Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football added 16 transfers from the portal for the 2026 roster. The group included seven from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), three from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and six non-Division I transfers, including a pair of walk-ons.
 
Nine of the players are on offense, including four offensive linemen, three tight ends, a running back, and a quarterback transfer. Six play on defense – three along the line and three defensive backs, including two safeties and a cornerback. The final mid-year transfer is on special teams as a long snapper in Brevard transfer, Kaden Powell.

 

NAME	POS	HT	WT	YR	HOMETOWN (SCHOOL)
Isaac Boulger	OL	6-2	275	Jr.	Northport, Ala. (Auburn / Tuscaloosa County HS)
JT Bronaugh	RB	5-10	170	So.	Winter Green, Fla. (Eastern Michigan / Foundation Academy)
Jakoby Diamond	DL	6-1	290	So.	Cedartown, Ga. (Tuskegee / Cedartown HS)
Andre Jackson	CB	5-10	180	So.	Charlotte, N.C. (Hampton / Corvian Community School)
Braylon Jones	S	6-1	190	So.	Rockmart, Ga. (Reinhardt Univ. / Rockmart HS)
Aaron McIver	OL	6-2	290	Gr.	Charlotte, N.C. (Gardner-Webb / Butler HS)
Paul Hartman	TE	6-5	230	R-So.	Springfield, Ill. (Coastal Carolina / Springfield HS)
Fernando Jeanty	DL	6-5	240	So.	N. Miami Beach, Fla. (Florida Memorial/N. Miami Beach HS)
Noah Lospinoso	TE	6-5	230	So.	Orlando, Fla. (Warner Univ. / Freedom HS)
Ja'Torian "Duke" Mack	S	5-11	190	So.	Eatonville, Fla. (Appalachian State / Edgewater HS)
Brayson McIver	OL	6-0	285	So.	Charlotte, N.C. (Coastal Carolina / Butler HS)
Jabari McWilliams	DL	6-0	290	Jr.	Picayune, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast / Picayune HS)
Kaden Powell	LS	6-8	255	So.	Woodstock, Ga. (Brevard College / Etowah HS)
Lex Thomas	QB	5-11	195	Jr.	Wake Forest, N.C. (NC State / Heritage HS)
Andrew Threatt	TE	6-3	240	R-Sr.	Charlotte, N.C. (Gardner-Webb / Metrolina Christian Academy)
Jake Young	TE	6-3	240	R-Sr.	Waxhaw, N.C. (WCU / Charlotte / Marvin Ridge HS)

 
 
Western Carolina and the Catamount Club will hold its annual National Signing Day event on Saturday, Feb. 28, beginning at Noon in Cullowhee, where information about each of WCU's newcomers will be presented by the coaching staff ahead of the start of spring practice. The event is open to Catamount Club members at the Captains Level and above, and an RSVP is requested.
 
Catamount football is scheduled to open its annual spring drills on Monday, March 2, with three practices before the University's Spring Break, March 9-13. Practice will resume on Monday, March 16, and conclude with the annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 11, at Noon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.
 
Read more about Western Carolina's mid-year transfers from the portal:
 
Isaac Boulger
6-2 – 275 lbs. – OL – Jr.
Northport, Ala. (Auburn/Tuscaloosa County HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Auburn … Spent two seasons with the Tigers program as a walk-on but did not see game action; At Tuscaloosa County HS: Was an all-region selection as a junior and senior … Earned honorable mention Class 7A all-state honors… member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Is the son of Valerie and Joshua Boulger … Has a sister, Hannah 
 
JT Bronaugh
5-10 – 170 lbs. – RB – So.
Winter Green, Fla. (Eastern Michigan/Foundation Academy)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Eastern Michigan … Spent the past two seasons at EMU, but did not see game action … Practiced with the team in 2024 and redshirted in 2025; At Foundation Academy: Totaled 1,950 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior … Averaged 16.6 yards per carry and 22.8 yards per catch with five receiving TDs … Named the Orlando Touchdown Club Ironman Award winner in 2023 … 2023 FHSAA District 1M Player of the Year, District 2 Player of the Year and 2023 All-Orange County Observer First-Team … Selected as the 2022-23 National Christian School Athletic Association (NCSAA) Varsity Football All-American … Listed as a 3-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … Also ran track as a prep as a sprinter, capturing regional and district titles in the 100m dash and was part of the 4x100m relay team that took first at the FHSAA 1A meet – Pronounced: BRAH-no.
 
Jakoby Diamond
6-1 – 290 lbs. – DL – So.
Cedartown, Ga. (Tuskegee / Cedartown HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from NCAA Division II Tuskegee … Saw action in six games as a freshman, recording 15 total tackles with three solo stops and 1.5 for loss, including a sack … Tallied a season-high five tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack in a home contest against Fort Valley State … Added four stops against Allen… picked up a lose fumble against Morehouse … Prepped at Cedartown High School.
 
Paul Hartman 
6-5 – 230 lbs. – TE – R-So.
Springfield, Ill. (Coastal Carolina/Springfield HS) 
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Coastal Carolina … Spent two seasons at Coastal Carolina … Did not see game action as a freshman in 2024 … Played in just one game in 2025 against Old Dominion, rushing one time; At Springfield HS: Tabbed as the #60-ranked athlete in the state of Illinois in the class of 2024 … Played quarterback and wide receiver during his prep career … Threw for 457 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior … Was listed as a 3-star recruit by 247Sports.com and a 2-star athlete by Rivals.
 
Andre Jackson 
5-10 – 180 lbs – CB – So.
Charlotte, N.C. (Hampton / Corvian Community School)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Hampton … Played one season for the Pirates, appearing in all 12 games … Credited with 49 tackles, including 30 solo stops … Had multiple tackles in 11 of 12 games … Recorded five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery … Tallied 11 stops with eight solo tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack during a home game against Norfolk State … Added six stops against Villanova, with five apiece against Campbell, Elizabeth City State and Rhode Island; At Corvian Community School: Was a two-time first-team all-conference choice … Unanimous winner of the league's defensive player of the year award.
 
Fernando Jeanty 
6-5 – 240 lbs. – DL – So.
North Miami Beach, Fla. (Florida Memorial/North Miami Beach HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from NAIA member Florida Memorial … Recorded totaled 59 tackles, including 36 solo stops over 10 games … Had 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks coming over five games … Credited with a season-high 11 tackles against Cumberland (TN) and 10 stops with eight solo tackles against Warner ... Had a season-high 3.5 tackles for loss against Southeastern … Tallied a pair of pass breakups … prepped at North Miami Beach High School.
 
Braylon Jones
6-1 – 190 lbs – S – So.  
Rockmart, Ga. (Reinhardt Univ. / Rockmart HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year from NAIA-member Reinhardt University … Played in 11 games in 2025, recording 64 total tackles, including 39 solo stops and half a tackle for loss … recovered a fumble and had three interceptions … Closed out the 2025 season with a season-high 12 tackles at St. Thomas … prepped at Rockmart High School…
 
Noah Lospinoso
6-4 – 230 – TE – So.
Orlando, Fla. (Warner/Freedom HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from NAIA Warner University … Caught seven passes for 120 yards spanning six games in 2025 … Posted catches in four of his six games … Recorded four receptions for 50 yards at Webber International … Tallied a season-high 46-yard reception against Cumberlands (Ky.); At Freedom HS: Earned athlete of the year honors in 2025 … Also garnered five player of the week awards.
 
Ja'Torian "Duke" Mack
5-11 – 190 lbs. – S – So.
Eatonville, Fla. (Appalachian State / Edgewater HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Appalachian State … Saw action in four games as a freshman at App State … Did not record statistics over four games; At Edgewater HS: Over his final three seasons, tallied 135 tackles, 17 passes defensed, five fumbles forced and recovered and five TFLs … Was a 3-star recruit according to both Rivals and 247Sports.com.
 
Aaron McIver 
6-2 – 290 lbs. – OL – Gr.
Charlotte, N.C. (Gardner-Webb / Butler HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year graduate transfer from Gardner-Webb … Played in 21 games for the Runnin' Bulldogs along the offensive line, including 11 in 2025; At Butler HS: An Academic All-State choice following senior season in 2021 … An All-Southwestern 4A Conference selection on the offensive line … Chosen to play in the 2021 Queen City Senior Bowl … Played for Coach Brian Hales.
 
Brayson McIver
6-0 – 285 lbs. – OL – So.
Charlotte, N.C. (Coastal Carolina / Butler HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Coastal Carolina … Spent two seasons as a part of the Chanticleer program, but did not see game action; At Butler HS: Named team captain and earned first-team All-Observer honors … Was a two-time SW 4A All-Conference selection and was named to the 2023 High School OT All-State team.
 
Jabari McWilliams 
6-0 – 290 lbs. – DL – Jr.
Picayune, Miss. (Mississippi Gulf Coast / Picayune HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC … Spent the past two seasons at MGCCC, playing in 20 games over two seasons … Totaled 57 tackles, including 20 solo stops and eight tackles for loss with 1.5 sacks … In 2025 season, credited with 44 stops with 6.5 TFLs, along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery; At Picayune HS: Credited with 34 tackles, 34 assists, 13 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 17 QBH, 1 PD, 3 FR … Selected to play in Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game ... As a junior, was a part of a Class 5A state title for second straight season.
 
Kaden Powell 
6-8 – 255 lbs. – LS – So.
Woodstock, Ga. (Brevard College / Etowah HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Brevard College … Saw action in all 10 games at Brevard in 2025 … Prepped at Etowah HS where he played football and basketball … Was listed as a 4-star long-snapper.
 
Lex Thomas 
5-11 – 195 lbs. – QB – Jr.
Wake Forest, N.C. (NC State / Heritage HS)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from NC State after two seasons in Raleigh … Saw action in four games over two years in Raleigh … Was 7-for-15 for 83 yards, with a touchdown and an interception with the Pack … Totaled 53 yards and a score against Clemson in his first on-field action in 2024 … Saw action in nonconference foe Campbell before recording a pass attempt in bowl game against Memphis; At Heritage HS: Threw for over 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns in two varsity seasons … Ranked as the No. 27 player in the state according to 247Sports. A consensus Top 30 player in the state, according to ESPN, Rivals, On3 and 247Sports … Was listed as a three-star recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports.
 
Andrew Threatt 
6-6 – 285 lbs. – OL – Gr.
Charlotte, N.C. (Gardner-Webb / Navy / Metrolina Christian Academy)
Prior to Western Carolina: Mid-year transfer from Gardner-Webb … Played in 25 games between 2023-25 along the offensive line with 19 starts … Was a second-team All-OVC-Big South Association selection in 2025 … Named to the 2025 FCS All-North Carolina team by NC Football News … Originally attended the United States Naval Academy out of high school, but did not see game action; At Metrolina Christian: Was a two-time North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association All-State selection as a junior and senior … All-Conference lineman who served as team captain his senior year
Personal: Is the son of Amy and Rob Threatt.
 
Jake Young
6-3 – 240 lbs. – TE – R-Sr.
Waxhaw, N.C. (Charlotte / WCU / Marvin Ridge HS)
Complete Western Carolina Bio
Prior to Western Carolina: Young returns to Cullowhee after spending a season at Charlotte in 2025 … For the 49ers, he caught four passes for 30 yards with the receptions coming on the road against ECU and Army West Point …  Before transferring to Charlotte, Young was a first-team All-Southern Conference selection at TE for the Catamounts in 2024 … He totaled 17 games played over two seasons in Cullowhee, which included 28 catches in 2024 for 321 yards and a pair of touchdowns … He scored in the 2024 opener on the road against NC State and in a road meeting against mountain-rival ETSU.