36 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #36 Ja'morri Downing

 

It's now 36 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 Defensive Back: 

#36 Ja'morri Downing

Position Nickelback
Height 6-1
Weight 200
Class Redshirt Junior
Hometown Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
High School Stranahan HS










2024 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in five games, each coming on special teams and as a defensive reserve … Credited with one tackle, making his first career solo stop against VMI (Nov. 16) … Recorded five tackles in WCU’s annual Spring Game.

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

2022 (Freshman): Played in four games, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut in the home win over VMI (Oct. 1) … Did not record any official statistics.

Prior to Western Carolina: Recorded 81 tackles including 63 solo stops and 25 tackles for loss with 10 sacks as a high school senior … Credited with nine passes defended … Also ran track as a prep, posting times of 11 flat in the 100m dash and 23 flat in the 200m dash.

Personal: Is the son of Sheneera Perry ... Has two siblings, Jamiya Downing and Paige Pocte.

 

37 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #37 Chris Hobbs

 

It's now 37 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 Defensive Cornerback: 

#37 Chris Hobbs

Position Cornerback
Height 6-2
Weight 170
Class True Freshman
Hometown Rabun, Ga.
High School Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School











Prior to Western Carolina: Over his final two seasons as a prep defensive back, tallied 55 tackles in 21 games with 52 solo stops and one for loss … Recorded a pair of interceptions and nine passes defended … Both caused and recovered a fumble in his career … Named second-team all-conference for the 2024 NCISAA DI State Champions.

Personal: Is the son of Kiana Hobbs

 

38 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #38 Canden McGill

 

It's now 38 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 Defensive Cornerback: 

#38 Canden McGill

Position Cornerback
Height 5-10
Weight 185
Class Redshirt Freshman
Hometown Shelby, N.C.
High School Shelby HS








2024 (Freshman): Did not see game action, remaining eligible for a redshirt ... Corralled a pass deflection for an interception in WCU's annual Spring Game, credited with five tackles and an additional pass breakup.

Prior to Western Carolina: Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on ... Three-year varsity letterwinner and a three-time all-conference on the football gridiron ... Posted 11 career interceptions in the secondary ... Tied the school record for interceptions returned for touchdowns in a single season with three as a sophomore in the state championship season ... High school coach was Mike Wilbanks.

Personal: Full name is Canden Niajay McGill ... Is the son of Ashley A. Deqree and John L. McGill ... Has six siblings, three older and three younger

39 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #39 Julian Quintero

 

It's now 39 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 Defensive Safety: 

#39 Julian Quintero

Position Safety
Height 6-0
Weight 190
Class Redshirt Freshman
Hometown St. Augustine, Fla.
High School St. Augustine HS

2024 (Freshman): Did not see game action, remaining eligible for a redshirt ... Credited with three tackles and recorded an interception in WCU's annual Spring Game.

Prior to Western Carolina: Named first-team All-County defense as a senior … Recorded 112 tackles including two TFLs and a forced fumble as a senior … Part of a 13-1 state runner-up in his final season … Played football, basketball, and ran track as a prep … Started his high school career at Pedro Menendez HS.

Personal: Full name is Julian Andros Quintero ... Is the son of Barbara and Thomas Hornsby ... Hasollege football at Brown University. two siblings - older, Barbara and younger Tomilynn ...

40 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #40 Cain Jefferson

 

It's now 40 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 Defensive Lineman: 

#40 Cain Jefferson

Position Defensive End
Height 6-3
Weight 220
Class Freshman
Hometown Decatur, Ga.
High School Columbia HS










2024 (Freshman): Early-enrollee at WCU where he took part in WCU's spring drills ... Credited with four tackles including a pair for loss with a sack in the annual Spring Game.

Prior to Western Carolina: Recorded 70 tackles with an average of 6.4 tackles per game as a senior at Columbia HS, ranked third on the team … Was tied for the team lead with 11 sacks as part of 17 tackles for loss … Named the Columbia High Defensive Player of the Year … Earned first-team All-County honors as a senior.

41 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #41 Beady Waddell V

 

It's now 41 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 Linebacker: 

#41 Beady Waddell V

Position Linebacker
Height 6-0
Weight 215
Class Redshirt Freshman
Hometown Summerville, S.C.
High School West Mecklenburg (N.C.) HS









2024 (Freshman): Did not see game action, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Credited with six tackles, including one for loss in WCU’s annual Spring Game.

Prior to Western Carolina: South Carolina Lowcountry native, was a two-time all-conference and all-state performer at West Mecklenburg High in Charlotte … Finished the 2023 season second in the Queen City 3A/4A Conference with 872 rushing yards and was second defensively with 109 tackles … Three-sport athlete as a prep including football, wrestling, and track … Expected to enroll early in the spring 2024.

Personal: Is the son of Topee and Beady Waddell IV ... His father, a 2023 R.B. Stall Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, coached him in high school ... His uncle Bennitte "Big Moe" Waddell played for the Minnesota Vikings. 

42 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #42 Hank Bodine

 

It's now 42 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 Linebacker: 

#42 Hank Bodine

Position Linebacker
Height 6-0
Weight 220
Class Freshman
Hometown Velva, N.D.
High School Velva DAG HS

Prior to Western Carolina:   Was a four-time All-State selection in football, and was part of two state championship teams ... Four-year starting linebacker and running back ... Recorded 406 career tackles, leading his team all four seasons ... Rushed for 2,624 yards and totaled 1,025 receiving yards as a prep ... Was a part of the Class A state championship team where he played running back and linebacker for coach Matt Weidler … Named NDHSCA Class 11A first-team All-State at linebacker, his second all-state selection … Also played baseball, basketball golf, and track as a prep.

Personal: Is the son of Kerry Wyche and Tom Bodine, who played football at Western Carolina, the school’s all-time leading tackler with 453 tackles, and was a 2010 inductee into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame ... His uncle, Rob Bodine, played football at Clemson where he was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 2009 ... Is the grandson of Sam Wyche, who played at Furman and the NFL, while also coaching in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

43 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #43 Braeden Barger

 

It's now 43 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 Linebacker: 

#43 Braeden Barger

Position Linebacker

Height 6-1
Weight 230
Class Freshman
Hometown Weddinton, N.C.
High School Weddington HS













Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year starter … Two-time all-conference, named first-team all-conference and first-team All-Union County as a senior, where he was a team captain … Named the Charlotte area Linebacker of the Year, finishing with 87 total tackles, including 14 for loss with four sacks … Selected as the Luke Kuechly High School Defensive Player of the Year and the Charlotte Friday Night Lights Linebacker of the Year … Selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas … Credited with 230 career tackles, including 40 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

 

44 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #44 Isaac McLellan

 

It's now 44 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 Tight End: 

#44 Isaac McLellan

Position Tight End
Height 6-2
Weight 240
Class Redshirt Junior
Hometown Rock Hill, S.C.
High School Northwestern HS








2024 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in 10 of the team’s 12 games on special teams and as a reserve on offense after converting to tight end … Credited with a pair of solo tackles on special teams, posting tackles at nationally-ranked Montana (Sept. 21) and against VMI (Nov. 16) … Forced a fumble on a second-quarter kickoff with WCU up 20-7 that was recovered by the Griz … Recovered a fumble against VMI on a kickoff that led to a WCU offensive touchdown.

2023 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in all 11 games, mostly on special teams … Credited with two total tackles, recording his first official statistics on a tackle assist against Charleston Southern (Sept. 23) … Tallied a solo stop at nationally-ranked Chattanooga (Oct. 7) … Made the transition to tight end during WCU’s annual spring drills ... Named to the 2023-24 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2022 (Freshman): Played in four games, each as a defensive reserve during the season, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Did not record any official statistics … Made his collegiate debut in the home win over VMI (Oct. 1).

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner for head coach Page Wofford at Northwestern High ... Finished his prep career with 185 career tackles including 117 total hits with 46 solo stops as a senior, earnin all-region and all-state honors ... Recorded 10 sacks in his senior season in collecting top annual defensive lineman honors ... Finalist for the Carolina Bowl ... Was a five-time Player of the Game and a four-time Player of the Week selection in 2021 ... Earned Academic Honors all four years of high school ... Was also a two-time South Carolina state champion in wrestling as a prep.

Personal: Full name is Malcolm Isaac McLellan ... Is the son of Saron and Matt Silver ... Has a younger sister, Gabby ... Is the first person from his family to play in college.

45 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #45 Sean Morris

 

It's now 45 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 Defensive Lineman: 

#45 Sean Morris

Position Defensive Tackle
Height 6-1
Weight 295
Class Senior
Hometown Lansdowne, Pa.
High School St. Joseph's Prep

46 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #46 Nolan McClanahan

 

It's now 46 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 Linebacker: 

#46 Nolan McClanahan

Position Linebacker
Height 6-1
Weight 225
Class True Freshman
Hometown Lake Mary, Fla.
High School Lake Mary HS

47 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #47 Blue Monroe

 

It's now 47 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 Linebacker: 

#47 Blue Monroe

Position Linebacker
Height 6-1
Weight 230
Class Redshirt Junior
Hometown Concord, N.C.
High School Jay M. Robinson HS








2024 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in 11 of the team’s 12 games with a pair of starts on defense … Credited with 36 total tackles, including 19 solo stops with eight tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks … Recorded tackles in all 11 games he saw action, with multiple stops in 10 games … Charted a pair of quarterback hurries … On special teams, returned on short kickoff four yards against Wofford (Oct. 5) … Combined on a tackle for loss in the season-opener at NC State (Aug. 29) … Two of his three solo tackles against Campbell (Sept. 7) went as TFLs for losses … Posted a season-high eight tackles with four solo stops in the road win at Furman (Oct. 19).

2023 (Redshirt Freshman) Played in all 11 of the team’s games, mostly on special teams and as a reserve on defense … Credited with 11 total tackles including five solo stops … Had two tackles for nine yards in losses including half a sack, adding a quarterback hurry … Posted tackles in six of the 11 games on the year … Recorded with two tackles at Arkansas (Sept. 2) with a pair of solo stops including a tackle for loss against Mercer (Oct. 28) … Had two kickoff returns for 30 total yards on short kicks against Mercer, returning one 20 total yards … Finished with a career-best three stops with half a tackle for loss in the road win at Wofford (Nov. 4) ... Named to the 2023-24 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2022 (Freshman): Played in four games as a true freshman, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Saw time on special teams and as a reserve on defense … Made his collegiate debut at Samford (Sept. 24) … Credited with two kickoff returns as an up-back, totaling 14 total yards including a 13-yard return at Furman (Oct. 15) … Matched a team-high with seven tackles including a tackle for loss in WCU’s annual Spring Game.

Prior to Western Carolina: Played quarterback and outside linebacker as a prep, starting his high school career at Hough High with a year at Central Cabarrus High before finishing at Robinson High ... As a senior, finished with 76 tackles including 32 solo stops and nine tackles for loss with one sack and an interception, according to MaxPreps.com ... Recovered three fumbles and credited with two passes defended ... As a prep, passed for over 2,500 yards with 22 touchdowns while rushing for right at 1,000 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.

Personal: Full name is Blue Kincade Monroe ... Is the son of April and Ken Monroe ... His father played football at Wingate and his mother is a former body builder ... Has an older sibling, Storm, who plays linebacker at Davidson College, and a younger sibling, Haven.

 

48 Days Until Catamount Football Kickoff - #48 Cole Craddock

 

It's now 48 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 Tight End: 

#48  Cole Craddock

Position Tight End
Height 6-4
Weight 235
Class True Freshman
Hometown Tarboro, N.C.
High School Tarboro HS