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Post by GaCat on Feb 7, 2024 9:10:12 GMT -5
Where can we find live info? GO CATS
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Post by retiredcat on Feb 7, 2024 10:11:55 GMT -5
Go to CatamountSports.com...WCU Athletics website.
You'll find info on all today's signees.
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Post by The Cats on Feb 7, 2024 10:39:19 GMT -5
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Post by GaCat on Feb 7, 2024 10:47:53 GMT -5
Thanks for the info🤓
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Post by The Cats on Feb 7, 2024 10:49:43 GMT -5
2024 National Signing Day Bios (Feb. 7 & 8, 2024): Updated:
Vanier Baptiste III 6-3 – 260 lbs. – DL Fort Myers, Fla. (Dunbar HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Named second-team All-State and to the News-Press All-Area team as a senior … Listed on the 2023 News-Press and Naples Daily News Big 15 recruit list … Recorded 99 total tackles including 28 tackles for loss as a junior … Began his prep career at St. Augustine High … Also plays basketball as a prep.
Jailan Bennett 6-3 – 280 lbs. – Defensive Line Baxley, Ga. (Appling County HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Was named the All-Region 3AA Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … Finished with 47 tackles including 16 for a combined 61 yards of losses with 4.5 sacks … Was a two-time first-team All-State selection along the defensive line … Also earned All-Region honors in 2022 … Recorded 41 tackles as a sophomore and 50 total stops including 17 tackles for loss with five sacks as a prep junior.
Bode Burns 6-4 – 205 lbs. – Tight End Dunnellon, Fla. (Dunnellon HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Two-way player as a prep playing wide receiver on offense and on defense, at defensive end and outside linebacker for head coach Price Harris … Was named second-team All-County along the defensive line as a senior … Also selected to the All-District team and the FACA D-7 All-Senior team … Received the Dunnellon High ‘Big Cat’ Award in Jan. 2024 … Also plays basketball as a prep.
Austin Cunningham 6-0 – 175 lbs. – Wide Receiver Lexington, S.C. (White Knoll HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on… 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 … Played baseball and ran track as a prep. Personal: Is the son of Crystal and William Cunningham … Has a sister, Trista.
Drew Hollifield 5-10 – 160 lbs. – Defensive Back Shelby, N.C. (Shelby HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on … Versatile athlete who played quarterback while also lining up as a running back and a wide receiver on offense and at linebacker as a prep … Named all-conference as a senior … Amassed 650 all-purpose yards with 14 touchdowns on offense … Added 43 tackles including 8.5 for loss with 3.5 sacks on defense … Also played basketball as a prep, scoring over 1,000 career points. Personal: Is the son of Andy Hollifield … His grandfather, Dale Hollifield, played football at Western Carolina in the 1960s.
Isaiah Johnson 5-11 – 170 lbs. – Wide Receiver Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (Choctawhatchee HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Finished his senior season with 42 catches for 1,083 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns … Also plays basketball and runs track as a prep where he was the Florida State champion in the long jump and a runner-up on the 4x100 meter relay team.
Nicholas Kilpatrick 6-0 – 180 lbs. – Defensive Back Jacksonville, Fla. (William Raines HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Two-year varsity letter winner and All-Gateway Conference team selection … Recorded 84 total tackles as a senior including 44 solo stops … Recorded nine interceptions among his 22 passes defended with seven touchdowns … Five-time MaxPrep Player of the Game … Returned an interception 101 yards for a score against rival Ribault in 2022.
Camden Myers 6-3 – 260 lbs. – Offensive Line Irmo, S.C. (Dutch Fork HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Joined the Catamount football team as a preferred walk-on … Three-year varsity letter winner, playing offensive guard and tackle … Was a three-year state champion … Selected as an All-American Offensive Lineman by the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl … Also played lacrosse as a prep.
James Randle 6-0, 175 lbs. – Wide Receiver Daytona Beach, Fla. (Mainland HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Began his prep career at Mainland High before transferring to Homestead High … Played wide receiver and cornerback … Was nominated for the Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns Offensive Player of the Year… In 2022 at Mainland High, caught 60 passes for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns despite battling a shoulder injury through the fall … Listed as a three-star recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports.
Jemarious Reaves 6-1 – 180 lbs. – Wide Receiver Hopkins, S.C. (Richland NE 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.
Adrian Stone 6-4 – 290 lbs. – Defensive Lineman Fort Myers, Fla. (North Fort Myers HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Named first-team News-Press All-Area as a senior … Selected to play in the FACA All-Star Classic … Listed as one of the top defensive players in southwest Florida entering the 2023 season … As a junior, tallied 78 tackles including 30 solo stops and 13 tackles for loss … Added 18 hurries, nine sacks, two forced fumbles and a PBU … In 2020, was invited to the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl.
Hunter Zirkle 6-3 – 230 lbs. –Linebacker Arcadia, Fla. (Booker HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Began his prep career at DeSota County High before transferring to Booker HS for his senior season … Was a six-time Player of the Game from MaxPreps as a junior at DeSoto High … Over three seasons, credited with 155 total tackles over three varsity seasons including 101 solo stops and 42.5 tackles for loss with 23.5 sacks … Recovered seven fumbles … Posted 36 quarterback hurries over three years as a prep … Blocked three field goals on special teams … Played outside linebacker, defensive end, and tight end on offense as a senior, catching five passes for 127 yards and a two touchdowns while adding 14 rushes for 123 yards and a score.
National Early Signing Day Bios (Dec. 20-23, 2023):
Secrea Algie 6-5, 300 lbs, Offensive Line Snellville, Ga. (Brookwood HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Played offensive and defensive line as a prep … Named to the second-team AJC All-Region team on offense for Region 4-7A and an honorable mention for All-Gwinnett County … High school coach was Philip Jones, and his offensive line coach was Zach Underwood … Will enroll at WCU in the Fall 2024. Personal: Is the son of Sonya Smith. Nate Blair 6-4, 185 lbs., Quarterback Jacksonville, Fla. (Episcopal School of Jacksonville) Prior to Western Carolina: Two-sport standout as a prep playing football and basketball … Led Episcopal to four winning seasons as a prep … High school coach was Marcus Wells … Will enroll at WCU in the Fall 2024. Personal: Is the son of Andrea and Stacy Blair.
Jordan Daniels 6-5 – 310 lbs. – R-Senior – Offensive Line Charlotte, N.C. (Akron / Charlotte / 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. Brett Gray 6-3, 275-lbs., Offensive Line – R-Jr. Vancouver, Wash. (Valparaiso / Skyview HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-season transfer from Valparaiso where he was on the roster for three seasons … At Valpo: Played in 22 games over three seasons with 11 starts as a redshirt sophomore in 2023 … Saw action as a reserve in 10 games during the 2022 season; At Skyview HS: Three-year varsity letter winner who served as a team captain as a senior … Was listed as a two-star prospect as a defensive lineman by 247Sports coming out of high school … Two-sport prep athlete playing football and basketball for two years. Personal: Is the son of Marta and Darren Gray … Has a twin sister, Olivia … Was a trumpet soloist at Skyview High. Dale Greene 6-3, 285-lbs., Offensive Line Flowery Branch, Ga. (Buford HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Interior offensive lineman … High school head coach was Bryant Appling and his offensive line coach was Matt Winslette … Three-sport athlete as a prep including football, track & field, and wrestling … Will enroll at WCU in the Fall 2024. Personal: Full name is Michael Dale Greene, but prefers to go by his middle name … Is the son of LuAnn and Mike Greene.
Tyler Griffin 6-0 – 285 lbs. – So. – Offensive Line Thomasville, N.C. (Ferrum College / Ledford HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Was a mid-year transfer from Ferrum College where he spent the 2023 season … Transferred to WCU with three years of eligibility remaining ... Enrolled at WCU for the Spring 2024 semester; At Ledford HS: Played along the offensive line at guard, center, and tackle during his prep career.
Matthew Keener 6-2 – 175 lbs. – Wide Receiver Pilot Mountain, N.C. (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.
Christian Lowery 5-11 – 180 lbs. – Kicker – Junior Acworth, Ga. (Cincinnati / 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.
Edwin Moore, Jr. 6-3, 265-lbs., Defensive Line Decatur, Ga. (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. Na’Koma Simpson 5-10, 160-lbs., Defensive Back Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Seminole HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Played defensive back – safety and corner – as a prep … High school head coach was Karl Calhoun … Will enroll at WCU in the Fall 2024 Personal: Is the son of Ebony and Na’Koma Simpson … Is the brother of current Catamount, Bo Simpson. Beady Waddell V 5-11, 200-lbs., Linebacker Charlotte, N.C. (West Mecklenburg HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Two-time all-conference and all-state performer … 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. Caleb Williford 6-4, 280-lbs., Offensive Line Buford, Ga. (Cherokee Bluff HS) Prior to Western Carolina: Three-time first-team All-Region 8-4A selection along the offensive line … High school head coach was Tommy Jones … Will enroll at WCU in the Fall 2024. Personal: Is the son of Connie and Duane Williford.
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Post by wcugrad95 on Feb 7, 2024 14:20:53 GMT -5
8 guys listed for today - 2 of them PWOs. 3 of the 6 scholarship players are DL, 1 is a LB, 1 is a DB, and 1 is a WR. All 6 of the scholarship guys already seem to have size that could have them ready to see the field sooner rather than later.
Going back and including the early signees and including the PWOs, looks like as of right now we are adding 20 players. Not sure how many more we are going after. In the early signing class we added several OL (including a couple of transfers). All in all, it looks like a pretty good mix of defensive and offensive players, with more of an emphasis on the line of scrimmage.
It might also be good to see a few more portal/transfer guys with some experience. But most of us have been saying we need to be better in the trenches and this looks like a class that is trying to address that.
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catman72
Redshirt Freshman
2023 SoCon Football Pick'em Champion & 2022 SoCon Football Pick'em Co-Champion
Posts: 408
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Post by catman72 on Feb 7, 2024 15:03:46 GMT -5
Somewhat.....Most of the O/L players we signed are not that big except for a couple.....Would have liked to have seen some bigger guys.....300 plus Lb. guys.....I think last year we averaged 305 on the O line.....But again maybe he can get a couple out of the portal with experience as well....
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Feb 7, 2024 15:05:25 GMT -5
I think some of the ones listed under early signees were actually signed today.
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Feb 7, 2024 15:06:36 GMT -5
Somewhat.....Most of the O/L players we signed are not that big except for a couple.....Would have liked to have seen some bigger guys.....300 plus Lb. guys.....I think last year we averaged 305 on the O line.....But again maybe he can get a couple out of the portal with experience as well.... Get them in the weight room and they will be over 300 lbs. Most HS linemen at our level don’t come out of HS 300 plus.
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Post by Speedwell Cat on Feb 7, 2024 15:08:35 GMT -5
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