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OGDEN — Weber State is not known for having large signing classes in December, if a class at all. The December early signing period, however, saw the largest class Weber signed, with a majority of the early signees being from out of state.
After losing 14 seniors to graduation and others to the transfer portal, head coach Jay Hill and his staff were given the challenge to replace a number of players who led the Wildcats to four-straight Big Sky titles prior to this year.
Here's a look at who signed to Weber State during the early signing period:
EJ Evett: Evett headlines the recruiting class and is who wide receiver coach Jared Ursua called "Mr. Do it All." The list of what he can do on the football field is endless, but he's also a multi-sport athlete and star basketball player who averaged over 20 points per game and 8.6 rebounds during his junior basketball season at Seneca High School in South Carolina.
The 6-foot-2 wide receiver is listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and received offers from South Carolina, West Virginia and Wake Forest, among a list of others before he committed to Weber State. Although injured for his senior football season, Evett totaled 440 yards and two touchdowns in a shortened, five-game season his junior year and 764 yards and seven touchdowns during his sophomore year.
Adrian Cormier: Cormier is a 5-foot-7, 190-pound running back out of Richmond, Texas. As a senior, Cormier ran for 987 yards and seven touchdowns in his team's nine-game season. Weber State running back coach Robert Conley credits Cormier for his "ability to run between the tackles, as well as outside the tackles." According to 247Sports, he held a second offer from Houston.
Tre Parks-Vinson: A 5-foot-9, 160-pound wide receiver from Fort Worth, Texas, Parks-Vinson is best described as a total athlete with elite speed and quickness. Ursua said "he's got great hands, and when you put the ball in them, he's gonna make a play." Parks-Vinson caught 25 passes for 473 yards and had four touchdowns his senior year. He also held an offer from Navy.
Nelson Arapa: Locally recruited out of Juan Diego High School in Draper, Arapa is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive lineman who is originally from Bora Bora. In 10 games played, Apara had 20 tackles, including six tackles for loss and a sack. Tight end coach Skyler Ridley said Arapa is "an explosive athlete with huge upside and plays with a great motor."
Calvin Kengike: Another local recruit, Kengike is a 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive lineman from Bingham High in South Jordan. In his senior season, Kengike had 43 tackles, including six sacks in 12 games played. For his size and frame, defensive line coach Bojay Filimoeatu said "he's twitchy off the ball … and he's a dominant, dominant defensive tackle in the run game."
Cameren Cope: Cope is a ball hunter with great ability to get to the quarterback off the line. He had 80 tackles, including 20 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in nine games in his senior season at Coeur d'Alene High in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Outside linebacker coach Grant Duff said he is a "high-motor" player with a great 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame the staff will be able to build on.
Montae Pate: Out of Legacy High in Las Vegas, Nevada, Pate is a 6-foot-2, 170-pound cornerback. In his senior season, he accounted for 10 pass breakups and two interceptions, and added 42 tackles that included two tackles for loss. Assistant coach Joe Dale said Pate is long, rangey, and versatile and will be a great addition to the program.
Tiger Adolpho: Adolpho is a 6-foot-1, 220-pound quarterback who played at Rigby High in Rigby, Idaho. Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Adolpho also received offers from Hawaii and Kansas, but committed to Weber State after leading his high school team to a 5A state championship in 2021.
Gavin Ortega: Ortega is primarily an offensive tackle but has experience on the defensive line during his time at Sehome High School in Bellingham, Washington. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound recruit held offers from other Big Sky programs, including Eastern Washington, Idaho State and Portland State. Offensive line coach Brent Myers credits Ortega for being a "super student of the game" who excels in both run and pass protection.
