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2026 Western Carolina roster

117 players: 32 freshmen, 35 sophomores, 24 juniors, 26 seniors. From 14 states and 2 other countries; the most from Florida (46) and North Carolina (30). The 2026 season.

Quarterbacks 6

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
2Lex Thomas QBJr.5′11″205Wake Forest, NC1,693 passing yards, 8 TD
11Isaac Lee QBJr.6′4″190Concord, NC68 passing yards, 1 TD
17Patrick Harding QBFr.6′3″190Zephyrhills, FL24 passing yards, 1 TD
12Jake Morrow QBFr.6′0″195Grand Blanc, MI
16Caleb Tucker QBFr.6′2″200Woodbridge, VA
Ian Grissom QBSo.6′1″170Rock Hill, SC

Running backs 9

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
3Josh Perry RBSo.6′0″205Orlando, FL455 rushing yards, 5 TD
8Marlin Cochran RBSr.6′0″200Miami, FL188 rushing yards, 2 TD
20Jadarius Dobie RBFr.5′8″170Lakeland, FL7 returns, 125 yards
24Anthony Benjamin RBSr.5′10″170Fort Myers, FL61 rushing yards, 1 TD
22Derrick Davis Jr. RBSr.6′1″210Pittsburgh, PA25 rushing yards, 1 TD
21Joshua Balloon RBFr.5′9″170Tampa, FL10 rushing yards
25Noah Best RBSo.5′11″195Charlotte, NC
27Elijah Hadley RBSr.5′10″200Charlotte, NC
40Landon Pope RBFr.5′10″225Canton, NC

Receivers 18

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
0A.J. Colombo WRSr.5′8″170Waxhaw, NC34 catches, 414 yards
1Jai Boyd WRSr.6′2″180Winnsboro, SC22 catches, 328 yards, 4 TD
5Michael Rossin WRSo.6′0″200Suwannee, FL16 catches, 160 yards
13Richard Hollis WRSo.5′8″170Pompano Beach, FL7 returns, 175 yards
10Santana Carlos WRFr.5′11″175Hollywood, FL10 catches, 140 yards, 1 TD
4Kha’Leal Sterling WRSo.5′9″170Miami, FL7 catches, 78 yards
14Kale Woodburn WRJr.5′8″170Warner Robins, GA4 catches, 50 yards, 1 TD
18Matthew Keener WRJr.6′2″200Pilot Mountain, NC4 catches, 53 yards
6Marcus Striggles WRJr.5′9″180Fort Lauderdale, FL3 catches, 58 yards
83Austin Cunningham WRJr.6′0″185West Columbia, SC2 catches, 9 yards
80Corey Swint WRFr.6′0″170Miami, FL1 catch, 45 yards
7Trey Walker WRSo.5′10″180Hoschton, GA
15Michael Davis Jr. WRFr.6′0″170Leesville, LA
19Mouhamadou Mane WRFr.6′2″180Kathleen, GA
81Emanuel Palmer WRFr.5′8″160Collierville, TN
82Davon Washington WRFr.5′8″160Altamonte Springs, FL
84Jemarious Reaves WRJr.6′1″190Hopkins, SC
89Ellis Chappell WRSo.6′0″185Hickory, NC

Tight ends 7

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
87Jake Young TETransfer from CharlotteSr.6′3″245Waxhaw, NC13 catches, 106 yards
9Bode Burns TEJr.6′5″245Dunnellon, FL11 catches, 110 yards, 1 TD
44Isaac McLellan TESr.6′2″240Rock Hill, SC2 tackles
88Cole Craddock TESo.6′4″245Tarboro, NC1 catch, 6 yards
48Roman Jones TEFr.6′3″230Robbinsville, NC
85Paul Hartman TEJr.6′5″240Springfield, IL
86Davis Waddell TEFr.6′5″220Cartersville, GA

Offensive line 19

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
51Aaron Sanez OLSr.6′2″295Clearwater, FL
52Brayson McIver OLJr.6′2″280Charlotte, NC
53Zach Watson OLSr.6′1″295Waycross, GA
55Secrea Algie OLJr.6′5″320Snellville, GA
56Aaron McIver OLTransfer from Gardner-WebbSr.6′2″305Charlotte, NC
58Isaac Boulger OLJr.6′2″295Northport, AL
62Brian Wheat OLFr.6′3″285Jacksonville, FL
64Konrad Henderson OLSr.6′3″305Alpharetta, GA
65Nicholas Foster OLSo.6′1″295Charlotte, NC
67Steven Hamby OLSr.6′5″325Statesville, NC
68Aidan Cooper OLSo.6′4″305Charlotte, NC
69Cole Cooke OLSo.6′8″330Fort Myers, FL
71Sawyer Nelson OLFr.6′3″280Lenoir, NC
72Andrew Threatt OLSr.6′6″285Charlotte, NC
73Colin McClellan OLFr.6′3″265Plant City, FL
75Renard Smith OLSr.6′4″325Dallas, GA
77John Hammond OLSo.6′5″320Spartanburg, SC
78J’veon Bush OLSo.6′5″320Orlando, FL
79Vito Moriana-Sigel OLSr.6′5″315Estepona, Spain

Defensive line 18

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
13Caleb Turner-Allen DLJr.6′2″250Miami, FL12 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT
18Trystan Anderson DLSr.6′4″255Buffalo Grove, IL20 tackles, 2 sacks
16Chase Kerns DLJr.6′1″280Decatur, GA16 tackles, 2.5 sacks
97Fernando Jeanty DLJr.6′3″270North Miami Beach, FL11 tackles, 1 INT
90Da’Shawn Davis DLSr.6′2″235Charlotte, NC9 tackles
33Gavin Rowell DLSr.6′3″255Melbourne, FL8 tackles
34Jordan Martin-Durham DESo.6′3″260Jacksonville, FL8 tackles
99Adrian Stone DLJr.6′3″290Fort Myers, FL8 tackles
30Jaden Meeks DLJr.6′2″225Charlotte, NC7 tackles
91Jakoby Diamond DLSo.6′1″305Cedartown, GA5 tackles
14Vanier Baptiste III DLJr.6′3″280Lehigh Acres, FL4 tackles
96Jeremy Johnson DLJr.5′10″300Lilburn, GA4 tackles
10Jabari McWilliams DLJr.6′0″270Picayune, MS3 tackles
47Dylan Harris DLFr.6′5″245Ocala, FL3 tackles
19Cain Jefferson DESo.6′3″225Decatur, GA1 tackle
92Brandon Joseph II DLSo.6′3″275Fort Lauderdale, FL1 tackle
94Malachi Hill DLFr.6′3″295Burgaw, NC
98Aiden Black DLFr.6′1″295Concord, NC

Linebackers 12

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
3Joshua Collins LBJr.6′1″225Bryson City, NC38 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT
8Ryan McKinnis LBSr.6′2″220Buford, GA25 tackles
11Marco Patierno LBSr.6′1″230Wake Forest, NC23 tackles
0Blue Monroe LBSr.6′1″225Concord, NC19 tackles
15Hank Bodine LBSo.6′0″230Velva, ND5 tackles, 0.5 sacks
43Braeden Barger LBSo.6′1″230Weddington, NC6 tackles
41Beady Waddell V LBJr.6′0″220Summerville, SC4 tackles
49Bryce Hart LBSo.6′2″220Ringgold, GA1 tackle
9Eldrick Robinson II LBSr.6′0″230Pensacola, FL
35Trey Berry III LBSo.6′1″220Bartow, FL
45Honor Paxton LBFr.6′3″215Apex, NC
46Nolan McClanahan LBSo.6′1″220Lake Mary, FL

Defensive backs 21

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
6Jayden Cornelius CBSo.5′10″175Plant City, FL29 tackles, 3 INT
21Nas Ashenafi DBSo.5′9″170Washington, DC36 tackles, 1 sack
4Andre Jackson Jr. CBTransfer from HamptonSo.5′10″180Charlotte, NC32 tackles
5Braylon Jones SSr.6′1″205Rockmart, GA28 tackles, 1 sack
2Na’koma Simpson-Nealy SJr.5′10″175Altamonte Springs, FL21 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT
1Ken Moore Jr. DBSr.5′10″165Miami, FL21 tackles, 2 sacks
17Ja’Torian Mack STransfer from App StateSo.5′11″185Eatonville, FL20 tackles
31Alant’e Reese SFr.6′2″205Fort Walton Beach, FL15 tackles
7Marseille Taylor CBSr.6′2″190Sanford, FL8 tackles, 1 INT
12Julian Quintero SJr.6′0″200Saint Augustine, FL13 tackles
27Jermiyah Douglas DBFr.5′10″175Fort Lauderdale, FL8 tackles
38Jayden Joselin SFr.6′0″185North Lauderdale, FL7 tackles
24Terrell Poyser CBFr.6′3″170Wildwood, FL4 tackles
25Caleb Young Jr. SFr.6′0″210Gainesville, FL4 tackles
29Christian Robbins CBSo.6′1″190Orlando, FL4 tackles
26Devin Brown CBSo.5′10″160Miami, FL3 tackles
32A.J. Mintze SSo.6′0″185Delray Beach, FL3 tackles
22Quency Grant III CBFr.5′10″170Columbia, SC1 tackle
28Chris Hobbs CBSo.6′2″180Rabun Gap, GA
37Devon Wilson Jr. CBFr.5′11″190Mauldin, SC
39Jonathan Powell-Battle DBFr.5′10″170Wilson, NC

Specialists 7

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
60Bryan McCollum PKSo.5′8″165Sanford, NC11 of 12 field goals
95Mark Fitzgerald PFr.6′1″210Dublin, Ireland33 punts, 40.2 average
42Luke Waters PFr.6′2″205Toccoa, GA
50Xavier Nocco LSFr.6′1″200Tampa, FL
57Kaden Powell LSSo.6′8″270Woodstock, GA
61Marcus Trout PKSo.5′11″175Cocoa, FL
63Thomas Guerrero PSo.5′9″160Greenville, SC
Andre Jackson Jr., Noah Best, Elijah Hadley, Jaden Meeks, Brayson McIver, Aaron McIver, Nicholas Foster, Aidan Cooper, Andrew Threatt, Da’Shawn DavisKen Moore Jr., Kha’Leal Sterling, Marlin Cochran, Caleb Turner-Allen, Devin Brown, Corey SwintBlue Monroe, Isaac Lee, Aiden BlackNa’koma Simpson-Nealy, Ja’Torian Mack, Davon WashingtonJosh Perry, Christian Robbins, J’veon BushMarcus Striggles, Jermiyah Douglas, Brandon Joseph IIAnthony Benjamin, Cole Cooke, Adrian StoneA.J. Colombo, Jake YoungLex Thomas, Marco PatiernoJayden Cornelius, Colin McClellanSantana Carlos, Fernando JeantyChase Kerns, Cain JeffersonJoshua Balloon, Xavier NoccoQuency Grant III, Austin CunninghamJordan Martin-Durham, Brian WheatIsaac McLellan, Ian GrissomSecrea Algie, Jeremy JohnsonJai BoydJoshua CollinsBraylon JonesMichael RossinMarseille TaylorTrey WalkerRyan McKinnisBode BurnsEldrick Robinson IIJabari McWilliamsJake MorrowJulian QuinteroRichard HollisKale WoodburnVanier Baptiste IIIMichael Davis Jr.Caleb TuckerPatrick HardingMatthew KeenerTrystan AndersonMouhamadou ManeJadarius DobieNas AshenafiDerrick Davis Jr.Terrell PoyserCaleb Young Jr.Chris HobbsAlant’e ReeseA.J. MintzeGavin RowellTrey Berry IIIDevon Wilson Jr.Jayden JoselinJonathan Powell-BattleLandon PopeBeady Waddell VLuke WatersBraeden BargerHonor PaxtonNolan McClanahanDylan HarrisRoman JonesBryce HartAaron SanezZach WatsonKaden PowellIsaac BoulgerBryan McCollumMarcus TroutThomas GuerreroKonrad HendersonSteven HambySawyer NelsonRenard SmithJohn HammondEmanuel PalmerJemarious ReavesPaul HartmanDavis WaddellCole CraddockEllis ChappellJakoby DiamondFL 46NC 30GA 18SC 10IL 2
Hometowns of the 2026 Western Carolina roster; the five states sending the most labeled with their players. Hover a dot for names. Map: us-atlas (public domain).

Where the roster comes from

By state

  1. Florida 46
  2. North Carolina 30
  3. Georgia 18
  4. South Carolina 10
  5. Illinois 2
  6. Mississippi 1
  7. Michigan 1
  8. North Dakota 1

Top counties

  1. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina pop. 1.2 million 10
  2. Miami-Dade County, Florida pop. 2.7 million 7
  3. Broward County, Florida pop. 2 million 6
  4. Hillsborough County, Florida pop. 1.5 million 4
  5. Orange County, Florida pop. 1.5 million 4

Hometowns placed in their counties with the US Census Bureau’s Gazetteer files. Populations from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–⁠2024 5-year estimates. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. Which states send the most FBS players for their size.

Rosters from CollegeFootballData.com, as the school listed them, each group in order of its players’ 2026 production (yards, tackles, kicks), then by number. Hometowns are each player’s latest on file. Transfers are this season’s arrivals through the portal; stars are the player’s 247Sports composite rating as a recruit.