The offseason is in full speed for Weber State football, looking to build on a young team that finished 6-5 in 2023 after true freshman quarterback Richie Muñoz helped pass the team to three consecutive wins to end the season.

With the early signing period approaching Dec. 20-22, Weber State picked up another commitment this week while dealing with a few key contributors who appear to be on their way out.

Three-star running back Chauncey Sylvester Jr. announced his commitment to Weber State on Wednesday, marking the second known pledge for WSU’s 2024 class. Sylvester graduates this school year from St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California, and picked WSU over FBS offers from Arizona, UNLV, San Jose State and Bowling Green.

Sylvester rushed for 631 yards and nine touchdowns on 5.1 yards per carry this season. He joins running back Semisi Kinikini (Mountain Ridge, Utah) as current verbal commitments for 2024. As a junior, Kinikini rushed for 1,224 yards (102 per game).

Three key contributors from the 2023 season have announced they have entered their names in the transfer portal, signaling their departure from Weber State after breakout years: linebacker Jack Kelly, receiver Treyshun Hurry and punter Jack Burgess.

Kelly turned in a prolific sophomore season, totaling 70 tackles, 10.5 sacks (fifth nationally), including one safety, four forced fumbles and one interception. He’s already reported offers from Oregon State and Coastal Carolina, among others, with interest from Wisconsin.

Hurry broke out late in the season as a redshirt freshman with Muñoz at quarterback. Hurry caught seven passes for 115 yards at Eastern Washington. He caught 19 passes for 267 yards in the final four games.

Burgess was second nationally in average yards per punt, with 54 punts at 47.2 yards per kick, including 21 punts downed inside the 20 with a long of 70 yards.

Walk-on quarterback Jakob Hollingshaus has also entered his name into the transfer portal.

Big departures are not unique to Weber State; No. 5 Montana State has lost a handful of starters once its season ended last week in the playoffs. But it does highlight the potential new landscape where WSU, losing the top players it recruits and develops out of high school, may need to find a few gems in the transfer portal itself.

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