Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina senior defensive back Ken Moore Jr. was today named a second-team Preseason All-America selection by Stats Perform FCS, a preeminent source for coverage of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.
 
It's the fifth-straight season WCU has landed a player on the Stats Perform Preseason All-America team, joining QBs Taron Dickens (2025) and Cole Gonzales (2024), transfer linebacker Antoine Williams (2023), and Calvin Jones (2022) as a kick returner.
 
Moore Jr. was a first-team All-Southern Conference selection last season after finishing sixth on the Catamount squad with 43 total tackles, including 28 solo stops and a career-best 5.5 tackles for loss, including a sack. He recorded three interceptions, tied for the third-most in the SoCon, returning a second-quarter pick 64 yards for a touchdown in the home win over Furman, earning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors. Moore added seven seasonal pass breakups, tied for sixth in the conference.
 
Over the past three seasons, Moore has recorded 96 tackles in 35 games played as both a cornerback and a nickelback. The Miami, Fla., product has eight career interceptions, including four as a sophomore in 2024, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Moore has been credited with 24 career pass breakups, tied for the sixth-most in program history entering the 2026 season.
 
Moore was one of seven players from the Southern Conference dubbed preseason All-America. He was joined on the second team by senior defensive lineman Chris Benton of The Citadel, all-purpose back Brayden Smith from Mercer, and Tennessee Tech wide receiver Eric Weatherly. Furman's Joshua Stoneking was named a first-team selection along the defensive line, joined on the first unit by VMI punter Ben Shrewsbury. MJ Flowers of Tennessee Tech was a third-team selection at running back.
 
Preseason excitement for the 2026 season continues to rev up in a week as the Southern Conference convenes at the Hotel Hartness in Greenville, S.C., on Tuesday, July 21, for the 2026 SoCon Football Media Day. The preseason All-SoCon teams and predicted order of finish, as voted on by the league's head coaches, will be unveiled as the coaches and two players from each league team meet with members of the media to mark the unofficial start of the 2026 campaign. Entering his sixth season in Cullowhee, head coach Kerwin Bell is slated to be joined by all-conference candidates in wide receiver AJ Colombo and defensive back Ken Moore Jr. next week for the annual preseason event.
 
Riding the momentum of three consecutive seven-win seasons – and four straight winning records at season's end – season tickets for the 2026 home schedule remain on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Single-game tickets and parking for the 2026 home opener against Eastern Kentucky, under the new lights on Saturday, Aug. 29, go on sale on Tuesday, July 14. The opener has been billed as a "Blackout Whitmire" game. Check out the Blackout Shop online now to get your black Nike WCU gear. The remaining five home dates will be available for purchase beginning July 28.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts).
 
ABOUT STATS PERFORM: Stats Perform, the sports tech leader in data and AI, offers unparalleled coverage of the FCS through its data-driven storytelling platform Opta Analyst. By delivering the Top 25 national media poll, comprehensive analysis, statistics, and insights, Stats Perform enhances the experience for FCS football fans and stakeholders alike.
 
This year, Stat Perform will cap the 16th anniversary season of the Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the FCS National Freshman Player of the Year, and also include the presentations of the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year), HBCU National Player of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year at its awards presentation in Nashville, Tenn.
 
Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Tuesday, July 14 – Single-game tickets and parking for the home opener on sale
Tuesday, July 21 – 2026 Southern Conference Football Media Day (Greenville, S.C.)
Tuesday, July 28 – Single-game tickets and parking for remaining five home dates on sale
Wednesday, July 29 – Catamount Football student-athletes report for fall camp
Thursday, July 30 – First football 2026 preseason practice (8:30 a.m., helmet only)
Wednesday, Aug. 5 – Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Georgia State (CAC, 7 p.m.)
Saturday, Aug. 8 – Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Wright State (CAC, 2 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 13 – Women's Soccer Season-Opener – vs. Winthrop (CAC, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 14 – WCU Freshman Convocation (Ramsey Center)
Monday, Aug. 17 – First day of classes for the 2026 fall semester – Cullowhee
Friday, Aug. 21 – Volleyball Exhibition – vs. Anderson (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 21 – Catamount Shootout Golf Tournament (Marion Lake Club, Nebo, N.C.)
Saturday, Aug. 29 – Catamount Football season-opener vs. Eastern Kentucky (7 p.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Volleyball Home Opener – vs. Gardner-Webb (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Sept. 13-15 – Men's Golf – JT Poston Invitational – (Waynesville Inn & Golf Club)
Friday, Oct. 2 – Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament – (Sequoyah  National, Cherokee)