As Weber State football’s fall camp hit Day 2 on Thursday, STATS Perform released its official watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in FCS at the end of each season.

The list contains two Wildcat seniors: cornerback Maxwell Anderson and linebacker Winston Reid.

Anderson picked off five passes last season to go with 44 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and 16 additional pass breakups.

Reid, the preseason Big Sky defensive MVP, anchors the defense after totaling 112 tackles, including 12.5 for loss with four sacks, while adding one interception and five forced fumbles in 2022.

Others from the Big Sky on the Buchanan Award watch list: Montana State junior lineman Sebastian Valdez, Sacramento State senior linebacker Armon Bailey, Northern Colorado senior linebacker David Hoage, and UC Davis sophomore safety Rex Connors.

HADLEY’S BACK, RECORD BOOSTS

One of the better sights as fall camp opened Wednesday was the return of slot receiver and punt returner Haze Hadley.

As a junior, Hadley caught 21 passes for 160 yards and one touchdown in six games while adding his skill on special teams for 289 yards on 24 punt returns. His lone touchdown came at Portland State, the game in which he later suffered a season-ending leg injury.

But Hadley was on the field Wednesday preparing for his senior season, and now sporting the same No. 5 he wore when he starred at Fremont High.

“He was running around, doing individual, but we’re taking it slow with that,” head coach Mickey Mental said. “But he’s progressed very well … he’s feeling his way back a little bit.”

Wherever Hadley lands on his return to action, the Wildcats have support at slot receiver and in the return game. SMU sophomore transfer Jayleen Record has the skill to make a difference.

“Tremendous speed, good desire to get better. Just got to get reps within the offense,” Mental said.

Record, a Dallas native, saw limited action as a returner at SMU, catching four punt returns in 2021 and returning two kickoffs for 63 yards in 2022. He seems a strong candidate to stand next to four-touchdown-scorer Abraham Williams at the goal line for WSU’s kick-return unit.

WHO PUT IN THE WORK?

Most players put in loads of weight room and conditioning work during the offseason but a few stand out as camp opens.

First, senior offensive tackle/center Ethan Atagi earned praise from Mental for “changing his body” and being ready to lead a veteran offensive line.

Mental said senior cornerback Marque Collins, bit by injuries the last two seasons and who redshirted in 2022, came into camp looking great and ready to bolster the defensive backfield.

And senior running back Kris Jackson, now wearing No. 7, seems to have dialed things in, which could mean big things for WSU’s run game.

Junior quarterback Kylan Weisser also got high marks from the head coach.

“He had a fantastic offseason, really leaned out and I feel good about where he’s at,” Mental said about Weisser.

WSU BY THE NUMBERS

Weber State begins fall camp with 106 players on the official roster.

There are currently 80 with assigned numbers and 26 without. Of those 26, some are walk-ons who are likely to man the scout team. But several should slot into at least some of the remaining 20 available uniform numbers.

The segments with the most numbers available are the 50s and the 90s. Numbers 0-25 are all claimed. Senior tight end Hayden Meacham becomes the second-ever Wildcat to wear No. 0, taking over for graduated safety Desmond Williams.

A total of 40 rostered players are from Utah, with another 10 from Idaho. An additional 19 players hail from California and 12 are from Texas.

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