Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina University and Catamount football open the 2025 National Signing Day period on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Catamount Nation can follow all the excitement throughout the day by visiting the CatamountSports.com as updated player information and student-athlete bios will be made available online, or by following through social media channels including Twitter/X using the handles @CatamountsFB and @Catamounts.
WCU's National Signing Day Central page will be updated to include photos, roster, and bio information on each prospect once they officially become Catamounts with the return of the Grant-In Aid (GIA) documents and confirmation from the WCU Athletics Compliance Office.
Head coach
Kerwin Bell and the Catamount football staff
welcomed 17 mid-year enrollees as part of the 2025 incoming class and each of the new student-athletes is on campus this semester and expected to take part in the team's annual spring drills.
The Catamount Club is again sponsoring a special National Signing Day reception on
Saturday, Feb. 15, for select Club members in Room 204 at WCU's Health and Human Sciences Building (
HHS – 3971 Little Savannah Rd.) that is expected to include
a Facebook LIVE video stream.
< catamount club="" members="" –="">CLICK HERE TO RSVP >>>
Nassor Ashenafi
5-9 – 175 lbs. – Defensive Back
Washington D.C. (Mallard Creek (N.C.) HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Spent two years at Mallard Creek High in Charlotte, moving to North Carolina from Washington, D.C., in 2023 … Recorded an interception in the North Carolina East-West All-Star game … Played at Archbishop Carroll High as a two-way player at running back and defensive back … Also ran track as a prep.
Trey Berry III
6-1 – 210 lbs. – Linebacker
Lakeland, Fla. (Lakeland Christian HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Four-year varsity letter winner on defense … Finished his career with 365 career tackles including 92 solo stops and 17 tackles for loss … Tallied 87 tackles with 33 solo stops as a junior and 80 tackles with 28 solos as a senior … Named first-team All-County at linebacker as a senior … Recorded nine career interceptions including a career-best five as a junior and recovered four career fumbles … A coaches son, played for his father at Lakeland Christian … Was listed as a "hidden gem" by Prep Redzone Florida … Also played basketball and ran track as a prep.
Jayden Cornelius
5-10 – 170 lbs. – Cornerback
Plant City, Fla. (Durant HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Versatile defensive back who played corner, safety, and nickel on defense and wide receiver on offense … Named Western Conference, Federal Division first-team all-conference as a defensive back and second team as a wide receiver … Named to the FACA All-District 15 team … Set the Durant High record for career interceptions with 13 … Selected to play in the Hillsborough County All-Star Game.
Devin Brown
5-10 – 170 lbs. – Cornerback
Miami, Fla. (Northwestern HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Was part of the 2024 FHSAA Class 3A state championship team at Miami Northwestern High … Among a heralded defensive secondary at NHS … Listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com.
J'veon Bush
6-5 – 290 lbs. – Defensive Line
Orlando, Fla. (Jones HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Started his prep career at Oak Ridge High before finishing at Jones High in Orlando … Listed as one of the top defensive tackles in Florida by Florida Varsity Rivals … Was a two-way lineman on both the offensive and defensive front for part of his prep career … Credited with 93 total tackles as a senior including 16 solo stops and a pair of tackles for loss with a sack … Also had a fumble recovery in the 2024 season.
Cole Cooke
6-8 – 315 lbs. – Offensive Line
Fort Myers, Fla. (Riverdale HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Named to the News Press first-team All-Area offense as a senior after helping his high school rush for 2,579 rushing yards with 20 touchdowns … Chosen for the Rotary South All-Star game … Selected as one of the top 10 Florida prospects along the offensive line by FLAVARSITY through Rivals.com … Was ranked among the News Press "Big 15" in back-to-back years after just starting to play football as a freshman … Also played defensive line, recording 21 tackles including 15 solo stops, five TFLs with a sack in 2023 … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … Originally committed to FAU.
John Hammond
6-5 – 300 lbs. – Offensive Line
Spartanburg, S.C. (Spartanburg HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Two-time All-Region selection … Versatile offensive lineman who played center as a senior … Was among the Prep Redzone South Carolina's Fab 50 breakdown of offensive linemen in the state.
Personal: His father, Vance Hammond, was recruited to and played at Clemson before playing professionally … Was a fifth-round draft pick by the Phoenix Cardinals and was in camp by the Los Angeles Rams … Played in the WLAF for San Antonio and Sacramento … Played for two US-based teams in the CFL – Sacramento and Memphis – before being drafted in the dispersal draft by Calgary.
Bryce Hart
6-2 – 220 lbs. – Linebacker
Ringgold, Ga. (Ringgold HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Was named the GHSA Region 7-AA Defensive Player of the Year after recording 162 tackles with eight stops for loss and 12 quarterback hits … Named to the first team "Best of Preps" in northern Georgia and Chattanooga area by the Times Free-Press … Finished his prep career with 407 tackles, was twice named All-State and was a three-time recipient of first-team All-Region honors … Twice dubbed his team's defensive MVP … Was a three-time class president and a two-time theater state champion while in high school.
Richard Hollis
5-8 – 170 lbs. – Wide Receiver
Pompano Beach, Fla. (Blanche Ely HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Amassed 1,360 all-purpose yards including 1,060 receiving yards as a senior with 11 touchdowns … Selected to play in the Dade vs. Broward All-Star game … Also ran track as a prep.
Brandon Joseph II
6-3 – 290 lbs. – Defensive Line
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Credited with 45 total tackles with 16 solo stops over his final two seasons, according to MaxPreps.com … Had six tackles for loss and six sacks, adding 15 hurries … Won a Florida 3M title in 2022 … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.
Joel Mintze
6-0 – 195 lbs. – Safety
Delray Beach, Fla. (Miami Norland HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to a talent-laden Norland High secondary as a lock-down defender … Also attended American High and Miami Northwestern … Is an honor student in the classroom … Highlighted by Rivals.com midway through his senior season as a sleeper among top Florida recruits … Also ran track as a prep where he was the 400-meter dash district champion.
Antwan Moore
6-1 – 175 lbs. – Wide Receiver
Miami, Fla. (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.
Josh Perry
6-0 – 200 lbs. – Running Back
Orlando, Fla. (Edgewater HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: An all-purpose back out of central Florida who was noted for his receiving abilities as he played in the slot as a wide receiver as a prep freshman and sophomore … Rushed 139 times for 1,046 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior, adding 21 catches for 213 yards and a score … Amassed 1,259 all-purpose yards … Highlighted by Rivals.com midway through his senior season as a sleeper among top Florida recruits … Listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com … Also ran track and played basketball as a prep.
Personal: His father, Jonathan Perry, played collegiate football at North Carolina.
Christian Robbins
6-0 – 170 lbs. – Cornerback
Orlando, Fla. (Jones HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Versatile athlete that played defensive back, wide receiver, and quarterback as a prep … Credited with 31 total tackles including 20 solo stops with two interceptions as a senior in 2024 … Earned area Prep Player of the Week plaudits … Saw limited time as a quarterback as a sophomore and junior, throwing for 266 yards on 13 completions with a pair of TD passes … Caught 24 passes for 444 yards and two touchdowns as a junior.
Michael Rossin
6-0 – 185 – Wide Receiver
Suwannee, Fla. (Suwannee HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Over three seasons and 23 games, caught 60 passes for 1,104 yards with 13 touchdowns … Named All-Area and the Lake City Reporter co-Player of the Year as a senior WR … Was named the FACA District 4 Player of the Year and played for the North team in the FACA All-Star Classic … Had 46 receptions for 818 yards and 10 scores as a senior, ranking eighth in program history for receiving yards tied for sixth in TD receptions, and ninth all-time in receptions … Added 359 rushing yards, 385 on kickoff returns, and 54 on punt returns to amass 1,619 yards total as a senior … As a two-way, added 46 total tackles, 14 pass breakups, one interception, and four fumble recoveries on defense, while also blocking multiple kicks and returned one kickoff back for a touchdown.
Kha'leal Sterling
5-9 – 170 lbs. – Wide Receiver
Miami, Fla. (Miami Central HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: HeroSports.com had him as
the No. 2 wide receiver prospect in the NCAA FCS … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and a two-star recruit by Rivals.com … Originally committed to Pitt … As a junior, caught 26 passes for 609 yards and seven touchdowns … Also ran track as a prep.
Marcus Trout
5-11 – 170 lbs. – Placekicker
Cocoa, Fla. (Cocoa HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Played for the Florida Class 2-A State Championship team … Named to the 2024 All-District 12 and District 12 All-Senior teams … Named the Brevard Sports Network co-Special Teams Player of the Year in 2023 … According to MaxPreps, had 83 kickoffs as a senior with 44 touchbacks, averaging 55.3 yards per kick … Punted just 12 times with an average of 41.2 yards including a 60 yarder and two downed inside the opponent 20 yard line … Finished 62-of-68 on PATs and hit 8-of-14 field goals including a long of 40 yards, accounting for 86 seasonal points … Credited with 78 combined touchbacks over his final two seasons as a prep … Scored 142 career points with 99 made PATs and 14 field goals … Spent 10 years living in Waynesville, N.C., when he was younger.
Trey Walker
5-10 – 170 lbs. – Wide Receiver
Hoschton, Ga. (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.
