Post by The Cats on Aug 23, 2018 5:54:15 GMT -5
It's now 9 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.
For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth straight year, a post-game fireworks extravaganza.
To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.
Today, we'll highlight a defensive back that wears #9
#9 John Brannon
Position: Defensive Back
Height/Weight: 6'2" 190
Class: Junior
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C
High School: South Mecklenburg HS
2017 (Sophomore): Saw action in 11 of the team's 12 games on the season with one start coming against VMI (Oct. 21) ... Finished the season with nine total tackles including four solo stops and one tackle for loss coming against VMI ... Named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 16 after recording a pair of interceptions - the first of his collegiate career - to accompany a pair of tackles in the home victory over ETSU (Oct. 14), in which he saw the most extensive playing time of his career ... Returned his first career interception 41 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Bucs ... Set-up another WCU score by returning his second pick 56 yards to the six-yard line ... Was additionally nominated for the FCS Hero of the Week through a vote by HERO Sports ... Intercepted two passes to highlight WCU's annual Spring Game ... Named to the 2017-18 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
2016 (Freshman): Played in five of the team's 11 games on the year, mostly as a defensive reserve ... Made his first collegiate start against Chattanooga (Oct. 28), recording his first career tackles ... Finished with four tackles including two solo stops coming against VMI (Nov. 5) and at Furman (Nov. 12).
Prior to Western Carolina: Two-time All-SoMeck 8 Conference selection ... Garnered second-team defense accolades on the All-Charlotte Observer team ... Was listed on the South Charlotte "20 to Treasure" list following his senior season which ended with him garnering the publication's Defensive Player of the Year honor ... Posted 56 tackles including six TFLs, a sack, eight interceptions and 13 pass break-ups as a senior ... On offense, caught 24 passes for 98 yards and three scores ... Set as a junior and then matched as a senior a school-record with eight INTs in a single-season ... Also tallied a career-best three interceptions in a single-game ... High school coach was Rocky White.
Personal: Full name is John William Brannon III ... Is the son of John Brannon Jr. and Dana L. Byers.
Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations
