Weber State football released its Week 1 depth chart ahead of Thursday’s season-0pener against Western Oregon.

Third-year sophomore Bronson Barron has officially retained his job as starting quarterback, listed as the No. 1 QB ahead of junior Kylan Weisser.

Other notables include Devin Ford claiming a starting receiver spot, Layton native Hayden Meacham grabbing the top tight end position, and sophomore Damon Bankston being assigned primary kick-return duty.

Senior cornerback Marque Collins is not listed on the two-deep. He missed part of fall camp with a foot injury and will not play this week, according to a school spokesperson.

Below is a position-by-position look at the depth chart. Where one starter is listed, players will be separated by a forward slash. Co-starters will be separated by the word “OR.”

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK: Bronson Barron / Kylan Weisser

Barron enters his third season as the starting quarterback, a role he’s had any time he’s been healthy. In 13 career games, he’s thrown for 2,586 yards on a 59% completion rate, with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Weisser got his first good action last season, throwing 545 yards in less than four games, suffering a season-ending leg injury at Cal Poly.

RUNNING BACK: Josh Davis / Damon Bankston

Davis is said to be truly healthy for the first time in several seasons. He ran for 2,498 yards and 20 touchdowns in his first two seasons but has totaled 667 yards and three touchdowns in the last two seasons. Bankston is the least experienced of the group behind Davis but has turned heads with improved speed. Dontae McMillan and Kris Jackson will no doubt also see action in the backfield.

X RECEIVER: Ty MacPherson / Marvin Session

The senior MacPherson, the No. 1 returning receiver who is now also No. 1 in your programs, has totaled 88 catches for 1,362 yards and six touchdowns over the last three seasons. He’ll get a lot of targets. Session is one of the several true freshmen in the receivers group and is a physical presence on the field.

H RECEIVER: Haze Hadley / Hudson Schenck

The slot receiver position is the all-Weber County prep star position. Hadley earned his first major action last season, catching 11 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown. He’s been highly spoken of since the spring. Schenck caught four passes for 65 yards last season.

Z RECEIVER: Devin Ford / Jacob Sharp

6-foot redshirt freshman Devin Ford gets the spot opposite MacPherson on the outside. He caught one pass last season but has been named by coaches as one of the leaders of the receivers group. Sharp has bounced from defense to offense and has athleticism and speed.

TIGHT END: Hayden Meacham / Justin Malone

The Layton-native Meacham earns the nod over the senior Malone, though both are likely to play plenty of snaps each. Meacham, who coaches like as a run blocker, has developed well as a pass-catcher too, totaling 19 receptions for 150 yards and four touchdowns last season. Entering his fifth season, the veteran Malone has 76 catches for 841 yards and seven touchdowns in his career.

LEFT TACKLE: Noah Atagi / Jake Eichorn

Atagi remains one of the most high-ceiling players on the offensive line and is back to play tackle. The 6-foot-4 junior from Bonneville High will be key to WSU’s success. Eichorn is a redshirt freshman also listed as co-starter at right tackle.

LEFT GUARD: George Barrera OR Meleke Tauteoli

The junior Barrera has slowly become one of the more trusted linemen on the team and is also a co-starter at right tackle. Tauteoli, a junior from West Valley City, is likely to see plenty of snaps.

CENTER: Ethan Atagi / Cole Casto

The elder Atagi moved from guard to center after a season-ending injury to Cormac Boyer dring camp. He’s plenty experienced and joins his brother in leading the group. Casto is a redshirt freshman.

RIGHT GUARD: Jordan Lutui / Braydin Shipp

Lutui is a 6-foot-3 junior who coaches say is growing into a pro prospect after moving from defensive line last season and starting all 11 games. Shipp, a redshirt freshman, has seen limited action in five games across the spring and fall seasons last year.

RIGHT TACKLE: Jake Eichorn OR George Barrera

The 6-foot-7 Eichorn has been a player coaches loved since recruiting him from Beaver High, and took big enough strides this offseason to earn a starting nod as a redshirt freshman.

DEFENSE

STRONG END: Shad Pulsipher OR Brayden Wilson

Pulsipher, the 6-foot-7 St. George native and Snow College transfer, and Wilson, the 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman from Farmington, have battled for the spot all camp and both seem set to get their share of reps.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Kalisi Moli / Sione Lapuaho

Two West Valley City natives hold down one tackle spot. Moli has been a high-potential player pushing his way up the pecking order. The junior has totaled 24 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 26 career games, though he was limited by injury last season. If past years are an indication, WSU will play all suitable D-tackles available and veteran Lapuaho brings 47 career tackles, including 5 1/2 for loss, to the group.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Doug Schiess / Zeke Birch

Schiess played in the shadow of his older brother but has proven capable. The junior totaled 22 tackles, including 2 1/2 for loss, last season. Head coach Jay Hill said Birch, a sophomore, took big steps to become a contributor this fall camp. He recorded eight tackles in eight games last season.

WEAK-SIDE END: Jack Kelly OR Nuuletau Sellesin

Kelly joins fellow redshirt freshman and former Utah prep Nuu Sellesin as co-starters. Kelly had one tackle last season at linebacker and played special teams reps on the kick-return unit. Sellesin looks the role but has yet to find the field much. Junior Jordan Strate and freshman Cameren Cope may also be in the mix.

MIDDLE LINEBACKER: Winston Reid / Simote Lokotui

Reid, an ever-improving junior, recorded 15 tackles in the six-game spring 2021 season, then played in all 11 games last fall primarily as a backup, recording 36 tackles, including eight in the finale against Northern Colorado. He forced two fumbles and recovered one. Lokotui, a senior, recorded two tackles last season and is known as a hard hitter.

STRONG-SIDE BACKER: Raoul Johnson / Jayden Ah You

“This is the best we’ve seen Raoul,” Hill said earlier this month. “He’s athletic, he’s bigger and stronger than he’s ever been, and he’s stepping up.” Johnson has 26 career tackles, including one sack, as he steps into a starting role. Ah You is a promising redshirt freshman.

WEAK-SIDE BACKER: Garrett Beck OR Spencer Nuitupuivaha

Beck is a third-year sophomore who’s been a fast riser. He recorded eight tackles last season but has pushed past contenders to earn starter reps in camp. Niutupuivaha is a senior in his second season at linebacker after moving from safety and has plenty of natural athleticism. He has 16 career tackles.

CORNERBACK: Kamden Garrett OR Maxwell Anderson

The fourth-year juniors each have plenty of experience (and new numbers: Garrett is No. 7 and Anderson No. 3). Garrett has 49 career tackles and eight passes defended. Anderson has 53 career tackles and two interceptions.

CORNERBACK: Eddie Heckard / Abraham Williams

Heckard is a fifth-year junior with plenty of strength and physicality, totaling 143 tackles and five interceptions in his career. Williams, a sophomore, has been at cornerback and receiver, then back, and is looking for his first real career action.

FREE SAFETY: Desmond Williams / LJ Anderson

Desmond Williams enters his senior season hoping for good health after several setbacks. His knack for finding the football has been apparent when on the field, totaling 37 tackles and one interception, forcing two fumbles and recovering two more, in the spring 2021 season before hurting his knee in the finale. He returned in the fall 2021 season to play the final six games, totaling 30 tackles and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). LJ Anderson, a junior, has three career tackles and one pass breakup, and now stands to take on a greater role.

STRONG SAFETY: Naseme Colvin / Kao Hansen

“He’s playing an all-conference caliber safety,” Hill said of Colvin during camp. “He’s physical, he runs great, he covers, he’s playing like a big-time guy right now.” Colvin has 19 career tackles and moved from linebacker to safety a few years ago. Hansen is a true freshman.

SPECIAL TEAMS

KICK RETURN: Damon Bankston / Josh Davis

Hill said the primary kick-return job may rotate through several guys early in the season. As for this week, sophomore running back Damon Bankston gets the spot.

PUNT RETURN: Haze Hadley / Josh Davis

Hadley has shown elite skill in the punt-return game, finding ways to save yards on tough punts and returning well when he can catch them cleanly. He has a career average of 10.5 yards per return. Davis has returned some punts in the past, including running one back for a touchdown in 2018.

PLACE KICKER: Kyle Thompson / Sloan Calder

The third-year sophomore Thompson retains his starting job after going 12 of 15 on mostly short-range kicks last season. True freshman and Morgan native Sloan Calder has earned backup kicking duties.

PUNTER/HOLDER: Jack Burgess OR Brodie Taylor

Burgess joined the team in the summer after being recruited from Australia and has high-end punting potential, while Taylor was recruited from Snow College after punting to solid numbers there. It appears both will continue to vie for the job.

LONG SNAPPER: Grant Sands / Logan Snyder

Sands joined the team as a true freshman last fall and won the long-snapping job; he’ll continue in the role.

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