Weber State football got individual recognition during the Big Sky Conference's football kickoff weekend but the team was voted lower than has become commonplace in the league's 2023 preseason polls revealed during the event.

WSU senior linebacker Winston Reid was voted as the Big Sky's preseason defensive player of the year. (Idaho receiver Hayden Hatten was tabbed offensive preseason POY.)

Coaches voted Weber State at No. 4 in preseason polls while in the media poll, the Wildcats landed at No. 6. WSU has finished in a tie for fourth place or better in seven of the last eight seasons.

Reid, a native of West Jordan, was an All-American and All-Big Sky First Team player last season. In 35 career games, Reid has totaled 163 tackles, with 16 1/2 for loss and 5 1/2 sacks, adding two fumble recoveries, one interception and seven forced fumbles, the latter of which is tied for third at WSU in career forced fumbles.

Joining Reid on the Big Sky's preseason all-conference team: senior offensive lineman Noah Atagi, senior cornerback Maxwell Anderson and junior kick returner Abraham Williams.

As for the polls, reigning co-champion Montana State topped both polls with other co-champ Sacramento State coming in at third and fourth.

Fall camp begins on Aug. 2 for Weber State.

Below is each poll in full, with first-place votes in parentheses and total poll points after.

COACHES PRESEASON POLL

1. Montana State (10), 120

2. UC Davis (1), 96

3. Sacramento State (1), 94

4. Weber State 91

5. Idaho 89

6. Montana 84

7. Eastern Washington 52

8. Portland State 45

9. Northern Arizona 44

10. Northern Colorado 37

11. Cal Poly 25

12. Idaho State 15

MEDIA PRESEASON POLL

1. Montana State (26), 447

2. Idaho (8), 410

3. Montana (2), 359

4. Sacramento State (3), 334

5. UC Davis 330

6. Weber State 320

7. Eastern Washington 216

8. Northern Arizona 178

9. Portland State 167

10. Northern Colorado 109

11. Cal Poly 103

12. Idaho State 69

NEW NUMBERS

As several coveted uniform numbers became available due to outgoing players, WSU has updated number assignments on its online roster. A sampling of new uniform numbers, some reassignments and some for newcomers, includes:

0 -- TE Hayden Meacham

1 -- RB Damon Bankston

4 -- CB/KR Abraham Williams

5 -- WR/PR Haze Hadley

7 -- RB Kris Jackson

10 -- QB Richie Munoz

13 -- LB Garrett Beck

15 -- DE Okiki Olorunfumi

74 -- OL Vae Soifua

78 -- C Andrew Carter

84 -- WR Jayleen Record

90 -- DE Keahnist Thompson

99 -- DE Carson Mott

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