Western Carolina 2025 Depth Chart
2026
Western Carolina's 2025 Team Roster/Depth Chart Outlook
NOTE: 2026 rosters are nearly complete but not final. Only players with stats or recruiting/portal ratings are listed. Def Snap % are best estimates. DE/LB are mixed depending on the team.
Quarterbacks
#18 Tate Rodemaker SR
H/W
6'4"/196
Passing
98/165 (59%), 985 Yds, 7 TD / 7 INT
Rushing
26 Car, -90 Yds, (-3.5 YPC), 0 TD, 4 FUM
Pass
C-
Run
D+
PPA
#148
Snaps
343 (42.75%)
Rating
0.83
Origin
USM ('25)
#5 Taron Dickens JR
H/W
5'11"/180
Passing
127/172 (74%), 1428 Yds, 12 TD / 3 INT
Rushing
58 Car, 56 Yds, (1 YPC), 2 TD, 6 FUM
Rating
0.82
Origin
3* HS ('23)
PlayerH/WPassingRushingPassRunPPASnapsRatingOrigin
#18 Tate Rodemaker SR 6'4"/19698/165 (59%), 985 Yds, 7 TD / 7 INT26 Car, -90 Yds, (-3.5 YPC), 0 TD, 4 FUMC-D+#148343 (42.75%)0.83USM ('25)
#5 Taron Dickens JR 5'11"/180127/172 (74%), 1428 Yds, 12 TD / 3 INT58 Car, 56 Yds, (1 YPC), 2 TD, 6 FUM    0.823* HS ('23)
Wide Receivers
#00 Kha'leal Sterling FR
H/W
5'9"/165
Rating
0.85
Origin
3* HS ('25)
#00 Kha'leal Sterling FR
H/W
5'9"/165
Rating
0.85
Origin
3* HS ('25)
PlayerH/WReceivingRushingRecBlockPPASnapsRatingOrigin
#00 Kha'leal Sterling FR 5'9"/165      0.853* HS ('25)
#00 Kha'leal Sterling FR 5'9"/165      0.853* HS ('25)
Offensive Line
#00 Cole Cooke (OT) FR
H/W
6'7"/300
Rating
0.83
Origin
3* HS ('25)
#00 Cole Cooke (OT) FR
H/W
6'7"/300
Rating
0.83
Origin
3* HS ('25)
PlayerH/WGradeRun BlkPass BlkSnapsRatingOrigin
#00 Cole Cooke (OT) FR 6'7"/300    0.833* HS ('25)
#00 Cole Cooke (OT) FR 6'7"/300    0.833* HS ('25)
Linebackers
#36 Jordan Thompson SO
H/W
5'11"/214
Stats
37 Tac, 11 Solo, 3 TFL, 1 Sacks, 2 QB Hur
Pass D
2 PD, 0 INT (0 TDS)
Run D
F
Rush
F
Cov
D+
Snaps
419 (INF%)
Rating
0.74
Origin
MTSU ('25)
#36 Jordan Thompson SO
H/W
5'11"/214
Stats
37 Tac, 11 Solo, 3 TFL, 1 Sacks, 2 QB Hur
Pass D
2 PD, 0 INT (0 TDS)
Run D
F
Rush
F
Cov
D+
Snaps
419 (INF%)
Rating
0.74
Origin
MTSU ('25)
#43 Ryan McKinnis SO
H/W
6'2"/225
Run D
C
Cov
C+
Snaps
3 (INF%)
Rating
0.84
Origin
APP ('25)
#43 Ryan McKinnis SO
H/W
6'2"/225
Run D
C
Cov
C+
Snaps
3 (INF%)
Rating
0.84
Origin
APP ('25)
PlayerH/WStatsPass DRun DRushCovSnapsRatingOrigin
#36 Jordan Thompson SO 5'11"/21437 Tac, 11 Solo, 3 TFL, 1 Sacks, 2 QB Hur2 PD, 0 INT (0 TDS) F F D+ 419 (INF%)0.74MTSU ('25)
#36 Jordan Thompson SO 5'11"/21437 Tac, 11 Solo, 3 TFL, 1 Sacks, 2 QB Hur2 PD, 0 INT (0 TDS) F F D+ 419 (INF%)0.74MTSU ('25)
#43 Ryan McKinnis SO 6'2"/225   C   C+ 3 (INF%)0.84APP ('25)
#43 Ryan McKinnis SO 6'2"/225   C   C+ 3 (INF%)0.84APP ('25)
Secondary
#12 Cam'Ron Dabney (CB) GR
H/W
5'11"/186
Stats
1 Tac, 1 Solo, 0 TFL, 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hur
Pass D
0 PD, 0 INT (0 TDS)
Rating
0.84
Origin
NIU ('25)
#12 Cam'Ron Dabney (CB) GR
H/W
5'11"/186
Stats
1 Tac, 1 Solo, 0 TFL, 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hur
Pass D
0 PD, 0 INT (0 TDS)
Rating
0.84
Origin
NIU ('25)
#00 Devin Brown (CB) FR
H/W
5'10"/165
Rating
0.81
Origin
3* HS ('25)
#00 Devin Brown (CB) FR
H/W
5'10"/165
Rating
0.81
Origin
3* HS ('25)
PlayerH/WStatsPass DRun DRushCovSnapsRatingOrigin
#12 Cam'Ron Dabney (CB) GR 5'11"/1861 Tac, 1 Solo, 0 TFL, 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hur0 PD, 0 INT (0 TDS)    0.84NIU ('25)
#12 Cam'Ron Dabney (CB) GR 5'11"/1861 Tac, 1 Solo, 0 TFL, 0 Sacks, 0 QB Hur0 PD, 0 INT (0 TDS)    0.84NIU ('25)
#00 Devin Brown (CB) FR 5'10"/165      0.813* HS ('25)
#00 Devin Brown (CB) FR 5'10"/165      0.813* HS ('25)

Roster Breakdown & Insights
Roster & Program Overview
HC new hireOC new hireDC new hire
Players with Starting experience51 off • 4 def
Team Talent60# in CFB
Avg Talent / Player0.82Blue-chip 0%
Roster Size144 portal (50%)
Talent Off: 40.08 (6)
Talent Def: 45.76 (8)
Talent ST: 0 ()
New Portal In: 5 (62.5%)
Portal Losses: 11
Unrated/No Stats: -6
Total Team Snaps: 866
Elite: 0
Top 100: 0
Top 250: 0
Top 100 Pos: 0
JAG: 7
Low JAG: 0
JAG-: 1
FR Snaps: 0 (0%)
SO Snaps: 523 (60%)
JR Snaps: 0 (0%)
SR Snaps: 343 (40%)
GR Snaps: 0 (0%)
40% Snaps by Upperclassmen
-6 players on roster have not played, have no stats and no recruiting/portal ratings.
Class Breakdown
Category GRSRJRSOFR
Starters Returning00000
Portal Starters 2025 portal00030
Experienced Depth00000
Off Starters Returning00000
Off Depth Returning00000
Def Starters Returning00000
Def Depth Returning00000
Positions Summary
Unit
Returning
(starters/exp'd depth)
Portal Adds
(starters/exp'd depth)
Snaps
(total/portal/return%)
Outlook
Experience - Production - Notes
QBQB
0 (0)
0 (1)
343(343)0% returning
Exp 42.75% • Prod 55% — Taron Dickens returns, who started multiple games in '25. Tate Rodemaker was brought in via the portal.
RBHB
0 (0)
0 (0)
0(0)0% returning
Exp 0% • Prod -1% — Western Carolina lost their top 2 Rushers from last year.
WR/TEWR + TE
0 (0)
0 (0)
0(0)0% returning
Exp NAN% • Prod 0% — Western Carolina lost their top 2 WR's from last year.
OLT + G + C
0 (0)
0 (0)
0(0)0% returning
T 0% • G 0% • C 0% — Western Carolina OL: 0 starters back, 0 with multi game experience, 0 more with some game experience. Portal OL: 0 potential starters from '25 Portal, 0 more portals have experience.
DLDE + DT
0 (0)
0 (0)
0(0)0% returning
DE 0% • DT 0% — DL experience and continuity summary.
LBLB
0 (0)
4 (0)
844(844)0% returning
LB 100% — LB experience and continuity summary.
SecondaryCB + S
0 (0)
0 (0)
0(0)0% returning
CB NAN% • S 0% — Secondary experience and continuity summary.
Team Snaps: Offense 343 (343 portal) 0% returning, (100% via Portal) • Defense 844 (844 portal) 0% returning, (100% via Portal)
Note: The units rarely add up to a full team of starters/depth in preseason, as inexperienced depth/portals will need to emerge