Western Carolina coach Kerwin Bell said he’s not overly concerned that Southern Conference coaches picked the Catamounts to finish fourth in the league this fall.
WCU placed second in the SoCon a season ago with a 6-2 record. A fourth-place prediction seems a bit of a slight to a program that has won seven games in each of the past three years and nearly swiped the conference trophy a year ago before losing a heartbreaker to Mercer.
“Well, I mean, it’s something to put on the board,” Bell said during Tuesday’s media day activities, when the coaches poll was released. “But really, if you think about it – and we talked about it as head coaches – we have no idea. I don’t even know how good my team’s going to be, right? Because you have such a turnover, you lose so many guys to the portal.”
The Southern Conference had six different schools win league championships between 2018-2024. Since then, Mercer has captured the past two titles, and the Bears from Macon, GA, have been picked for a three-peat.
Conference newcomer Tennessee Tech – moving to the SoCon from the Ohio Valley Conference – was picked second, followed by East Tennessee State, WCU, Chattanooga, Furman, Wofford, Samford, The Citadel and VMI.
Mercer received six of 10 first-place votes. Tennessee Tech, which won the OVC in 2025, earned three and ETSU had the other one. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
This was the lowest preseason prediction for the Catamounts since the 2022 and 2023 teams were voted fifth.
“It’s one of those things where you’ve got to go do it on the field,” Bell said. “And that’s what we’re worried about right now.”
Western Carolina put three players on the preseason all-conference team: defensive back Ken Moore Jr. on the first team, and wide receiver A.J. Colombo and offensive lineman Zach Watson on the second team.
Moore has received national accolades during the preseason, including being on the Buck Buchanan Award watch list. Colombo is returning to action after missing the entire 2025 season due to injury. Both Moore and Colombo participated in media day activities Monday and Tuesday in Greenville, SC.
Western Carolina put three — DB Ken Moore Jr., WR AJ Colombo, and OL Zach Watson — on the 2026 preseason All-@SoConSports team. The Catamounts were picked fourth in the preseason coaches' poll.https://t.co/U36kCkjZ5i#CatamountCountry | #LOTE | #OurTime26 pic.twitter.com/pLVYqE1fO4
— Western Carolina Football (@CatamountsFB) July 21, 2026
More Takeaways from SoCon Media Days
Quarterback battle continues
Coach Bell said he’s still not ready to name a starting quarterback to replace All-SoCon passer Taron Dickens. As it was in the spring, the job remains a two-man race between 2025 reserve Isaac Lee and NC State transfer Lex Thomas.
“Both of them have had great springs. Both of them have had great summers,” Bell said. “They’re both the same kind of quarterback, which is what we’re going to play with.”
Chasing history
Both Moore and Colombo seem to feel the weight of the school’s SoCon title drought. Western Carolina joined the Southern Conference in the 1970s and has yet to secure a league championship in football. Both WCU players talked about how much it would mean to be part of a team that finally brought a trophy to Cullowhee.
“My only vision for the Western Carolina Catamounts and myself is to win a championship,” Colombo said.
Colombo’s long road back
Colombo said the knee injury that kept him out last season happened in “the blink of an eye” during a spring 7-on-7 drill. Although the recovery felt like it would take “100 years,” he said he never doubted he would return.
“I knew that if I worked hard, which is what I’ve done my entire life, that I would eventually be back. And here I am,” he said.
The defense is going to look different
The Catamounts have a new defensive coordinator (Nick Reveiz) and a new mindset. Bell said he knows teams are going to score but that his stopping unit has to do a better job of keeping plays in front of them and not giving up the explosive yards this season.
Moore, a redshirt senior who has been with the program since 2022, said the defense is “going to be a brand new team. Strong coaches, and we’re building a brotherhood over there … We’re going to be a steel wall.”
Stoneking back for more at Furman
Furman defensive lineman Joshua Stoneking, a former Cardinal Gibbons High standout, was voted the Southern Conference preseason defensive player of the year. Stoneking earned All-America honors in 2025 and was the runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award. He earned 79 tackles a season and led the FCS in sacks (14.5), tackles-for-loss (23.0), and tackle yards for loss (132).
Former Wingate standout ready to make FCS impact
Elihu Lipscomb, a former Kings Mountain High and Wingate University standout, earned second-team all-conference as voted on by coaches. Lipscomb transferred to Furman in the off-season after a banner debut with D2 Wingate in 2025.
2026 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Total
1. Mercer (6) – 76
2. Tennessee Tech (3) – 70
3. ETSU (1) – 61
4. Western Carolina – 58
5. Chattanooga – 48
6. Furman – 46
7. Wofford – 36
8. Samford – 23
9. The Citadel – 22
10. VMI – 10
2026 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Brayden Smith, WR/RS, Mercer
Defensive Player of the Year: Joshua Stoneking, DL, Furman
First team offense
QB – Quentin Hayes, The Citadel
RB – Jason Albritton, ETSU
RB – Leo Boehling, VMI
OL – Tyler Heggins-Hill, The Citadel
OL – Will McCraw, ETSU
OL – Brody Balliew, Mercer
OL – Tyler Murray, Mercer
OL – Aiden Donald, Chattanooga
TE – Charlie Browder, ETSU
WR – Brayden Smith, Mercer
WR – Preston Bird, Samford
First team defense
DL – Brenden LeBlanc, ETSU
DL – Joshua Stoneking, Furman
DL – Kobe McInnis, Mercer
DL – Orlando Daniels, Chattanooga
LB – Raleigh Herbert, Furman
LB – Jyarius Carter, Mercer
LB – Zion Rutledge, Chattanooga
DB – Mike Jenkins, ETSU
DB – Kam Baah-Slay, Chattanooga
DB – Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina
DB – Eli Campbell, Wofford
First team specialists
PK – Ewan Johnson, ETSU
P – Ben Shrewsbury, VMI
LS – Tommy DiLiegro, The Citadel
RS – Brayden Smith, Mercer
Second team offense
QB – Jax Leatherwood, Tennessee Tech
RB – Marcus Harris, Tennessee Tech
RB – Gerald Modest, Wofford
OL – Chris Luna, Furman
OL – Noah Watts, Samford
OL – Eric Nunez, Tennessee Tech
OL – Bryce Burnett, VMI
OL – Zach Watson, Western Carolina
OL – Reggie Houston, Wofford
TE – Gerard Grewe, Tennessee Tech
WR – Josh Williams, Chattanooga
WR – AJ Colombo, Western Carolina
Second team defense
DL – Demetrius Baldwin, Furman
DL – Elihu Lipscomb, Furman
DL – Ky Tayo, Chattanooga
DL – Ramon McCollough, Wofford
LB – Dre Delinois, ETSU
LB – Isaiah Grevious, VMI
LB – Wyatt Ward, Wofford
DB – Jivon Oggs, ETSU
DB – AK Burrell, Furman
DB – Josh Tarver, Furman
DB – Jalen Nelson, Samford
Second team specialists
PK – Sam Spence, Wofford
P – Heath Jehu, Chattanooga
LS – Brock Winstead, ETSU
LS – Aidan Barr, Samford
RS – Caleb Easterling, Furman
NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or team.
