Weber State football Week 1 depth chart: Gilkey named starting quarterback
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- Weber State quarterback Jackson Gilkey (2) runs from defensive pressure on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.
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- Weber State receiver Jayleen Record makes a move with the football during an August 2025 practice at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.
Game week has arrived for Weber State football, and with it a depth chart and the answers that provides.
The answer to the biggest question is Jackson Gilkey.
The third-year sophomore and UTSA transfer will start at quarterback when the Wildcats take on James Madison this Saturday. Gilkey is listed as QB starter with North Texas redshirt freshman Cash McCollum as his backup.
Gilkey’s first college stats will come with his first pass at JMU.
“He just handles himself at a high level,” head coach and offensive coordinator Mickey Mental said. “Not that the others don’t, but in all our scrimmages from spring to this point, in every situation he’s done a heck of a job moving the offense down the field, taking advantage, being accurate, putting our guys in good situations to be successful.”
Of the 29 starting positions listed on the depth chart, 18 are filled by upperclassmen (seniors or juniors).
Below is WSU’s Week 1 depth chart and some personnel notes for each group. In depth chart listings, starters are listed first with backups following a forward slash. Co-starters are listed with “or” between them.
OFFENSE
A few players one might expect to see on the depth chart are not there due to injury. On the offense, that includes junior receiver Jaden Thrower (lower leg) and right tackle Zoom Esplin (undisclosed).
Thrower caught 14 passes for 168 yards and one touchdown last season; the timeline of his return is unknown but he’s missed most of camp. Esplin, a sophomore, started 11 games last season. His status is much more of the game-time-decision variety, Mental said; Esplin will not start at JMU but may see the field as he works back from being banged up.
True freshman Kelton Wafer, then, gets one of the three starting WR spots, while sophomore Trevor Beck is starting at right tackle.
Running back gives an obvious starter nod to Davion Godley and backup spot to Colter May, though it’s likely many players (among Chauncey Sylvester, Bird Butler and Major Givens) get carries this season.
Quarterback: Jackson Gilkey (So.) / Cash McCollum (R-Fr.)
Running back: Davion Godley (So.) / Colter May (Sr.)
Receiver: Kelton Wafer (Fr.) / Devin Ford (Sr.)
Receiver: Jayleen Record (Sr.) / Noah Kjar (So.)
Receiver: Marvin Session (Jr.) / Marcus Chretien (Jr.)
Tight end: Noah Bennee (Sr.) / Ammon Munyer (So.)
Left tackle: Gavin Ortega (Sr.) / Luke Sampson (Jr.)
Left guard: Jacob Edmonds (So.) / Nelson Arapa (Jr.)
Center: Cole Casto (Sr.) / Will Way (So.)
Right guard: Vae Soifua (Jr.) / Cole Millward (So.)
Right tackle: Trevor Beck (So.) / Nelson Arapa (Jr.)
DEFENSE
WSU’s defense continues to take hits to linebacker depth. Aidan O’Callaghan is out indefinitely with a knee injury while sophomore Elijah Teriipaia has left the team. Many at WSU are excited about the play of defensive end Josh Hardy while the defensive backfield returns plenty of experience.
Defensive end: Keahnist Thompson (Jr.) / Ashden Oberg (Jr.)
Defensive end: Josh Hardy (So.) / Porter Small (Fr.)
Defensive tackle: Matt Herron (Jr.) / Ben Beecher (Sr.)
Defensive tackle: Easton Payne (Sr.) / Kevin Johnson (R-Fr.)
Middle linebacker: Mayson Hitchens (Jr.) / Aizik Mahuka (So.)
Strong-side linebacker: Aizik Mahuka (So.) / Daniel Asisi (R-Fr.)
Weak-side linebacker: Sione Hala (Jr.) / Kevin Enriquez (Jr.)
Cornerback: Ishaan Daniels (So.) / Tre Parks-Vinson (So.)
Cornerback: Montae Pate (Jr.) / Tajon Evans (Jr.)
Free safety: Kao Hansen (Jr.) OR Trevian Tribble (Jr.)
Strong safety: Angel King (Sr.) / BJ Carey (Jr.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Weber State’s continued rotation of Australian punters arrives at sophomore Henry Way this season, who joined the team on the first day of fall camp.
Place kicker/Kickoffs: Sloan Calder (Sr.) / Thien Hoang (Jr.)
Punter: Henry Way (So.) / Sloan Calder (Sr.)
Long snapper: Caden Kellow (So.) / Chipper Harding (So.)
Holder: Peyton Beck (Jr.) / Henry Way (So.)
Kick return: Noah Kjar (So.) / Jayleen Record (Sr.) / Bird Butler (Sr.)
Punt return: Bird Butler (Sr.) / Noah Kjar (So.)
