Cullowhee, N.C. – Tight ends rarely draw the spotlight. Their best plays often don't show up in the box score. But for Western Carolina's offense, few position groups carry a bigger responsibility than the men asked to block defensive linemen, catch passes in traffic, and seamlessly shift between roles from snap to snap.
 
It's why the Catamount tight ends – a group that embodies grit and versatility – have embraced a simple motto under third-year assistant coach Kyle Dickey:
 
"Clock In; Get Paid."
 
Tasked with blocking defensive ends one play, stretching the field as a receiver the next, and contributing on special teams throughout the game, the tight ends have embraced that identity built on hard work and accountability.
 
"Overall, we're excited about this group, and it's been a joy to coach them to this point," Dickey said. "They show up to work every day and earn the right to win each week.
 
"Though our top three tight ends from a season ago are gone, we have a great mix of talent and experience to lead the room this season. In fact, this group could be the best we've ever had."
 
That confidence stems not only from talent, but from the chemistry that has quickly developed among a unit featuring several new faces.
 
"We've always had a great camaraderie in our position group, and it speaks volumes to the type of guys we've brought in," Dickey added. "Each of them has clocked in throughout the offseason, and we're looking forward to seeing the fruits of their labor. No matter how sweet the taste of victory gets, this group will make sure we put our hard hats back on and earn it all over again the following week."
 
The position holds a unique place in Western Carolina's offense. Coordinator Rylan Wells, who coached the group from 2021 through 2023, has long viewed the tight end position as one of the key ingredients that makes the Catamount offense difficult to defend.
 
"We have guys that are both physical in the run game and athletic enough to be a mismatch in the passing game," Dickey explained. "This allows us to be multiple in our formations without having to slow down and substitute different personnel groups."
 
The seven-man room is a blend of veterans, transfers, and young talent. Five players have already logged collegiate snaps, though most are still early in their careers, creating an intriguing combination of experience and upside.
 
Leading the group is a familiar name back in Purple and Gold. After spending last season at Charlotte, fifth-year veteran Jake Young has returned to Cullowhee, bringing both proven production and leadership back to the mountains.
 
A 2024 first-team All-Southern Conference selection, Young totaled 28 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdowns during his previous Catamount campaign. A legacy player whose father, Jason, suited up for Western Carolina from 1990 through 1994, Young returns with a deep understanding of both the offense and the program.
 
"We ask these guys to line up at so many different spots, shift, motion, and do so many different things post-snap that intelligence is a requirement for the position," Dickey said. "Experience in the system is also critical.
 
"Jake brings that with a calm demeanor and veteran leadership to the room. He's eager to compete in our offense again where he feels like his talents can be maximized. I also think that it means more to Jake as a legacy."
 
Alongside Young is veteran Isaac McLellan, whose impact extends far beyond the stat sheet. Entering his final season, McLellan has built a reputation as one of the team's toughest and most dependable performers. Whether on offense or special teams, where he serves as a captain, his willingness to embrace every challenge has made him invaluable to the program.
 
Dickey calls him "pound-for-pound, one of the strongest players on the team."
 
"Isaac sets the pace in the weight room and demands his teammates keep up with him as they complete Coach Andrew Bates' grueling workouts," Dickey said. "Coach Kerry Webb refers to Isaac as a 'war daddy' and a guy you want on your side in a fight. He's smart and can make all the calls and adjustments on the field to keep us in good situations."
 
Another player generating excitement is Bode Burns.
 
Already blessed with size and athletic ability, the 6-foot-5 tight end added 35 pounds during the offseason without sacrificing his athleticism, creating a player that could become a major weapon in the Catamount offense.
 
"He's always had receiver skills," Dickey said. "Now he's more confident in the blocking schemes and understands how he fits into our offense.
 
"When guys put on so much weight, you worry about them losing a step. If anything, Bode has gotten more explosive and improved his short-area quickness."
 
That versatility will allow Burns to contribute from nearly anywhere on the field, whether attached to the offensive line, lined up as a wing, or split out as a receiver.
 
Western Carolina also strengthened the room through the transfer portal with the addition of Paul Hartman III, who arrives from Coastal Carolina. Though opportunities were limited during his time in Conway, Hartman has already made an impression with his ability to stretch the field vertically.
 
"Paul is another big body that can really open up and run down the field," Dickey said.
 
Another ascending player is Cole Craddock, a second-year Catamount from powerhouse Tarboro High School. At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, the coach's son has steadily climbed the depth chart and is expected to compete for a larger role this fall. While his physicality as a blocker stands out, Dickey believes his development as a pass catcher may be the most significant growth in his game.
 
"Cole has a great personality with an infectious positive energy that impacts the locker room," Dickey said. "That positive mindset is what got him to make the travel squad as a true freshman late in the year and earned a start on special teams."
 
The future of the tight end room appears bright as well.
 
Freshman Roman Jones, a standout from nearby Robbinsville, has spent his first months in Cullowhee learning the demands of the position while continuing to develop physically.
Joining him is fellow freshman Davis Waddell from Georgia's Cartersville High School. After enrolling early and participating in spring practice, Waddell has benefited from additional repetitions and valuable time within the offense.
 
Both Dickey and head coach Kerwin Bell have praised the potential of the young tight ends as they continue to grow within the program.
 
While the faces in the room may have changed, the standard has not. For the Catamount tight ends, success is measured not only by catches and touchdowns, but by the willingness to do the dirty work that often goes unnoticed. It is a position built on toughness, versatility, and selflessness, qualities that continue to define one of the hardest-working groups on the roster.
 
And if Dickey's confidence is any indication, the payoff from all that work could make 2026 one of the most productive seasons the position has seen in years.
 
TIGHT ENDS (7):
9 – Bode Burns (6-5, 245 lbs., Jr.) – 4 GP, 1 rec., 23 yds
44 – Isaac McLellan (6-2, 240 lbs., 5th) – 37 GP, 7 tckls
48 – Roman Jones (6-3, 230 lbs., Fr.)
85 – Paul Hartman III (6-5, 240 lbs., Jr.) – 1 GP at Coastal, 2 seasons
86 – Davis Waddell (6-5, 220 lbs., Fr.)
87 – Jake Young (6-3, 245 lbs., 5th) – 17 GP, 30 rec., 325 yds, 2 TD; 12 GP at Charlotte
88 – Cole Craddock (6-4, 245 lbs., So.) – 3 GP
 
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 postgame 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.
 
Additional Positional Previews:
Offensive Line
Defensive Secondary
Special Teams
Wide Receivers
Linebackers
Quarterbacks
 
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:
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)