Fellowship Graduate Attends Catamounts Pre-Season Training Camp

Submitted by John Heid, sports information director at Fellowship Christian School

Ian Berryman received the call from Western Carolina University last week that he was waiting for.

Catamounts Head Coach Mark Speir informed the 2014 Fellowship Christian School graduate he was being invited to attend the Catamounts pre-season training camp that began Aug. 7, and earn preferred walk-on status at the Cullowhee, N.C. school. He was added to the official roster on Aug. 8!

Preferred status means that the freshman punter has earned a spot on the 95-man roster at Western Carolina, a Division I FCS School. Training camp runs through Aug. 18, and the Catamounts open the season on Aug. 30 at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla.

Berryman is the second 2014 FCS graduate to make the roster of a Division I program. Hunter Bryant is a walk-on quarterback at the University of Alabama.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Berryman, who will major in athletic training at WCU. “It’s been a dream of mine to play Division I college football since I started playing in the sixth or seventh grade.”

Even before he learned of the opportunity to play football, Berryman knew he wanted to go to WSU.

“It’s really the perfect school for me since I would like a career in athletic training or coaching after college,” he said. “Western Carolina was really my No. 1 choice since May. Their training program was the main draw for me. I am focused to earn my degree in four years.”

Berryman is one of two punters on the roster for the Catamounts, and eyes the starting spot as a true freshman. As a senior at Fellowship, Berryman punted 32 times for 1,305 yards (an average of 40.78 yards per kick) and was ranked among the nation’s top scholastic punters most of the season on Kornblue Kicking’s Fab Top 50 Punter rankings.

“I have been working with coach [James] Williamson and Dawson Zimmerman this summer,” he said. “I wanted to be ready in case they called. I am going to compete for the starting spot. I am going to stay positive, work hard and try to make Fellowship proud. I have been working hard this summer to prepare for the season. Both coach Williamson and Dawson helped me to prepare for camp.”

Zimmerman is a former punter at Clemson University from Lawrenceville who is trying to make the Atlanta Falcons roster.

Berryman, who also played varsity soccer during his two years at FCS, ranked second on the paladins with 32 receptions and was third with 320 receiving yards as a wideout.

Berryman has always been a punter. “I have never tried place kicking,” he said. “I am strictly a punter and holder. It’s a lot different being a kicker.”

Berryman, who came to FCS during his junior year, is thankful for his opportunity at WCU.

“I want to thank everyone at FCS,” he said. “Coach [Al] Morrell, Coach [Bryan] Lindner and Coach [Sandy] Stephens really built me up with the college scouts. They helped me get recruited. I am very blessed!”