
Western Carolina’s dual-role field-position weapon is coming off a career-best punting season
Stephen Brantley is worth watching because he has become a reliable special-teams difference-maker for Western Carolina, averaging a career-high 45.0 yards per punt in 2025 while also handling kickoffs and showing he can flip field position with 16 punts of 50+ yards and 14 downed inside the 20. He is not just a leg-only specialist: the Catamounts trusted him in multiple roles, and his 3.542 GPA plus CSC Academic All-District recognition points to a disciplined, high-character fit for a program that values consistency and versatility.[1][5]





