Cullowhee, N.C. – Much cooler temperatures underneath gray morning skies were a welcome sight on Saturday morning as Western Carolina took the turf at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field for the fourth practice of the 2025 preseason.
With the threat of morning thunderstorms, WCU head coach
Kerwin Bell and his staff adjusted their normal practice schedule to avoid the weather and complete as many segments as possible before potentially being forced off the field. As it turned out, Bell and his squad were able to navigate through the entire session ahead of the weather that hit western North Carolina later than anticipated.
"I felt we got around and practiced really hard here on day four. I thought that it was a good day for everybody," said Bell following his squad's workout. "We are starting to pick up our schemes and a lot of our young guys are starting to fit in, so yeah, it was a real good day for us."
Many of the 7-on-7 skill drills were held earlier in Saturday's practice, with the offense finding success despite the defensive unit's tight coverages. WCU's defense had the final word in the first skill session as cornerback
Hasaan Sykes intercepted a throw low and away on the last rep.
Five quarterbacks split the bulk of the reps during both skill and team drills on Saturday morning.
"I think that we've got the right pieces here, even though some of them are new," Bell said of his offensive unit through a smile. "There's a lot of competition at almost every position; a lot of good players, we've just got to go find the right ones."
During the longest competitive sequence on Saturday morning, both sides found success.
Isaac Lee made the first significant impact with a big gainer to
Malik Knight, who made a couple of catches, before Dartmouth transfer WR
Painter Richards-Baker dazzled by climbing the ladder for a reception between a pair of defenders. Receiver
James Tyre made a nifty move on the sideline to turn in a chunk play early for the offense.
Second-year offensive coordinator
Rylan Wells mixed in several running plays with
Branson Adams and
Anthony Benjamin both clicking off multiple yards on romps. Returning RB
Camury Reid was also big out of the backfield in catching a pass for a good yardage game.
Momentum swung near the scrimmage midpoint after
Joshua Collins, a converted linebacker and Western North Carolina product from Bryson City, capitalized on pressure assistance from the defensive line to register a sack. LB
Jeno Junius Jr. was also credited with a sack for the defense, while redshirt sophomore DL
Jackson Banks led a good charge from the defensive line late in the period.
Linebacker
Armond Anderson sniffed out a would-be screen pass with Darian Anderson lending support for a run stop by S
Julian Quintero as part of the defensive highlights.
Zayveon Wells also successfully defended a pass, knocking the ball away to prevent a reception.
Among the highlights of the final 7-on-7 skelly session was Orlando, Fla., freshman
Christian Robbins, who showed good closing speed to record an interception on an endzone route.
Typically, offensive-minded, Bell has been pleased with the work of his defense through the first four practices this preseason, entering the second year under defensive coordinator
Jerry Odom.
"There's a lot more just natural play," said Bell of his defenders. "They understand the system a little bit better, like the back of their hand. Been able to play a bit freer. We saw that the last three or four games last year, and I think that is carrying over."
Bell added, "We've got some guys banged up, some older guys. Once we get them in, I feel like you're going to see the kind of defense we need to go win a championship."
Western Carolina's football student-athletes have Sunday off from the practice field before resuming workouts in shoulder pads on Monday, Aug. 4, before going full-contact in full pads for the first time on the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 5
(practice times are subject to change).
A reminder that WCU's preseason football practices are open to the public. It is respectfully requested, though, that spectators observe from the stadium seating area and avoid being either on the field or on the sidelines for safety. Also, please be aware of the construction fencing around the West side of the stadium, which will limit access points as construction on the Western Skybox and Whitmire West projects continues this summer and into the fall season.
Western Carolina opens the season at home, under the lights on Labor Day Weekend against Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Aug. 30. It's the first season-opening home game for the Catamounts since 2021 in
Kerwin Bell's first season in Cullowhee, which also represented WCU's most recent night game at Whitmire Stadium.
Season tickets for all six home games, along with
single-game tickets and gameday parking for each of WCU's home dates, are currently on sale through the Catamount Athletics Ticket Office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, or online at
CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets.
Western Carolina Athletics is planning a special
Fall Sports Preview, LIVE on location at Catamount Jaxe (114 Market Street, Cullowhee –
www.catamountjaxe.com), coming in the second full week of August. The show will feature the head coaches of each of WCU's fall sports, including Bell, Chad Miller from women's soccer, Karen Glover from volleyball, and Jesse Norman from cross country. The show will air on WCU's official Facebook page (FB.com/catamountsports).
2025 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Sun., Aug. 3 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Mon., Aug. 4 – Practice #5 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Tues., Aug. 5 – Practice #6 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Wed., Aug. 6 – Practice #7 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Thurs., Aug. 7 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Fri., Aug. 8 – Practice #8 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sat., Aug. 9 – Practice #9 – 9:00 am – 11:00 am (scrimmage, full pads)
Sun., Aug. 10 – Team Photo Day – 2 pm; Practice #10 – 3 pm – 5 pm (helmets only)
Mon., Aug. 11 – Practice #11 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Tues., Aug. 12 – Practice #12 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 13 – Practice #13 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 14 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Fri., Aug. 15 – Practice #14 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets only)
Fri., Aug. 15 – WCU Freshman Student Convocation
Sat., Aug. 16 – Practice #15 – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (scrimmage, full – student day)
Sun., Aug 17 – Athletics Welcome Back Event at Catamount Soccer – 12:30 pm
Sun. Aug. 17 – Catamount Football Team Building Event – 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Mon., Aug. 18 – First Day of Classes at WCU – No Practice (Off-Day)
Tues., Aug. 19 – Begins in-season practice schedule – 4:30 pm
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports, FB.com/WesternCarolinaFootball), Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountsfb).
Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Tues., Aug. 5 –
Catamount Soccer vs. Charleston Southern (Exhibition), 4 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 8 –
Catamount Soccer vs. Queens University (Exhibition) – 6 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 14 –
Catamount Football Ladies Night – Whitmire Stadium – 5 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 14 –
Catamount Soccer vs. Appalachian State (Season Opener, ESPN+) – 6 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 17 –
Catamount Soccer vs. High Point – 1 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 22 – Catamount Volleyball vs. UNC Pembroke (Exhibition) – 6 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 30 –
Catamount Football vs. Gardner-Webb – 6 p.m. (Postgame Fireworks)
Sun., Aug. 31 –
Catamount Soccer vs. Tennessee (First Bank Beach Night) – 6 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 9 –
Catamount Volleyball vs. UNC Asheville (First Bank Beach Night) – 6 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 12 –
The Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament – Sequoyah National in Cherokee, N.C.
Sat., Sept. 13 –
Catamount Football vs. Elon – 2:30 p.m. (White Out Whitmire! Wear White!)
