Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football and head coach Kerwin Bell opened the 2022 National Signing Day early period strong on Wednesday, signing 10 high school seniors to National Letters of Intent (NLI) on the first day of the three-day December window.
 
Seven of the 10 student-athletes signed on Wednesday received two-or-more stars from 247Sports.com or Rivals.com including five earning three-stars. Six were inked for the defensive side of the football – two apiece from each layer including the defensive line, linebacker, and secondary – with four skill players added on offense including a pair of wide receivers, a running back, and a quarterback.
 
Additions to Bell's incoming class for the fall of 2022 are expected and will be announced later.
 
Instituted back in 2017, the NCAA's early signing period for college football extends through Friday, Dec. 17, with the traditional National Signing Day set for Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022.
 
Western Carolina football closed the 2021 season – the first under Kerwin Bell – by winning four of its final five games, closing the season at 4-7 overall. With a 4-4 record in Southern Conference play, the Catamounts finished tied for fourth after being picked ninth in the preseason. The four seasonal and conference wins were the most for WCU since 2017 when the squad finished 7-5 overall and 5-3 in SoCon play.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and on Instagram (wcu_catamounts).
 
More About WCU's 2022 Early Signees:
 
By Position (6 defense, 4 offense):
Defensive Back – 2 (Darian Anderson; Jeremiah Noel)
Defensive Line – 2 (Brandon Smiley, Justin Wallace)
Linebacker – 2 (Hayward McQueen III, Christian Murphy)
Quarterback – 1 (Samuel Cornett)
Running Back – 1 (Desmond Reid)
Wide Receiver – 2 (Censere Lee, Jaylin Terzado)
 
By Location:
Florida (8): Darian Anderson (Miami); Censere Lee (Clearwater); Hayward McQueen III (Fort Lauderdale); Jaylin Terzado (Hialeah); Christian Murphy (Miami); Christian Noel (Miami); Desmond Reid (Miramar); Justin Wallace (Miami)
Kentucky (1): Samuel Cornett (Lexington)
North Carolina (1): Brandon Smiley (Durham)
 
Three-Star Recruits:
Darian Anderson, CB – 247Sports *
Censere Lee, WR – 247Sports
Christian Murphy, LB – 247Sports
Desmond Reid, RB – 247Sports *
Jaylin Terzado, WR – 247Sports
 
Two-Star Recruits:
Darian Anderson, CB – Rivals *
Hayward McQueen, LB – Rivals
Jeremiah Noel, DB – Rivals
Desmond Reid, RB – Rivals *
 
* - denotes multiple rankings
 

2022 Newcomer Roster:

 

2022 Newcomer Bios:

Darian Anderson
CB – 5-9 – 160 lbs.
Miami, Fla. (Dade Christian School)
Prior to Western Carolina: Team captain as a senior, recorded five career interceptions and had eight total returns for touchdowns as a prep … Added four receptions for 199 yards and three TDs as a senior … Also played on special teams as a kickoff and punt returner … Was a second-team defense selection as an athlete in the 2020 Independent All-State football team compiled by FloridaHSFootball.com … Played for the Florida Fire 7v7 All-Star football team … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247sports and a two-star athlete by Rivals.com – was also a three-star from On3DB … Also runs track as a prep.

Samuel Cornett
QB – 6-6 – 220 lbs.
Bellevue, Wash. (Frederick Douglass (Ky). HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: A pro-style quarterback who was a team captain as a senior, transferring from Bellevue, Wash., and Bellevue Christian School to Frederick Douglass High in Lexington, Ky. … Completed 166-of-266 passes for 2,604 yards with 26 TDs as a senior, adding 102 rushing yards with a pair of scores on the ground in guiding FDHS to the Kentucky state finals … In an abbreviated 2020 season, guided FDHS to a 7-2 record by completing 102-of-163 passes for 1,565 yards and 26 touchdowns … Selected first-team All-District in both 2020 and 2021 … Was originally committed as a preferred walk-on at the Univ. of Louisville.

Censere Lee
WR – 5-11 – 160 lbs.
Clearwater, Fla. (Clearwater HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner … Caught 57 passes for 1,262 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior, averaging 97.1 receiving yards per game in his final season as a prep … Added 181 punt return yards with two touchdowns including a 91-yard return for a TD in the playoffs … Was the MaxPreps Player of the Game four times in 2021 including twice as the overall player of the game, once on offense, and the final time on special teams … Listed as a three-star athlete by 247sports … Also plays basketball as a prep.

Hayward McQueen III
LB – 6-1 – 190 lbs.
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (TRU Prep Academy)
Prior to Western Carolina: Is a hybrid-style linebacker … Was a second-team Class 2-A Independent All-State team selection in the 2020 Independent All-State football team compiled by FloridaHSFootball.com … Posted 90+ tackles with 15 tackles for loss and five sacks, forcing a pair of fumbles as a senior … Listed as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com.
 
Christian Murphy
LB – 6-1 – 220 lbs.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Began his prep career at St. Thomas Aquinas High … Helped guide Dillard HS to a tri-county championship in 2020 … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com
 
Jeremiah Noel
DB – 6-0 – 185 lbs.
Miami, Fla. (Miami Killian HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Began his prep career at Miami Christian … Finished his prep career at Killian HS … Credited with 85 total tackles at safety as a prep senior, averaging 7.7 tackles per game with five sacks and an interception, according to MaxPreps … Listed as a two-star athlete by Rivals.com.
 
Desmond Reid
RB – 5-8 – 170 lbs.
Hollywood, Fla. (Miramar HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner … Rushed for 1,536 yards and 22 touchdowns a season ago in guiding his high school to the second round of Florida's 7-A playoffs … Caught 13 passes for 243 yards and three scores … Added a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns … Listed as a three-star athlete by 247Sports and a two-star athlete by Rivals.com … Also runs track as a prep competing in both the 100 and 200-meter dash events.
 
Brandon Smiley
DL – 6-2 – 305 lbs.
Durham, N.C. (Palmetto Prep)
Prior to Western Carolina: Played his high school football at Riverside High in Durham before finishing at Palmetto Prep in West Columbia, S.C., in 2021 … Recorded 58 tackles including 36 solo stops, averaging 7.3 tackles per game in his final season at Riverside High, adding 12 quarterback hurries and five passes defended.
 
Jaylin Terzado
WR – 5-10 – 160 lbs.
Hialeah, Fla. (Champagnat Catholic HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Began his prep career at North Miami High before finishing at Champagnat Catholic … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports … Caught 26 passes for 560 yards with six touchdowns as a senior at Champagnat.

Justin Wallace
DE – 6-3 – 240 lbs.
Miami, Fla. (Killian HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Began his prep career at Palm Beach Central High … Recorded 81 tackles with 30 for loss and 23 sacks as a senior, helping guide his high school to a 12-1 seasonal record … Forced and recovered two fumbles and tallied an interception … Listed as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com.