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2026 Weber State Football Preview

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WEBER STATE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW


2 | Fall 2026

2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Family discipline keeps College football rule changes.......................................16 Eric Kjar moving forward.....................................................4 Changes hit FCS and Big Sky..........................................17 Culture not just a buzzword for Polynesian Wildcats.......................................................7 Bachmeier, returning talent should boost BYU offense..............................................21 Roster Prospectus..............................................................10 Dampier, Ficklin team up to WSU’s 2026 football schedule.........................................11 power Utah’s offense again..........................................22 What to know about Weber State’s 12 opponents..........................................11

Cover art: Photos by Isaac Fisher (Standard-Examiner) and Robert Casey (Weber State Athletics). Design by Grace Watters.

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2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Family discipline keeps Eric Kjar moving forward

Weber State head coach Eric Kjar smiles during a drill on the first day of spring camp March 9 at Stewart Stadium in Ogden. ROBERT CASEY, WEBER STATE ATHLETICS

BY BRETT HEIN

Standard-Examiner

E

ric Kjar’s office looks quite a bit different these days. It’s not a health classroom, or in a high school locker room, or a driver’s ed booth. It’s one of the focal points of the $16 million Youngberg Football Center, and he’s now the third occupant to sit at the solid-wood desk that’s often bathed in the plentiful natural light streaming through the ceiling-to-floor windows that face southeast over the field at Stewart Stadium, nestled into the foothill that makes the eastern edge of Weber State’s campus. It’s not the only difference for one of

Utah’s winningest high school coaches who stepped away from a climb up the record books (second-most state titles, 12th most wins) to take the helm of a Division I college football program. “Most of it’s good. Just getting to focus on football, it’s been awesome,” Kjar said. “The amount of time we get to spend with our kids teaching, doing meetings, preparing them, really establishing our scheme — plus, their IQ level, their athletic ability enable you to do a little bit more and push the envelope on some of those things. “And,” he added, “I definitely won’t miss teacher meetings ... definitely not going to miss that side.”

The environment is different but, at the core, Kjar hasn’t felt much change from last season, he says. His outlook has been in the oven his whole life, baked in the heat of experience, great personal trial and the influence of others. “I honestly haven’t noticed a difference in my coaching approach from last year,” Kjar said. “There’s a little bit of difference from the college standpoint, but not my sense of urgency, not my edge to push kids harder and get better, and teach them things.” Urgency, because he grew up in a Wyoming town of about 3,000 people. Urgency, because once — until he was a junior in high school — the coach who’s

now about 6-foot-3 played most sports but particularly liked baseball, where he was a pitcher and a middle infielder (where the short guys play). Because in Kemmerer, college recruiters outside of NAIA schools don’t come around much, so he sought out Snow College, where a brother had gone, to play football. Because, just one season into his coaching career, he was made offensive coordinator at Jordan High School. Because, in his first season as a head coach there, he lost his first game and lost his team’s first region contest, too — to its rival, no less. “Just trying to prove more and more — not necessarily myself, but what I


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Eric Kjar poses for a photo in his office after being introduced as Weber State football’s new head coach on Dec. 16, 2025, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden. ROBERT CASEY, WEBER STATE ATHLETICS

want to accomplish and the standard I hold myself to, pushing myself,” he said. “Having a sense of urgency as I approach coaching. I think there has to be.” That goes back to his family and Wyoming, Kjar says. His leisure activities were fishing and hunting — ones that, seen a certain way, require some work to enjoy. Kjar’s parents modeled what a work ethic means, he said, something you start to follow when you get older. To him, that means putting in a good day’s work every day. He’s seen it in his siblings and supposes there’s a genetic component to that ethic. For example, early this month, Col.

Michael Kjar was promoted to Brigadier General and became the state’s Adjutant General, putting him in command of the Utah National Guard and its 8,000 soldiers, airmen and civilian employees. Working hard and measures of leadership, service and kindness got his brother there, Eric says — “he’s always had more of that than I have,” he joked. “He’s always been a great example to me.” All things sports — and, for him, especially football — teach better than many things. “Accountability, work ethic; I think the game’s great (because) you can teach a lot of things for young men from a dis-

cipline standpoint, togetherness. There’s a lot of things you can benefit from with the game and I was always kind of drawn to that,” Kjar said. Discipline and hard work are buzzwords any football guy says. But they’re not well-timed cliches for Kjar, a man who can’t sit still. They’re lifelines. For a man who lives with multiple sclerosis, they’re imperative. “The fatigue side is probably the one that gets you a little bit ... more so when I slow down,” Kjar said. “But when I’m doing stuff that I really enjoy like football, I don’t even notice it. ... Just like, the mindset of moving forward and not letting it affect me.”

He knows not noticing the chronic autoimmune disorder, diagnosed 16 years ago, is a blessing. His treatment plan, and continued advances in those treatments, have been very effective. He knows that’s not true for everyone with the diagnosis, something he remembers when he thinks about how he could barely walk at the height of his troubles with the condition in 2010. His relapsing-remitting MS and the success of treatments mean when he sometimes experiences the acute symptoms, commonly called “attacks,” they resolve and are followed by long stretches without most of those symptoms.


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“I haven’t really had too many setbacks. I’ve had a couple, but nothing major ... those have been few and far between,” he says. “Support from my wife and family has been huge, always.” Discipline, because medicine isn’t the only factor. To Kjar, there’s the other side of multiple sclerosis attacks: what the person is doing to attack the disorder. Attention to detail with nutrition, food and supplements goes a long way. So does the weight room. It’s no secret that Kjar throws around bars, plates and kettlebells with his players, and it’s noticeable. He’s not keeping up appearances, though; it’s the work ethic his life requires. “It’s a big part of it. I think it’s helped me a lot,” Kjar said about regular workouts. “When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t have a lot of feeling in my legs, or sensation, whatever words you want to use. Getting that back and keeping those muscles and nerves innervated and working ... I think it’s an important piece, for sure.” It’s that attacking, aggressive mindset that drives all his days. Back at the announcement of his hire in December, he could barely handle the time spent talking. It didn’t feel enough like doing. That family ethic takes new meaning at Weber State. Kjar is again the head coach of his sons Tate and Noah (leaving youngest son Carter before his senior season at Corner Canyon has been the most difficult part of the transition, the coach says), and for the team, it’s still about the work. “The opportunity to coach Noah and Tate has been great again. Seeing how hard they work, and their drive, has been awesome,” Kjar said. “And seeing the team approach it in the same way — I think we’ve grown a lot in our program from us first getting here as coaches and seeing the way we’re operating out on the field, that’s really grown. “We’ve improved in a lot of areas, just effort-wise, weight room-wise. The effort and attention to detail ... today, we finished practice and the field was full of guys doing extra things to work and get better. That’s the higher-level approach, the work we have to have to elevate their game and be better.”

2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Weber State football coach Eric Kjar watches a drill during the first practice of fall camp July 28 at Stewart Stadium in Ogden. ISAAC FISHER, SPECIAL TO THE STANDARD-EXAMINER

NEW COACHES Weber State’s coaching staff got a complete overhaul for the first time in a decade. Here’s a look at who left and who’s new for the Wildcats

POSITION

NEW COACH

FROM

OUTGOING

TO

Head Coach Associate Head Coach Offensive Coordinator Defensive Coordinator Special Teams Coord Recruiting Coordinator

Eric Kjar Tanner Jacobson Eric Kjar Gavin Fowler Tanner Jacobson Tana Vea

Corner Canyon HS (HC) Tyler JC (HC) Corner Canyon HS (HC) BYU (assistant safeties) Tyler JC (HC) San Diego State (RC)

Mickey Mental Brent Myers Mickey Mental Joe Dale Skyler Ridley Robert Conley

Baldwin Wallace (QB) Montana (OL) Baldwin Wallace (QB) San Jose State (S) Utah State (WR) Sacramento State (TE)

Offensive Coaches Offensive Line Running backs Receivers Tight Ends Graduate Assistant Graduate Assistant

Isaac Asiata Tana Vea Isiah Jackson BJ Cavender Cooper Smith Peyton Beck

Utah (assistant OL) Brent Myers San Diego State (RC) Daniel Wright Jr. Weber State (promoted) Skyler Ridley Corner Canyon HS Robert Conley Weber State (returning) Weber State (player) Jamie Martin

Montana (OL) Oregon (assistant RB) Utah State (WR) Sacramento State (TE) Missouri Baptist (QB)

Defensive Coaches Defensive Tackles Linebackers Outside Linebackers Cornerbacks Safeties Defensive Assistant

Ono Tafisi Tanner Jacobson Jace Campbell Kam Garrett Gavin Fowler Dustin Long

Tyler JC (DL) Brady Daigh Tyler JC (HC) Justin Mullgrav Weber State (promoted) Idaho State (assistant CB) Keilan Benjamin BYU (assistant safeties) Joe Dale Union HS, Utah (HC) Jace Campbell

Unknown Fordham (LB) Santa Rosa JC (CB) San Jose State (S) WSU (promoted)

Returning Coaches Quarterbacks Defensive Ends Strength & Conditioning

Zach Larson James Cowser Micah Cloward

3 years at WSU 6 years at WSU 3 years at WSU


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Weber State offensive line coach Isaac Asiata instructs players during a fall camp practice July 28 at Stewart Stadium in Ogden. ISAAC FISHER, SPECIAL TO THE STANDARD-EXAMINER

Culture not just a buzzword for Polynesian Wildcats Coaches, players explain how their heritage impacts winning BY BRETT HEIN

Standard-Examiner

OGDEN — If you spend enough time around sports, you’ll come to understand the things most coaches say often sound the same, whether a team is winning or losing. Culture is something every coach in the country talks about, from preps on up. A true positive culture can become far more than a sports cliché, however. Given two teams otherwise alike in every way, one team will fare better if players and coaches are better connected to each other, more invested in the success of teammates, and are overall just having

a better time playing the sport. There’s a facet to football culture, one somewhat specific to Utah, that Weber State hopes will bring marked improvement to the field. “If you think of all the most successful coaches who have coached college in the state of Utah, they’ve all built a Polynesian pipeline,” WSU running backs coach Tana Vea said. “Ron McBride, LaVell Edwards, Kyle Whittingham, Kalani Sitake, Jay Hill right here ... there’s a lot of things the Polynesian culture is very staunch on that translates to football.” Polynesians are typically considered those with a heritage or ancestry from the

approximately 1,000 islands across the central and southern Pacific Ocean (making a triangle-like shape from Hawaii at the north, New Zealand at the southwest and Easter Island to the east). Last year, for the first time in quite a while, WSU had zero Polynesian coaches (and about 10 players). “It’s really important, and I think it starts with your staff,” WSU’s first-year head coach Eric Kjar said. “It was really an important part when I took this job that I knew would change. It’s a critical piece here.” On his first coaching staff, Kjar has teamed with three assistants who have

Utah ties and proud Polynesian ancestry. Offensive line coach Isaac Asiata comes from the University of Utah, his alma mater, after three years in the NFL, time as a police officer and back to the Utes as a coach. He was born in San Francisco but grew up in Spanish Fork; he says his parents are from Western Samoa and American Samoa. Defensive tackles coach Ono Tafisi was raised in Salt Lake City and, professionally, comes from Tyler Junior College in Texas; his roots are in Tonga. And Vea, the running backs coach, is a Los Angeles native who prepped at Juan Diego in Draper; his parents are Tongan. He returns to the


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2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Weber State defensive players Teni Worthen (23), Zion Finau (90), Ashden Oberg (91) and Jayden Mayberry (22) jog onto the field during a fall camp scrimmage on Aug. 8 at Stewart Stadium in Ogden. ROBERT CASEY, WEBER STATE ATHLETICS

WSU staff after two years at San Diego State. About 20 Polynesian players join those three coaches on this year’s roster (plus, on the support staff, Asiata has Texas native and four-year Utah starter Salesi Uhatafe as his OL deputy). “Being able to have more Polynesian players, more Polynesian coaches is big, and it’s a big emphasis Coach Kjar wanted because he understands the culture, he understands the background that he wants to build the team on,” Asiata said. “In order to do that, you’ve got to have authentic representation. “Having those coaches and having

that upbringing, setting an example for the players in expressing that culture, expressing what it means to truly love somebody ... those are the greatest bonds, and that is what the greatest football teams have.” There’s not a quota or magic number of Polynesian participation that automatically leads to football wins, but those who’ve been raised in the culture can explain the positive impact. Fifth-year senior linebacker Raimoana Tinirauarii was born and raised in Tahiti — a French-speaking Polynesian isle — before moving to Utah for high school, originally to play basketball. The oldest

player on Weber State’s team, he signed in 2019 and went on a mission to Toronto, Canada, then was sent home to Tahiti after one year to complete his service due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sophomore linebacker Teni Worthen’s mother is Samoan and, after being raised in Utah, Worthen spent two years in New Zealand as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which he says was a meaningful opportunity to feel more in touch with his cultural heritage and connect the dots with stories he was told growing up. “Amazing food there, too, which is why I’m a linebacker now,” Worthen laughed.

“I was a safety, but I had a two-year bulk.” Here’s what Asiata, Vea, Tinirauarii and Worthen said about why a Polynesian presence matters to a football team.

TEAM CULTURE

VEA: “The Polynesian culture and the culture of Utah we have, recruiting the state, we’re getting guys who believe in (these things). That’s the biggest thing is just recruiting in-state guys who understand the culture of being welcoming, loving, together, and a lot of them just happen to be Polynesian who grew up in the culture. “We bring guys in on visits and


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we really do gauge them off of, we’re not just looking at their tape and what we see at camps, but we’re gauging their personalities and if it fits what we’re doing. We’ve had some really good players come here on visits and just, mid-visit, they just weren’t a fit and we knew it. As great of you are a player, if you don’t fit what we want on the team, culturally, we won’t waste our time. We want guys who will jell together, that will be selfless players. It’s more important to have guys who can jell together and be great teammates.” TINIRAUARII: “When I moved to Utah and started to meet other Polynesian people, because Tahiti doesn’t have other Polynesian people other than us who speak French ... so just sharing stories with them, we started learning that it was pretty much the same culture, there was just a language barrier.”

BRIDGE BUILDING

ASIATA: “I remember when I was a player, and I see it now in our Polynesian players; they’re so welcoming. Football, it’s kind of a bittersweet deal where you’re in a room with guys who are your teammates, you love them, but you’re all competing for a spot. It’s easy to kind of shut off and just think about yourself because to worry about somebody else, you might mess up what you have going on. But it’s that true, genuine love of, I want to be the best and I want my teammates to be the best. “The Polys in my group, they’ve brought together the group, they’re inclusive. They don’t keep people out of the circle; they make the circle bigger. It’s easy to break off into cliques but I feel like, as Polynesians, we don’t really clique like that. We embrace everybody from different backgrounds, ethnicities, different places. “You’ve got to take care of you, have to make sure you do your job, but at the same time, it doesn’t mean you put somebody else down or exclude somebody else. “Everyone wants to build a team and say they’re a family, and they want Polynesian players ... it’s because they’re great teammates ... and those are the guys you can build a team around because they’re welcoming and embracing. They have a great knack in getting guys together who in no other way would want to socialize; they’re kind of that

bridge. I love that for our people, and I love that for Weber State football.” VEA: “In our culture, we’re taught to be very welcoming and go out of our comfort zone to talk to other people. ... That contributes to the team being a lot closer. There’s no one on the team who will ever be standing by themselves; we’re taught to never let anyone be left behind.

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Weber State running backs coach Tana Vea gives instruction in an August practice at Stewart Stadium in Ogden. ROBERT CASEY, WEBER STATE ATHLETICS

LOVE

TINIRAUARII: “I don’t know if you’ve been to the PCC (Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii), but they say the Tahiti Village is the village of love. “We had a leadership council and ... we were trying to see how we can make this team better than last year, and similar to how Weber was when we were successful. One thing that was brought up, which is related to my culture as a Polynesian and Tahitian, was loving your teammates. By the love you have for them, you’re going to give your best to them, help them, and we can learn and grow together. “Unity and love are some of the most important principles that we want to apply for this team; something that, personally, I didn’t see the past few years. I’m not saying we hated each other, but we could’ve loved each other more to help us get better each day. This year, I can see how the team is growing together faster than in past years.”

SELFLESSNESS, SACRIFICE

WORTHEN: “From my mom and my grandparents, it’s all about sacrifice. People sacrifice, work away from family to provide for them. I want to be able to Raimoana Tinirauarii sacrifice for my future family, but also for my family here at Weber State so we can bring a better future for everyone around defensive line.” us.” ASIATA: “In Polynesian culture, every TOUGHNESS household is raised on respect and selfASIATA: “Mindset-wise, being tough lessness ... giving more than you receive. is that upbringing of tough love, being mentally strong, mentally endure hard It’s loving, giving and sharing.” things, and it shows on the field in the PHYSICAL GIFTS way Polynesian players play.” ASIATA: “We’re blessed; we have a lot of natural-born gifts, in size and FAMILY FIRST strength, and athleticism. ... They’re WORTHEN: “Family is a huge thing in physical. They embrace contact. They Polynesian culture and that’s one thing can move really well, and they’re really, that me and a lot of other Polynesian really strong. A lot of great genetics when players on the team try to make it as famit comes to the Polynesian people and it ily-centered as possible, because that’s often correlates well with offensive and what motivates us as players. If we’re

Teni Worthen playing for each other, there should be nothing that can stop us.” TINIRAUARII: “We do everything as a family, and that’s all across Polynesia.”

HUMILITY

TINIRAUARII: “I was always told by my family to always stay humble. It doesn’t matter what level of experience you have; always stay humble and be willing to learn something new every day. That has helped me a lot to grow as a person and a football player. Just always ask questions, make sure you’re not doing the wrong things, always listen. Be humble and listen, that’s what I received from my culture and my parents.”


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2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Weber State 2026 Roster Prospectus BY BRETT HEIN

Standard-Examiner

Below is a roster prospectus for Weber State football’s 2026 team, based on the team’s published fall camp roster. Subject to change. Of note: The NCAA Division I passed the new “5 for 5” eligibility framework, meaning athletes have five years to complete five seasons of eligibility with no redshirts and waivers/eligibility pauses only for military service, missionary service and maternity leave. To account for the new framework, College Sports Communicators and ESPN recommend the continued use of labels freshman, sophomore, junior and senior, while adding “5th Year” to the end of the timeline as the designation for fifthyear players.

OFFENSE QUARTERBACKS (5) RETURNERS (2) 6 Cash McCollum: Jr., 6-foot-4; China Springs, Texas. 2025: Attempted two passes before season-ending hand injury. 10 Kingston Tisdell: Soph., 6-foot-1; Los Angeles, Calif. 2025: 43 of 76, 442 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT. TRANSFERS (2) 33 Devin Brown: 5th, 6-foot-3; Gilbert, Arizona. Transfer: Cal (FBS). 2025: 4 of 7, 48 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. 16 DJ Duran: Soph., 6-foot-4; Pasco, Wash. Transfer: Laney College (JC). 2025: 88 of 191, 1100 yards, 10 TD, 15 INT FRESHMEN (1) 13 Nate Dahle: 6-foot-1; Millville, Utah (Ridgeline). 2025: 248 of 352, 4005 yards, 54 TD, 6 INT RUNNING BACKS (8) RETURNERS (1) 38 Spencer Ferguson: Soph., 6-foot; Kaysville, Utah (Davis). 2025: 43 carries, 239 yards, 3 TD TRANSFERS (3) 32 Seth Rigtrup: Jr., 5-foot-9; Springville, Utah (Springville). Transfer: Snow College (JC). 2025: 117 carries, 668 yards, 10 TD. 3 Omar Shah: Sr., 5-foot-9; Salt Lake City, Utah (East). Transfer: Utah. 2025: 1 tackle in 13 special teams appearances. 34 Drew Patterson: Jr., Kaysville, Utah (Corner Canyon). Transfer: Snow College (JC). 2024: 74 carries, 440 yards, 6 TD. FRESHMEN (4) 35 Semisi Kinikini: 5-foot-10; Herriman, Utah (Mountain Ridge). Returned missionary. 2023: 98 carries, 478 yards, 7 TD (8 games). 30 Levon Morton: 5-foot-7; Dallas, Texas. 2025: 129 carries, 1265 yards, 18 TD. 41 Dyson Parker: 5-foot-11; North Ogden, Utah (Weber). 2025: 194 carries, 1160 yards, 13 TD. 36 Dax Sumko: 5-foot-11; Brigham City, Utah (Box Elder).

Returned missionary. 2023: 252 carries, 1896 yards, 22 TD. OFFENSIVE LINE (21) RETURNERS (3) 62 Jacob Edmonds: Sr., 6-foot-2; Vacaville, Calif. 17 games (9 starts) over last 2 seasons. 73 Ty Hunter: Soph., 6-foot-4; Syracuse, Utah (Syracuse). 1 game in 2025. 78 Luke Sampson: Sr., 6-foot-4; Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon). 9 games (4 starts) over last 2 seasons. TRANSFERS (7) 68 Leon Crutcher: Soph., 6-foot-2; Salt Lake City, Utah (Cottonwood). Transfer: Black Hills State (D2). 66 Brody Cutrer: Jr., 6-foot-2; Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon). Transfer: Morningside (Iowa) (NAIA). 19 games over last 2 seasons. 69 Nai Palu-Filivaolelei: Soph., 6-foot, Cottonwood Heights, Utah (Corner Canyon). Transfer: Colorado Mesa (D2). 2025: Redshirted as DL. 71 Vea Moala: Soph., 6-foot-5; Kennewick, Wash. Transfer: Tyler (Texas) (JC). 58 Stanley Roybal: Jr., 6-foot-4; La Puente, Calif. Transfer: East Los Angeles College (JC). 74 Jay Wade: Sr., 6-foot-1; Knoxville, Tenn. Transfer: East Tennessee State (FCS). 2025: 10 games (7 starts). 77 Micah Walters: 5th, 6-foot-5; Justin, Texas. Transfer: Roosevelt (Illinois) (D2). 17 games in past 3 seasons. FRESHMEN (11) 67 Tyler Buckway: 6-foot-2; Morgan, Utah (Morgan). 55 Jason Ezeotti: 6-foot-7; Austin, Texas. 75 Samson Fatu: 6-foot-5; North Hollywood, Calif. 65 Nick Fovozzo: 6-foot-2; Hesperia, Calif. 61 Spencer Hill: 6-foot-6; Layton, Utah (Layton). 64 Teancum Moea’i: 6-foot-3; Kahuku, Hawaii. 56 Caleb Patton: 6-foot-4; St. George, Utah (Pine View). 60 Logan Ray: 6-foot-3; Chandler, Arizona. 72 Denzon Seui-Sika: 6-foot-4; Kahuku, Hawaii. 63 Robby Whelan: 6-foot-2; Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon). 79 Bryce Williams: 6-foot-8; Los Angeles, Calif. RECEIVERS (15) RETURNERS (6) 2 Devin Ford: 6th, 6-foot; Gardena, Calif. Career: 5 receptions, 35 yards. 8 Noah Kjar: Jr., 6-foot; Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon). 2025: Season-ending injury in Game 3: 2024: 16 receptions, 200 yards; 35.7 yards kick-return average, 1 TD. 18 Marvin Session: 5th, 6-foot-1; Missouri City, Texas. 2025: 32 receptions, 415 yards, 1 TD. 12 Kelton Wafer: Soph., 6-foot; McKinney, Texas. 2025: 19 receptions, 188 yards. 80 Mason York: Soph., 6-foot-3; Huntington Beach, Calif. 2025: 5 receptions, 24 yards, 1 TD. 0 Robert Young: Soph., 5-foot-8; Hawaii/Roy, Utah (Roy). 2025: 7 receptions, 57 yards; 12 punt returns, 102 yards. TRANSFERS (3) 26 Jack Burke: Jr., 6-foot-2; Lehi, Utah (Skyridge). Transfer: Snow College (JC). 2025: 5 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD. 89 Porter Hadley: Jr., 6-foot-3; Bountiful, Utah (Bountiful). Transfer: Snow College (JC). 2025: 1 reception, 10 yards. 20 Tate Kjar: Soph., 5-foot-10; Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon). Transfer: Utah State (FBS). 2025: Appeared in two games. FRESHMEN (6) 27 Jordan Bostick: 5-foot-10; Las Vegas, Nevada. 2025: 43 receptions, 511 yards, 5 TD. 82 Jayce Evans: 6-foot-4; Salt Lake City, Utah (Brighton). 2025: 24 receptions, 614 yards, 8 TD. 83 La’akea Kalama: 5-foot-11; Hawaii/Lehi, Utah (Skyridge). Returned missionary. 2022: 81 receptions, 901 yards, 9 TD.

28 Trey Robinson: 5-foot-11; Alpine, Utah (Lone Peak). Returned missionary. 2023: 66 receptions, 830 yards, 10 TD. 87 Max Stonebraker: 6-foot-1; Orem, Utah (Orem). 2025: 34 receptions, 518 yards, 5 TD; 52 carries, 301 yards, 5 TD. 19 Jasean Mayberry: 5-foot-11; Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon). 2025: 45 receptions, 944 yards, 8 TD. TIGHT ENDS (7) RETURNERS (4) 88 Dahlyn Jones: Sr., 6-foot-2; DeSoto, Texas. 2025: 8 receptions, 25 yards. 96 Grady Milholen: Soph., 6-foot-5; Camas, Wash. 2025: Appeared in 3 games. 85 Ammon Munyer: Sr., 6-foot-5; Rathdrum, Idaho. 2025: 8 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD. TRANSFERS (1) 84 Kolby Howard: Jr., 6-foot-3; Visalia, Calif. Transfer: Northern Colorado (FCS). Appeared in 3 games over 2 seasons. FRESHMEN (2) 81 Landon Kjar: 6-foot-5; Katy, Texas/Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon). New to football. 2025: 14 receptions, 211 yards, 1 TD. 43 Dyson Richards: 6-foot-5; American Fork, Utah (American Fork). 2025: 33 receptions, 335 yards, 4 TD.

DEFENSE DEFENSIVE ENDS (10) RETURNERS (7) 57 Donovan Arnold: Soph., 6-foot-3; West Jordan, Utah (Copper Hills). 2025: Redshirted. 17 Josh Hardy: 5th, 6-foot-4; Bowie, Maryland. 2025: 16 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3 sacks. 91 Ashden Oberg: 5th, 6-foot-5; Montrose, Colo. 2025: 19 tackles, 4 TFL, 1.5 sacks. 9 Chevy Robinson: Jr., 6-foot-2; Wai’anae, Hawaii. 2025: 14 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 FF. 54 Porter Small: Jr., 6-foot-4; Springville, Utah (Springville). 2025: 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack. 92 Boyd Sorenson: Jr., 6-foot-4; Rexburg, Idaho. 2025: Appeared in 9 games. 6 Mapa Vaenuku: Soph., 6-foot-2; Tooele, Utah (Tooele). Returned missionary. 2023: 2 games as linebacker. FRESHMEN (3) 58 Sam Chandler: 6-foot-5; Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon). Returned missionary. 2023: 50 tackles, 20 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 1 FF. 94 Terion Mathis: 6-foot-5; Victorville, Calif. 2025: 84 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks; 9 receptions, 164 yards, 3 TD. 59 Will Monroe: 6-foot-2; Littleton, Colo. 2025: 70 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 FF; 3 receptions, 96 yards, 2 TD. DEFENSIVE TACKLES (11) RETURNERS (2) 90 Zion Finau: Jr., 6-foot-2; Herriman, Utah (Corner Canyon). 2025: 13 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack. 44 Kevin Johnson: Jr., 6-foot-5; Downey, Calif. 2025: 9 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks. TRANSFERS (5) 48 Paliku Duque-Winchester: 5th, 6-foot; Honolulu, Hawaii. Transfer: Pacific (Oregon) (D3). 97 Semisi Felila: Jr., 6-foot-2; Bountiful, Utah (Bountiful). Transfer: Tyler (Texas) (JC). 76 James Joppru: Jr., 6-foot-3; Phoenix, Arizona. Transfer: Saddleback College (Calif.) (JC). 2025: 6 tackles, 1 sack. 95 Tevita Pekipaki: Jr., 6-foot-5; San Jose, Calif. Transfer: San Jose City College (Calif.) (JC). 2025: 22 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks. FRESHMEN (4) 93 Wyatt Ferguson: 6-foot; Concord, Calif. 2025: 39 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 8 sacks, 1 FF. 50 Max Mankins: 6-foot-3; Hughson, Calif. 2025: 56 tackles,

8 TFL, 7.5 sacks; 20 receptions, 365 yards, 4 TD. 98 Tevita Paongo: 6-foot-2; Honolulu, Hawaii. 47 Coen Richards: 6-foot-2; Millville, Utah (Ridgeline). 2025: 75 tackles, 26 TFL, 16.5 sacks, 3 FF. 51 Hector Saavedra: 6-foot-4; San Bernardino, Calif. 2025: 39 tackles, 1 TFL. LINEBACKERS (12) RETURNERS (3) 52 Jaeden Bland: Jr., 6-foot-1; Sacramento, Calif. 2025: Did not play. David Brinton VI: Soph., 6-foot-2; Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon). 2025: Appeared in 2 games; returned 1 kickoff 13 yards. 97 tackles as HS senior. 42 Kole Sparrow: Soph., 6-foot-5; Pleasant View, Utah (Weber). 2025: Appeared in 2 games. 11 Raimoana Tinirauarii: 5th, 6-foot-2; Tahiti/Draper, Utah (Juan Diego). 2025: 2 tackles in 8 games through injury. 2024: 38 tackles, 1.5 TFL. TRANSFERS (6) 40 Zion Andreasen: Sr., 6-foot-4; Salt Lake City, Utah (East). Transfer: Utah State. 2025: 3 tackles in 2 games. 33 Will Cornelson: 5th, 6-foot-2; Cedar Park, Texas. Transfer: Idaho. 2025: 31 tackles, 2.5 TFL. Former JUCO national tackles leader at Tyler (Texas). 24 DaDa Ross: Jr., 6-foot-1; Tyler, Texas. Transfer: Tyler (Texas) (JC), Missouri State (FCS). 36 Tomas Struck: Jr.; 6-foot-1; Highland Falls, New York. Transfer: Bakersfield College (Calif.) (JC). 2025: 26 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 FF. 49 Dallin Sweat: Jr., 5-foot-11; Manti, Utah (Manti). Transfer: Snow College (JC). 2025: 29 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT. 23 Teni Worthen: Soph., 6-foot-1; Spanish Fork, Utah (Spanish Fork). Transfer: Snow College (JC). 2025: 51 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT. FRESHMEN (3) 45 Owen Munk: 5-foot-10; Millville, Utah (Ridgeline). 2025: 143 tackles, 13 TFL, 5 sacks, 3 INT, 1 FF. 46 Zach Smith: 6-foot-2; South Weber, Utah (Northridge). Returned missionary. 2023: 148 tackles, 12 for loss, 6 sacks, 1 INT, 3 FF. 53 Kenneth Youngblood: 6-foot-1; Lancaster, Texas. CORNERBACKS (11) RETURNERS (2) 4 Tajon Evans: Sr., 6-foot; San Diego, Calif. 2025: 2 tackles in 1 game after switch from receiver, injured. 12 Braylon Parker: Jr., 5-foot-9; Ogden, Utah (Weber). 2025: Appeared in 1 game. TRANSFERS (5) 5 Bones Marks: Sr., 6-foot; Baltimore, Maryland. Transfer: Tarleton State (FCS). 2025: 3 tackles in 7 games. 25 Cooper Post: Jr., 6-foot-1; Salt Lake City, Utah (Cottonwood). Transfer: St. George Eagles (Utah) (JC). 2025: No stats available. 2024 at Southern Virginia (D3): 13 tackles. 1 Tre Turner: Sr., 6-foot-2; Arlington, Texas. Transfer: Lamar (FCS). 2025: 11 tackles in 8 games. 10 Kerry Williams: Soph., 5-foot-11; Dallas, Texas. Transfer: Tyler (Texas) (JC). 29 Mychai Williams: Sr., 6-foot-1; Los Angeles, Calif. Transfer: Missouri Southern (D2): 2025: 5 tackles in 7 games. FRESHMEN (4) 39 Erin Foster: 6-foot; Mountain House, Calif. 2025: 50 tackles, 1 INT; 48 of 95, 842 yards, 9 TD; 141 carries, 1351 yards, 11 TD. 34 Malachi Jackson: 5-foot-11; Spring Valley, Calif. 2025: 53 tackles. 37 Mason Jeppsen: 6-foot; Brigham City, Utah (Box Elder). Returned missionary. 2023: 59 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT; 64 carries, 568 yards, 5 TD. 26 Denzel Peoples: 6-foot; South Jordan, Utah (Bingham).

2025: 33 tackles, 1 INT. SAFETIES (12) RETURNERS (7) 16 Donovan Aidoo: Jr., 6-foot-1; Gilbert, Arizona. 2025: 2 tackles in 6 games. 30 Chipper Harding: Sr., 5-foot-10; Roosevelt, Utah (Union). 2025: 2 appearances. 2024: 2 tackles. 21 Pierre Hunter: 5th, 6-foot; Dallas, Texas. 2025: 3 tackles in 9 games. 27 Tamal Johnson: Jr., 6-foot; Compton, Calif. 2025: 4 tackles in 2 games. 22 Jayden Mayberry: Soph., 6-foot; Highland, Utah (Lone Peak). 2025: 2 appearances. 13 Khalil Stolden: Jr., 6-foot; Arlington, Texas. 2025: 2 tackles (moved to RB for depth). 3 Trevian Tribble: 5th, 5-foot-11; Fontana, Calif. 2025: 48 tackles. TRANSFERS (2) 7 Tommy Romano: Sr., 6-foot; Scottsdale, Arizona. Transfer: Arizona State (FBS). 2025: 2 tackles, 1 for loss, in bowl game. 31 Awsten Turnbow: Soph., 6-foot; St. George, Utah (Desert Hills). Transfer: New Mexico Highlands (D2). 2025: 51 tackles, 1.5 TFL. FRESHMEN (3) 14 Ian Elmore: 6-foot-1; Layton, Utah (Weber). 2024: 36 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT; 37 receptions, 714 yards, 5 TD. 28 Elias Parkinson: 6-foot-2; Layton, Utah (Layton). Returned missionary. 2022: 48 tackles, 2 TFL, 5 INT (1 TD), 1 FF; 27 receptions, 430 yards, 10 TD. 15 Jaxon Toala: 6-foot-3; Salt Lake City, Utah (West). 2025: 33 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 INT; 3 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TD.

SPECIAL TEAMS SPECIAL TEAMS KICKERS (2) TRANSFERS (1) 99 David Dellenbach: Jr., 6-foot-2; Park City, Utah (Park City). Transfer: Ohio (FBS). 2025: 4 of 6 FG, long of 45; 26 of 29 PAT; 70 kickoffs; 4 tackles. FRESHMEN (1) Braden Carr: Soph., 6-foot; Highland, Utah (Lone Peak). Returned missionary. 2021: 8 FG, 38 PAT. PUNTERS (2) RETURNERS (1) 47 Henry Way: Jr., 6-foot-1; Eltham, Australia. 2025: 62 punts, 39.8 ypp, 22 fair catch, 20 inside 20, 6 of 50+. FRESHMEN (1) Oliver Chan: 5-foot-10; Kirkland, Wash. (K/P). LONG SNAPPERS (1) FRESHMEN (1) 48 Brock Dettman: 6-foot-4; Heber City, Utah (Wasatch).


STANDARD-EXAMINER

WEBER STATE FOOTBALL 2026 SCHEDULE DATE Aug. 28

OPPONENT at Northern Colorado

TIME

LOCATION

7 p.m.

Greeley, Colorado

Fall 2026 | 11

What to know about Weber State’s 12 opponents BY BRETT HEIN

Sept. 5

at Southern Utah

6 p.m.

Cedar City, Utah

Sept. 12

at Colorado

1:30 p.m.

Boulder, Colorado

Sept. 19

Northwestern State

6 p.m.

Stewart Stadium

Sept. 26

Portland State

6 p.m.

Stewart Stadium

Oct. 3

at Cal Poly

6 p.m.

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Oct. 10

Idaho

1 p.m.

Stewart Stadium

Oct. 17

Idaho State

1 p.m.

Stewart Stadium

Oct. 24

at Montana State

1 p.m.

Bozeman, Montana

Oct. 31

UC Davis

1 p.m.

Stewart Stadium

Nov. 14

at Northern Arizona

2 p.m.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Nov. 21

Utah Tech

1 p.m.

Stewart Stadium

All times Mountain. All games broadcast via radio on 103.1 FM. All games broadcast via streaming on ESPN+. *Denotes nonconference game.

Standard-Examiner

T

he 2026 season marks the first in FCS after the subdivision voted to adopt a 12-game schedule every year (not just based on when the calendar provided the right framework to add a game). So for Weber State and everyone else, that means August season openers will be standard as FCS schools start playing on what has been called “Week 0” nationally. In the immediate future, that means most Big Sky schools are playing conference games to begin the 2026 season. That’s because with the regular-season expansion and growing from 12 to 13 teams, the league voted to expand the conference schedule to nine games. Since FCS added a week to the schedule, Big Sky teams needed to add a game late in the process, so the easiest solution was to put the ninth conference contest at the front. So, Eric Kjar opens his tenure with a 2026 schedule that looks nearly opposite of last season with a game Aug. 28 at Northern Colorado. WSU begins with three straight road games just like in 2025, but those trips go to Greeley, Colorado, Cedar City, Utah, and Boulder, Colorado — much different than opening with trips to Virginia, Arizona and Louisiana. And whereas last year, WSU was the only team in either Division I subdivision to play its first four road games in each of the continental United States’ four time zones, the 2026 Wildcats play just one game outside the geographical Mountain Time Zone (a midseason trip to Cal Poly). Last year also saw the Wildcats play two FBS opponents, while 2026 has one. Last year’s team played both Montana and Montana State in consecutive weeks, losing


12 | Fall 2026

2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

by a combined tally of 104-31, which led to the dismissal of third-year head coach Mickey Mental. WSU does trip to defending national champion Montana State again this year, but the Griz are not on the league schedule. If Kjar and company can be more disciplined and capable on both sides of the ball, even smaller improvements could be magnified by a much more favorable schedule. Here’s a look at each of WSU’s opponents for the 2025 season.

AUG. 28: AT NORTHERN COLORADO 2025 record: 4-8 (2-6 Big Sky)

Predicted conf. finish: 10th/11th All-time: WSU 11-2 Last: NoCo 21-17 (2024) Weber State football’s recent decline can mostly be measured against Northern Colorado. In the midst of a NoCo two-year losing streak, the Wildcats escaped a horrifying road loss in 2023 only because future NFL linebacker Winston Reid cashed in a late pick-six to help save the ordeal. In 2024, the Wildcats lost just three turnovers in six games and outgunned Montana on the road for a historic win, only to return home and commit five turnovers and allow the Bears their first win in ages. While the Wildcats had the Bears off the schedule last year, NoCo looked a lot better. The Greeley-based squad went 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the Big Sky, just like WSU, but that included a four-point loss at Colorado State, an overtime loss at ranked South Dakota, and a 40-35 loss at Sacramento State in which the Hor-

nets rallied in the final moments. Former SUU head coach and BYU associate HC Ed Lamb now enters his fourth season leading the Bears. He’ll welcome former high school legend Eric Kjar to town on a familiar Friday night; Northern Colorado moved the game up a day so the school can debut its new lights at Nottingham Field. Northern Colorado returns zero quarterbacks who took snaps in 2025. Among several new senior transfers, mostly from junior college, it’s Colorado native Keegan Patterson who has an apparent upper hand as the starter at Indiana State last year. Three of the team’s top four rushers from last year are back, but its top three receivers are gone. The team lists four FBS transfer receivers on the roster.

Joshua Dye’s 152.7 in 2025 (Dye is gone, however, transferred to Mississippi) — and SUU was just a few points from making the playoffs last season. Former WSU quarterback Bronson Barron finished his college career last year at SUU; Will Burns, the backup QB, had the team’s second-most rushing yards and is the only QB to return. The T-Birds brought in UTSA transfer Noah Lugo, and Utah freshmen Jackson Rasmussen (Union) and Jackson Stevens (Skyridge and Davis) to compete for the job. SUU has 30 Utahns listed on its roster, including former Davis High players Stevens and David Spjut, Syracuse’s Wyatt Humphrey and Northridge’s Joshua Acord.

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SEPT. 5: AT SOUTHERN UTAH 2025 record: 7-5 (6-2 WAC/UAC) Predicted conference finish: 6th/7th All-time: WSU 21-8 Last: WSU 62-0 (2021) While Southern Utah has returned to the Big Sky, this game is still a nonconference affair because the two schools had a six-year series slated to begin in 2026, and the aforementioned schedule changes on short notice meant keeping this as a nonconference game was the most viable option for both schools. But the rivalry is renewed, and the Thunderbirds enter expected to compete in the middle third of the league. Fifth-year head coach DeLane Fitzgerald said at the Big Sky Kickoff that he’s never been to Montana, Washington or Oregon, but fans and boosters are beyond excited to be back in the conference. On the field, Fitzgerald has produced the nation’s best FCS running back in two straight seasons — Targhee Lambson’s 160.1 yards per game in 2024 and

SEPT. 12: AT COLORADO 2025 record: 3-9 (1-8 Big 12) Predicted conf. finish: 15th (unofficial media poll) All-time: First meeting Will Isaac Wilson, Eric Kjar’s former quarterback, win the starting job and be playing against the Wildcats? While Deion Sanders could be coaching for his job, he’s brought in Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion, who bailed on the Hornets’ FBS transition, to run Colorado’s offense. What else to know about this matchup: Colorado is not expected to be good this year, at least by Power 4 FBS standards. And, Colorado is paying Weber State $700,000 for this game. If this were, say, the 2019 or 2022 Weber State teams, maybe we’d be talking about a prime upset opportunity. There’s just so much not known about the Wildcats this year, though, that such talk would be premature. No matter how bad a power team is expected to be in the context of its own conference, the caliber of athlete and the amount of money


STANDARD-EXAMINER

All-time: WSU 25-15 Last: WSU 43-27 (2025) A program starved for some momentum couldn’t do better than to open the home schedule with two teams that went a combined 2-22 last year. But Portland State wants better things, too, and the cash-strapped school playing at a city park made the decision to end the Bruce Barnum era and brought in Chris Fisk to head the Vikings. He went 48-22 in seven seasons leading Division II Central Washington, who went 9-0 in conference play last season. SEPT. 19: He’ll have his top two quarterbacks NORTHWESTERN STATE returning in third-year John-Keawe 2025 record: 1-11 (0-8 Southland) Sagapolutele (147.5 ypg, 4 TD, 16 INT) Predicted conf. finish: 10th (un- and second-year Tyrese Smith (46 ypg, official media poll) 33.8 rushing ypg), plus leading running All-time: WSU 1-0 back in junior Delon Thompson (60 ypg) Last: WSU 39-0 (2024) and leading receiver in senior Terence The first shot at a home game comes in Loville (51.7 ypg). the fourth game with a night contest against They’ll have to lead PSU in scoring the Demons of Northwestern State, return- more than 16 points per game this going WSU’s trip to Louisiana from 2024. around for the Vikings to look better. Northwestern State is 1-29 in the last three seasons, grabbing a season-opening win against Alcorn State last year as the only victory. Third-year head coach Blaine McCorkle is still trying to get a program off the ground, one he inherited after the university canceled the 2023 season six games in due to the shooting death of safety Ronnie Caldwell and resignation of head coach Brad Laird. The Demons have 18 FBS transfers and five more FCS transfers on the roster in the next attempt to turn things around. Starting quarterback Abram Johnston (102.5 ypg, 7 TD, 9 INT) returns as a sophomore, likely competing with Charlotte fifth-year transOCT. 3: AT CAL POLY fer Zack Wilke. Leading rusher and fifth-year 2025 record: 4-8 (2-6 Big Sky) Predicted conf. finish: 9th/11th senior Myion Hicks (311 yards) also returns. All-time: WSU 12-6 Last: WSU 28-17 (2024) A second straight game against another team with a new head coach takes WSU to beautiful San Luis Obispo to face Cal Poly, a team the Wildcats have defeated seven straight times. The Mustangs were competitive almost every week last year but it still markedx the end of Paul Wulff’s three seasons. Long gone are the days of the Tim Walsh option attack, and next up is Tim Skipper who was functionally a sitting Power 4 head coach. UCLA fired former head coach DeShaun Foster afSEPT. 26: PORTLAND STATE ter an 0-3 start and Skipper was appointed 2025 record: 1-11 (1-7 Big Sky) interim leader, getting the Bruins to 3-6 the Predicted conf. finish: 12th rest of the way. flowing through the program make such upsets unlikely.

A linebackers coach by trade, Skipper was also interim head coach at Fresno State in 2024, going 6-7. The former Florida State linebacker was Sacramento State’s defensive co o rd i n a to r from 2003-05. Cal Poly had four q u a r-

Fall 2026 | 13

terbacks throw at least 42 passes last season; two are back in fifth-year seniors Bo Kelly (706 yards, 7 TD, 2 INT) and Anthony Grigsby Jr. (774 yards, 6 TD, 4 INT). The Mustangs open the season with four of six games at home, capped with WSU’s visit.

OCT. 10: IDAHO

2025 record: 4-8 (2-6

WHY IS DEVIN BROWN, A QUARTERBACK, WEARING NO. 33? For frequent football flyers, a player wearing No. 33 at quarterback instantly stands out. BYU’s freshman phenom Bear Bachmeier attracted that attention with No. 47 last year, but Brown’s been on 33 for some time longer. It has a lot to do with a father’s influence, a youth football assignment and the sport’s history. “So Sammy Baugh, the first quarterback in the Hall of Fame, wore 33, so that’s why I wear it,” said Brown, who donned No. 33 for three years at Ohio State. “I originally had it when I was younger ... my dad put it on me and kind of told me the story, and then I just kept going on with that.” Baugh’s No. 33 is retired with the Washington Commanders, as he was known both for revolutionizing the forward pass and as one of the best punters in the game’s history, putting him in the Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural 1963 class. Brown said he’s not taking the honor so far that he’s picking up kicking, though. “He played safety, too, he was everywhere,” Brown said, “but I don’t know about all that.”


14 | Fall 2026

2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

BEEHIVE BALLERS Here’s a look at 56 players from Utah or who prepped in the state, according to WSU’s camp roster. NORTHERN UTAHNS

These players hail from the Standard-Examiner’s coverage area NAME

POS

HOMETOWN

HIGH SCHOOL

Robert Young Braylon Parker Ian Elmore Elias Parkinson Dax Sumko Mason Jeppsen Dyson Parker Spencer Ferguson Kole Sparrow Zach Smith Spencer Hill Tyler Buckway Ty Hunter

WR CB S S RB CB RB RB TE LB OL OL OL

Hawaii / Roy Ogden Layton Layton Brigham City Brigham City North Ogden Kaysville Pleasant View South Weber Layton Morgan Syracuse

Roy Weber Layton/Weber Layton Box Elder Box Elder Weber Davis Weber Northridge Layton Morgan Syracuse

NAME

OTHER UTAHNS POS HOMETOWN

Omar Shah RB David Brinton VI LB Noah Kjar WR Raimoana Tinirauarii LB Nate Dahle QB Jaxon Toala S Tate Kjar WR Jayden Mayberry S Teni Worthen LB Jasean Mayberry WR Cooper Post CB Denzel Peoples CB Jack Burke WR Trey Robinson WR Chipper Harding S Awsten Turnbow S Seth Rigtrup RB Drew Patterson RB Semisi Kinikini RB Zion Andreasen LB Dyson Richards TE Owen Munk LB Coen Richards DT Brock Dettman LS Dallin Sweat LB Porter Small DE Caleb Patton OL Donovan Arnold DE Sam Chandler DE Robby Whelan OL Brody Cutrer OL Leon Crutcher OL Luke Sampson OL Landon Kjar TE Jayce Evans WR La’akea Kalama WR Max Stonebraker WR Porter Hadley WR Zion Finau DT Semisi Felila DT David Dellenbach K Braden Carr K Mapa Vaenuku DE

Salt Lake City Draper Draper Tahiti / Draper Millville Salt Lake City Draper Highland Spanish Fork Draper Salt Lake City South Jordan Lehi Alpine Roosevelt St. George Springville Draper Herriman Salt Lake City American Fork Millville Millville Heber City Manti Springville St. George West Jordan Draper Draper Draper Salt Lake City Draper Draper Salt Lake City Hawaii / Lehi Orem Bountiful Herriman Bountiful Park City Highland Tooele

HIGH SCHOOL

East Corner Canyon Corner Canyon Juan Diego Ridgeline West Corner Canyon Lone Peak Spanish Fork Corner Canyon Cottonwood Bingham Skyridge Lone Peak Union Desert Hills Springville Corner Canyon Mountain Ridge East American Fork Ridgeline Ridgeline Wasatch Manti Springville Pine View Copper Hills Corner Canyon Corner Canyon Corner Canyon Cottonwood Corner Canyon Corner Canyon Brighton Skyridge Orem Bountiful Corner Canyon Bountiful Park City Lone Peak Tooele

Big Sky) Predicted conf. finish: 6th/7th All-time: Idaho 19-15 Last: Idaho 31-24 (2024) Idaho’s perpetual expectations of possibly winning the conference appear to be over after being one of the many Big Sky teams to go 4-8 overall and 2-6 in league play. After his first disappointing season at the helm (the Vandals lost at home by two touchdowns to Northern Colorado, for example), Thomas Ford Jr. changed both coordinators. Ian Shoemaker, former OC at Eastern Washington, is now running the offense; he was also a former Central Washington head coach and was Mickey Mental’s offensive coordinator in 2006 when Mental was a senior at Baldwin Wallace. Lee Stalker is the new defensive coordinator after spending three years as an assistant position coach at Iowa State. Ford, Shoemaker and company get back senior quarterback Joshua Wood, who led Idaho in passing (189.9 ypg, 14 TD, 5 INT) and rushing (58.9 ypg, 7 TD).

Bell Trophy, the Bengals are 2-0. Not only that, but a 6-6 season was enough to extend head coach Cody Hawkins through 2031 and have both coaches and media vote ISU as a playoff contender. A lot of that has to do with fifthyear senior quarterback Jordan Cooke returning (277.5 ypg, 16 TD, 9 INT), though both of his top targets from last season are gone. Former WSU coach Grant Duff leads ISU’s defense for the second year. He’ll again have Weber State transfer brothers Bronson and Jagger Childs, but also has former WSU cornerback Tre Parks-Vinson in the fold. Joining Weber High alum and preseason All-American Stryker Rashid on the offensive line is WSU transfer Zoom Esplin.

OCT. 24: AT MONTANA STATE

OCT. 17: IDAHO STATE 2025 record: 6-6 (5-3 Big Sky) Predicted conf. finish: 4th/5th All-time: WSU 49-17 Last: ISU 31-3 (2025) For the first time since 1984, Idaho State holds a two-game win streak in this longstanding rivalry series. WSU took interim head coach Brent Myers to Pocatello but lost expected starter Kingston Tisdell during warmups, and couldn’t muster much as a result. So, since the rebirth of the Train

2025 record: 14-2 (8-0 Big Sky), national champions Predicted conf. finish: 1st All-time: MSU 35-23-1 Last: MSU 66-14 (2025) While Weber State was going 4-8 in the last two seasons, Montana State went 29-3 and went to the national championship game twice, winning in 2025. MSU put an end to WSU’s Mickey Mental era last year in a 66-14 decision, the fifth-most points Weber State has ever allowed against an FCS opponent, and the worst loss to an FCS opponent since 1993 (the fourth-largest margin of defeat against an FCS opponent). A return trip to Bozeman in consecutive years is a tough draw for a rebuilding team like WSU. But off the Wildcats must go. Montana State returns 2025 defensive player of the year in defensive back Caden Dowler (91 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 6 INT, 2 forced fumbles)

and has the 2026 preseason offensive MVP in quarterback Justin Lamson (198.3 ypg, 26 TD, 3 INT with 734 rushing ypg and 16 TD) along with running back stalwart Adam Jones (1,093 rushing yards, 15 TD).

OCT. 31: UC DAVIS

2025 record: 9-4 (6-2 Big Sky), FCS quarterfinals Predicted conf. finish: 3rd All-time: WSU 7-5 Last: UCD 34-12 (2025) Weber State’s schedule is favorable, or at least much more so than last season, in many ways. Playing 10 straight weeks before a bye, and capping that stretch with playoff locks MSU and UC Davis, is not one of them. This Halloween matinee brings third-year UC Davis head coach Tim Plough to Ogden for the first time. He’s 20-7 in his two seasons with two top-five finishes and consecutive trips to the FCS quarterfinals. Fifth-year senior safety Rex Connors, from Pleasant Grove, is back on a medical hardship waiver after his 2025 season ended in a Week 4 win over Weber State. His 313 total career tackles and 74 solo tackles in 2024 are both school records. Freshman phenom quarterback Caden Pinnick (267 ypg, 32 TD, 10 INT) is gone, however, transferred to Washington State.

NOV. 14: AT NORTHERN ARIZONA 2025 record: 7-5 (4-4 Big Sky)


STANDARD-EXAMINER

Predicted conf. finish: 4th/5th All-time: Tied 29-29 Last: WSU 48-28 (2025) Weber State denied NAU a playoff berth in the 2025 season finale, a stellar sendoff for the Jay Hill-era veteran coaches, including interim head coach Brent Myers, and senior players in a blowout win at Stewart Stadium. That continued the back-and-forth in one of the nation’s best rivalries in terms of on-field competition, evening the alltime series that’s been played almost yearly since 1964 — and it helped WSU get back its other rivalry trophy, the Red Rock Rivalry mini obelisk. So that’s up for grabs in this late-season meet-up inside the Walkup Skydome, where wacky things can be expected. Brian Wright is back for his third year as head coach, with the services of nowsenior quarterback Ty Pennington (259.7 ypg, 19 TD, 4 INT) but without his top two targets (Kolbe Katsis, Isaiah Eastman) or leading rusher Seth Cromwell.

Fall 2026 | 15

HOW TO MEASURE SUCCESS, EXPECTATIONS IN 2026 After the highest heights of the Jay Hill era that included four Big Sky championships, a No. 2 national playoff seed, regular playoff appearances and a near-perfect home record, the last several seasons have left Weber State football fans wanting more. Change came in the form of head coach Eric Kjar — one of the most successful high school football coaches in Utah history and across the country — taking over the Wildcats and overhauling the staff to close the last chapter. Kjar coached to a 181-39 (.823) record in 17 seasons as a high school head coach in Utah, with seven state championships. But, especially given that about two-thirds of the WSU roster is different than in 2025, how might fans expect the team to perform or measure the outcome?

ule’s handful of favorable components, a 2-10 season or worse would be bad, even with all the newness. Meme equivalent: Eric Collins’ call of “Oh no! Disaster!” on the FOX broadcast of USC-Maryland in 2024. IT’S A PROCESS Going 4-8 again. You hire a new coach to do better but understand it doesn’t always happen immediately. Given all the change, you’re at least competitive enough to get a leg up on the programs that usually struggle. Meme equivalent: Frank Beamer’s twoarms-up celebration as his 2014 Virginia Tech squad goes to overtime against Wake Forest with the score tied 0-0.

Here’s one man’s yardstick.

PROBABLY YOUR GUY

HAVING A BAD TIME

If the Wildcats go 6-6 or especially 7-5, you can feel mostly sure (in a small sample) Two straight 4-8 seasons haven’t been that hiring Kjar was good and the line super fun, but it’s been worse in somewhat graph is moving vertically again. But recent memory (two straight two-win sea- there’s likely nothing tangible to celebrate sons under Jody Sears). Given the sched(unlike when Jay Hill got WSU to the play-

offs in 2016). Meme equivalent: The NBA’s Rasheed Wallace “both teams played hard” from 2003. HIGH QUALITY H2O WSU doesn’t really beat anyone expected to be good or great (Montana State, UC Davis, ISU and the FBS game in Colorado) but the Wildcats excel everywhere else, going 8-4 and making the playoffs. No way to feel anything but good about piecing together a winner right out of the gate. Meme equivalent: Carl Weathers’ “Baby, you’ve got a stew going” from TV show “Arrested Development.” BUILD A STATUE Anything like 10-2 and a top-four playoff seed would be as stunning and praiseworthy a turnaround as imaginable. You might even ask about a parade if WSU goes 9-3. Meme equivalent: The vintage meme with the jubilant, celebratory duo of Kevin Durant and James Harden in Oklahoma City with the text “Mom made pizza rolls.”

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL TO GUIDE WILDCATS

NOV. 21: UTAH TECH

2025 record: 2-10 (1-7 WAC/UAC) Predicted conf. finish: 13th All-time: WSU 3-0 Last: WSU 44-14 (2022) A possibly budding rivalry caps the 2026 campaign when Utah Tech returns to Ogden as a conference game. WSU faithful might hope it’s a good ease-up from the MSU-UCD-NAU stretch that precedes it, but the Trailblazers won’t be keen to stay down long. Among 32 Utahns listed on the roster are four Northern Utahns in offensive lineman Cade Draper (Roy), tight end Kaden Eggett (Davis), kicker Dax Iverson (Fremont) and receiver Zay Morris (Roy). WSU had 32 Utahns rostered last year but enter 2026 with 57. Former Morgan High and Fremont High head coach legend Blaine Monkres, a Clearfield native and Weber State graduate, is Utah Tech’s running backs coach. Ace Chatman returns as last year’s leading rusher (536 yards, 5 TD).

It may not be a foreign concept to at least some followers of college football in the state of Utah, but one change under Eric Kjar’s control of the Weber State program is the implementation of a leadership council to help guide the Wildcats. WSU will still have captains, which Kjar said will serve mostly as on-field leaders. Some from the leadership council may also end up as captains, but the council looks at a larger scope. The council meets regularly and also participates in service. “We ask them questions about what direction they want to go or what things they want to improve with what we’re doing in our program,” Kjar said. “Leadership council is all-encompassing to the whole football program.” Associate head coach and linebackers coach Tanner Jacobson is the staffer who heads the leadership council. “He does a phenomenal job of giving them leadership roles and responsibilities across the board,” Kjar said. “So we spread

NEW NUMBERS

out our leadership roles that way ... try to distribute it more throughout the team and give them more training.” The eight players on the leadership council were voted to it by teammates. One council helped lead the program through spring and summer, and then a revote put a new council in place for the 2026 season, beginning with fall camp. Weber State Football 2026 Leadership Council Player

Position

Class

David Brinton VI

Linebacker

Soph

Devin Brown

Quarterback

5th

Jacob Edmonds

Offensive Line

Senior

Noah Kjar

Wide Receiver

Junior

Luke Sampson

Offensive Line

Senior

Raimoana Tinirauarii Linebacker

5th

Trevian Tribble

Safety

5th

Teni Worthen

Linebacker

Soph

Here’s how to find notable new or returning WSU players in 2026, listed in order by uniform number, as well as those taking coveted single and other digits. 35 0 1 19 2 9 3 3 23 4 5 6 6 7 89 8 90 9 14 10 10 40 11 81 12 33 98 90 67 51 91 99

WR Robert Young CB Tre Turner WR Devin Ford S Tre Tribble RB Omar Shah CB Tajon Evans CB Bones Marks QB Cash McCollum LB Mapa Vaenuku S Tommy Romano WR Noah Kjar DE Chevy Robinson QB Kingston Tisdell CB Kerry Williams LB Raimoana Tinirauarii WR Kelton Wafer QB Devin Brown DT Zion Finau OL Tyler Buckway DE Ashden Oberg K David Dellenbach


16 | Fall 2026

2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

College football rule changes include removing next-game DQs for a first targeting penalty BY ERIC OLSON

Associated Press

Targeting penalties assessed in the second half of a game will no longer require the offending player to sit out the first half of his team’s next game, offensive pass interference will become a 10-yard penalty and the little-used fair catch kick will be introduced to college football. Those are among the changes for the 2026 season, the National Football Foundation announced Tuesday in its annual summary of rules changes. The targeting penalty change will be an experimental rule for 2026. A player disqualified for targeting for the first time in the season may participate in the following game. The trial rule will apply regardless of which half the targeting penalty is called. A player who draws his second targeting penalty of the season will be required to miss the first half of the next game. A player who draws his third targeting of the season must sit out the full following game. A conference can choose to initiate an appeals process after a player’s second targeting penalty. The appeal would be sent to the NCAA national coordinator of football officials for a video review. If the appeal is successful, the player would not be forced to sit out the first half of the following game.

Offensive PI now 10 yards

The penalty for offensive pass interference is being adjusted from 15 yards to 10 yards. The rules reserve 15-yard penalties primarily for personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct. Defensive pass interference will remain a spot foul, with a maximum of a 15-yard penalty.

Fair catch kick

In a change to align Division I rules with those in the NFL and high school, a team could choose to attempt a fair catch kick after a completed or awarded fair catch. The kick would be a place kick with a holder or a drop kick from the spot

Nevada wide receiver Dalevon Campbell loses his helmet after being hit by Southern California linebacker Tackett Curtis, drawing a targeting penalty, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Los Angeles on Sept. 2, 2023. RYAN SUN, ASSOCIATED PRESS

where the returner caught the ball. The defense would be at least 10 yards from the spot of the kick. If the ensuing kick goes through the uprights, it would be worth three points. The rarely used play last came up in the NFL in 2024 when the Los Angeles Chargers’ Cameron Dicker converted from 57 yards against the Denver Broncos.

Unsportsmanlike conduct

An automatic unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be called if a player initiates any of these five actions or gestures: any act of simulating the brandishing of a weapon; slashing of the throat or a nose wipe signal; removing

helmet after the ball is dead (with exceptions for timeouts and equipment adjustments); dead-ball contact fouls, such as pushing, shoving, striking, etc., that occur clearly after the ball is dead and that are not part of the game action; using forcible contact to push or pull an opponent off the pile after the ball is dead.

2 replay challenges

The head coach will now have two replay challenges per game. If a coach wins at least one of their first two challenges, they are awarded a third challenge. A challenge can be made only if the team has a timeout remaining and available; if the challenge is successful, the team’s

timeout will not be charged.

Other changes

Coach-to-player communications through the helmet is now permissible for all NCAA divisions. ... Helmet attachments (e.g., Guardian Cap, SAFR Helmet Cover) that enhance player safety are allowed. All helmets, with or without the attachment, must be of the same color and design. ... Up to two sponsor patches are allowed on the jersey, with conference approval. A third patch is allowed in conference championship or postseason games. Logos may not exceed 4 square inches. One commercial logo, not to exceed 4 square inches, is permitted on the helmet.


STANDARD-EXAMINER

Fall 2026 | 17

ANALYSIS

Southern Utah’s offensive line, left, and Utah Tech’s defensive line ready for a snap at the line of scrimmage on Oct. 25, 2025, in St. George. PHOTO SUPPLIED, UTAH TECH ATHLETICS

FCS, Big Sky landscapes change with membership shuffles

T

Brett Hein Standard-Examiner

hings will feel different this season in the FCS football world, especially for those in Big Sky country. One school made a big change that will affect the subdivision’s championship outlooks, while three more moves shaped an updated look for the Big Sky Conference. First, it’s hard to ignore North Dakota State finally making the jump many of its fans so

badly wanted. The Bison are the latest to make the move up to FBS, much like James Madison did a few years ago. Those moves took the top off the FCS subdivision with two powers departing — NDSU with its juggernaut of a program and JMU as a budgetary behemoth. North Dakota State is part of the new-look Mountain West Conference and paid at least $17 million to make the move, according to

Hero Sports, ($12-plus million to the MWC, and the $5 million reclassification fee). NDSU joins Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming as the returning MWC core, plus the Mountain West invited UTEP and, strangely, Northern Illinois to join the football conference. The Mountain West held its media days in mid-July but did not release a preseason poll. North Dakota State placed four players on the


18 | Fall 2026

2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel greets tight end Joe Stoffel during the school’s football pro day on March, 27, 2025, in Fargo, N.D. RUSSELL HONS, ASSOCIATED PRESS

MWC preseason all-conference team, including preseason special teams player of the year in return specialist Jackson Williams. Mountain West Connection, an SB Nation conference blog, predicted NDSU would finish third in the league this year. NDSU’s absence likely leaves Big Sky powers like Montana State and Montana, and the Missouri Valley teams it leaves behind like South Dakota State, ultimately looking at an easier path to FCS glory. One more FCS team made the jump, too. An all-or-nothing approach at Sacramento State saw the Hornets exit the Big Sky with no conference invitation in hand, dead-set on mov-

ing to FBS without one. The Hornets hoped the FBS shakeups between the Mountain West and the reborn Pac-12 Conference (where Oregon State and Washington State anchored a bunch of MWC defectors, including Utah State and Boise State) would make their prospects easy. It wasn’t so; the MWC opted for farflung Northern Illinois instead, along with NDSU, and the Pac-12 was not interested. Sac State’s application to be an FBS independent was denied. Luckily (at least in one sense), the MAC wanted to backfill after NIU’s departure and invited Sacramento State to join the Ohio- and Michigan-centric conference. It cost the Hornets a whop-

ping $23 million to make the move, with $18 million paid to the MAC. (For the minority of WSU fans who think often about moving up to FBS, those dollar amounts make it clear that it’s, frankly, not currently attainable. A 2025 report from the Utah State Auditor details Weber State’s athletics entire operating budget as $19.7 million.) While NDSU’s move makes some sense (though many in its fanbase argued it was better to be the FCS juggernaut than to be a small fish in the big FBS pond), Sacramento State’s is strange. The Hornets claim millions of dollars of new NIL and other support were contingent on going FBS, but other proclaimed plans seem in flux.

BIG SKY PRESEASON MEDIA POLL SCHOOL 1ST 1 Montana State (35) 2 Montana (1) 3 UC Davis (2) 4 Idaho State 5 Northern Arizona 6 Idaho 7 Southern Utah 8 Eastern Washington 9 Cal Poly 10 Weber State 11 Northern Colorado 12 Portland State 13 Utah Tech

POINTS 490 434 421 349 339 283 273 246 168 155 153 68 65

For instance, a previously announced project to construct a new football sta-


STANDARD-EXAMINER

dium is no longer happening; similarly, an exploration into a massive renovation of the Cal Expo fairgrounds has stalled. For now, a phased set of renovations to Sac State’s existing Hornet Stadium seem to be the plan. In one plus, leaving the Big Sky means all of Sac State’s non-football teams will play in the Big West, which is an upgrade for the Hornets in many ways. And, the likely hope is that the MAC is a temporary stop on a journey to the Pac-12 or MWC. But otherwise, the school forked out $23 million just to see if fans will get excited about a Wednesday night home game against Toledo or will come to see UMass (who went 0-12 last year) or Ohio visit the coast. Sacramento State was voted 12th in the MAC preseason coaches poll, ahead of only UMass. So, the Hornets ditched the FCS conference that gave Sac State stability since 1996, despite being way more likely to go 2-6 than 6-2 in its Big Sky history outside of Troy Taylor, all to make a strange jump. That seemed to leave the Big Sky with 11 football-playing schools. But more landscape shifts out near Texas saw several WAC schools bail for better geographic fits in the southeast, while non-football schools like Utah Valley and Cal Baptist also ditched the WAC for the Big West. Southern Utah and Utah Tech found themselves on a very lonely island. The Big Sky didn’t need either for football, but their additions provide a good deal of depth and stability for other sports in the 63-year-old conference. So invitations for full membership were made and the two Utah schools join Weber State in the Big Sky, with SUU making its return after being in the league from 2012-22. While that stability is a great thing, football coaches, especially, grumble about how large the Big Sky is and how unbalanced it makes schedules. Namely, everyone would like to play Montana and Montana State every year. So now the league is as big as it was back when SUU and North Dakota both called it home. Closer to home at Weber State, though, the changes could make for a compelling set of games each season.

Sure, games against Montana always get circled. But if there’s a future where the Wildcats could play Utah Tech, Southern Utah, Idaho State and Northern Arizona every year (which would mean likely two of them at home each season), that’s a strong rivalry core that nobody else in the Big Sky can really touch. All four are on WSU’s 2026 football schedule, though the previously scheduled trip to Southern Utah remains as a nonconference game this time around. It’s likely several schools in the Big Sky, and their diehard fans, will come to enjoy their road dates at Utah Tech, with a warmer climate during all parts of the calendar and proximity to Las Vegas. From a logistical standpoint, subbing out longer road trips for either Cedar City or St. George each year is a win for Weber State. Competition-wise? We’ll see. Utah Tech is 10-47 in five seasons since moving up from Division II to FCS. The Trailblazers ditched longtime coach Paul Peterson two years ago, putting him in athletic leadership instead, only to see former Stanford defensive coordinator Lance Anderson go 3-21 in the last two seasons. It’s easy to see why Utah Tech was voted last in both the Big Sky media and coaches preseason polls. Southern Utah may be different, though. Big Sky fans probably hold in their memories the Thunderbirds’ final campaign in the league, the 2021 season in which SUU went 1-10. Southern Utah capped its time in the Big Sky with Weber State annihilating the TBirds 62-0 in Cedar City. Since then, SUU linked up with DeLane Fitzgerald as head coach and the TBirds have become one of the country’s best rushing teams, producing the nation’s best running back two years running at the FCS level — Targhee Lambson’s 160.1 yards per game in 2024 and Joshua Dye’s 152.7 last season. Southern Utah went 7-5 overall and 6-2 in its conference last season. SUU missed the playoffs on any one of three three-point losses (at San Diego, and two at home to ranked opponents in Northern Arizona and West Georgia). Thus, SUU was voted sixth by coaches and seventh by media in Big Sky preseason polls.

Fall 2026 | 19

Utah State running back Miles Davis (2) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Bryson Barnes (16) during a game at Vanderbilt on Sept. 27, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. GEORGE WALKER IV, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Utah State Aggies 2025 finish: 6-7 (4-4 Mountain West) 2026: Pac-12 Conference Postseason: Idaho Potato Bowl, 34-21 loss to Washington State Head coach: Bronco Mendenhall (2nd season at USU; 20th as DI head coach) COACHING STAFF Offensive coordinator: Robert Anae (1st at Utah State; 18th overall as DI OC) Defensive coordinator: Nick Howell (2nd at Utah State; 14th overall as DI DC) Special teams coordinator: Shane Hunter (2nd at Utah State; 12th overall) PLAYERS Returning offensive starters: RB Javen Jacobs, 5th (429 yards, 5 TD) OL George Maile, 5th (14 starts) OL Tavo Motu’apuaka, 5th (19 starts) OL Jimmy Liston, 5th (13 starts) WR Anthony Garcia, 5th (222 yards, 2 TD) Returning defensive starters: S Brevin Hamblin, Sr. (253 tackles, 2 INT, 4 FF)

S Bobby Arnold, 5th (42 tackles) LB Bronson Oleavo Jr., 5th (113 tackles, 2 INT) LB Chris Joe, So. (41 tackles) CB D’Angelo Mayes, Jr. (42 tackles, 2 INT) DT Tyree Morris, Sr. (125 tackles, 7 sacks) DT Carson Tujague, So. (72 tackles) Newcomers to watch: QB McCae Hillstead, Jr. (BYU transfer returning to USU; started 4 games at USU in 2023, 1062 yards, 11 TD) RB Sesi Vailahi, Jr. (Oklahoma State transfer; 278 yards, 4 TD) WR Javon Robinson, Sr. (Georgia State transfer; 595 yards, 4 TD) CB Antonio Bluiett, 5th (North Dakota transfer; 79 tackles, 3 INT) LB Jordan Pendleton, Sr. (St. Thomas transfer; 65 tackles, 10 sacks) LB Asher Cunningham, Jr. (Elon transfer; 108 tackles, 3 INT) K Kian Afrookhteh, Sr. (Coastal Carolina transfer; 2025: 15/19 FG, long 44; 32/32 PAT)

SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT TIME (MT) TV Sept. 5 IDAHO STATE* 5 p.m. CBS Sports Net Sept. 12 at Washington* 1:30 p.m. Big Ten Network Sept. 19 at Utah* 1:30 p.m. FOX Sept. 26 TROY 5:30 p.m. CBS Sports Net Oct. 3 at Boise State 5:30 p.m. CBS Sports Net Oct. 9 WASHINGTON ST. 7 p.m. The CW Oct. 24 at Texas State 5:30 p.m. CBS Sports Net Oct. 31 COLORADO ST. 1:30 p.m. USA Network Nov. 7 FRESNO STATE 7:30 p.m. USA Network Nov. 14 at San Diego State 7:30 p.m. USA Network Nov. 21 at Oregon State 8:30 p.m. CBS Sports Net Nov. 28 Flex Game (at home) TBA TBA All games broadcast via radio on 97.5 FM/1280 AM. *Denotes nonconference game.


20 | Fall 2026

2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Southern Utah head coach DeLane Fitzgerald, bottom, reacts during a game against Utah on Aug. 29, 2024, in Salt Lake City. RICK BOWMER, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Utah Tech running back Ace Chatman (0) outruns North Alabama for a touchdown on Nov. 1, 2025, in St. George. PHOTO SUPPLIED, UTAH TECH ATHLETICS

Utah Tech Trailblazers

2025 finish: 2-10 (1-7 WAC/UAC) Postseason: None Head coach: Lance Anderson (3rd season as Utah Tech HC; 30th in coaching)

COACHING STAFF Offensive coordinator: Greg Stevens (3rd at Utah Tech; 35th overall) Defensive coordinator: Ray Clark (2nd at Utah Tech; 7th overall) Special teams coordinator: Kyan Brumfield (2nd at Utah Tech; 4th overall) PLAYERS Returning offensive starters: QB Bronson Barben, Jr. (1,682 yards, 6 TD, 12 INT) RB Ace Chatman, Jr. (536 yards, 5 TD) TE Kaden Eggett, Jr. (266 yards) OL Cade Draper, So. OL Pesi Fonua, So. OL Matthew Snarr, So.

Returning defensive starters: LB Daylen Love, So. (6o tackles, 4.5 TFL) LB Will Alovao, Sr. (33 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 1 FF) LB Moe Passi, Jr. (44 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 FF) DB Brevin Czosnyka, 5th year (50 tackles, 1 INT) DB Jeremiah Jimoh, Jr. (27 tackles, 1 INT) DB River Moore, Jr. (48 tackles, 1.5 TFL) DL Fasitootai Sagapolu, 5th year (48 tackles, 3.5 TFL) Returning specialist starters: P Ryan Marks, Sr. (46.5 ypp) Newcomers to watch: QB CJ Tiller, Jr. (Utah State transfer) WR DaJon Harrison, 5th year (UConn) LB RJ Jones II, Sr. (UCLA) WR Prince Zombo Jr., Jr. (BYU) LB Jax Jones (Oregon) OL Rambo Mageo (San Diego State; 2024 starter, redshirted 2025)

Southern Utah Thunderbirds 2025 finish: 7-5 (6-2 WAC/UAC) Postseason: None Head coach: DeLane Fitzgerald (5th year as SUU HC; 26th in coaching) COACHING STAFF Offensive coordinator: DeLane Fitzgerald Defensive coordinator: Shay McClure (5th at Utah Tech; 31st overall) Special teams coordinator: Jack Nelson (2nd at Utah Tech) PLAYERS Returning offensive starters: WR Devin Downing, Sr. (309 yards) TE Hayden George, So. (129 yards) OL Sirry Kandiyeli, Jr. Returning defensive starters: LB Mason Stromstad, Sr. (64 tackles, 7 TFL,

SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT Aug. 29 MONTANA STATE Sept. 5 at BYU* Sept. 12 at Montana* Sept. 19 N. ARIZONA* Sept. 26 at Northern Colorado Oct. 3 SOUTHERN UTAH Oct. 10 at Portland State Oct. 24 at Cal Poly Oct. 31 IDAHO STATE Nov. 7 at UC Davis Nov. 14 E. WASHINGTON Nov. 21 at Weber State *Denotes nonconference game.

1 INT) LB Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner, Sr. (17 tackles, 2 TFL) CB Tim Christian, 5th year (38 tackles) CB Sean Mays, Jr. (17 tackles) DT Parker Andrus, Jr. (21 tackles) Returning specialist starters: PK Jayden Rogers, Sr. (11 of 15 FG, long 44) KR Ran Sawyer, So. (24.7 ypr, 1 TD) Newcomers to watch: QB Noah Lugo, So. (UTSA/BYU transfer) TE Joshua Acord, 5th year (Appalachian State; Northridge High alum spent 202224 at SUU) RB Floyd Chalk, Sr. (San Jose State; 721 rushing yards in 2024) WR Zachary Dodson-Greene, 5th year (Portland State starter 2025, Montana State backup 2022-24)

SCHEDULE TIME (MT) 8 p.m. 6 p.m. 1 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m. 1 p.m. 5 p.m. 2 p.m. 1 p.m.

TV ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+

DATE OPPONENT Aug. 29 at Montana Sept. 5 WEBER STATE* Sept. 12 at Colorado State* Sept. 19 at St. Thomas (MN)* Sept. 26 IDAHO STATE Oct. 3 at Utah Tech Oct. 17 UC DAVIS Oct. 24 at Idaho Oct. 31 N. ARIZONA Nov. 7 N. COLORADO Nov. 13 at Portland State Nov. 21 CHICAGO STATE* *Denotes nonconference game.

TIME (MT) 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 5 p.m. 12 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 3 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 8 p.m. 12 p.m.

TV ESPN+ ESPN+ CBS Sports Net Midco Sports ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+ ESPN+


STANDARD-EXAMINER

Fall 2026 | 21

Bachmeier, returning talent should boost BYU offense BY BRANDON GURNEY

BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL

P

Daily Herald

ROVO — Considering the expected strengths with both sides of the football entering this year’s campaign, it stands to reason why BYU coaches seem a bit more upbeat than usual. Take BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick as the most recent example. Of all the coaches on staff, Roderick isn’t a coach anyone would pinpoint as a “hype guy” and certainly not someone prone to hyperbole. All that considered, Roderick was forthright and enthusiastic about his offense when speaking to the media after a mid-August practice session — while pointing out some rather obvious factors that should make fans optimistic. “The biggest strength of our whole offense right now is just a lot of guys that have played a lot of snaps in big games and guys that know what they’re doing,” Roderick said. “We’re just farther along than we’ve ever been in terms of knowing the offense.” That strength was made apparent during one open session. The practice opened with tight end Walker Lyons catching a pass over the middle, which was followed up by Legend Glasker making a great over-the-shoulder grab against top cornerback Evan Johnson. Roger Saleapaga was out there, too, making his share of impressive grabs while coaches continued to praise the work they’ve seen from Oregon transfer receiver Kyler Kasper. But wait a second, all of those offensive guys listed above are brand new. Sure, they’re new at key positions, but the battery — namely the quarterback, top running back and most of the offensive line — all return from a season ago. “It always starts with the line,” Roderick affirmed. “You know, those guys are, they have a lot of information to process every play, and so those veteran guys are really critical to our success.” With the battery mostly intact from last season, the goal now is to continue

Note: The Big 12 did not do preseason polls. Below is ESPN’s projection with each team’s expected conference win total. SCHOOL 1 Texas Tech 2 BYU 3 Utah 4 Kansas State 5 Arizona 6 Houston 7 TCU 8 Oklahoma State 9 Arizona State 10 Baylor 11 UCF 12 Kansas 13 Cincinnati 14 Iowa State 15 West Virginia 16 Colorado

GEORGE FREY, ASSOCIATED PRESS

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier throws the ball in a game against TCU on Nov. 15, 2025, in Provo.

BYU SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT TIME (MT) TV Sept. 5 UTAH TECH* 6 p.m. ESPN+ Sept. 12 ARIZONA 1:30 p.m. FOX Sept. 19 at Colorado State* 5:30 p.m. CBS Oct. 3 at TCU TBA TBA Oct. 9 IOWA STATE 8:15 p.m. ESPN Oct. 17 NOTRE DAME* TBA TBA Oct. 24 at UCF TBA TBA Oct. 31 ARIZONA STATE TBA TBA Nov. 7 at Utah TBA TBA Nov. 14 BAYLOR TBA TBA Nov. 21 at Kansas TBA TBA Nov. 28 CINCINNATI TBA TBA All games broadcast via radio on 102.7 FM/1160 AM. *Denotes nonconference game.

practice success in every session leading up to BYU’s first game of the season against Utah Tech. “We’re only five practices in (and) we need to keep developing that chemistry,” Roderick said. “It takes time. It’s just every single rep adds up, you know, and you want to — when you get to the games, you want it to be the thousandth time

that they’ve thrown this ball in this situation. When you’re calling that play on third down, hopefully you’ve banked a thousand reps at it, and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish out here; and we’re making progress.” A lot of the progress being made is at the tight end position where both Lyons and Saleapaga have taken the lead almost

EXPECTED W 7.8 6.5 5.7 5.5 4.8 4.7 4.6 4.6 4.1 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.2 3.0 2.9

immediately following their transfers from USC and Oregon, respectively. Another aspect that’s helping BYU’s offensive progression is having smart kids, at least according to Roderick, who pointed out quarterback Bear Bachmeier’s intelligence when asked about the sophomore signal-caller’s progression. “He’s a really smart kid,” he said. “On most every play, he has multiple options to get us into the best play possible. We give him parameters, but he’s a smart dude, and he has smart players around him, too. That’s one of our strengths here is we have smart kids.” Offensive progress has been on point so far in fall practices and, though there’s still a way to go, fans can expect an offense that should be an improved overall product from last season with better ability to win in different situations. “We want to be the type of offense that can win any type of game, any way we have to win it,” Roderick concluded. “We want to be a balanced team, but I think what people are going to enjoy seeing is just that we’re going to be a really tough, hard-nosed team that’s going to play really, really hard and play with a lot of energy and a lot of passion.”


22 | Fall 2026

2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Dampier, Ficklin team up to power Utah’s offense again BY JOHN COON

AP TOP 25 PRESEASON POLL

S

Associated Press

ALT LAKE CITY — Two quarterbacks will share snaps in Utah’s offense for a second straight season. Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin have both returned to the Utes, looking to build on successful debut campaigns. But this is not a typical setup of two quarterbacks battling in camp to earn the right to lead the offense. Dampier will start and Ficklin will serve as his backup. That doesn’t mean both players won’t see plenty of snaps. First-year offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven plans to feature both Dampier and Ficklin in the offense, much like his predecessor Jason Beck did in 2025 before departing to Michigan. “Both of them embrace their role,” Utah coach Morgan Scalley said. “Both of them are very competitive and understand their number can be called at any time. It also allows for us to be a little bit creative and do some things with their skill sets that can cause issues with defenses.” Defenses struggled to corral Dampier and Ficklin last season. Their explosive running helped Utah put together one of the top offenses in the Big 12. The Utes led the Big 12 in total offense (482.9 yards per game), rushing offense (266.3 ypg) and scoring offense (41.3 points per game) last season while also ranking in the top four nationally in all three categories. Dampier and Ficklin combined to produce 66% of Utah’s total yardage and 39% of the team’s rushing yardage. Maintaining or exceeding that level of production will be critical for a Utah team facing uncertainty because of inexperienced offensive and defensive lines in Scalley’s first full season at the helm. McGiven is tailoring his playbook — which resembles, conceptually, the schemes that Beck used with the Utes — to showcase the abilities of both players. “McGiven’s offense is literally amazing. It can help me become a complete quarterback,” Ficklin said. “He just gives you that freedom to be yourself and play ball.” Becoming a more complete quarterback is a common goal Dampier and Ficklin share

JOHN LOCHER, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) throws against Nebraska during the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31, 2025, in Las Vegas.

UTAH SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT TIME (MT) TV Sept. 3 IDAHO* 7 p.m. ESPNU Sept. 12 ARKANSAS* 8:15 p.m. ESPN Sept. 19 UTAH STATE* 1:30 p.m. FOX Sept. 26 at Iowa State TBA TBA Oct. 10 KANSAS TBA TBA Oct. 17 at Colorado TBA TBA Oct. 24 HOUSTON TBA TBA Oct. 31 at Cincinnati TBA TBA Nov. 7 BYU TBA TBA Nov. 14 at Arizona TBA TBA Nov. 21 at TCU TBA TBA Nov. 27 WEST VIRGINIA 7 p.m. FOX All games broadcast via radio on 92.1 FM/700 AM. *Denotes nonconference game.

heading into the new season. Dampier played through a sports hernia for much of last season. Even while not playing at 100%, he still threw for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 835 yards and 10 scores on the ground. He also proved to be an accurate passer, completing 63.5% of his attempts and throwing just five interceptions. His best performance came in the Las Vegas Bowl, where he threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-22 victory over Nebraska. Now back at full strength, Dampier wants to make strides as a passer and be-

lieves what he is learning from McGiven’s offense can unlock his full potential. “He tells me all the time he wants to dedicate this offense to what he feels I do best,” Dampier said. “I’m happy he respects my talents and what I can do, so we can thrive as an offense.” Ficklin also wants to progress into being more of a true dual-threat playmaker. He struggled through the air during his first career start against Colorado, completing just 45.5% of his passes. That contrasted sharply with his running production as he churned out 151 yards for his first career 100-yard game.

SCHOOL 1ST 1 Ohio State 40 2 Oregon 14 3 Georgia 4 Notre Dame 6 5 Texas 6 Indiana 8 7 Miami (FL) 1 8 Texas A&M 9 Ole Miss 10 Oklahoma 11 LSU 12 Texas Tech 13 Alabama 14 BYU 14 USC 16 Michigan 17 Washington 18 Penn State 19 SMU 20 Tennessee 21 Utah 22 Iowa 23 Houston 24 Louisville 25 Missouri

POINTS 1,672 1,597 1,513 1,510 1,483 1,440 1,379 1,131 1,102 1,047 988 983 904 839 839 718 501 482 434 394 304 260 252 198 117

Others receiving votes: Clemson 112, Florida 51, Boise State 43, Arizona 32, TCU 11, Navy 10, South Carolina 10, Illinois 9, Oklahoma State 8, Vanderbilt 8, Pittsburgh 7, Virginia Tech 6, Minnesota 5, UNLV 4, New Mexico 4, Georgia Tech 4, James Madison 3, Auburn 3, Memphis 2, California 2, Liberty 1, Western Michigan 1, Tulane 1, Virginia 1

Ficklin followed with a career-best 166 yards and two touchdowns on only six carries against Baylor three weeks later. “Last year, I was more of a runner,” Ficklin said. “This year, I want to become more of that complete quarterback.” A beneficial competition has emerged between the two quarterbacks. Even though Dampier is the starter, he credits sharing the quarterback room with Ficklin as an effective catalyst for his own progression as a dual-threat quarterback. “We just keep elevating each other where, eventually when he takes over, he’s gonna be that guy, and he’s also pushing me to be that guy right now,” Dampier said.


STANDARD-EXAMINER

Fall 2026 | 23

250 YEARS OF UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY

will find highlights and lowlights Within these pages, readers as the character and political presidency is as vast and complex of triumph and failure, of human The story of the American quickly, Washington to — stories are designed to capture interest Each president, from George complexity. These snapshots into the history of the nation itself. its laws, and history enthusiasts a doorway imprint on the country, shaping offering both casual readers the present day, left a unique subject of the presidency. larger and endlessly fascinating culture and place in the world. require curiosity, it also inspires legacies of these leaders would of this volume that in sparking hope the is It Fully exploring the lives and presidency is That than 250 years, the American research and a lifetime of study. further exploration. For more countless volumes, years of and ideals. Chiefs: Fascinating Facts the ambitions to “Hail struggles, Instead, nation’s has reflected the to not the aim of this book. quirks, engaging facts, this book aims highlights memorable moments, By providing a collection of about Every U.S. President” unique, country this how presidency learning about that made each encourage readers to continue accomplishments and controversies familiar through the leadership of its and enjoyable way to become was founded, built and maintained providing an easily accessible and colorful details of presidential presidents. with some of the defining episodes history.

WILLIAM MCKINLEY

ANNEXED HAWAII:

EVERY - FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT President4Grover THE CHIEFShad Cleveland • HAIL TO rejected annexation requests by businessmen in the Hawaiian Islands, but during the SpanishAmerican War, public opinion and President McKinley held a more favorable attitude toward the idea, seeing the islands as having both a strategic and economic benefit for the U.S. At McKinley’s request, Congress voted to make Hawaii a territory on Aug. 12, 1898.

A photo of President William McKinley

PHILIPPINES REVOLT:

PARTY: Republican VICE PRESIDENTS: Charles W. Fairbanks (1905-1909. Roosevelt succeeded to the presidency Sept. 14, 1901, after the death of President William McKinley and the vice presidency remained vacant until 1905.)

BORN: Oct. 27, 1858 SPOUSES: Alice Hathaway Lee (married

PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY:

McKinley was the first president to ride in an automobile. He did so in a Stanley Steamer in Canton, Ohio, on Nov. 1, 1899.

80 • HAIL TO THE CHIEFS - FASCINATING

SWORN INTO OFFICE: Sept. 14, 1901 LEFT OFFICE: March 4, 1909

and the members of his cabinet.

McKinley Presidential Library & Museum 800 McKinley Monument Drive NW Canton, Ohio 44708 mckinleymuseum.org

The William McKinley National

in 1880, 1 child. She died in 1884 after the birth of their child.) Edith Kermit Carow (married in 1886, 5 children)

Memorial in Canton, Ohio.

Sources: whitehousehistory.org millercenter.org history.navy.mil history.state.gov britannica.com

FACTS ABOUT EVERY U.S. PRESIDENT

DIED: Jan. 6, 1919

WENT WEST AFTER HIS WIFE’S DEATH:

While studying at Harvard, Roosevelt met his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee. Alice gave birth to their first child on Feb. 14, 1884, and died two days later. Roosevelt’s mother died the same day as his wife. With the hope that hard work would stave off depression, Roosevelt left his newborn daughter in the care of his sister and went west, where he took up cattle ranching in the badlands of the Dakota Territory. His hard work brought acceptance by area residents skeptical of the Harvard-educated Easterner. Having been born into the elite circles of New York, this experience gave him an appreciation for the lives of regular Americans. A hard winter that killed most of his cattle herd ended his ranching days and sent him back to New York.

Roosevelt assumed the presidency at age 42 upon the death of President William McKinley, making him the youngest president in the nation’s history. (John F. Kennedy was 43 when he became president, making him the youngest person to be elected as the presidential candidate on the ballot.)

WHERE BURIED: Youngs Memorial Cemetery, Oyster Bay, New York

President Theodore Roosevelt smiles

HAIL TO THE CHIEFS - FASCINATING FACTS

ANDREW JACKSON STATES THAT JOINED THE UNION DURING HIS PRESIDENCY:

Arkansas (1836) and Michigan

SWORN INTO OFFICE: March

4, 1829

LEFT OFFICE: March 4, 1837 PARTY: Democratic VICE PRESIDENTS:

Calhoun John C. Calhoun: 1825-1832. the vice resigned Dec. 28, 1832, and until 1833. presidency remained vacant Martin Van Buren: 1833-1837

BORN: March 15, 1767, near Lancaster, South Carolina

SPOUSE: Rachel Donelson Robards

When

CHILDREN: No biological children. had

Rachel’s brother and sister-in-law one of twins, the Jacksons adopted Jackson Jr. them, naming him Andrew young Native The Jacksons also raised a on a American boy who was found died at about Creek War battlefield. He 16 years of age.

DIED: June 8, 1845 WHERE BURIED: The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s estate), Tennessee

Nashville,

24 • HAIL TO THE CHIEFS - FASCINATING

NATIONAL POLITICAL IMPACT:

Jackson is considered the founder Democratic Party.

(1837)

:

FIRST “WESTERN” PRESIDENT

“self-made” Andrew Jackson was the first the “West” man and the first person from His father died to ascend to the presidency. At age 13, he a few weeks before his birth. his two older followed in the footsteps of brothers and joined the Revolutionary killed. His were brothers both effort; War he was 14. He mother died of cholera when Carolina, eventually studied law in North practiced law, then moved to Tennessee and He also eventually settling in Nashville. general major a as 1812 of War fought in the and was considered a war hero.

POLITICAL CAREER TIED TO TENNESSEE STATEHOOD: of the

FACTS ABOUT EVERY U.S. PRESIDENT

YOUNGEST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY:

Oklahoma (1907)

With the Spanish-American War ending Spanish colonial rule in the West, the U.S. proving its power in the Pacific, and the obtaining of Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Hawaii, the U.S. achieved a new position as a world power during the McKinley administration.

THE AGE OF THE AUTOMOBILE:

HAIL TO THE CHIEFS - FASCINATING

STATE THAT JOINED THE UNION DURING HIS PRESIDENCY:

EXPANDED INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS:

Filipino nationalists revolted after the Spanish-American War, seeing the U.S. as a colonizer like Spain before it. The conflict was brutal and killed more than 4,200 U.S. service members and 20,000 Filipinos. The conflict lasted three years, ending under President Theodore Roosevelt when the resistance faded. The Philippines became autonomous in 1935 and, in 1946, the U.S. granted it independence.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

U.S. PRESIDENT

was Jackson’s first elected position Tennessee serving as a delegate to the where he helped Constitutional Convention, constitution. draft Tennessee’s first state to the After Tennessee was admitted elected as the union in 1796, Jackson was House of state’s first member of the U.S. as a U.S. Representatives. He later served senator from Tennessee.

Hail to the Chiefs: Fascinating Facts About Every U.S. President 2026

CELEBRATE AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THIS NEW HARDCOVER BOOK!

in an automobile.

ABOUT EVERY U.S. PRESIDENT • 81

DEFENSE OF NEW ORLEANS:

the Tennessee Selected to be the general of great success Militia in 1802, Jackson found James Madison as a military leader. President general of the commissioned him as major 1812, and, with U.S. Volunteers in December hostile Native against battles in victories sent to Americans, Jackson was eventually an anticipated defend New Orleans from War of 1812. British invasion during the and lacking the Despite being outnumbered Jackson’s battle experience of the British, and forced army defeated their adversaries Today, Jackson the British out of Louisiana. this victory. Square in New Orleans honors

• 5

HAIL TO THE CHIEFS FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT EVERY U.S. PR ESIDENT Presented in celebration of 250 Years

of American Independence

PRESIDENTIAL POWER:

Jackson expanded During his terms in office, significantly. He the power of the presidency his predecessors vetoed 12 bills, more than all cabinet combined, and forced out disloyal secretaries members, going through four of the treasury of state and five secretaries He also during his two terms in office. people, casting worked to connect with the champion. himself as their defender and

PLANTATION OWNER:

farm, which Jackson purchased a 425-acre in 1804 in the he named The Hermitage, of making it into Nashville area with the goal Other crops a profitable cotton plantation. the time of were grown there as well. At 160 slaves were than more death, Jackson’s and care for required to run the plantation the Jackson family.

SURVIVED THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT:

Lawrence walked On Jan. 30, 1835, Richard he left the U.S. up to President Jackson as it at the Capitol, took out a pistol, pointed The gun president and pulled the trigger. shooting the misfired, and Lawrence tried pistol. It also president again with a second misfired.

HAIL TO THE CHIEFS - FASCINATING

FACTS ABOUT EVERY U.S. PRESIDENT

• 25

FACTS ABOUT EVERY U.S. PRESIDENT

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24 | Fall 2026

2026 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Game-changing care, close to home. SPORTS MEDICINE & ORTHOPEDICS Bone, joint, or muscle injuries Sprains or strains Fractures, breaks or minor dislocations Sudden or severe pain in extremities Swollen, sore, or tender joints

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