82 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #82 Matthew Keener

It's now 82 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little 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 a wide receiver.

#82 Matthew Keener

Position Wide Receiver
Height 6-2
Weight 175
Class True Freshman
Hometown Pilot Mountain, N.C.
High School East Surry HS










Prior to Western Carolina: Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on … Was an early enrollee, coming to WCU in spring 2024 … Two-year varsity letter winner at East Surry High, coached by Trent Lowman … Caught 46 passes for 723 yards and 13 touchdowns over his final two seasons as a prep – the bulk coming as a senior that saw him catch 42 passes for 72 yards and each of his TDs to earn all-conference honors … Tied a school record with four TD catches in a game against West Wilks HS … Named to the 2023 North Carolina East/West All-Star game … Also competed in basketball and track, while also earning all-conference honors in baseball as a prep, making 10 appearances on the mound with three starts

83 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #83 Ryan Sims

It's now 83 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little 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 a wide receiver.

#83 Ryan Sims

Position Wide Receiver
Height 5-8
Weight 160
Class Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
High School Ft. Lauderdale HS










2023 (Redshirt Freshman): Did not see game action.

2022 (Freshman): Did not see game action … Caught five passes for a team-best 75 receiving yards in WCU’s annual Spring Game.

Personal: Is the younger brother of former WCU wide receiver Raphael Williams.

84 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - Kyle Dickey

It's now 84 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

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

No player is currently assigned to #84, so we will highlight an assistant coach.

Kyle Dickey

TITLE Assistant Coach / Tight Ends



Kyle Dickey, the former offensive coordinator at Tusculum University, joined the Catamount football offensive coaching staff as the tight ends coach in January 2024.

Dickey joins a Catamount offensive staff that includes first-year coordinator Rylan Wells, who was promoted from the same position group on Bell’s staff. Greg McGruder was also promoted to wide receivers coach after three seasons on staff as a quality control coach.

On staff at his alma mater, Tusculum, since 2019, Dickey worked on the coaching staffs of former head coach – and now WCU’s defensive coordinator, Jerry Odom – and coached alongside former Catamount offensive coordinator Kade Bell who ACC-member Pittsburgh hired in December 2023.

Most recently, Dickey was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Tusculum, also carrying the title of interim head coach upon Odom’s departure for Cullowhee. While Dickey was on staff in Greeneville, Tenn., the Pioneers won two South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Mountain Division titles and finished in the top four of the conference in each of his five seasons. Tusculum posted back-to-back winning seasons in 2022 and 2023 with the team’s 8-3 record in 2022 marking the program’s best since 2008. During his tenure, Dickey also mentored 16 All-South Atlantic Conference standouts on offense.

The 2020-21 Tusculum offensive unit generated some outstanding numbers as the Pioneers went 4-1 and claimed the SAC Mountain Division title and posted a thrilling 28-23 win at defending league champion Lenoir-Rhyne as TU won its third SAC Championship. The Pioneers led the league in scoring offense (37.6 ppg), total offense (533.4 yds/gm), and passing offense (394.2 yds/gm).

He took the reins as offensive coordinator in 2021 when Kade Bell joined his father on staff at WCU. In his first season, the Pioneers scored 366 points (33.3 points per game – 2nd in SAC, 38th in NCAA II), representing the fifth-highest season total in program history. The offense was a balanced attack with 21 rushing touchdowns and 21 passing TDs. All told, Tusculum finished the season third in the league in total offense at 400.5 yards per game including 257 passing yards per game – second in the SAC and 31st nationally.

The following season, the Pioneers went 8-3 in 2022 and finished runner-up in the SAC Mountain Division. Tusculum averaged 30.5 points (4th in SAC 50th in NCAA II) and 395.6 yards of total offense per game (2nd in SAC / 49th in NCAA II). Tusculum also finished second in the SAC averaging 235.2 passing yards per contest (39th in NCAA II).

Dickey has experience in Western North Carolina as he earned his coaching start on the sidelines at nearby Brevard High. From 2015-2018 as an assistant coach and the offensive coordinator for the final three years, he helped the Blue Devils to three North Carolina state playoff appearances (2016-2018) including a 2016 conference championship – the program’s first in 10 years.

Leading Brevard’s offense, the Blue Devils posted a 27-13 record that included a regional runner-up finish. His 2016 unit averaged 37.2 points per game while amassing 332.3 yards offensively per contest. Over three seasons, BHS averaged 31 points per game on offense before he returned to Tusculum as the offensive graduate assistant coach in June 2019.

A versatile student-athlete, Dickey played at Tusculum from 2011 to 2014 where he saw action at quarterback, wide receiver, and tight end. He was the first player in program history to record a touchdown pass, catch, and scoring rush in a career. His 61.9 completion percentage remains the fourth-best in Tusculum history.

As a senior in 2014, Dickey led Tusculum to four straight come-from-behind wins to end the season including a 14-10 road win at Wingate. That was followed by a 20-17 overtime win over UNC Pembroke the next week as he completed a 27-yard TD pass on fourth down for the game-winner. In his final collegiate game, Dickey rallied Tusculum from a 12-point deficit with 3:29 left in the contest with two TD passes in a 38-35 win at Mars Hill, earning SAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

A native of McDonough, Ga., just southeast of Atlanta, Dickey played his prep career at Luella High in Locust Grove, Ga., where he garnered All-Region honors while passing for 3,500 yards and 35 touchdowns. He led the 2009 team to its first-ever playoff appearance in program history.

Dickey graduated from Tusculum in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports science while minoring in coaching. He earned his master's degree at Tusculum in 2020 in organizational training and performance management. While a student-athlete, he was a member of the Tusculum Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.

85 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #85 David Hulbert

It's now 85 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little 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 a tight end.

#85 David Hulbert

Position Tight End
Height 6-4
Weight 220
Class Redshirt Freshman

Hometown Charlotte, N.C.
High School Charlotte Christian School












2023 (Freshman): Did not see game action ... Was credited with a team-best three catches for 27 yards in WCU's annual Spring Game.

Prior to Western Carolina: Named first-team All-Big South Conference as a senior … Caught 24 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns over his final two seasons in high school, according to MaxPreps … Also ran track as a prep.

Personal: Is the son of Lisa and Paul Hulbert ... Has a brother, Henry, and a sister, Grace.

86 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - Brian Cochran

It's now 86 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

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

No player is currently assigned to #86 so today we will highlight an assistant coach.

Brian Cochran

TITLE    Assistant Coach / Defensive Line

Brian Cochran joined the Catamount football coaching staff as the defensive line coach ahead of spring drills in mid-March 2022. Cochran is a veteran collegiate coach who spent the previous four seasons in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) between both the University of Akron and Kent State University.

Cochran came to Cullowhee having spent the past three seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Akron. He coached at rival Kent State in 2018 where he mentored second-team All-Mid-American Conference defensive lineman Kalil Morris.

His experience also includes a year in the Southern Conference as he coached the defensive line at Chattanooga in 2017. That season, the Mocs led the league in total defense, allowing just 326.4 yards per game overall and just over 300 yards of offense against conference opponents. UTC also paced the SoCon in pass defense and allowed the second-fewest first downs.

Much of Cochran’s football career has ties in Northeast Ohio. Before his stints at Akron and Kent State, he spent 11 seasons as a coach and four as a player at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, just east of Cleveland. He served in a variety of roles including defensive line coach, defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, and director of football operations at his alma mater. The Blue Streaks made three NCAA playoff appearances from 2013-16 including a semifinals appearance in 2016, finishing 13th in the nation in rushing defense and averaged just over three sacks per game.

In six of his 10 seasons at JCU, Cochran was the defensive line coach with the squad pacing in the nation in several categories including rushing defense and points allowed per game. His 2015 defensive line unit led the nation in sacks (45) and landed four players on the all-conference team, while JCU’s 2014 NCAA quarterfinalist team ranked seventh in the nation in total defense.

Prior to returning to his alma mater, Cochran spent time as a head coach at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, from 2003-06 and as an assistant coach at both MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill., and Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. In addition to football where he fostered 10 all-conference selections and one All-American, Cochran was the head wrestling coach at Heidelberg for two years.

A 1990 graduate of John Carroll University, Cochran was an All-American nose tackle as a senior in 1989, helping earn the program’s first NCAA Division III tournament bid. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1990. He was inducted into the JCU Athletic Hall of Fame on Sept. 30, 2011.

A native of Painesville, Ohio, Cochran, earned a master’s degree in education from Dayton in 1993.

87 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #87 Jake Young

It's now 87 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little 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 a wide receiver.

#87 Jake Young

 

Position Tight End
Height 6-3
Weight 240
Class Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown Waxhaw, N.C.
High School Marvin Ridge HS











2023 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in four games as an offensive reserve and on special teams … Caught a pair of passes for four total yards … Made his WCU debut in the road win at Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 16) … Caught his first pass as a Catamount at The Citadel (Sept. 30) … Added a reception in the home win over ETSU (Nov. 11) … Recorded five receptions and a touchdown in WCU’s annual Spring Game.

2022 (Freshman) Redshirt at UNC Chapel Hill

Prior to Western Carolina: A three-year player at Marvin Ridge HS for coach Aubrey Carter ... Caught 40 passes for 419 yards and two TDs over his final two seasons ... Also had a passing and rushing touchdown ... Added 49 tackles and three sacks on defense ... Named a team captain ... Selected to the Shrine Bowl, the Blue-Grey All-American Game, and the Queen City Senior Bowl ... Tabbed all-conference as a both a junior and senior ... Earned all-county honors as a senior ... Also played baseball and basketball.

Personal: Is the son of Shannon and Jason Young ... His father, Jason, played football at Western Carolina as an offensive guard from 1990-94 ... His sister, Maggie, played collegiate volleyball where she was a three-time all-conference middle blocker and 2023 SAC Player of the Year at Wingate, now coaching at Tulsa ... Grandfather, John, was a pitcher at North Carolina baseball and uncle, John, played basketball at Sewanee ... A member of the Student Superintendent Council.

88 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #88 Patrick Boyd Jr.

It's now 88 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little 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 a wide receiver.

#88 Patrick Boyd Jr.

Position Wide Receiver
Height 5-10
Weight 160
Class Redshirt Freshman
Hometown Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
High School Fort Lauderdale HS





2023 (Freshman): Saw game action in four games, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut at home against Charleston Southern (Sept. 23), recording his first career reception for seven yards … Caught three passes for a combined 48 yards, adding two kick returns for 41 total yards … Averaged 16 yards per catch including a career-long 36 yards … Caught a career-best two passes for a career-high 41 yards in the home win over ETSU (Nov. 11) … Returned two kickoffs for 41 yards against Mercer (Oct. 28).

Prior to Western Carolina: Took snaps at wide receiver, running back, and quarterback as a prep, adding two scores on special teams … In 10 games, caught 33 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 559 yards on 68 carries with six scores on the ground … Also tossed a pair of TD passes … Played for head coach Richard Dunbar … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.

Personal: Is the son of Laqueisa Bradley-Boyd and Patrick Boyd Sr.

89 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #89 Christian Lowery

It's now 89 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little 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 a kicker.

#89 Christian Lowery

Position Kicker
Height 5-11
Weight 180
Class Junior
Hometown Acworth, Ga.
High School Harrison HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Was a mid-year transfer from the University of Cincinnati where he spent two seasons (2021, 2022) … Appeared in six games over two seasons, finishing 21-of-21 on PATs including 20 successful tries as a freshman in 2021 … Kicked one extra point in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl in 2022 … Made a career-best five PATs against both ECU and Houston in the AAC Championship game … Was 2-for-4 on field goals including hitting a 32-yarder against Navy … Scored 26 career points over two seasons; At Harrison High: Made nine of 11 field goal attempts and put 57 of his 95 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks for the 2019 Georgia Class 6A championship team … Made a 40-yard field goal in the championship game against Allatoona … Averaged 34.1 yards per punt … Was rated as the No. 34 overall kicker by Kornblue coming out as a prep.

at Cincinnati... 

2022: Backup kicker...Connected on only extra point attempt at the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. 

2021: Appeared in five games...Was a perfect 20- 20 on PATs this season, including making five each against ECU and Houston in the AAC Championship game..Made two out of four field goals on the season, including a 32-yarder against Navy.

90 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - Cody Edwards

It's now 90 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

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

No player is currently assigned the number 90, so we will highlight another assistant coach.

Cody Edwards

TITLE Assistant Coach / Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers


Cody Edwards joined the Western Carolina football staff as a quality control coach working primarily with the defensive unit. Ahead of the 2022 season, he was promoted to an assistant coach working with the linebackers. In February 2024, Edwards was additionally named WCU's Special Teams Coordinator.

Edwards came to Cullowhee after working at Tusculum University from 2018 through 2021, progressing to associate head coach and defensive coordinator. He served as the Tusculum safeties coach and was also the running game coordinator during the 2018 campaign. He took over coaching the TU linebackers and was promoted to defensive coordinator in March 2019.

The 2020-21 Pioneers posted a 4-1 record during the COVID shortened spring campaign where TU won the SAC's Mountain Division and followed with a 28-23 win at defending league champion Lenoir-Rhyne to win the program its first SAC Championship since 2008. The Tusculum defense limited the opposition to 17.6 points per contest while holding teams to 311.2 yards per game including a SAC-best 84 rushing yards per outing.

In his first year as defensive coordinator, the 2019 Pioneers led the SAC in defensive touchdowns scored (3 – 23rd in NCAA II), first down defense (175 – 21st in NCAA II), and fourth down percentage defense (.286 - 10th in NCAA II). Tusculum was also 28th in the country in total defense (309 ypg). He coached two All-South Atlantic Conference linebackers in Ivan Hogans and Jackson Cauthen, who was also recognized for his work off the field where he was an honors student and a two-time member of the CoSIDA Academic All-District Football first team.

A Haysi, Va., native Edwards earned his start in the coaching profession at Eastside High in Coeburn, Va., as the wide receivers and defensive backs coach, while also serving as the junior varsity head coach. He also has high school coaching experience at Pinecrest High in Southern Pines, N.C., in 2012.

Prior to going to Tusculum, Edwards served as the co-defensive coordinator at Keiser University and was defensive coordinator at The John Cooper School in 2016. He was the run game and defensive coordinator at Royal Palm Beach High School for two seasons and coached safeties and was the assistant secondary coach at John Carroll University in 2013, helping the team to a 9-2 record and a berth to the NCAA Playoffs. He mentored three all-conference players including one All-American.

Edwards served as an intern on the football staff at Tennessee during the 2012 season where duties included being a liaison for all NFL and professional scouts and the "Vol for Life" Program. He also aided the football operations staff and worked with the university’s summer football camps.

Edwards is a 2010 graduate of the University of Virginia's College at Wise with a BS in business administration while also lettering on the football team. He earned his Master's degree from Tusculum in May 2021.

91 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #91Jaquarius Guinn

It's now 91 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little 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 a defensive lineman.

#91 Jaquarius Guinn

Position Defensive Line
Height 6-2
Weight 290
Class Senior
Hometown Clover, S.C.
High School Clover HS











PRONUNCIATION: Jaquarius (juh-QUAIR-e us) Guinn (GIHN, like win) - goes by JQ

2023 (Junior): Saw action in all 11 games on the year with nine starts along the defensive line … Credited with 26 total tackles including eight solo stops … Recorded 2.5 total for loss with two sacks on the year … Charted one quarterback hurry … Posted tackles in all but one of the games on the year … Recorded three tackles twice including a half a sack against Samford (Sept. 9) and a full sack at The Citadel (Sept. 30) … Finished with four tackles three times with four assists including a half sack against Charleston Southern (Sept. 23) and at Wofford (Nov. 4) with four tackle assists against Mercer (Oct. 28).

2022 (Sophomore): Played in all 11 of the team’s games with 10 starts along the defensive front … Recorded 21 tackles on the year with seven solo stops with three tackles for loss including a pair of quarterback sacks … Posted tackles in nine of the 11 games on the season … Recovered a fumble and returned it 18 yards in the season-opener at Charleston Southern (Sept. 3) … Recorded sacks at Samford (Sept. 24) and at home against VMI (Oct. 1) … Matched his career-high with five tackles twice, at Furman (Oct. 15) and in the home win over nationally-ranked Chattanooga (Nov. 19).>

2021 (Freshman*): Played in nine games with seven starts on the defensive line ... Credited with 14 total tackles including seven solo stops and one tackle for loss ... Had at least one tackle in each game he played ... Posted two tackles including one for a three-yard loss in the season-opener against Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 4) ... Recorded a season-high three tackles at the road win at Wofford (Oct. 30), adding a second-quarter fumble recovery that led to a WCU offensive touchdown.>

2020-21 (Freshman): Played in all nine of the team’s seasonal games with four starts along the defensive line … Finished the year with 21 tackles including 19 coming in Southern Conference play in the spring semester with half a tackle for loss … Credited with a pair of quarterback hurries … Made his WCU debut in the season-opener at Liberty (Nov. 14), recording a solo tackle … Posted two tackles including half a tackle for loss at Samford (Feb. 27) … Recorded a career-best five tackles at Mercer (March 20) … Named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman team.>

Prior to Western Carolina: Named South Carolina (SCFCA) 5-A All-State along the defensive line and was selected to the North team in the South Carolina 2019 North-South game … Garnered Defensive Lineman of the Week honors from the The Herald in Rock Hill after tallying six tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection on the game-sealing interception … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … High school coach was Brian Lane.>

Personal: Full name is Jaquarius Jerome Guinn ... Goes by "JQ" … Is the son of David Guinn and Gracie Kirkpatrick.

92 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #92 Edwin Moore Jr.

It's now 92 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little 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 a defensive lineman.

#92 Edwin Moore Jr

Position Defensive Line
Height 6-3
Weight 265
Class Freshman
Hometown Decatur, Ga.
High School Columbia HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Finished the 2023 regular season with 63 total tackles including 24.5 tackles for loss with six sacks in helping Columbia High go 7-3 and make Georgia’s AA playoffs … Added a PBU, a fumble forced and a fumble recovery … As a junior in 2022, totaled 37 tackles with 14.5 TFLs with a sack … High school head coach was Greg Barnett … Is listed as a three-start recruit by 247Sports … Expected to enroll early in the spring 2024.

Personal: Is the son of Latoya Moore and his grandmother is Pamela Martin.

93 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #93 Chris Morgan

It's now 93 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful a little 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 a defensive lineman.

#93 Chris Morgan

Position Defensive Line
Height 6-0
Weight 285
Class Senior
Hometown Maiden, N.C.
High School Maiden HS








2023 (Junior): Played in all 11 games on the season with two starts along the defensive line … Credited with 30 total tackles including 12 solo stops … Had 4.0 tackles for a combined seven yards of losses including a sack … Posted tackles in all but one of the 11 games … Had three solo stops against nationally-ranked Samford (Sept. 9) including a sack … Credited with five tackles against Mercer (Oct. 28) and a season-high six stops at VMI (Nov. 18).

2022 (Sophomore): Played in 10 of the team’s 11 games with three straight starts at defensive tackle to end the regular season … Credited with 28 total tackles including 12 solo stops and 5.5 tackles for loss with five sacks to rank second on the team … Posted at least one tackle in eight of the 10 games in which he played … Matched his previous career-high with five tackles including a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss on sacks in the win over Presbyterian (Sept. 17), forcing a fumble in the win … Set a career-high with seven tackles against Samford (Sept. 24) … Finished with five tackles with a sack in the home win over nationally-ranked Chattanooga (Nov. 19).

2021 (Freshman*): Played in 10 of the team's 11 games on the season with three starts along the defensive line ... Recorded 26 total tackles with 11 solo stops and 2.5 tackles for loss with two sacks ... Posted a tackle in each of his 10 games including a career-high five at Chattanooga (Oct. 2) ... Had three tackles including a sack against Furman (Nov. 6) ... Credited with one quarterback hurry.

2020-21 (Freshman): Converted from tight end to defensive line, seeing action in each of the team’s six games in the spring semester as a reserve on defense … Credited with six total tackles including half a tackle for loss … Made his collegiate debut at Furman (Feb. 20) … Tallied his first career tackle against VMI (March 6) … Posted a season-best three tackles including half a tackle for loss at Mercer (March 20).

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner and a three-time All-South Fork 2A Conference selection ... Played as a middle linebacker and tight end as a prep ... Caught three TD passes as a tight end as a senior coming on nine total receptions for 133 yards, according to MaxPreps ... Selected to the 83rd annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolina's, just the 12th from his high school all-time ... As a sophomore linebacker, recorded 118 tackles in helping Maiden go undefeated in the regular season, winning the South Fork 2A conference championship.

Personal: Is the son of Cheron Russell.

2024 Memorial Day - Remember and Honor

 

94 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - Rylan Wells

It's now 94 days until the kickoff of Catamount Football on Thursday, August 29, 2024, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

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

No player is currently assigned to #94, so we will highlight another assistant coach.

Rylan Wells

TITLE Assistant Coach / Offensive Coordinator / Recruiting Coordinator

Rylan Wells joined the Western Carolina football coaching staff in the spring of 2021, working with the Catamount tight ends and fullbacks. He was later named the program's recruiting coordinator. In January 2024, Wells was promoted to the position of Offensive Coordinator by WCU head coach Kerwin Bell.

A former college quarterback under Bell, Wells has experience coaching across the field having worked with nearly every position group during his career. Wells came to Cullowhee initially after a year at Tusculum University.

Over the past three seasons at WCU, Wells has been a part of the Catamount offensive coaching staff that has broken the school record for total offense twice with 5,339 yards in 2022 eclipsed by a record 5,545 yards last fall. WCU has scored an average of 33.9 points per game on an average of 486.8 yards of total offense since 2021. Wells has been an integral part of the staff as one of the coaches in the press box each week. His younger brother, Rogan, finished his collegiate career at WCU in 2021 with the sixth-most passing yards in a single season at 2,595 yards, capping a career that included stops at Valdosta State and Tusculum.

While coaching at Tusculum University with Kade, Wells mentored the Pioneers’ running backs. He was a part of claiming the 2021 spring South Atlantic Conference championship. He also served as the video coordinator while at Tusculum.

In the five-game 2021 spring schedule, Tusculum averaged 37.6 points per game and over 530 yards of offense per game including 139.2 yards per game on the ground. Under Wells’ tutelage, the junior running back tandem of TJ Jones and Maurice Gomillion accounted for 501 rushing yards and nine of the team’s 12 scores on the ground. The duo also recorded 26 receptions for 368 yards in five games, an average of 73.6 receiving yards per game, and amassed 173.8 yards of total offense per game.

Wells earned his coaching start on staff at his alma mater Jacksonville University for two seasons (2018-2019) where he was an offensive graduate assistant. With the Dolphins, he coached the offensive tackles in 2018 and the wide receivers in 2019. The 2018 Jacksonville offense ranked third in the nation in rushing, averaging 345.3 yards per game while boasting the nation’s fifth-ranked individual rusher in Calvin Turner, who ran for 1,431 yards in 10 games and posted the nation’s third-best average per game (143.1). Wells additionally served as the film coordinator for JU during the 2019 campaign.

Originally from Tega Cay, S.C., Wells was a member of the Jacksonville football team from 2013-2017 where he started at quarterback for 34 games. He finished his collegiate career ranked among the top five in Jacksonville history in rushing touchdowns (20), pass completions (257), passing attempts (444), completion percentage, and total offense (5,519 yds).

A 2017 team captain at Jacksonville, Wells started in all 11 games under center, passing for 1,480 yards and 11 touchdowns while also rushing for 472 yards and eight scores. A three-time Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Week honoree, he was recognized as an Honorable Mention for the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Week following a performance against Davidson College that included five combined touchdowns and a Dolphins win.

In 2016, he became the first Jacksonville player to lead the Dolphins in both rushing and passing yards in the same season, accumulating 1,744 passing yards and 614 yards on the ground in 10 games. He scored 11 touchdowns and fell one score shy of the program single-game record against Marist, rushing for four scores in one game.

Wells earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Jacksonville in 2018 and completed his master’s degree in sport management in 2020.