Football Transfers

[oldrunner]

Even with us losing a couple of good running backs and an O lineman or two, what we have coming back, plus the new guys coming in, It looks to me like our offense will likely get better and certainly won't be any worse. Our defense was mediocre last year and the best of them left the program. It could take more than one stellar defensive requiting year just to get back above mediocre. Defense wins championships. That's how it is and always has been. You want a championship; you need a kick ass defense.

 

[baller]

There have been 15 starters transfer out to various schools (mostly FBS). So far the coaching staff has brought in 8 transfers who I think can replace 7 of the lost starters. There have also been 4 senior starters graduate, or run out of eligibility. So a total of 19 starters out and 7 incoming replacements who could potentially replace those starters who left. So it appears that Weber is losing big-time in the transfer game. New coaching staff has not performed particularly impressively in this area. Either they have failed to attract the guys needed to replace departing starters or maybe they believe that the freshman recruits and returning players are adequate replacements for the 19 departed starters. We are losing 9 defensive starters and 9 offensive starters so I question whether that many can be replaced with equally as good or better players than the starters being lost. I have seen reports that Weber has had as many as 30 players enter the portal but I think a number of them have not been picked up by other teams. Maybe those players will return to us. Who knows? My conclusion is that the new coaching start is not off to a great start and thus our 2026 season may be a major disappointment. Lastly, I noticed that they have yet to hire anyone to coach TE's and LB's. Another reason to fear a disappointing first season! The coaches are all not overly experienced at this level of football and the results I've seen so far indicates that there will be a significant learning curve before they are up to par in all aspects of the modern college game. I am a lifetime fan of Weber and will always hope they win in a big way, but early indications with this new staff is that it won't happen this coming season. I would elated if all the fears I express here turn out to be unwarranted and they win from day one.

 

[AlumniWSU]

It would be great if it's an overall winning record this year, but we all need to have some patience with any coaching changes. It took the great Jay Hill a couple of years to get the winning side going, granted he had the good credentials & recruiting to do so. But for this fan I'm glad just to get a new slate on the coaching side instead of experiencing the doldrums of excuses, "we're young & inexperienced", "wait till next year" that we have with the suspect coaching slog of the Rahe/Duft act these past 8 yrs. on the basketball side!

 

[Greatx3]

There have been 15 starters transfer out to various schools (mostly FBS). So far the coaching staff has brought in 8 transfers who I think can replace 7 of the lost starters. There have also been 4 senior starters graduate, or run out of eligibility. So a total of 19 starters out and 7 incoming replacements who could potentially replace those starters who left. So it appears that Weber is losing big-time in the transfer game. New coaching staff has not performed particularly impressively in this area. Either they have failed to attract the guys needed to replace departing starters or maybe they believe that the freshman recruits and returning players are adequate replacements for the 19 departed starters. We are losing 9 defensive starters and 9 offensive starters so I question whether that many can be replaced with equally as good or better players than the starters being lost. I have seen reports that Weber has had as many as 30 players enter the portal but I think a number of them have not been picked up by other teams. Maybe those players will return to us. Who knows? My conclusion is that the new coaching start is not off to a great start and thus our 2026 season may be a major disappointment. Lastly, I noticed that they have yet to hire anyone to coach TE's and LB's. Another reason to fear a disappointing first season! The coaches are all not overly experienced at this level of football and the results I've seen so far indicates that there will be a significant learning curve before they are up to par in all aspects of the modern college game. I am a lifetime fan of Weber and will always hope they win in a big way, but early indications with this new staff is that it won't happen this coming season. I would elated if all the fears I express here turn out to be unwarranted and they win from day one.

While I do agree that WSU has a very young coaching staff I for one am pretty optimistic about what they have been doing and the transfers they have brought in so far.
As far as losing those players, WSU was 4-8 last year so I'm not going to lose any sleep over anyone who left.
Sure, there are some talented players who left but if they don't want to be here then good riddance and good luck. Again, losing starters off a 4-8 team may not be a bad thing. It's time to change the broken culture in that program and I firmly believe that Kjar and Co. can and will do that.

 

[baller]

Wow, did not know that Kjar's contract stipulates an overall winning record in conference after three years if he is to remain in his head coaching position. This shines a bad light on the expectations of the Administration. If all one aspires to is a winning record in conference it signifies mediocrity. When the goal is .500 +1 it has led to even a poorer record than that. And that is all that was accomplished before Jay Hill and after Jay Hill. Jay accomplished more on his own. It is the rare coach that can accomplish more than his Administration considers acceptable. I really do 'HOPE" that Kjar will be another Jay Hill, but I am not holding my breath until it happens.

 

[AlumniWSU]

Actually I look at it as a means of getting away from a $ buyout of a contract. Paying a coach for a $$ guaranteed contract is common, sure, but it's like paying for a dead horse; $$ that the likes of Weber could well use for other needs. With the way things are in Wildcat BB/FB coach's performance lately any new contracts should have like stipulations just in case. Glad that Duft's extension last year has similar aspects, preventing having to buyout if certain conditions aren't met, expectations aside!

 

[baller]

I counted 29 players who are no longer listed as being on the team. All 29 either quit football or entered the portal. Of those 29, 5, to my knowledge, have not reported signing with anyone.
They are:
QB - Jennings (part-time starter)
OL - Ethen Ericksen (did not play)
DE - Dontae Bond (did not play)
CB - Martin (did not play)
WR - Chretian (starter).

The remaining 24 have signed (9 with new FCS schools including 3 who went to Big Sky schools). The othe 15 have signed with FBS schools. Of those 15 only 1 was not a part-time starter or starter at WSU.

I hope Eric Kjar is a miracle worker because mostly these 24 players were replaced with Freshmen and at The FCS level rarely can a high schooler come in and start, or be a significant contributor, in their first year.

We lost starters or part-time starters on offense either thru transfer or graduation at QB (2), RB (2), TE, WR, OC (2) OG (2) and OT (2). That is the whole offensive line. Who have Kjar brought in who can immediately replace those lost. I think he got a QB, RB, and maybe two offensive linemen who can start. That is woefully short of replacement for the offense. But many seem to say that Kjar is an offensive guru so he will make the offense go no matter who is on the field. I think it is far too much loss to overcome.

On the defensive side they lost 10 starters and part-time starters. They brought in, to replace those lost, one defensive lineman, 2 or 3 LB's and 3 DB's.

As for special teams, it looks to me like the got a quality returner who will improve that part of the team, but are depending on unproven LS, unproven kicker but a returning punter who was pretty average. Will be lucky if that part of the game stays even versus last year.

Surely they are counting on a lot of the holdover players to step up big time and fill the holes with quality play. I hope it happens but if it does it will be a miracle. From my viewpoint it certainly seems like they have already sacrificed the upcoming season for growth over 2-3 years before they expect to win bigger. Kjar's contract seems to signify the same thing as he is only required to go 500 in conference in his third year to keep his job.

SEEMS LIKEELY THAT WE ARE IN FOR A LONG SEASON IN 2026! Sure hope I am wrong. I am looking forward to Spring Ball to get a look at what we've got. GO WEBER!! I have been a lifetime fan and hope that basketball and football doesn't get so bad that I cannot bear to watch any longer.

 

[CrazyJ]

I counted 29 players who are no longer listed as being on the team. All 29 either quit football or entered the portal. Of those 29, 5, to my knowledge, have not reported signing with anyone.
They are:
QB - Jennings (part-time starter)
OL - Ethen Ericksen (did not play)
DE - Dontae Bond (did not play)
CB - Martin (did not play)
WR - Chretian (starter).

The remaining 24 have signed (9 with new FCS schools including 3 who went to Big Sky schools). The othe 15 have signed with FBS schools. Of those 15 only 1 was not a part-time starter or starter at WSU.

I hope Eric Kjar is a miracle worker because mostly these 24 players were replaced with Freshmen and at The FCS level rarely can a high schooler come in and start, or be a significant contributor, in their first year.

We lost starters or part-time starters on offense either thru transfer or graduation at QB (2), RB (2), TE, WR, OC (2) OG (2) and OT (2). That is the whole offensive line. Who have Kjar brought in who can immediately replace those lost. I think he got a QB, RB, and maybe two offensive linemen who can start. That is woefully short of replacement for the offense. But many seem to say that Kjar is an offensive guru so he will make the offense go no matter who is on the field. I think it is far too much loss to overcome.

On the defensive side they lost 10 starters and part-time starters. They brought in, to replace those lost, one defensive lineman, 2 or 3 LB's and 3 DB's.

As for special teams, it looks to me like the got a quality returner who will improve that part of the team, but are depending on unproven LS, unproven kicker but a returning punter who was pretty average. Will be lucky if that part of the game stays even versus last year.

Surely they are counting on a lot of the holdover players to step up big time and fill the holes with quality play. I hope it happens but if it does it will be a miracle. From my viewpoint it certainly seems like they have already sacrificed the upcoming season for growth over 2-3 years before they expect to win bigger. Kjar's contract seems to signify the same thing as he is only required to go 500 in conference in his third year to keep his job.

SEEMS LIKEELY THAT WE ARE IN FOR A LONG SEASON IN 2026! Sure hope I am wrong. I am looking forward to Spring Ball to get a look at what we've got. GO WEBER!! I have been a lifetime fan and hope that basketball and football doesn't get so bad that I cannot bear to watch any longer.

Nice breakdown. Really puts things in context for lazy guys like me! I specifically watched Hitchens, ML, last season because he came from my high school in CA. I was pulling for him big time. He got some accolades but honestly, I was not impressed. The ML’s I played with, at Weber, also from SoCal, were absolute game wreckers: Ricky B & Mike Powell. Long winded but my point: I think there are a ton of positions that can be upgraded. In the BSC if you can upgrade at QB that alone jumps you up. So even breaking even on other positions can greatly elevate our team in the first year. Tighter game plans and we might be surprised.