Cullowhee, N.C. – Jeremy King spent a season coaching on staff at the University of Georgia, studying under one of the modern-day coaching innovators, Bulldog head coach Kirby Smart. Something that Smart once said to his Red and Black-clad team stuck with King, a native Georgian – 'your versatility creates your value.'
 
Over the past three seasons, King has carried that ideology into coaching the Catamount offensive line
 
"Here, we don't coach position-specific players; we coach offensive linemen," King explained, lending to the position group's depth heading into 2026. "Versatility should be something that we have at a premium for us going into this season. And I think most importantly that this allows us to always put our best five linemen on the field."
 
That versatility is on display with the current unit as King stated that of the 19 offensive linemen in his position room, nine took reps at center during preseason camp – a position he referenced as "usually the least favorable of offensive line play." King employs the "next man up" mentality, cross-training and adding redundancies critical to sustainability through the course of a season.
 
Western Carolina's offense has been ranked among the national leaders in yardage, first downs, and scoring since head coach Kerwin Bell's arrival in Cullowhee. And each season, the expectations for the unit remain the same, demanded by Bell, and it all starts in the trenches.
 
"The expectations for this (offensive line) group in the 2026 season are simple – be versatile, be violent, and be poised," said King. "Although a new group, this group provides a lot of experience that should bode well for us offensively."
 
Nine of WCU's offensive linemen have played in an NCAA Division I football game, with the veterans together combining for 147 career games played and 93 combined starts. Preseason All-Southern Conference selection Zach Watson is joined by returners Aaron Sanez, Vito Moriana-Sigel, Steven Hamby, Konrad Henderson, Renard Smith, and Secrea Algie, who have each been in the WCU system for a couple of years and "gained valuable game experience during their time," King said.
 
Other WCU returners include J'veon Bush, Cole Cooke, Aidan Cooper, Nicholas Foster, and John Hammond, each of whom has not seen action at WCU.
 
The unit has added NCAA Division I transfers, including Isaac Boulger from Auburn, the McIver brothers – Brayson from Coastal Carolina and All-Big South/OVC selection Aaron from Gardner-Webb, and veteran starter Andrew Threatt also a second-team all-conference selection at Gardner-Webb.

Rounding out the unit are a trio of freshmen, including Colin McClellan (Plant City, Fla.), Sawyer Nelson (Lenoir, N.C.), and Brian Wheat (Jacksonville, Fla.).
 
Above all the other descriptors of his position unit group, King simply states that he wants his offensive line to be dominant at the point of attack, be violent within the game, and move people off the ball.
 
"Domination of the line of scrimmage has been an emphasis and something we're continuing to emphasize. We must be balanced offensively, and with the attitude and mental makeup of this group we have the opportunity to do something special here in Catamount Country," said King.
 
Western Carolina opens the 2026 season at home on Saturday, Aug. 29, hosting Eastern Kentucky under the lights at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field with a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Catamounts look to "Blackout Whitmire," wearing their new "Night Cat" black Nike uniforms, with all fans encouraged to wear their black WCU gear to the game.
 
In addition to the first 3,500 fans receiving FREE black WCU T-shirts, Catamount Athletics marketing will pass out 4,000 Blackout thunder sticks, courtesy of The Everson. Before the game, one of the best FCS football traditions returns as we celebrate the 15th Annual Freshmen Run, as WCU's Class of 2030 – one of the largest in school history – will run through the pregame tunnel to lead out the Catamount football team.
 
Also highlighting the jam-packed home opener, Catamount Athletics and Vannoy Construction present a special drone light show, produced by SkyElements, that will light up the western North Carolina sky as part of the festivities.
 
The home-opener is presented by Ingles and media partners Kiss Country and Star 104.3.

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.
 

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CATAMOUNT OFFENSIVE LINE (19):
51 – Aaron Sanez (6-2, 295 lbs., 5th) – 18 GP, 10 GS
52 – Brayson McIver (6-2, 280 lbs., Jr.) – 3 GP at Coastal Carolina
53 – Zach Watson (6-1, 295 lbs., Sr.) – 26 GP, 16 GS, 2nd team Preseason All-SoCon
55 – Secrea Algie (6-5, 320 lbs., Jr.) – 5 GP
56 – Aaron McIver (6-2, 290 lbs., 5th) – 24 GS at Gardner-Webb
58 – Isaac Boulger (6-2, 290 lbs., Jr.) – Auburn transfer
62 – Brian Wheat (6-3, 285 lbs., Fr.)
64 – Konrad Henderson (6-3, 305 lbs., Sr.) – 3 GP at Guilford College in 2023
65 – Nicholas Foster (6-1, 295 lbs., So.)
67 – Steven Hamby (6-5, 325 lbs., Sr.) – 16 GP, 7 GS
68 – Aidan Cooper (6-4, 305 lbs., So.)
69 – Cole Cooke (6-8, 330 lbs., So.)
71 – Sawyer Nelson (6-3, 280 lbs., Fr.)
72 – Andrew Threatt (6-6, 285 lbs., 5th) – 25 GP, 19 GS at Gardner-Webb
73 – Colin McClellan (6-3, 265 lbs., Fr.)
75 – Renard Smith (6-4, 325 lbs., 5th) – 7 GP, 1 GS
77 – John Hammond (6-5, 320 lbs., So.)
78 – J'veon Bush (6-5, 320 lbs., So.)
79 – Vito Moriana-Sigel (6-5, 315 lbs., 5th) – 20 GP, 16 GS at MVSU and WCU
 
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:
Monday, Aug. 17 – First day of classes for the 2026 fall semester – Cullowhee
Mon., Aug. 17 – Catamount Coaches Show – Fall Sports Preview (Catamount Jaxe, 6 p.m.)
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)