Not out of entitlement, but through football’s natural order in the Beehive State.

“There’s been foundational ties from here all the way to the OG, the godfather, Mr. (Ron) McBride,” said Mullgrav, who twice before now worked on staff at the University of Utah. “We saw Weber as a family.”

His first stint at Utah was in 2019 as a graduate assistant.

“At the time, the great coach Jay Hill was the head coach here — as we well know, one of the baddest safeties that ever played at the University of Utah. A real stand-up man,” Mullgrav said. “He’d come do professional development at Utah all the time.

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“So it wasn’t a hard decision, the journey I’m on; I’m not surprised at all that God delivered me here (to Weber State). There’s always been a symbol of respect and appreciation for what happens here.”

Mullgrav is one WSU’s four new, young assistant coaches in 2025 as the Wildcats look for an immediate turnaround to last year’s 4-8 campaign. Three of them inherit position groups where clear stars or starters have moved on through the transfer portal, meaning it’s a mostly new start across the board for the new leaders.

WEBER STATE FOOTBALL 2025 PREVIEW

Catch up on more to preview the season:

> Meet the newcomers at QB aiming to pilot the Wildcats

> Commish: Big Sky still a big deal while sticking to mission

> Breaking down WSU’s schedule and opponents

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“We do not care,” Mullgrav said about the way those changes lined up. “Everybody’s dealing with losing players. Whoever is here, we’re going to coach them. The advantage is the mindset … (that) it gives opportunities to the guys who are here, and they’re taking advantage of it. I wasn’t here with the guys who left so all I see is time, space and opportunity.”

KEILAN BENJAMIN, CORNERBACKS

The former standout in WSU’s defensive secondary now has full charge of its cornerbacks, a spot he took over in February. Benjamin spent two years working defensive quality control at WSU and also as cornerbacks coach and assistant defensive coordinator for the Ogden Jets for one season.

To him, winning as a player (WSU went 14-2 in the Big Sky in his two seasons, 2017-18) and combining the best attributes of his Utah-tied mentors prepared him to succeed in the role.

“Weber State is something you’ve got to believe in and embody. It’s a tough mindset,” Benjamin said. “I grew from a young kid to a man, all credit goes to Jay Hill. He built us to be tough but also knew how to show love and give love. So I think my best attribute is, I know how to be tough on you and I can also relate to you, no matter who it is. I give love and the boys all feel comfortable enough to let me get on them because they know it’s coming from a good place.

“We’ve got a great bond. My group always wants to work because they understand what it takes. They know I’ve done it; i didn’t go to the NFL, none of that, but I got that first team (Big Sky selection). Weber State embodies me, because they know I played with passion. Play with that passion and the game’s going to give back to you.”

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His other influence came from working alongside Andre Dyson for two years, someone the 29-year-old says is “one of the smartest dudes I know.” Dyson taught him, he said, how to break down the game, the small ins and outs.

“He knows what winning looks like,” head coach Mickey Mental said. “There’s a level of commitment, you want to see your alma mater be successful. … He’s always going to be upbeat, be vocal, and push his players and relate to his players the right way.”

When he’s not deep in football, Benjamin plays the piano, falling back on an old song “Sorry, there is no more” he learned as a child and aspiring to master some songs by Alicia Keys.

Weber State lost starters Jalon Rock (Liberty) and Frankie Edwards III (New Mexico), along with contributor Zavien Abercrombie (Nevada), to the transfer portal.

The cupboard isn’t bare, but some players who logged reps last year will need to take big steps. Sophomore Ishaan Daniels (No. 22; 2024: 25 tackles, one interception) is back, having started several games last season before an injury. Coaches have high hopes for the likes of senior Toddrick Dixon (No. 16, 15 tackles), junior Montae Pate (No. 20, 34 tackles, one pick six), and sophomore Logan Mackey (No. 28, six tackles).

Most of all, sophomore Tre Parks-Vinson (No. 7) is back. Talk around him — someone Mental calls “a different athlete” — has been high for two years but he got pulled out of action during fall camp last year due to a non-injury health issue. That, and junior Tajon Evans (No. 23) adding speed to the group after switching from receiver in the spring has the staff seeing playmakers that need to put it together on the field.

BRADY DAIGH, DEFENSIVE TACKLES

Daigh, 32, played linebacker at the University of Colorado. He has coaching stops in Division II, at Utah Tech for one season with WSU defensive ends coach James Cowser, and was on the defensive staff at Utah.

He followed Mullgrav to WSU from Utah; after WSU’s linebackers coach opened up, Mullgrav moved there where he’s coached the most and Daigh took defensive tackles, a group he’s coached the most.

“I think it’s redundant, but it’s something I think is very important in coaching, is how do you connect with young people, how do you get the most out of them, and he does a tremendous job with that,” Mental said about Daigh. “He played linebacker, he’s coached defensive tackles, so he’s seen the box from different points of view and can bring a good perspective.”

Of the four new coaches, he inherits the most returning experience as it relates to starters and longevity, especially with the return of sixth-year tackle Easton Payne (No. 99, 36 career tackles) from injury.

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“I do have the benefit of having veteran guys like Easton Payne, Matt Herron, who’ve been out there and proved it on the field, so I’m leaning heavily on them as leaders right now,” Daigh said. “We want to be playmakers, we want to be the most physical unit. … When opposing offenses turn on the film, they’re scratching their heads, having problems seeing what we put on tape. It starts with effort, we have to play so hard it shows up on tape. It has to be part of our DNA.”

Mental thinks shifts in coaches and moving to one defensive coordinator in Joe Dale should help groups like the defensive tackles get back to stuffing the run and disrupting offenses.

“It’s one voice. Not that Grant Duff did anything wrong, he’s a tremendous coach. But with one voice and what we’re trying to ask our guys to do, which is play with confidence, run to the football and cause disruptions, you’re able to pull the trigger and make the play.”

The junior Herron (No. 97, 46 career tackles) stands to be a big difference-maker now as a veteran.

Hardworking senior Ben Beecher (No. 93, 20 career tackles) returns for his final campaign at defensive tackle, with athletic redshirt freshman Kevin Johnson (No. 44) moving inside to tackle. Oscar Serrano (No. 94) adds to the group as a junior college transfer while one of Utah’s best preps last season, Zion Finau (No. 98) of Corner Canyon, is getting his feet wet with the group.

It stands to reason that at least one of Finau, Johnson or Serrano will need to take off for the tackles group to enjoy the depth it needs.

JUSTIN MULLGRAV, LINEBACKERS

Mullgrav (linebacker, South Carolina State, 2013) inherits a group that said goodbye to more than most. Garrett Beck used his eligibility, and Jayden Ah You and Alema Tupuola hung it up with eligibility left. Sione Moa, the Weber High alum by way of BYU, was in spring camp for just a moment before leaving as well (he’s now at UConn).

So “time, space and opportunity,” like Mullgrav said.

Mullgrav was a graduate assistant at Utah for two years, coached linebackers at Eastern Washington for two years, then returned to Utah for two more as a defensive analyst.

His job, he says, is simple: “Make these players better at a positional level and it translates to the collective. … That’s my only job here: better football players and better men.”

Interest definitely gravitates to junior Sione Hala (No. 13, 37 career tackles), a transfer from Boston College, to give the Wildcats some experience and playmaking.

“He’s a great dude. A layered person, so much to him. He has a lot to give to society and really glad to see his growth,” Mullgrav said. “He does things you cannot teach. … You’re going to get toughness out of that kid and edge — and hopefully it’s a winning edge.”

Mullgrav says he “loves the group that we have.”

Aizik Mahuka (No. 33) returns after 18 tackles as a freshman. Junior Mayson Hitchens (No. 0, 56 tackles in 2024) gets an opportunity to grab more of a spotlight after a solid sophomore campaign if he can recover from a mid-August, lower-leg injury. Both got plenty of reps last season, along with Raimoana Tinirauarii (No. 40, 38 tackles last year) on the weak side, and it’s those kinds of players WSU will need to take a big step forward to sure up a defense that struggled in the red zone and didn’t create turnovers.

Redshirt freshman Aidan O’Callaghan (No. 37) has athleticism that coaches love but he may be sidelined for a time with a knee injury. Junior Kevin Enriquez (No. 43) earned a scholarship. Sophomore Elijah Teriipaia (No. 52) is another youngster in the mix, Daniel Asisi (No. 32) is back after redshirting (appearing in one game last year) and David Brinton (No. 53) is in his first camp as a freshman.

The man who goes by “Ace” says one of his favorite things off the field is finding new places to try new food. And he golfs. “I’m not looking for a partner,” Mullgrav says. “I just want to be bad by myself.”

Mental said Mullgrav is “very detailed, tremendous work ethic, tremendous knowledge of this defense” and “he’s doing a great job getting the most out of those guys and connecting with them.”

DANIEL WRIGHT, RUNNING BACKS

At 25 years old, Daniel Wright Jr. is easily the youngest coach on the staff. Among all coaching staffs at WSU, he’s rivaled only by fellow alums Kate Payne (volleyball) and Lauren Hoe (softball), also both starting their first school year as assistant coaches.

Wright sees his age as a “why not?” scenario. An opportunity, like young players get.

“I’m not too far away from the game, I can bounce around and speak their language,” Wright said. “I can bring that young energy to connect with older players, younger players, and continue to adapt with the game.”

Mental has liked what Wright brings so far.

“He develops young talent, and connects and holds his players to a high standard,” Mental said.

Wright rushed for 336 yards for two Big Sky title winners at Weber State, leaving with a bachelor’s degree in communication, and rushed for 437 yards finishing his career in one season at Tarleton State. He has a master’s degree in sports administration from East Central University, where he coached in 2024. At 2023, he coached a freshman to first team all-conference honors at American River College, also Wright’s junior college alma mater.

He sees his job as helping his players find confidence and purpose, like he found as a college football player.

Damon Bankston takes last season’s 1,104 rushing yards to New Mexico, meaning eyes now move to Davion Godley. As a freshman, Godley (No. 25) rushed for 630 yards on 6.2 yards per carry, so he’s the natural top dog.

“I don’t feel as if we lost a starter,” Wright said. “I don’t coach twos. Everybody’s a one (starter) in my eyes and I’m going to look at them like that, and make sure they’re ready to play at that capacity.”

Godley seems set to shine and behind him are several looking for a breakout similar to what he had last season. Redshirt freshman Chauncey Sylvster (No. 5) looks to have made strides while redshirt sophomore Major Givens (No. 30) aims to crack into a role. Senior Bird Butler (No. 15, 141 yards in 2024) is back as a utility-knife type of back.

Senior Colter May (No. 34,  48 career yards) was voted to preseason all-Big Sky honors as a fullback, and Davis High walk-on Spencer Ferguson, back from missionary service, “plays his ass off,” Mental says.

Zach Hrbacek (No. 27) is a wildcard. The senior played four seasons at Sam Houston, battling injury on the way to 779 rushing yards (his best campaign coming in 2022 with 495 yards and three touchdowns).

Off the field, Wright is spending most of his time with his pitbull terrior Granite, who walked the graduation stage with him and, at other coaching stops, became known as the “director of joy.”