HawgBeat - Behind Enemy Lines: Gaining Western Carolina insight with Chris Womack
See what WLOS sports director Chris Womack had to say about Western Carolina ahead of its matchup with Arkansas.
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As we will do throughout this football season, HawgBeat went behind enemy lines to gain insight on the Western Carolina Catamounts from WLOS Sports Director Chris Womack.
Here is what he had to say about Saturday's matchup, which is set to kickoff at 12:00 p.m. CT inside War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock...
Who is Western Carolina in 2023?
Womack: "Western Carolina in 2023 will be a high-octane FCS offense yet again. Sure, they lost their starting quarterback from last year; however, Cole Gonzales is primed to take the helm and he filled in for a couple games last year while Carlos Davis was out with injury. He started four games and ended up completing 102 of 161 passes for 1,336 yards and 11 touchdowns. The previous two starters under Kerwin Bell both put up video game numbers and it should be expected that Gonzales will follow suit."
Who are the key returning players/transfers for Western Carolina?
Womack: "On offense, Desmond Reid is one of the best returning players in the Southern Conference. He’s a small back, but has a way of making guys miss and hitting holes at 100 miles per hour to break off big runs.
"Terrence Horne and Censere Lee are both dynamic playmakers on the perimeter. Despite the reputation of Western Carolina over the years, Bell has been able to recruit some incredible talent at the skill position because the players know there are tons of yards to go around.
"On the defensive side it’s all about the transfers. Bryce Wilson and Curtis Fann, Jr. both came from Akron and by all accounts have been forces in practice. Antoine Williams is a huge pick up from Austin Peay who has been named preseason All-American by a few outlets. He’s a smaller guy for a linebacker, but he has a nose for the ball and makes tackles.
"In the secondary, Andreas Keaton has been the lone bright spot for the defense over the past two seasons and is back for a third year."
How does the Western Carolina offense stack up against Arkansas' defense?
Womack: "It will be interesting to see how Western comes out. Kerwin Bell runs what he calls a “Pro Spread” system, where it can vacillate between pass and run-orientation based on the match up. I think the Catamounts will stick to the air where the talent discrepancy isn’t quite as big and the size mismatches won’t have as much of an impact.
"I anticipate the Cats will have success at times moving the ball on an Arkansas defense that struggled defending the pass last year."
How does the Western Carolina defense stack up against Arkansas' offense?
Womack: "That is a tough one to predict because of all the new faces on defense for Western Carolina. Arkansas will probably be able to run it at will, while KJ Jefferson is the type of athlete that just doesn't exist in the SoCon. He could have a big day, 300 through the air and 125 on the ground type of output."
With an obvious talent mismatch, what does Western Carolina have to do to keep the game close, or even pull off the upset?
Womack: "Western has to make each possession end in a kick, as the old cliché goes. While Bell’s offense is typically quick strike, if they want any chance at all of winning in Fayetteville then they need to limit Arkansas’ time of possession. They won’t be able to force many, if any, three-and-outs against the Hogs offense so they will have to bleed the clock when they have the ball. They would also need to force multiple turnovers, something they struggled with last season."
How do you see the game playing out and score prediction?
Womack: "I think Western hangs with the Hogs for a quarter to a half, maybe even leading for a little while as they did at Georgia Tech last season. The offense is truly special for an FCS team, and if Arkansas’ players aren’t focused they will find themselves down quickly.
"Ultimately the depth and talent will take hold and by the start of the fourth fans can head towards Dickson Street (Love that place, Fayetteville is the most underrated road trip in the SEC)."
Score prediction: Arkansas 52, WCU 23
