68 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #68 Dale Greene

It's now 68 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 an offensive lineman

#68 Dale Greene

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-3
Weight 285
Class Freshman
Hometown Buford, Ga.
High School Buford HS







Prior to Western Carolina: Four-year varsity letter winner ... Two-time state championship, helping compile a 53-6 record over his four-year career ... Also participated in track & field and wrestled as a prep.

Personal: Full name is Michael Dale Greene, prefers to go by Dale ... Is the son of LuAnn and Mike Greene ... Has an older sister, Caroline.

69 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #69 Caleb Williford

It's now 69 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 an offensive lineman

#69 Caleb Williford

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-6
Weight 295
Class Freshman
Hometown Buford, Ga.
High School Cherokee Bluff HS








Prior to Western Carolina: Three-time first-team All-Region 8-4A selection along the offensive line ... Part of a region championship team as a sophomore … High school head coach was Tommy Jones … Lettered in six varsity sports as a prep.

Personal: Full name is Caleb Duane Williford ... Is the son of Connie and Duane Williford ... Has three older siblings.

70 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - Greg McGruder

It's now 70 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 one is currently assigned to #70, so we will highlight an assistant coach:

Greg McGruder

TITLE Assistant Coach / Wide Receivers

After spending three seasons on the Catamount football staff as a quality control coach working with the offense, Greg McGruder was promoted to wide receiver coach in January 2024.

Working with the WCU offensive unit from 2021-2023, McGruder was a part of an an offense that broke the school record for total offense twice with 5,339 total yards in 2022 eclipsed by a record 5,545 yards last fall in 2023. WCU also scored an average of 33.9 points per game on an average of 486.8 yards of total offense since 2021.

Before coming to Cullowhee, he spent the 2021 season as a graduate assistant coach at Tusculum. He aided the Pioneers’ offensive staff working primarily with the quarterbacks on Tusculum’s spring 2021 South Atlantic Conference (SAC) championship squad.

Tusculum averaged 533.4 yards and scored an average of 37.6 points per game offensively in 2021 on the way to the conference title. The Pioneers averaged nearly 400 passing yards per game to lead the SAC, scoring 15 touchdowns through the air in 2021. In addition, the offensive unit added 139.2 yards per game on the ground and 12 additional scores.

McGruder previously served as a student assistant with the Jacksonville football program during the 2015 season. That year, the Dolphins posted a 9-2 record and he helped with an offense that posted 30.5 points per game and generated 400 yards of total offense per contest, led by former WCU offensive coordinator Kade Bell who was JU's starting quarterback.

During his prep career at the University Christian High School in Jacksonville, Fla., McGruder was a three-year letterman as a defensive back.

McGruder is a 2016 graduate from the University of North Florida majoring in sport management. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Tusculum in 2021.

71 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #71 Cade McClellan

It's now 71 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 an offensive lineman

#71 Cade McClellan

 Position Offensive Line
 Height 6-3
 Weight 305
 Class Redshirt Sophomore
 Hometown Plant City, Fla.
 High School Durant HS









2023 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in two games as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams … Saw action in the home wins over Charleston Southern (Sept. 23) and ETSU (Nov. 11) … Did not record any official statistics.

2022 (Freshman): Saw action in one game as a true freshman on special teams and as a reserve along the offensive line … Made his collegiate debut in the home win over Presbyterian (Sept. 17).

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner ... Coming off a first-team All-Conference nod as a senior, helping pave the way for a conference-leading rushing attack for head coach Clayton Varnam ... Played offensive guard in his final season ... Selected to play for the East Team in the Hillsborough County All-Star game in December 2021 ... Joined the WCU football team as a preferred walk-on.

Personal: Full name is Cade William McClellan ... Is the son of Heather and William McClellan ... Has two younger siblings, Maddy and Colin ... Was born in Brandon, Fla.

72 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #72 Blake Whitmore

It's now 72 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 an offensive lineman

#72 Blake Whitmore

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-2
Weight 295
Class Redshirt Senior
Hometown Raleigh, N.C.
High School Millbrook HS












2023 (Redshirt Junior): Started all 11 games along the offensive line at center … Helped the Catamounts to a school-record 5,545 yards of total offense … Named to the second-team All-Southern Conference by the league’s head coaches … Selected to the 2024 NFF Hampshire Honor Society.

2022 (Redshirt Sophomore): One of seven players to start all 11 games on the season, doing so from his offensive center position … Was one of three offensive linemen to start each game ... Helped the Catamount offense set a single-season school record of 5,339 yards of total offense … Credited with one tackle on the season coming at Georgia Tech (Sept. 10) ... Named to the 2022-23 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2021 (Redshirt Freshman*): Started five games along the offensive line at center before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season ... Recovered a fumble at Gardner-Webb (Sept. 25).

2020-21 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in two games on the season as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams … Did not record any official statistics ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2019 (Freshman): Played in four games on the season as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut at home against Gardner-Webb (Oct. 5).

Prior to Western Carolina: Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on … Played center, guard, and long-snapper as a prep … Was named All-Cap-7 Conference along the offensive line as a senior ... High school coach was Clarence Inscore.

Personal: Is the son of Tina and Barry Whitmore.

73 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #73 Xavier Graham

It's now 73 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 an offensive lineman

#73 Xavier Graham

 Position Offensive Line
 Height 6-2
 Weight 330
 Class Senior
 Hometown Niceville, Fla.
 College UMass
 High School Niceville HS

2023 (Junior): Saw action in all 11 of the team’s games with nine starts along the offensive line … Made his WCU debut in the season-opener at Arkansas (Sept. 2) as a reserve and again came off the bench against nationally-ranked Samford (Sept. 9) … Started nine straight to conclude the season … Did not record any official statistics.

Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from UMass where he played in seven games as a redshirt sophomore in 2022 … Saw action in four games as a true freshman in 2019, splitting time between the offensive and defensive lines … Saw limited action as a reserve on the offensive line in 2020 as a redshirt freshman … Played in three games in 2021 as a redshirt freshman; High School: Played at Niceville High for head coach John Hicks … Participated in the 2018 Subway High School All-Star Game that pits Escambia County student-athletes against participants from Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County … Was named a 2017 Large School All-Area selection ... Was originally listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports out of Niceville High.

Personal: Is the son of Ronnetta and Kenneth Graham.

74 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #74 Jordan Daniels

It's now 74 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 an offensive lineman

#74 Jordan Daniels

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-5
Weight 310
Class Redshirt Senior
Hometown Charlotte, N.C.
High School North Mecklenburg HS









Prior to Western Carolina: Began his collegiate career at Akron, playing in 21 games over three seasons with the Zips after redshirting in 2019 … Played in six games in 2022, nine games in 2021 with four starts at left guard, and six games in 2020 at Akron … Once graded out as the top pass blocker in the MAC and was No. 2 in all of the Group of Five schools; 

At Charlotte: Played in four games for the 49ers, each coming in AAC play including the OT win at Tulsa and the OT loss at Memphis … Was named to the Athletic Director’s list (3.0-3.99 GPA) in the Spring 2023; 

At North Mecklenburg: Three-star recruit by 247Sports … Three-time first-team All-I-MECK 4AA Conference selection … Two-time team captain .. Earned the program’s Hog Award given to the best offensive lineman.

Personal: Is the son of Hope and Erskin Daniels … His father played baseball at USC Salkehatchie and his mother played basketball at North Greenville University.

75 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #75 Caleb Carter

It's now 75 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 an offensive lineman

#75 Caleb Carter

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-3
Weight 300
Class Redshirt Junior
Hometown Jacksonville, N.C.
High School Southwest Onslow HS













2023 (Junior): Started the first two games of the season before suffering a season-ending injury in the home win over nationally-ranked Samford (Sept. 9) … Missed the remainder of the year … Returned to limited action during WCU’s annual spring drills.

2022 (Sophomore): Played in all 11 of the team’s games with one start coming in the season finale against Chattanooga (Nov. 19) … Saw action on special teams and along the front line in helping the Catamount offense set a single-season school record of 5,339 yards of total offense … Credited with one tackle at Furman (Oct. 15) ... Named to the 2022-23 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

021 (Freshman*): Saw action in 10 of the team's 11 games on the year between special teams and as a reserve along the offensive line ... Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 4) ... Did not record any official statistics.

2020-21 (Freshman): Did not see game action.

Prior to Western Carolina: A mid-semester enrollee at WCU … Two-year varsity letter winner along both the offensive and defensive line … Played center and offensive guard … Recorded 50 tackles including six tackles for loss and forced a fumble on defense … Collected school Freshman Athlete of the Year accolades and garnered varsity offensive lineman of the year honors as a senior … Also plays basketball as a prep.

Personal: Full name is Caleb Tanner Carter ... Is the son of Juleeia Carter and Damen Rosenburg.

76 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #76 Nathan Linkous

It's now 76 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 an offensive lineman

#76 Nathan Linkous

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-5
Weight 300
Class Redshirt Junior
Hometown Cramerton, N.C.
High School Stuart W. Cramer HS












2023 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in five games as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams … Played at Arkansas (Sept. 2), Charleston Southern (Sept. 23), and at The Citadel (Sept. 30) in September … Played in two games in November including at home against ETSU (Nov. 11) and at VMI (Nov. 18) … Credited with half a tackle in the road loss at VMI in Lexington.

2022 (Redshirt Freshman): Saw action in two games on special teams and as a reserve along the offensive line … Played in the season-opener at Charleston Southern (Sept. 3) and the home win over Presbyterian (Sept. 17).

2021 (Freshman): Played in three games as a true freshman as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams, remaining eligible for a redshirt ... Made his collegiate debut against Furman (Nov. 6) ... Did not record any official statistics ... Named to the 2021-22 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Four-year varsity letter winner along the offensive line at guard and tackle … Named third-team All-State by High School OT … Was a three-star recruit from 247Sports … On defense, recorded 38 career tackles over two seasons with 18 solo stops and 4.0 tackles for loss with a sack … High school coach was Ben McMillan.

Personal: Full name is Nathan Tyler Linkous ... Is the son of Jennifer and Jason Linkous ... Has a brother, Bryson. Footer

77 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - Jeremy King

It's now 77 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 #77, we will highlight an assistant coach

Jeremy King

TITLE Assistant Coach / Offensive Line

Jeremy King, who spent the 2023 season as an offensive line assistant at the University of Georgia, joined the Western Carolina football coaching staff as the offensive line coach in January 2024.

A four-year starter along the offensive line at Valdosta State from 2014-18, King played three seasons under WCU head coach Kerwin Bell and won an NCAA Division II National Championship in 2018. A three-time team captain, King was an all-conference and All-America selection in 2018, finishing as a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award given to the NCAA Division II lineman of the year.

After graduating, King played in the Indoor Football League with the Green Bay (Wis.) Blizzard before transitioning into coaching back as his alma mater.

King comes to Cullowhee after spending the past year as an offensive line graduate assistant at the University of Georgia. Before moving to Athens, he coached for two years at his alma mater, Valdosta State, earning his start as an offensive line graduate assistant. He earned a full-time coaching role with the Blazers in January 2022 as the running backs coach through February 2023.

Originally from Macon, Ga., King graduated from Valdosta State in December 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and earned a Master of Public Administration from VSU in May 2023.

78 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #78 Evan Carney

It's now 78 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 an offensive lineman

#78 Evan Carney

Position Offensive Line
Height 6-3
Weight 305
Class Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown Nashville, Tenn.
High School Christ Presbyterian Academy












2023 (Redshirt Freshman): Missed the season due to an off-season injury … Returned to the practice field for the team’s annual spring drills.

2022 (Freshman): Saw action in two games, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener at Charleston Southern (Sept. 3) and also played in the home win over Presbyterian (Sept. 17) ... Named to the 2022-23 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll ... Received a SoCon Commissioner's Medal.

Prior to Western Carolina: Was a two-time first-team all-state and all-region selection, earning first-team plaudits as a senior ... Helped his high school to two state championships as a freshman and junior, and twice a state runner-up finish ... Only allowed one sack as a sophomore and did not allow a sack as a junior … Also played baseball where he was the closer, and participated in track & field as a prep.

Personal: Full name is Evan Nelson Carney ... Is the son of Michelle and John Carney ... Has a younger sister, Leah ... His uncle played football at Chattanooga.

79 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - Malik Goodman

It's now 79 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 one is currently assigned to #79, so today we will highlight another assistant coach.

Malik Goodman

TITLE Assistant Coach / Safeties



Malik Goodman played collegiately at Tusculum University and earned his coaching start at his alma mater. He joined the Catamount football defensive coaching staff in January 2024. Goodman coaches the safeties in the Catamount defensive secondary.

Goodman joins former Tusculum head coach – and current WCU defensive coordinator – Jerry Odom on the Catamount defensive staff after serving as the defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator from 2021-23.

Goodman began his career as a defensive graduate assistant for the Pioneers in the COVID-abbreviated Spring 2021 season. Guided by a defense that limited opponents to just 17.6 points and 311.2 yards per game, Tusculum posted a 4-1 record and won the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) championship. The Pioneers allowed a league-low 84 rushing yards per game.

Between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Tusculum’s defense recorded a combined 36 interceptions including a SAC-leading 19 in 2022 that ranked third in the NCAA Division II rankings. The Pioneers ranked second in the conference with 17 picks in 2023 – a mark that also ranked among the Top 15 nationally. The 2022 Tusculum defense limited opponents to just 159.6 passing yards per game, ranked 15th in the country.

During his three seasons at Tusculum, he mentored two-time All-South Atlantic Conference selection in nickelback Ryan Dolce, with safety Jermaine Witherspoon, and cornerbacks Andrae Robinson and Tykorian Brown also earning postseason plaudits.

Originally from Jacksonville, Fla., Goodman was a two-time All-South Atlantic Conference (SAC) standout where he played in 39 career games for the Pioneers. He recorded 193 career tackles including 14 for loss with three sacks. He accounted for 19 passes defended, finishing his career tied for the 10th in program history. He added five career takeaways with three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries while also forcing two fumbles.

Goodman earned All-Super Region 2 honors in 2018 as he tallied 48 tackles including five for loss with a sack, an interception, a fumble recovery, and two pass breakups. He was awarded SAC Defensive Player of the Week after posting eight tackles and forced a critical fourth-quarter force with the recovery to preserve a 31-28 win over Mars Hill in October 2018.

As a senior, Goodman collected All-SAC plaudits for a second consecutive season as he recorded 47 stops with an interception and three passes defended.

Goodman graduated from Tusculum in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He also earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Training & Performance Management from Tusculum in 2021.

Malik is married to Yoland Goodman.

80 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #80 Rashad Davis

It's now 80 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.

#80 Rashad Davis

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Position Wide Receiver
Height 5-11
Weight 185
Class Sophomore
Hometown Miami, Fla.
High School Northwestern HS











2023 (Freshman): Did not see game action.

Prior to Western Carolina: Over his final two seasons, caught 61 passes for 806 yards and 10 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps … Caught 38 passes for 452 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021, helping Northwestern High make a deep run in Florida’s 6-A playoffs … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and a two-star recruit by Rivals.

Personal: Has a nickname of “Punchie.”

81 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #81 Ca'Lique Cunningham

It's now 81 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.

#81 Ca'Lique Cunningham

Position Wide Receiver
Height 5-9
Weight 185
Class Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown Rock Hill, S.C.
High School Northwestern HS










2023 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in one game, seeing his lone action at home against Charleston Southern (Sept. 23) … Made his first career reception and caught his first career touchdown pass on the same play – a 17-yard scoring strike from QB Taron Dickens late in the fourth quarter … Caught two passes for 51 total yards in WCU’s annual Spring Game.

2022 (Freshman): Saw action in one game on special teams and as a reserve on offense … Made his collegiate debut in the home win over Presbyterian (Sept. 17) … Did not record any official statistics ... Named to the 2022-23 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Played wide receiver and cornerback at Northwestern HS for head coach Page Wofford ... Recorded 45 catches for 578 yards receiving and eight touchdowns ... Earned Nortwhestern Trojans Player of the Week honors in week one of his senior year after catching two touchdown passes and returning a kickoff for a TD ... Collected the Ben Watson Award from his team as a senior ... Also ran track and wrestled as a prep, earning all-region and advanced to the state tournament in wrestling.

Personal: Full name is Ca'Lique Zechariah Cunningham ... Is the son of Stacey Holley ... Has a younger sister, JaNyia.