Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football opened its 2026 preseason fall camp on a mild and sun-splashed Thursday morning, working out for right at two hours over nine periods on the new turf of Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The Catamounts worked out in helmets in the first of two sessions in this week's acclimation period before putting on shoulder pads for the first time this weekend.
"All first days are pretty good, you know?" said WCU head coach
Kerwin Bell following Thursday morning's first session, his sixth with the Catamounts. "It's a matter now of how you separate yourself from everybody else, because as you get into the grind and day in and day out, can you perform the next day at the same level and the same intensity and the same competitive nature? That juice that we had today – can we continue to do that? And I think we can."
Thursday's nine periods included both individual and unit drills, as well as a couple of team sessions, including a walk-through session with the offense and defense lining up without helmets. Much of Thursday's practice emphasized being detailed on every assignment and, as Bell said it, "getting our job done" to "get a jump on the weekend when we get into pads."
Six rostered quarterbacks each split reps on Thursday in the protected red jerseys, with returning quarterback
Isaac Lee and transfer
Lex Thomas splitting a good number of the team period reps. Lee is joined by returner
Ian Grissom, with a trio of freshmen –
Patrick Harding (17),
Jake Morrow (12), and
Caleb Tucker (16) on the roster entering the fall semester.
Much like the signal-caller position, reps across the field were spread between a lot of players through various formations and packages. Just four players were limited or restricted in Thursday's first workout.
"We've got a lot of spots up for the taking, so there's going to be a lot of competition these next 30 days, over the next 25 practices," said Bell. "I really like this football team."
Gallery: (7-30-2026) Catamount Football: Fall Practice No. 1
Among the individual highlights from Thursday's opening practice team drills was a long touchdown romp by returning running back
Marlin Cochran. On the ensuing possession, though, linebacker
Joshua Collins jumped a route and intercepted a pass, returning it for a touchdown as the defense responded.
Bell summarized Thursday's practice, stating, "It seems like we've always had a great day one. Now, we've got to duplicate that. What I like to see is a team that continues to strive to get better from that first day. It was a great day to start, great practice, really ran around, and our guys really played well and gave us everything. So, now, we need to do that the next 24 here in camp."
Practice continues Friday with an 8:30 a.m. session, again working out in helmets only, before the team works out in shells – uppers, or helmets and shoulder pads – on Saturday morning.
Western Carolina'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 the sidelines for safety. Please note that construction on the Western Skybox and amenities preparing the stadium for the 2026 season are ongoing and scheduled to continue through early August, with some areas and entrances remaining closed to the public.
Practice times are subject to change.
Both season and single-game tickets and gameday parking for all six home dates in #CatamountCountry are 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.
2026 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Fri., July 31 – Practice #2 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets only)
Sat., Aug. 1 – Practice #3 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sun., Aug. 2 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Mon., Aug. 3 – Practice #4 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Tues., Aug. 4 – Practice #5 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 5 – Practice #6 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 6 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Fri., Aug. 7 – Practice #7 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sat., Aug. 8 – Practice #8 – 9:00 am – 11:00 am (scrimmage, full pads)
Sun., Aug. 9 – Team Photo Day – 2 pm; Practice #9 – 3 pm – 5 pm (helmets only)
Mon., Aug. 10 – Practice #10 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Tues., Aug. 11 – Practice #11 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 12 – Practice #12 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 13 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Fri., Aug. 14 – Practice #13 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets only)
Fri., Aug. 14 – WCU Freshman Student Convocation
Sat., Aug. 15 – Practice #14 – 7 pm – 9 pm (scrimmage, full – student day)
Sun., Aug 16 – Athletics Welcome Back Event at Catamount Soccer – 12:30 pm
Mon., Aug. 17 – First Day of Classes at WCU – No Practice (Off-Day)
Tues., Aug. 18 – 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:
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)
