Welcome to the 2023 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to Week 0 games on Aug. 26, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Because team rosters are updated at different times across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2022 rosters
70: Christian Coulter, OL (Sr.) — Western Carolina
Coulter has started all 22 games since transferring from Tusculum before the 2021 season.
He helped WCU set a single-season school record of 5,339 yards of total offense last year. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound right tackle had a PFF overall offensive grade of 71.9 and a pass-blocking grade of 72.2. His 71.9 grade is just inside the Top 20 for returning FCS offensive tackles.
In 498 pass-blocking reps last year recorded by PFF, Coulter allowed three sacks, one hit, and 11 hurries for a 98.1 efficiency. The year prior, he allowed five sacks, one hit, and 21 hurries in 521 pass-blocking reps for a 96.8 efficiency.
“My favorite scheme would be the power scheme or the counter scheme because it gives me the chance to be violent in my pulls and wash down whole sides of a defensive front when the power is coming to my side,” Coulter told NFL Draft Diamonds.
The Catamounts have finished 6-5 and 4-7 in the last two years with 4-4 records in the SoCon standings. They beat ranked Chattanooga in last year’s regular-season finale to knock the Mocs out of the playoffs. And they nearly beat playoff participant Furman, losing 47-40. WCU looks to be a threat in the conference again as the list of postseason contenders grows.
