Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina senior defensive back collected his third preseason All-America honor today, earning second-team selection on the Phil Steele 2026 Preseason All-American Teams. Additionally, seven Catamounts were named Preseason All-Southern Conference by the same publication across three teams.
 
A first-team Preseason All-SoCon selection by the league's head coaches, Moore Jr. was also a first-team selection by the FCS Football Central and earned a second-team nod from Stats Perform FCS back on July 13.
 
On Phil Steele's Preseason All-SoCon squad, Moore Jr. was joined on the first team by offensive lineman Zach Watson to give the Catamounts a pair of first-team honorees. Wide receiver AJ Colombo and offensive lineman Steven Hamby were selected to the second-team offense, joined on the third team by second-year receiver Michael Rossin and offensive lineman Aaron Sanez. Linebacker Ryan McKinnis was selected to the third-team defense on the preseason All-SoCon squad.
 
Western Carolina was tied with Chattanooga with seven preseason All-SoCon selections from Phil Steele, the sixth-most from the organization. Tennessee Tech had a league-best 14 student-athletes honored, followed by ETSU (13), Furman (12), and Wofford (11), each in double figures among the 90 student-athletes recognized between the three teams.
 
Watson, a second-team honoree from the league's head coaches, started all 12 games along the offensive line for the Catamounts a season ago as part of WCU's record-setting offense. Hamby played in 11 of the team's 12 games with seven starts, while third-team selection Aaron Sanez returned from injury to see action in nine games with seven starts, sidelined for a trio of games at midseason before returning to play in the final three games.
 
Like Watson, Colombo was a second-team preseason selection from the head coaches back on SoCon Media Day. He returns to the lineup after missing 2025 due to injury, having led the conference in receptions in 2024 and collecting a postseason first-team All-SoCon honor.
 
Third-team preseason All-SoCon wide receiver Michael Rossin is coming off a 22-reception freshman season, collecting fourth-team All-SoCon honors and fourth-team Freshman All-America plaudits from Phil Steele in 2025. His six receiving TDs last fall were the third-most on the team and the second-most by a Catamount freshman all time.
 
Rounding out WCU's selections to the Phil Steele preseason team were third-team linebacker Ryan McKinnis. The Buford, Ga., product played in all 12 games with one start last season, finishing with 31 tackles, second among WCU's returning defenders.
 
Western Carolina – Phil Steele Preseason All-SoCon
Zach Watson, OL – 1st Team Offense
Ken Moore Jr., DB – 1st Team Defense
AJ Colombo, WR – 2nd Team Offense
Steven Hamby, OL – 2nd Team Offense
Michael Rossin, WR – 3rd Team Offense
Aaron Sanez, OL – 3rd Team Offense
Ryan McKinnis, LB – 3rd Team Defense
 
Moore Jr. was one of seven players from the Southern Conference to earn eight preseason All-America honors. Furman's Joshua Stoneking was a first-team preseason All-America selection on the defensive line. Senior DL Chris Benton of The Citadel and VMI punter Ben Shrewsbury were second-team selections, joining Moore Jr. Mercer senior Brayden Smith was a third-team selection both on offense as a wide receiver and on special teams as an all-purpose back. Wofford junior Isaiah Scott and The Citadel's Tommy DiLiegro were named to the fourth team as a punt returner and long-snapper, respectively.
 
Stoneking and Smith were dubbed the preseason SoCon Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year, respectively.
 
Western Carolina looks to 'Blackout Whitmire' as the Catamounts open the 2026 season under the new lights against Eastern Kentucky, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. 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 runs 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. Catamount Nation is encouraged to wear black to the game, and the team will wear its new all-black Nike 'Night Cat' uniform. Fans are encouraged to wear their black WCU gear to the game.

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:
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)