Weber High’s Parker commits to Weber State football as Kjar lines up Utah offers | News, Sports, Jobs

In the 24 hours after his hire was announced Tuesday, newly charged Weber State football coach Eric Kjar spoke frequently across multiple interviews about the importance of recruiting the state of Utah.

His rubber literally met the road Thursday as Kjar moved around the state and dished out four scholarship offers to some of the top unsigned players from the class of 2026.

At the top of the list: a commitment from the most local of the four. Weber High running back and linebacker Dyson Parker pledged his commitment to Weber State on Thursday night in a social media post.

Parker, a First Team selection to this year’s Standard-Examiner All-Area Football team, totaled 1,160 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 194 carries in his senior campaign at Weber High. The 5-foot-9 player added 262 receiving yards and two more scores, plus 33 tackles and one sack on defense.

Over his last two seasons, Parker totaled 2,746 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on 6.13 yards per carry and 124.8 yards per game, adding 916 receiving yards and seven touchdowns through the air.

Elsewhere, Kjar issued three more offers. Herriman safety Troy Ellermeier, a 6A All-State First Team selection by The Deseret News, announced his offer. Over the last two seasons, the 6-foot-1 Ellermeier totaled 147 tackles and 10 interceptions, with three returned for touchdowns.

Two of Kjar’s unclaimed Corner Canyon players also announced Weber State offers.

First Team All-State running back Weston Briggs was one. In his last two high school seasons, the 6-foot-2 bruiser totaled 2,443 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns on 7.52 yards per carry and 106.2 yards per game. He added 28 receptions for 334 yards and four touchdowns.

The other is 5-foot-11 receiver Jasean Mayberry rated a three-star recruit by 247 Sports. As a senior, Mayberry caught 45 passes for 944 yards (21 yards per reception) and eight touchdowns.

It aids whatever momentum was gained during the early signing period two weeks ago when Weber State signed 18 players, eight of whom are from Utah. Kjar told the Standard-Examiner of the early class: “I don’t think you try to do anything else with that situation as far as trying to move out of that or get negative about that. That’s just something we’ll embrace and build off.”

Quarterbacks coach Zach Larson helped WSU secure the signing of Ridgeline quarterback Nate Dahle on the final day of the early period. Dahle, the Deseret News 4A Player of the Year, closed his high school career second in Utah preps history with 12,464 passing yards. As a senior, he threw for 54 touchdowns to just six interceptions.

Other Utahns also signed in the early period: offensive lineman Will Chandler (Corner Canyon, 6A second team), linebacker Cooper Clark (Ridgeline, 4A first team), receiver Jayce Evans (Brighton, 5A second team), offensive lineman Lucas Larronda (Copper Hills), offensive lineman Caleb Patton (Pine View), cornerback Denzel Peoples (Bingham, 6A first team), and tight end Dyson Richards (American Fork, 6A second team).