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Ogden • Weber State football coach Jay Hill isn't fooling around.
On Wednesday, Hill announced 32 players signed national letters to play for the Wildcats. Last year, his first-ever recruiting class included 34 players.
"Once again, we are really excited," said Hill. "… This was another very solid class and we were able to get a lot of quality players."
Nineteen players from the state of Utah signed with the Wildcats.
Hill called in-state recruiting "… a big priority for us. Our coaching staff did a great job of getting the players we targeted. The caliber of players keeps going up and I couldn't be happier with where we are right now."
Among Weber's out-of-state recruits, six are from California, three are from Nevada, two are from Arizona and one each are from Texas and Washington.
Hill signed 18 offensive players, 14 defensive players, seven offensive linemen and four junior college transfers.
One interesting prospect who will be joining the Wildcats is Zach Hymas, a quarterback from little Moapa Valley (Nev.) High School.
Hymas, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 185 pounds, led Moapa Valley to an unbeaten season (13-0) and the Division 1-A state championship. He completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 2,159 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was intercepted just four times.
In Moapa Valley's 42-36 win over Desert Pines in the state championship game, Hymas threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns.
Weber State's four junior college transfers include Snow tight end Tui Satuala, Fresno (Calif.) City College offensive lineman Connor Shannon, Saddleback (Calif.) offensive lineman Calvin Steyn and Snow defensive end Sinilau Tauteoli.
Weber State signees
Player Position Ht/Wgt HS/Juco
Aaron Blackwell DE 6-3 280 Liberty (Ariz.) HS
Tyler Downs OT 6-6 320 Sky View HS
Treshawn Garrett RB 5-11 180 Highland (Calif.) HS
Deondre Hambric WR 6-4 180 Clearfield HS
Nate Heaps TE 6-4 245 American Fork HS
Tyler Hinds S 5-11 180 Davis HS
Martrel Holmea WR 6-0 170 Mission Hills (Calif.) HS
Zach Hymas QB 6-3 195 Moapa Valley (Nev.) HS
Gaige Kartchner LB 6-0 195 Corner Canyon HS
Junior Latu DL 6-5 250 Orem HS
John Leilua DE 6-2 235 Spanish Fork HS
Elias Miller RB 6-0 190 Las Vegas (Nev.) HS
Kalisi Moli DT 6-2 265 Herriman HS
Carter Nielson OL 6-4 335 Green Valley (Nev.) HS
Spencer Niutupuivaha CB 6-2 190 Timpview HS
Cole Payne WR 6-3 195 Orem HS
TyJuan Prince WR 6-1 170 Sutter (Calif.) HS
Tui Satuala TE 6-2 235 Snow College
Blake Schiess OT 6-5 280 Manti HS
Brandon Sherlin WR 5-11 175 Coronado (Texas) HS
Boogie Sewell DT 6-0 330 Desert Hills HS
Connor Shannon OG 6-4 300 Fresno (Calif.) City College
Brandon Sherlin WR 5-11 175 Coronado (Texas) HS
Filipe Sitake DL 6-1 280 Mountain View HS
Calvin Steyn OL 6-4 315 Saddleback (Calif.) College
Bradyn Swanson OL 6-5 270 Springville HS
Landon Stice LB 6-3 200 Stansbury HS
Sinilau Tauteoli DE 6-3 255 Snow College
Tevita Tauteoli OL 6-4 315 Hunter HS
Kory Wilson DB 6-1 175 Liberty (Ariz.) HS