Daniel Hooker
Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
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Wednesday’s sixth practice of the 2021 preseason fall camp for the Catamount football team featured the first day in full pads as the squad worked out for two and a half hours, utilizing 26 periods that included several scrimmage scenarios with full contact.
WCU’s offense turned things up a degree on Wednesday with several different players finding the endzone during a variety of drills. Returning second-year freshmen tailbacks Mikai Stanley and Tyree Nelson both broke off strong rushes in the run game, with upperclassmen transfers Kenny Benjamin TJ Jones showing flashes that made them highly sought after additions to the WCU backfield.
The Catamounts continued to rotate quarterbacks in the backfield with the trio of graduate transfer Rogan Wells, redshirt sophomore Carlos Davis and second-year freshman Kason Lincke splitting the bulk of the reps in team sessions. They continued to work the ball around to a bevy of wide receivers with several hauling in receptions throughout practice including notable catches by fifth-year senior Daquan Patten and second-year freshman Keenan Hambrick in team drills, with true freshmen Toler Keigley and Miller DeArmond making athletic catches during unit drills.
“The offensive line, they love that first day in full pads as they get to fire off the ball. And the skill players, trying to see who can win in space and make guys miss. We had some guys do that today and created some explosive plays – and that’s fun to see,” said WCU offensive coordinator Kade Bell following Wednesday’s practice. “
On defense, transfer defensive back Cameron McCutcheon had an interception to accompany a pass break-up during drills, with veteran nickelback Curtis Roach collecting a pick coming off a deflected pass among just a few of the defensive highlights.
“I think today was a solid day,” said Justin Hinds, WCU’s defensive coordinator. “Every time that you transition from ‘thud’ to full tackle, guys still tend to break it down instead of going and taking that shot through the tackle. But I think it was a solid day.”
Hinds added, “It ran a little hot and we got after them a little bit. I said from the start that today, I wanted to push them – and we pushed them today to see what they’re going to be able to do when it gets a little hot, and when you’re a little tired, how do you respond. I thought that the defense responded and answered the bell and I was really happy with how they handled today.”
Following Wednesday’s practice, the Catamounts enjoy their first off-day of the preseason on Thursday before returning for a helmet-only practice on Friday morning. This Saturday, August 14, the Catamounts hit the turf for the first scrimmage of fall camp in a special Western Carolina Faculty & Staff day at Whitmire Stadium with all WCU faculty and staff invited to the West Side of the stadium for the free scrimmage.
Each of WCU's preseason football practices is open to the public. It is respectfully requested, though, that spectators observe from the stadium seating area and avoid being either on the field or the sidelines for safety, and maintain physical distance from the team at all times. Practice times are subject to change.