McCracken is a Preferred Walk-On with the Football Team

By Brandon Stephens

(Murphy) – – From a Bulldog to a Catamount, Murphy High School Wide Receiver Payton McCracken is making the transition official to playing football at Western Carolina University (WCU).  Tuesday morning (February 2, 2022) McCracken signed with WCU to become a Preferred Walk-On with the Catamount football team.  The last three seasons McCracken has been a major contributor to the Bulldogs success as a Wide Receiver and playing in the defensive secondary.

Murphy Football Players pose with Payton McCracken as he signs with WCU

Payton has been a leader for the team from his early playing as sophomore to his senior year.  McCracken has contributed to Murphy’s success to win two State 1-A Football Championships in 2018 and in the spring of 2021.  During the spring 2021 Championship game he led the team with 127 yards receiving and averaged 25 yards per reception.  This past season he averaged nearly 20 yards per reception and collected more than 800 yards on the season.  More than performance, Murphy will miss his leadership and the ability to build team confidence, inspire, and fire up teammates.

I am going to be a Catamount

“I am excited.  It is a true blessing to do that (play at the collegiate level).  It has been a dream since I was a little kid to play at the next level.  I am excited to see what is in store next,” Payton explained to Team FYN Sports.  He chose WCU for various reasons ranging from liking the coaching staff, the program, educational offerings for a major, and being relatively close to home.  He did have some influence from Micah Nelson, who has been playing defense for the Catamounts since the fall of 2019.  “I also have a few buddies that will be coming to WCU with me,” McCracken added.  Those buddies may include Kellen Rumfelt, Adam Bobo, Hunter Laney, and possibly others.  As of press time for this article, no other Murphy Bulldog made their official intentions to play for WCU and may only attend as students.   Payton McCracken’s Comments can be accessed at the link in this story.

I’m Proud of Payton

A whole host of students, family, Murphy football players, Murphy basketball players, and community members made their way to Payton’s signing.  It seemed like everyone had to take three or four pictures with him.  Besides his parents and grandparents, who were proud as can be, Murphy Head Coach Joseph Watson was lit up like a flood light with praise and congratulations.  It took a few moments for the crowd to settle, but we managed a word with Coach Watson, who is a former Catamount football player.  “We are excited about Payton being able to continue his athletic and academic career at WCU.  And we are really excited that it is a place close to home so we can go see him play on Saturday and follow his career,” Watson explained.  Coach Watson is proud of the most recent pipeline of quality players that have attended and played football at WCU ranging from Seth Curtis in 2012 to Micah Nelson in 2019.  Coach Watson added, “We are super excited for him (Payton).  We are sad to see him go.  When you have players that are good enough to keep playing in college and continue their careers, we are so happy for them.  We are happy for him to live out his dream and go to a school he wanted to go.”  So now the Murphy Bulldogs have to say Go Bulldogs and Go Catamounts!  Coach Joseph Watson’s full comments can be heard at the link in this story.

Murphy Coaches with Payton McCracken (From Left) Erik Laney, Payton McCracken, Joseph Watson, Tyler Edwards