March 10, 2010
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Former Western Carolina football standout Brad Hoover was released this week by the Carolina Panthers, the only National Football League team in which he played during his 10 years in the league.
Hoover's release comes in a one-week stretch where the Panthers let defensive end Julius Peppers leave in free agency, then cut quarterback Jake Delhomme, defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu, and linebackers Na'il Diggs and Landon Johnson.
Last season, the Thomasville, N.C., native and played in 11 games, serving as a blocker for Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, who rushed for at least 1,100 yards each and became the first running back tandem in the NFL to accomplish the feat.
Hoover, who is a member of the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame, signed as a free agent with the Carolina Panthers in 2000 and through gritty play on special teams, hard-nosed blocking as a full back and a "team-first" attitude, he stuck with the team. He played in 152 career games, among the all-time most for the Charlotte-based team behind only kicker John Kasey, and rushed for 961 yards - ninth in franchise history - and three touchdowns on 284 carries. He also made 145 catches for 1,046 yards and six scores.
His career-best game came during the 2000 season. In just his second career start - replacing the injured Tshimanga Biakabutuka at tailback - on Monday Night Football contest, Hoover rushed for 117 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run, on 24 carries and gained 41 yards on three catches.
Earlier this year, Hoover was the inaugural winner of the Tom Berry "Good Guy Award," given to the player who is most cooperative with the Panthers media during the course of the season.
"Hoov," as he was affectionately known, was a two-time All-SoCon selection, led his teams in rushing for three seasons and is listed in WCU's all-time top 10 in game, season and career rushing yards as well as game, season and career scoring.
As a Catamount, Hoover rushed for 3,616 career yards, the second-most in WCU school history which included a single-season record 1,663 yards in 1998. His 251 rushing yards and then-Southern Conference record-tying five touchdowns against VMI in '98 also stand as school benchmarks. That same season, the Thomasville, N.C., native keyed an upset of arch-rival Appalachian State with 195 rushing yards on a school-record 49 carries.
Hoover's future remains uncertain. According to an article on Panthers.com, Hoover commented, "I want to continue to play football. I think I've got a couple of years of football left in me -- and good football at that. We're just waiting on the right opportunity. Unfortunately, I wish it would have been with the Panthers, to continue on and retire as a Panther."
