
High School: As a senior, totaled 87 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks, eight quarterback hurries and four forced fumbles for a team that went 11-1 … All-Gwinnett County selection … Played as a two-way threat for coach Bryant Appling and helped Buford win state titles during a 14-1 season in 2021 and 13-1 season the year before that … Was a standout sprinter in track and field … Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.
Personal: Is the son of Markeetia McKinnis and Leroy McKinnis... Has a brother and sister named Dylan and Abby McKinnis
Personal: Is the son of Markeetia McKinnis and Leroy McKinnis... Has a brother and sister named Dylan and Abby McKinnis
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