Weber State coach Ron McBride has gotten most of the expected signatures from the 29 players who verbally committed to sign with the Wildcats on National Letter of Intent day today.
Once all the letters of intent are collected, it's a class McBride said he'll be pleased with.
"It's a really positive class, especially on the defensive side of the ball," McBride said. "It solidifies our defense for the future."
The Wildcats have to replace standout defensive players such as linemen Bryce Scanlon, Derek Johnson and Pate Moleni, as well as linebackers J.D. Folsom and Ryan Galovic. Losses in the secondary could prove to be the greatest concern for Weber State, so McBride targeted players who could contribute sooner rather than later.
McBride feels like he got those guys in cornerbacks Robbie Diamond, and junior college transfers Pierce Cook and Jordan Brown. Diamond will be a true freshman, and so will Kela Marciel, a corner from Iolani High in Honolulu.
"With all the spread formations out there, you need corners and we got four of them," McBride said.
Linebackers Damian McMiller and Jared Henry are two players McBride said will make an impact. Steve Halverson, a junior college transfer linebacker from Sacramento, Calif., is already attending Weber State and is probably ready to step onto the field for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats will sign six defensive linemen, four linebackers, four cornerbacks and two safeties.
"Out of that group, it should give us some backup security," McBride said.
Weber State is mostly set on offense for next season, but does have a huge hole to fill at fullback following the graduation of Marcus Mailei. McBride said Vaingamalie Tafuna, a transfer from Mesa Community College (Ariz.), will compete to replace Mailei.
McBride's signing class is diverse, as he's bringing in five players from Hawaii, five from Oklahoma and eight in-state players. McBride credits assistant coach Kamaal Ahmad, who's from Oklahoma City, for bringing in the athletes from Oklahoma. One player, running back Josh Booker, comes in with high expectations.
"All are real quality players," McBride said. "We did a good job researching in the spring and we stayed on guys that we wanted."
McBride said the Wildcats, if nothing else, improved their depth today.
"This solidifies the bottom end of the program, and ensures that we have quality players throughout the program," McBride said. "But you never know how good they'll be until they play."
Players expected to sign with the Wildcats today.
FB Vaingamalie Tafuna (Mesa CC, Ariz.)LB Steve Halverson (American River JC, Calif.)S/CB Jordan Brown (Snow College/Box Elder HS)CB Pierce Cook (Fresno City College, Calif.)LB Anthony Schmitz (Boise HS, Idaho)LB Damian McMiller (Lincoln HS, Calif.)OL Jared Goody Highland HS, Idaho)LB Josh Tenove (Woodbridge HS, Calif.)CB Quade Morris (Nampa HS, Idaho)OL Shane Oliverson (Preston HS, Idaho)S Tony Epperson (Park City HS)OL Darren Denucci (Bountiful High School)DT Adam White (St. Louis HS, Hawaii)DT Bijon Mosotufi (Kaiser High School)OL Hunter Thomson (Waialua HS, Hawaii)CB Kela Marciel (Iolani HS, Hawaii)OL Tytan Timoteo (St. Louis High School)S Ethan Rasmussen (Mountain Crest HS)LB Jared Henry (Rock Bridge HS, Missouri)QB Jordan Adamczyk (Canyon HS, Calif.)TE Jordan Egbert (Orem HS)LB Anthony Morales (Edmond Memorial HS, Okla.)RB Josh Booker (Putnam City North HS, Okla.)CB Robbie Diamond (Putnam City HS, Okla.)DE Trevor Pletcher (Edmond Santa Fe HS, Okla.)QB Breck Lewis (Spanish Fork HS)S Jordan Clamente (Tooele HS)DE Danny Mullarkey (Desert Vista HS, Ariz.)DT Logan Taele (Dixie HS)CB Willie Okwnono (Edmond Santa Fe HS, Okla.)