2025 Western Carolina Catamounts football team

2025 Western Carolina Catamounts football
Conference	Southern Conference
Ranking
FCS Coaches	No. 25 (tie)
Record	0–1 (0–0 SoCon)
Head coach	Kerwin Bell (5th season)
Offensive coordinator	Rylan Wells (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Jerry Odom (2nd season)
Home stadium	Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Southern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Tennessee State		0	–	0					1	–	0
Furman		0	–	0					1	–	0
Chattanooga		0	–	0					0	–	1
No. 23 Mercer		0	–	0					0	–	1
Samford		0	–	0					0	–	1
The Citadel		0	–	0					0	–	1
VMI		0	–	0					0	–	1
Western Carolina		0	–	0					0	–	1
Wofford		0	–	0					0	–	1
As of September 2, 2025 Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Western Carolina Catamounts football team will represent Western Carolina University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Catamounts will be coached by fifth-year head coach Kerwin Bell and play at the Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	6:00 p.m.	Gardner–Webb *	No. 18	Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium Cullowhee, NC	ESPN+	L 45–52	11,889
September 6	2:00 p.m.	at Wake Forest *		Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium Winston-Salem, NC	ACCNX
September 13	2:30 p.m.	Elon *		Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium Cullowhee, NC	ESPN+
September 20	2:30 p.m.	Samford		Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium Cullowhee, NC	ESPN+
September 27	3:30 p.m.	at Campbell *		Barker–Lane Stadium Buies Creek, NC	FloFootball
October 4	1:30 p.m.	at Wofford		Gibbs Stadium Spartanburg, SC	ESPN+
October 11	2:30 p.m.	Furman		Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium Cullowhee, NC	ESPN+
October 18	2:00 p.m.	at The Citadel		Johnson Hagood Stadium Charleston, SC	ESPN+
November 1	4:00 p.m.	at Chattanooga		Finley Stadium Chattanooga, TN	ESPN+
November 8	2:30 p.m.	Mercer		Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium Cullowhee, NC	ESPN+
November 15	12:00 p.m.	East Tennessee State		Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium Cullowhee, NC	ESPN+
November 22	12:00 p.m.	at VMI		Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	ESPN+
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

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Game summaries

Gardner–Webb

See also: 2025 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team

Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (0-0) vs. No. 18 Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Runnin' Bulldogs	-	-	-	-	0
No. 18 Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0

at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC

• Date: August 30
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
• Game attendance: 11,889
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Justin Biegel (play-by-play) and Jack Delongchamps (analyst)

Statistics	GWEB	WCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Gardner–Webb	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Wake Forest (FBS)

See also: 2025 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team

Western Carolina Catamounts (0-1) vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (FBS) (1-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0
Demon Deacons (FBS)	-	-	-	-	0

at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC

• Date: September 6
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
• TV: ACCNX/ESPN+

Statistics	WCU	WAKE
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Wake Forest	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Elon

See also: 2025 Elon Phoenix football team

Elon Phoenix (0-0) vs. Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Phoenix	-	-	-	-	0
Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0

at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC

• Date: September 13

Statistics	ELON	WCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Elon	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Samford

See also: 2025 Samford Bulldogs football team

Samford Bulldogs (0-0) vs. Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	-	-	-	-	0
Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0

at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC

• Date: September 20
• Game time: 2:20 PM EDT

Statistics	SAM	WCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Samford	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Campbell

See also: 2025 Campbell Fighting Camels football team

Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) vs. Campbell Fighting Camels (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0
Fighting Camels	-	-	-	-	0

at Barker–Lane Stadium • Buies Creek, NC

• Date: September 27
• Game time: 3:30 PM EDT

Statistics	WCU	CAM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Campbell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Wofford

See also: 2025 Wofford Terriers football team

Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) vs. Wofford Terriers (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0
Terriers	-	-	-	-	0

at Gibbs Stadium • Spartanburg, SC

• Date: October 4

Statistics	WCU	WOFF
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Wofford	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Furman

See also: 2025 Furman Paladins football team

Furman Paladins (0-0) vs. Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Paladins	-	-	-	-	0
Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0

at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC

• Date: October 11

Statistics	FUR	WCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Furman	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at The Citadel

See also: 2025 The Citadel Bulldogs football team

Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0
Bulldogs	-	-	-	-	0

at Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC

• Date: October 18
• Game time: 2:00 PM EDT

Statistics	WCU	CIT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
The Citadel	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Chattanooga

See also: 2025 Chattanooga Mocs football team

Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) vs. Chattanooga Mocs (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0
Mocs	-	-	-	-	0

at Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, TN

• Date: November 1
• Game time: 4:00 PM EDT

Statistics	WCU	UTC
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Chattanooga	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Mercer

See also: 2025 Mercer Bears football team

Mercer Bears (0-0) vs. Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	-	-	-	-	0
Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0

at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC

• Date: November 8

Statistics	MER	WCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

East Tennessee State

See also: 2025 East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team

East Tennessee State Buccaneers (0-0) vs. Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Buccaneers	-	-	-	-	0
Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0

at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium • Cullowhee, NC

• Date: November 15

Statistics	ETSU	WCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
East Tennessee State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at VMI

See also: 2025 VMI Keydets football team

Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) vs. VMI Keydets (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Catamounts	-	-	-	-	0
Keydets	-	-	-	-	0

at Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA

• Date: November 22

Statistics	WCU	VMI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
VMI	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Roster

2025 Western Carolina Catamounts football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 0 AJ Colombo Sr WR 1 Patrick Boyd Jr.  So RB 2 Branson Adams Sr WR 3 Kha'leal Sterling Fr WR 4 Dominic Dutton Sr QB 5 Taron Dickens  So WR 6 Marcus Striggles So WR 7 Malik Knight  Jr WR 5 Painter Richards-Baker  Sr WR 9 Jaylin Terzado  Jr WR 10 Michael Rossin Fr QB 11 Isaac Lee  Fr QB 12 Jack Benson Jr WR 13 Richard Hollis Fr TE 14 Josiah Thomas Fr WR 15 Jai Boyd  So WR 16 James Tyre  So QB 17 Bennett Judy  So QB 18 Jordan Martin-Durham Fr TE 19 Bode Burns  Fr RB 20 Camury Reid  Jr RB 21 Jaiden Bond  Sr RB 22 Josh Perry Fr RB 24 Anthony Benjamin  So WR 25 Noah Best Fr RB 28 Markel Townsend  So TE 44 Isaac McLellan  Jr TE 48 Cole Craddock Fr OL 50 Jarvis Adams Jr.  Fr OL 51 Aaron Sanez  Jr OL 52 Manasseh Ripert  Jr OL 53 Zach Watson  So OL 55 Secrea Algie  Fr OL 58 Brett Gray Sr OL 64 Konrad Henderson  Fr OL 65 Nicholas Foster Fr OL 66 John Hammond Fr OL 67 Steven Hamby  So OL 68 Aidan Cooper Fr OL 69 Cole Cooke Fr OL 70 Dale Greene  Fr OL 74 Elijah Collins So OL 75 Renard Smith  So OL 77 Ilija Krajnovic  Sr OL 78 Evan Carney  So OL 79 Vito Moriana-Sigel Jr WR 80 Trey Walker Fr WR 81 Ca'Lique Cunningham  Jr WR 82 Matthew Keener  Fr WR 83 Austin Cunningham  Fr TE 85 David Hulbert  So TE 86 Brayden Blackmon  Sr WR 87 Eli Griffin Fr WR 88 Jemarious Reaves  Fr WR 89 Ellis Chappell Fr RB Marlin Cochran  So QB Ian Grissom Fr QB Tate Rodemaker  Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class NB 0 Ken Moore Jr.  Jr DE 1 Caleb Fisher  Sr DE 2 Micah Nelson  Sr S 3 Samaurie Dukes Sr LB 4 Jordan Thompson  So LB 5 Hayward McQueen Jr. Sr DB 6 Bo Simpson-Nealy  So S 7 Ed Jones IV  Sr DT 8 Jahleel Anderson Sr CB 9 Darian Anderson Jr.  Jr DE 10 Justin Wallace  Jr DE 11 Kenyon Partridge  So CB 12 Hasaan Sykes So CB 13 Marseille Taylor Jr DT 14 Vanier Baptiste III  Fr DE 15 Gavin Rowell  Jr S 16 Jhamari Pierre-Louis  Jr LB 17 Armond Anderson Sr LB 18 Ryan McKinnis  So CB 19 Cam Smith  So S 20 Na'koma Simpson-Nealy  Fr CB 21 Cam'Ron Dabney  Sr NB 22 Jeno Junius Jr.  So S 24 Zayveon Wells  So NB 25 Nas Ashenafi Fr NB 26 Devin Brown Fr CB 27 Jayden Cornelius Fr CB 29 Christian Robbins Fr DE 30 Richard Garrett  Jr CB 31 Don Robinson III  Jr S 32 AJ Mintze Fr S 33 Lee Campbell  Jr LB 34 Joshua Collins  Fr LB 35 Trey Berry III Fr NB 36 Ja'Morri Downing  Jr CB 37 Chris Hobbs Fr CB 38 Canden McGill  Fr S 39 Julian Quintero  Fr DE 40 Cain Jefferson Fr LB 41 Beady Waddell V  Fr LB 42 Hank Bodine Fr LB 43 Braeden Barger Fr DT 45 Sean Morris  Sr LB 46 Nolan McClanahan Fr LB 47 Blue Monroe  Jr LB 49 Bryce Hart Fr DT 57 Jeremy Johnson  Fr DT 59 J'evon Bush Fr DL 90 Jamichael Wilson GS DT 91 Jackson Banks  So DT 92 Brandon Joseph II Fr DT 93 Adrian Stone  Fr DT 94 Jaden Meeks  Fr DT 97 Caleb Bradford  Sr DT 98 Jackson Hensley  Fr DE 99 Jordan Cardentey  Fr DB Trevaughn Martinez  So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class LS 56 Mabry Bumgarner  So K 60 Marcus Trout Fr K 61 Bryan McCollum Fr LS 62 Emmett Rhoades  So P 63 Thomas Guerrero Fr P 95 Stephen Brantley Jr K 96 Christian Lowery Sr	Head coach Kerwin Bell Coordinators/assistant coaches Jerry Odom – Defensive coordinator Rylan Wells – Offensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator Kerry Webb – Special teams coordinator Brian Cochran – Defensive line Kyle Dickey – Tight ends Malik Goodman – Safeties Ethan Harris – Cornerbacks Corey Headley – Quarterbacks/director of player personnel Jeremy King – Offensive line Greg McGruder – Wide receivers Rudi Small – Running backs Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: July 29, 2025

References

1. Kelley, Kevin (January 14, 2025). "Western Carolina announces 2025 football schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
2. Hooker, Daniel (January 13, 2025). "Western Carolina Announces Full 2025 Football Schedule". Western Carolina University, Department of Athletics. Retrieved May 9, 2025.