Cullowhee, N.C. – A new season brings a new opportunity for Western Carolina's running backs, and no position group enters 2026 with a bigger chip on its shoulder.
 
Fueled by competition, tradition of talent, newfound depth, and a relentless "go hunt" mentality, the Catamount running backs are eager to reestablish themselves as a major weapon in one of the Southern Conference's most explosive offenses.
 
That mindset starts with running backs coach Rudi Small, whose playing career at Jacksonville University included three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The aggressive approach that defined his success as a player has become the foundation of the room he leads today.
 
"I'm super excited for this group," Small said. "This is the most talent, from top to bottom, that we've had in the room in a while."
 
That's high praise considering the position has recently produced standout performers such as Desmond Reid, the 2022 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, Freshman All-American, and finalist for the Stats Perform Jerry Rice Freshman of the Year Award.
 
But Small believes this year's group possesses a different blend of ability.
 
"We've always recruited explosive running backs that were undersized but dynamic players," Small said. "This year, we've found dynamic backs with the size to go with it. Even though the room is young and inexperienced, their work ethic and attention to detail make up for it."
 
Leading the charge are returning backs Josh Perry (6-0, 205) and Marlin Cochran (6-0, 200), who emerged from spring practice and preseason camp as leaders of the Catamount ground game.
 
While neither has logged extensive game experience, both enter the season hungry for larger roles. The duo has combined for 19 career appearances, totaling 232 rushing yards, 134 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. Cochran scored on the ground during the 2024 campaign, while Perry found the end zone through the air last season.
 
Cochran appeared in 16 games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons before missing last year due to injury. Perry's opportunities were limited as the coaching staff preserved his redshirt under the NCAA's previous participation model.
 
Seeking additional experience and versatility, Western Carolina turned to the transfer portal and landed Derrick Davis Jr., a former LSU and Pitt standout with Power Four experience. A converted defensive back, Davis appeared in 17 games at LSU and rushed for 57 yards during his second season with the Tigers. He later united with former WCU offensive coordinator Kade Bell at Pitt, where he added 78 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
 
The room's depth extends beyond its top three contributors.
 
Anthony Benjamin returns after appearing in one game last season, while Noah Best enters his second year in the program after joining the Catamounts as a preferred walk-on in 2025. Elijah Hadley, now in his third season with the program, provides another experienced option in a room filled with competition.
 
The future of the position also arrived this summer with an impressive freshman class featuring Jadarius Dobie (Lakeland, Fla.), Joshua Balloon (Tampa, Fla.), and local product Landon Pope (Canton, N.C.).
 
The newcomers wasted little time making an impression during preseason scrimmages. Dobie showcased his nose for the end zone by scoring three rushing touchdowns in the team's intrasquad sessions, including two scores on just five carries during the second scrimmage. Balloon flashed his big-play ability as well, leading the team with 66 rushing yards while adding a 70-yard reception.
 
Those performances have only intensified the competition within a running back room eager to change the narrative surrounding Western Carolina's rushing attack.
 
The Catamounts heard the criticism throughout 2025 after finishing fifth in the Southern Conference in rushing average, a statistic that has fueled the group's offseason preparation.
 
"These guys play with a chip on their shoulders," Small said. "All last season, they heard that our run game wasn't good enough, and we took that to heart. Every workout, every practice, and every rep, this group attacked it with purpose and urgency."
 
For Small, the mission for 2026 is straightforward.
 
"The expectation for this group is simple: be the most explosive running back unit in the country," he said. "Treat every carry with an all-or-nothing mentality. We have a lot to prove, and we're ready to go to work."
 
With proven leadership, Power Four experience, promising young talent, and a room motivated by unfinished business, the Catamount running backs are preparing to hunt for much more than yards this fall. They're looking to make a statement.
 
RUNNING BACKS (9):
3 – Josh Perry (6-0, 205 lbs., So.) – 3 GP, 10 rushes, 39 yards, 2 catches, 7 yards, TD
8 – Marlin Cochran (6-0, 200 lbs., Sr.) – 16 GP, 56 rushes, 193 yards, TD, 15 catches, 127 yards
20 – Jadarius Dobie (5-8, 170 lbs., Fr.)
21 – Joshua Balloon Jr. (5-9, 170 lbs., Fr.)
22 – Derrick Davis Jr. (6-1, 215 lbs., 5th) – 17 GP at LSU, 57 yds, TD; 19 GP at Pitt, 78 rushing yds, 2 TDs
24 – Anthony Benjamin (5-10, 165 lbs., Sr.) – Jacksonville State transfer; at WCU, 1 GP, 3 rush, 21 yds
25 – Noah Best (5-11, 190 lbs., So.)
27 – Elijah Hadley (5-10, 205 lbs., Jr.)
40 – Landon Pope (5-10, 210 lbs., Fr.)
 
Western Carolina opens the 2026 campaign on Saturday, hosting Eastern Kentucky at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. as the Catamounts debut their new Night Cat black Nike uniform and invite fans to help Blackout Whitmire by wearing their black WCU gear to the game.
 
The first 3,500 fans in attendance will receive a free black WCU T-shirt, while 4,000 Blackout thunder sticks, courtesy of The Everson, will also be distributed. Ahead of kickoff, the 15th Annual Freshmen Run returns as members of WCU's Class of 2030 – the largest incoming class in school history – lead the Catamounts onto the field.
 
The home opener will conclude with a special drone light show presented by Catamount Athletics and Vannoy Construction and produced by Sky Elements, and an encore postgame presentation of the "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band.
 
The game is presented by Ingles and media partners Kiss Country and Star 104.3.
 
Season tickets, single-game tickets, and gameday parking for all six home games are available through the Catamount Athletics Ticket Office, by calling (828) 227-2401, or online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Additional Positional Previews:
Offensive Line
Defensive Secondary
Special Teams
Wide Receivers
Linebackers
Quarterbacks
Tight Ends
Defensive Line
 
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)