78 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #78 Evan Carney

 

It's now 78 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 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 will highlight a member of the Offensive Line:  

#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 ... Named to the 2023-24 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

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 - #79 Vito Moriana-Sigel

 

It's now 79 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 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 will highlight a member of the Offensive Line:  

#79 Vito Moriana-Sigel

 

Position Offensive Line 

Height 6-5 

Weight 300 

Class Junior 

Hometown Estepona, Spain 

College Mississippi Valley State

High School Kiski School

2025 (Junior): Was a mid-year transfer from Mississippi Valley State after starting his collegiate career at Trinity Valley Community College.

Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Mississippi Valley State after starting his career at Trinity Valley CC … Started 12 games at Mississippi Valley State in the SWAC, helping MVSU rank fourth in the nation for the fewest sacks allowed; At Trinity Valley CC: Graduated from TVCC with honors earning his AA; 

High School: Was a two-way lineman at the Kiski School in Saltsburg, Pa.

80 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #80 Trey Walker

It's now 80 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 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 will highlight a Wide Receiver:  

#80 Trey Walker

Position Wide Receiver 

Height 5-10 

Weight 170 

Class True Freshman 

Hometown Hoschton, Ga. 

High School Mill Creek HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Two-way player in high school as a wide receiver and a safety … Was part of a 2022 7-A State Championship team at Mill Creek … Named first-team All-County, All-Region, VTO Sports All-American, and a Blue-Grey Bowl All-American … Credited with 39 receptions and 601 receiving yards with four TDs over his final two seasons as a prep, catching 30 passes for 478 yards and three scores as a senior … Added 48 rushing yards and a score as a senior … Amassed 1,020 career all-purpose yards over three seasons, adding 266 kickoff return yards and 105 yards on punt returns … Played in the Southeast Elite Prospects Unsigned Senior Bowl … Also ran track as a prep, setting school records in the 100-meter dash (10.70), 4x100-meter relay (41.55), and on the school’s 4x200-meter medley relay squad.

 

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

It's now 81 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 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 will highlight a Wide Receiver:  

#81 Ca'Lique Cunningham

Position Wide Receiver 

Height 5-9 

Weight 190 

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 ... Named to the 2023-24 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

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.

82 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #82 Matthew Keener

It's now 82 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 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 will highlight a Wide Receiver:  

#82 Matthew Keener

Position Wide Receiver 

Height 6-2 

Weight 195 

Class Redshirt Freshman 

Hometown Pilot Mountain, N.C. 

High School East Surry HS

Before 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 Austin Cunningham

It's now 84 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, 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 Austin Cunningham

Position Wide Receiver 

Height 6-0 

Weight 190 

Class Redshirt Freshman 

Hometown West Columbia, S.C. 

High School White Knoll HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on ... Four-year varsity letter winner … Named All-Region and All-State as a senior … Selected to the North-South All-Star game … Caught 89 passes for 1,104 receiving yards over his final two varsity seasons with 17 touchdown catches … Amassed 1,495 all-purpose yards for head coach Nick Pelham … Played baseball and ran track as a prep. Personal: Is the son of Crystal and DJ Cunningham … Has an older sister, Trista.

84 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #84 Antwan Moore

It's now 84 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, 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:  

#84 Antwan Moore

Position Wide Receiver 

Height 6-1 

Weight 175  

Class True Freshman 

Hometown Miami, Fla. 

High School North Miami HS

Prior to Western Carolina: An athlete who played wide receiver and defensive back as a prep … Caught 55 passes for 863 yards and five touchdowns over his final two seasons, according to MaxPreps … Added 289 yards on kick returns and 152 in punt return yardage … Played for head coach Gerald Cox.

85 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #85 David Hulbert

It's now 85 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, 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 240

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 ... Named to the 2023-24 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

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 - #86 Brayden Blackmon

It's now 86 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, 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:  

#86 Brayden Blackmon

Position Tight End 

Height 6-3 

Weight 250 

Class Redshirt Senior 

Hometown Duncan, S.C. 

High School Byrnes HS

2023 (Junior): Saw action in just one game in the season-opener at Arkansas (Sept. 2) before suffering a season-ending injury … Returned to limited action during a rehab during spring drills.

2022 (Sophomore): Played in nine of the team’s 11 games on the season, each coming on special teams and as a reserve on offense … Caught a pair of passes for 23 total yards on the year, recording receptions at Samford (Sept. 24) and against The Citadel (Oct. 22) with a career-long 17-yard catch … Credited with two tackles in the home win over VMI (Oct. 1).

2021 (Freshman): Saw action in eight games as a true freshman, mostly on special teams and as an offensive substitution ... Made his collegiate debut against Samford (Sept. 18) ... His first career reception was also his first collegiate touchdown, hauling in a three-yard TD pass from QB Rogan Wells in the third quarter of the road win at Wofford (Oct. 30) ... Was credited with a solo tackle in the road win at VMI (Nov. 20) ... Named to the 2021-22 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner, played in 22 career games … Versatile athlete that played running back, wildcat, wide receiver, tight end and quarterback … Rushed 134 times for 908 career yards averaging 6.8 yards per rush with 18 rushing touchdowns … Added 13 career receptions for 182 yards and one score … Completed 34-of-62 passes for 334 yards and a touchdown at quarterback.

87 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #87 Eli Griffin

It's now 89 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, 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 Eli Griffin

Position Wide Receiver 

Height 6-1 

Weight 160 

Class True Freshman 

Hometown Brevard, N.C. 

High School Brevard HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Two-year varsity letter winner at Brevard High where he was a two-time All-Mountain Foothills 7 Conference selection … Recorded 2,815 all-purpose yards and 23 total touchdowns – 18 receiving, two rushing, two on kickoff returns, and one on a punt return … 14 of his touchdowns came as a senior … Also played basketball and ran track as a prep where he was part of the school-record 4x100-meter relay team at the NCHSAA 2A regional meet, while also breaking the school record in both the 100-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay.

Personal: Is the son of Summer and Norman Griffin

88 Days Until WCU Football Kickoff - #88 Jemarious Reaves

It's now 89 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, 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 Jemarious Reaves

Position Wide Receiver 

Height 6-1 

Weight 185 

Class Redshirt Freshman 

Hometown Hopkins, S.C. 

High School Richland Northeast HS

Prior to Western Carolina: Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk on … Started his prep career at Lower Richland High before finishing at Richland Northeast High … Was a two-way player at wide receiver and defensive back … Invited to the Blue-Grey Bowl Game …  Over 20 games his final two seasons, caught 25 passes for 491 yards and four touchdowns, according to MaxPreps ... Selected as the most valuable athlete as a junior ... High school head coach was Marlin Taylor ... Also ran track where he was a hurdler and was a two-time state champion.

Personal: Full name is Jemarious Ryell Reaves ... Is the son of La'Tasha and Jemar Reaves  ... Has five siblings - Saylanna, Triniti, Malcom, Justin, and Omar ... Both parents are in the United States military.