Weber State football: Wildcats fill recruiting needs as signing day nears

OGDEN — Weber State was hoping to add some defensive linemen, speed and playmakers in its 2011 signing class — and it looks like the Wildcats have succeeded.

As of Sunday night, the Wildcats have received verbal commitments from 17 players. Their prize recruit is Connor Myers, a defensive lineman from Edmond Memorial High in Oklahoma who also had offers from Air Force and Army.

Myers made The Oklahoman's Big All-City first team and is listed at 6 feet, 287 pounds. Perhaps the biggest hole to fill on Weber State's roster is at the receiver position. The Wildcats lost productive players Mike Phillips and Joe Collins, so they went out and signed four receivers. Two of the recruits — Woods Cross High's Darchon Taggart and Marquis Walters from Del City High in Oklahoma — are known for their ability to make big plays.

Players who made commitments to Weber State since the program's list of recruits ran in Sunday's Deseret News are Devonte Johnson, Elie Bouka, and Eric Shufford. Johnson (South HS, Colorado) and Bouka (Montmorency College, Canada) are receivers and Shufford (Fontana, Calif.) is listed as an athlete.

Weber State has commitments from two running backs, including Northridge High's Jordan Lee. Running back is another position the Wildcats have to shore up, as bruising runner Vai Tafuna has graduated and Bo Bolen will serve a Mormon church mission.

Offensive line may be Weber State's strongest position next season, but it has added two blockers, including Bingham High's Alex Taumoepeau.

The Wildcats have yet to get a commitment from a quarterback. They have four players they're targeting — Jordan High's McCoy Hill, East's Tanner Curtis, Ben Maraz (Sunnyslope HS, Arizona) and Kris Kentera (Pine Creek HS, Colorado).

Kentera also has been offered by the Big Sky's Northern Colorado, and he visited Vanderbilt over the weekend. He was a first-team all-state defensive back in Colorado.

On defense, Weber State is surrounding Myers with quality players. They will sign three players on the defensive line in Cottonwood's James Washington, Juan Diego's Jalin Ames and Timpview's Tevia Tolutau. They have commitments from two linebackers — Bingham High's Roman Valenzuela and Cottonwood's Luke King.

Weber State has to replace a starter at cornerback in Faron Creighton, and has commitments from two corners.

The Wildcats have pending offers to a handful of players, and they'll surely add at least one quarterback. They're also looking to add depth at receiver, cornerback and on the offensive line.

e-mail: aaragon@desnews.com