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Syracuse High offensive lineman Ty Hunter, center, blocks against Layton on Oct. 10, 2024, in Syracuse.

Jen Bauman, supplied by Ty Hunter

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Weeber State players Alema Tupoula (6), Keayean Nead (45) and Luke Sampson (78) take the field before playing McNeese on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Several years into playing the sport, Ty Hunter first had an inkling that football could take him into college as he approached high school. When he got varsity playing time at Syracuse High School as a freshman, he felt like he knew it for sure.

“I realized I had a good shot at this thing and I could pursue Division I football,” he said.

That became his reality Wednesday when the offensive lineman became one of five players Weber State football signed during the early period for the 2025 recruiting class.

“Versatile O-lineman, love how he plays the game,” WSU head coach Mickey Mental said. “He did a really good job with a young Syracuse team this year, doing his part in being a great leader. Tremendous upside.”

Mental said the Wildcats envision Hunter as an interior lineman and, as it turns out, his high school coaches started steering him that way. Hunter said Syracuse offensive line coach Mitch Arquette helped him envision playing center.

“Talking to Weber, it fit very well with how coach Arquette explained it and I fell in love with the idea of playing center at the Division I level. I fit well in their system and how I play, and how they want me to play,” Hunter said.

Hunter was born in Wyoming but has lived most of his life in Syracuse. He wanted to stay in Utah to play, if possible. He had Weber State circled in part because of his high school head coach, former WSU safety Mitch Tulane, and playing for offensive line coach Brent Myers was a factor.

“He’s the type of coach I’m looking for. A lot of experience and, from what I hear, he’ll really get on me if he needs to,” Hunter said. “I’ve had that type of coaching most of my life and I appreciate it, at the end of the day.”

Hunter played basketball as a freshman but now wrestles. He won the first match of his senior season this week, competing in the 285-pound weight class and taking down a Viewmont wrestler by fall 56 seconds into the match.

Strong at math, Hunter says he plans to study finance at WSU with an eye to work in accounting or financial advising.

“Certainly brings me a lot of pride to play here in my hometown,” Hunter said.

Tulane shared the sentiment.

“I’m thrilled that Ty is going to Weber State,” Tulane said. “I owe a lot to Weber State football. It is a place I developed relationships, honed my knowledge of the game of football and learned how to build a championship program.

“Ty is a great kid, athlete, student and leader. I am excited for him and his future in football. Regardless of football, Ty is going to be successful in whatever he puts his mind and energy into.”

QB MUNOZ TO TRANSFER

Part of the backdrop to the early signing period is the trickle of players announcing their intention to enter the transfer portal. That continued for Weber State when sophomore quarterback Richie Muñoz made it public that he plans to leave Weber State.

Muñoz started 17 games at Weber State, throwing for 3,622 yards, 34 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His 364-yard, six-touchdown game at Montana had him and WSU flying high but his usual, elite ability to take care of the football vanished from there; he threw five interceptions and lost four fumbles in the final six games of the season.

Underclassmen can’t enter their names in the transfer portal until Dec. 9 but graduate transfers and players on teams with head coaching changes can enter at any time — and Mental said there are more than 1,000 players in the portal already.

“At my last school, we were the plucking feeder for all the MAC schools. So it’s not surprising, especially in today’s day and age,” Mental said. “I don’t hold it against any kid, they have the right to do whatever they want. We go through the risk-reward with them, why are you making the decision, and sometimes that’s not always about football. Sometimes it’s about family, sometimes it’s getting closer to home.

“If you want to be here, I’m going to coach you and love you as much as I can. If you don’t, that’s your right. We as a staff have to protect the guys who are here, fight to keep guys here. But if they don’t want to be here, that’s their decision. I have an obligation to my staff and these players to go out and find the best players who complement our program.”

Muñoz, tight end Keayen Nead and safety EJ Evett announced their intent to transfer, bringing the outgoing number of underclassmen to 10.

WEBER STATE SIGNS FIVE PLAYERS

Hunter is one of five players Weber State signed during the early signing period for the 2025 class. He joins two other offensive linemen, a quarterback and a defensive end — positions Mental said were a big need regardless of how the flow of transfers plays out.

After Hunter, here’s more about the other players.

ALIJAH BRAY: Bray is a 6-foot-7 offensive tackle from Irvine, California, who played defensive end in high school. He had offers from Oregon State, Eastern Washington and Cal Poly.

“We love him as an offensive tackle. Great length, around an 80-inch wingspan. That’s the type of tackle we’re looking for, athletic, good feet. Just need to work on his technique,” Mental said.

“This is what NFL OTs look like!” WSU linebackers coach Matty Ah You, who recruits California, posted to social media site X. “Time to work to get you there!”

BRANDEN MEZA: Meza is a 6-foot-3 offensive lineman from Long Beach, California, who had offers from New Mexico State, Northern Arizona and Jackson State.

“Very physical offensive lineman … heavy-handed, good feet, good pad level,” Mental said.

Ah You posted that Meza “will add grit to the trenches.”

CHEVY ROBINSON: Robinson is a 6-foot-2 defensive end from Mililani High School in Hawaii. His social media posts indicate interest from Michigan State, Washington State and San Jose State.

“Really explosive kid, comes off the edge and that’s something we need more of — more sacks, more turnovers, and he can provide that being athletic off the edge,” Mental said. “We’re really excited about Chevy.”

KINGSTON TISDELL: Tisdell committed to WSU in June and becomes even more important now with the departure of Muñoz. He had offers from San Jose State, Cornell, Penn and Georgetown, and is rated a three-star quarterback by 247 Sports.

A 6-foot-1 signal caller from Los Angeles, Tisdell split time with a fellow senior at QB but posted 1,846 yards and 16 touchdowns to three interceptions in just eight games, completing 66.7% of his passes for an Inglewood High team that went 10-1.

“Kingston did a heck of a job at Inglewood,” Mental said. “Athletic family. Threw for a ton of yards, high touchdowns, few interceptions. Guided Inglewood to the highest division in the playoffs in California, which says a lot.”

Ah You posted: “Next man up and this dude has all the arm talent! Can’t wait to get him up here.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Transfers have 15 days from Dec. 9 to enter their names in the portal, and those players can commit and sign aid agreements at any time to join their new program.

The regular signing period for the 2025 high school class begins on Feb. 5.

“Players will be highly vetted and it this day and age, you’ve got to adapt,” Mental said. “It’s a new team, new year, and I’m excited to put this together with our staff and hit the ground running.”

WSU currently has 18 departing players between graduating seniors and transfers, which indicates a relatively smaller signing class.

“There’s some clarity there. What we’re experiencing with NIL, the transfer portal, cutting roster spots to 105, I feel like we have every opportunity to be patient and get the right players that fit our program, our culture.”