De’Andre Tamarez Shines With Career-High 229 Receiving Yards for Western Carolina

Wide receiver De’Andre Tamarez had a career day for Western Carolina on Saturday at Montana, and his performance has earned national and conference accolades.

Tamarez, a redshirt sophomore from Overtown, Fla. (Carol City HS), caught eight passes for 229 yards and touchdown in the Catamounts’ 46-35 loss in Mizzoula.

FCS Nation Radio named Tamarez its National Offensive Player of the Week. He was honorable mention for Stats Perform FCS National Player of the Week and collected the Southern Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week.

Tamarez’s previous single-game career high had been a 62-yard day against Presbyterian in 2022. Saturday’s effort represented Western Carolina’s third-best receiving performance in school history. Only five other Catamount receivers have crossed the 200-yard plateau.

Only one other FCS receiver has had more yards in a game this season, Elijah Stewart from Lafayette (244 yards). Tamarez’s touchdown catch from quarterback Cole Gonzales covered 61 yards, at the time giving WCU a 27-14 lead.

From a North Carolina perspective, Tamarez had the second-best single-game effort of the season for our state. Only Christian Drumgoole from North Carolina Wesleyan (17 catches, 258 yards) has had a bigger statistical receiving performance in 2024.

North Carolina had five receivers, including Tamarez, to enjoy 100-yard receiving days on Saturday. The rest:

* Brevin Caldwell (Johnson C. Smith): 9 catches for 140 yards against Virginia Union. It was Caldwell’s third 100-yard performance of the season (he had 90 yards in the opener).

* Markell Quick (North Carolina Central): 4 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown, with a long reception of 60 yards against North Carolina A&T

* Evan McCray (Wingate): 5 catches for 104 yards against Carson-Newman.

* Nicky Dalmon (Duke): 4 catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, including a 71-yard reception at Middle Tennessee.