Atagi brothers lead experienced Weber State offensive line in final football season together
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- Weber State offensive lineman Ethan Atagi (66) helps brother Noah Atagi (79) off the turf during a Big Sky Conference football game against Eastern Washington on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.
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- Weber State quarterback Bronson Barron (10) prepares to receive a snap from Ethan Atagi (66) during a Big Sky Conference football game against Sacramento State on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.
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- Weber State offensive lineman Noah Atagi (79) protects against a rushing Nick Larriva (92) of Idaho State in a Big Sky football game Feb. 27, 2021, in Pocatello, Idaho.
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- Weber State offensive linemen drill during the first day of fall camp Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, in Ogden.
For a few years, football took the Atagi brothers separate ways. But those years seem long past now.
Ethan and Noah Atagi, senior offensive linemen for Weber State football, enter their fourth season together as Wildcats — the 2023 campaign the last of their college careers.
Ethan began his career at BYU but between his transfer and what the COVID-19 pandemic did to sports seasons and eligibility, he and Noah are together on the field while both finishing the MBA program.
“It’s been a blessing, for the both of us and for the family,” Noah said. “We’re going to finish (the degree) in December the same time we’re finishing our senior season. So right now it’s just giving it our all and going for it.”
It meant the Bonneville High School alums both followed the footsteps of their father, Miller Atagi, who played left guard at Weber State in the early 1990s.
“Things worked out in the specific way that it had to … that I ended up being able to play next to him and it’s just been a dream come true,” Ethan said. “We talked about it as kids. We have pictures of us playing together in blue and yellow here at Bonneville and now, not just playing next to Noah, to wear my dad’s number and play the same position as him my senior year, that means a lot to me. Pretty cool full-circle moment.”
Noah was a first-team All-Big Sky selection for the third time last year, and Ethan earned third-team honors at center.
“Ethan and Noah had a great offseason,” head coach Mickey Mental said. “Ethan, I’m probably the most proud of this offseason because he changed his body drastically and he’s putting himself in a position to have a fantastic year.”
Noah Atagi is a team captain for the third straight season and, this year, is the only offensive player in the group of four captains.
“If you’re around Weber State football, I’m probably the loudest guy out here. You can ask anyone who talks most, it’s me,” Noah said. “But at the end of the day, we’re just a tight-knit team where it doesn’t matter who the captain is. We know what we need to do and who we need to follow, and that’s Coach Mental. All our coaches prepare us the right way to win ballgames.”
The Atagis concluding their careers together creates somewhat of a moment, potentially, for Weber State’s offense. The Wildcats should roll into the Aug. 31 opener with four sixth-year seniors on the line.
Noah, a 2022 FCS All-American and 2023 preseason All-American, anchors the team at left tackle one more time. Jordan Lutui will be at right guard; in his first full season as an offensive lineman, he was named to the all-conference second team in 2022.
Ethan Atagi expects to play left guard, where he played his first two seasons at WSU before taking center duties in 2022.
“We’ve got a lot of experience on the O-line, we know how to prepare the right way and how to win games,” Noah Atagi said. “We know what it takes to finish out games, which we didn’t always do last year but we’ve made the adjustments to get to that point this year. We’re rolling downhill, going full speed.”
“And,” Ethan said, “we like to run the ball. We’re looking forward to that.”
Ethan Atagi expects to play left guard because of Andrew Carter, a graduate transfer from Montana’s Carroll College. Carter was a two-time NAIA All-American and was named the division’s top center in 2022.
Mental said when camp opened that he didn’t promise a starting job to anyone.
“We had a good conversation when he came in, Andrew and myself, and it’s about how do I add value to this team? Otherwise, it’s his job to win the job. We’re going to play the best five and wherever they play, we’ll find out,” Mental said in early August. “It’s a daily evaluation of who jells well, who’s smart, how do they figure it out. It takes some time but we’ll figure out what five to eight guys work well with each other.”
By the time camp concluded in the scrimmage at Bonneville High, it seemed Carter had won the job at center.
With those four six-year seniors is sophomore Gavin Ortega, in his second year in the program, who will play right tackle.
“Gavin Ortega, who played some as a freshman — that’s a big deal if you play here as a freshman up front,” Mental said. “We’re expecting big things from him.”
Next up behind that expected starting five would seem to be redshirt sophomore Cole Casto and sophomore Seti Lapuaho. Redshirt freshman Lavaka Taukeiaho is in the mix, as are big BYU transfers Vae Soifua and Zoom Esplin. They’re also redshirt freshmen and seemed to make strides in camp to be in the O-line rotation sooner rather than later.
On the extended line, Layton native Hayden Meacham will start at the half-lineman position known as tight end. He, too, is a sixth-year senior.
Mental’s offense is predicated on being able to successfully run the football on any down, at any spot on the field. With speedster Damon Bankston seemingly set to become WSU’s featured back after rushing for 709 yards last season, complemented by big senior and now-healthy Kris Jackson, hopes are high for 2023.
“That experience can’t be taken away,” Mental said. “That does nothing but good things for you.”