{"id":864499,"date":"2026-04-12T04:12:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T04:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/864499\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T04:12:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T04:12:39","slug":"spring-game-concludes-weber-state-footballs-first-step-toward-2026-season-news-sports-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/864499\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring game concludes Weber State football\u2019s first step toward 2026 season | News, Sports, Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>OGDEN \u2014 After a spring camp full of warm weather and sunshine, Weber State football wrapped things up Saturday with a spring game ultimately delayed about 45 minutes due to lightning in the area.<\/p>\n<p>After off-and-on rain and the cooler mid-day practice, which was mostly situational work and not directly a scrimmage, first-year head coach Eric Kjar had technique and effort on his mind while senior quarterback Devin Brown thought about continued team formation and harmony as the Wildcats head into summer.<\/p>\n<p>Kjar, also the offensive coordinator, ruminated about his offense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur defense is still a little bit ahead of (the offense), for sure. I like the way they\u2019re playing and the energy which they play with,\u201d Kjar said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to catch up to that as far as on the offensive side of the ball. But I think there\u2019s good things that are making their way into what we\u2019re going to be able to do down the road \u2026 you see the glimpses of what we want and what our offense will be.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just the consistency of it. We\u2019ve got to be more consistent in our approach, our execution, understanding our assignment, and being able to do it against different looks, which we got a bunch of today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"879\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/R5II8910-1200x879.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo_credit\">Robert Casey, Weber State Athletics<\/p>\n<p>Quarterback Devin Brown (8) makes a pass during the Weber State football spring game Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.<\/p>\n<p>Kjar also said he wants his quarterbacks to identify matchups more quickly, offensive line to be sharper in pass protect and run blocking, running backs to see the right lanes more often, and receivers to be cleaner on releases from the line.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSituationally, I think we were good in some areas,\u201d Brown said. \u201cThat last drive, we were pretty good about managing the clock and getting down to the situation to win the game. \u2026 But there\u2019s definitely times where we took sacks in those situations that are critical downs, and we can\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Defensively, Kjar says he wants more physicality from the front seven, especially in the run game, and still sees some need at the linebacker spot.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve got to figure out how we\u2019re going to address that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>With more than half of the roster new to Weber State, Kjar said the biggest challenge is the time it takes to get \u201con the same page\u201d with a new offense and new defense.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1038\" height=\"938\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/R5II9624-1038x938.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo_credit\">Robert Casey, Weber State Athletics<\/p>\n<p>Receiver Devin Ford, right, fights for yards against cornerback Tajon Evans, left, and linebacker Owen Munk during the Weber State football spring game Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGetting them into that groove where they\u2019re not having to think as much and they can just play in all three phases is going to be really critical, so that\u2019s the biggest challenge you run into,\u201d Kjar said. \u201cThat\u2019s why you have spring ball and then hopefully as you move from that, we can pick up and hit it running when we get into fall camp.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s next is key, Brown said. The well-traveled quarterback who once prepped for Kjar in high school said it\u2019s a new team every year anyway, so he\u2019s seen it as his job to get to know his teammates off the field so they can trust each other on the field.<\/p>\n<p>Now comes a four-month summer when coaches are required to step back. Other than strength and conditioning coaches overseeing those workouts, it\u2019s on players to take the next step.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSummer is the time where the team really takes the next step of being one unit. That\u2019s going to be important for me and important for all of our leaders on the team is to get guys together off the field and really build that connection even more,\u201d Brown said. \u201cWhen the coaches aren\u2019t around, we\u2019re going to be doing (player-run practices) and everything on our own, and that\u2019s really important for us to continue to build that unity and momentum into the season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe quarterbacks are running the show and we\u2019ve got to make sure everybody\u2019s on one page and there\u2019s no goofing off or anything like that. It\u2019s got to be very detail-oriented to really build us into the season.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"873\" height=\"938\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/R5II9840-873x938.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo_credit\">Robert Casey, Weber State Athletics<\/p>\n<p>Head coach Eric Kjar roams the sideline during the Weber State football spring game Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.<\/p>\n<p>With the season opener on Aug. 29, WSU should open \u201cfall\u201d camp in the final days of July.<\/p>\n<p>SPRING GAME HIGHLIGHTS<\/p>\n<p>Once lightning cleared, Brown took what appeared to be No. 1 reps at quarterback though, through most of the day, redshirt freshman Kingston Tisdell got the majority of snaps. Sophomore Cash McCollum and junior college transfer DJ Duran got in the mix as well.<\/p>\n<p>On the first series of the scrimmage starting at the offense-side 25, Brown connected with Marvin Session for 13 yards and Tate Kjar for 23 to get the offense inside the 10, but the defense stuffed several runs and forced Braden Carr into a 24-yard field goal, which he made.<\/p>\n<p>Carr later missed a 48-yarder wide, and Oscar Dominguez missed from 32 and 28 yards during the action. Eric Kjar said the kicking game would definitely be a focus before the season arrives.<\/p>\n<p>Tisdell threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ammon Munyer.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"938\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/R5II7891-900x938.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo_credit\">Robert Casey, Weber State Athletics<\/p>\n<p>Wide receiver Max Stonebreaker, white, readies for a catch as safety Pierre Hunter (21) closes in during the Weber State football spring game Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.<\/p>\n<p>In red-zone work (in which Brown didn\u2019t take reps), Tisdell threw a 5-yard TD to Devin Ford and ran in a score from 11 yards out. Robert Young caught a touchdown pass.<\/p>\n<p>Young also hauled in an acrobatic catch on a 30-yarder from Brown.<\/p>\n<p>The defense totaled four interceptions during the proceedings. Arizona State transfer safety Tommy Romano pulled one off Tisdell, as did Box Elder High alum Mason Jeppsen. Veteran cornerback Tajon Evans picked off Brown and Jayden Mayberry intercepted Duran.<\/p>\n<p>Among those who tallied whistle-sacks were linebacker and Idaho transfer Will Cornelson, freshman linebacker Owen Munk, returning senior defensive end Josh Hardy, and Lamar transfer cornerback Tre Turner.<\/p>\n<p>Very late in the action, senior returning safety Pierre Hunter and Tate Kjar, a sophomore receiver transfer from Utah State, got in a skirmish during a pass play downfield and benches partially cleared to break up the fight.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"880\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/R5II9269-1200x880.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"photo_credit\">Robert Casey, Weber State Athletics<\/p>\n<p>Quarterback Kingston Tisdell (14) rears back to throw a pass during the Weber State football spring game Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.<\/p>\n<p>The head coach made his philosophy known afterwards.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome coaches really like (fights), they even condone it. \u2026 I don\u2019t like that at all,\u201d Eric Kjar said. \u201cI like the fire and stuff like that, but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s good for you as a team. \u2026 We\u2019ll address it and look at it too on film, to see what was going on with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"857\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/R5II7776-1200x857.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Wide receiver Devin Ford, right, crosses the goal line for a touchdown during the Weber State football spring game Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"839\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/R5II8272-1200x839.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Tight end Grady Milholen, right, battles linebacker Owen Munk for extra yards after making a reception during the Weber State football spring game Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"839\" height=\"938\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/R5II8167-839x938.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Quarterback DJ Duran (16) follows lineman Alijah Bray (75) on a run attempt during the Weber State football spring game Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"820\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/R5II7741-1200x820.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Wide receiver Robert young, center right, slaps hands with lineman Luke Sampson, center left, and running back Spencer Ferguson after catching a touchdown pass in the Weber State football spring game Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.<\/p>\n<p>\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.net\/sports\/weber-state\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<a style=\"color:#2a2a2a;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.net\/sports\/weber-state\/2026\/apr\/11\/weber-state-football-spring-game\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<a style=\"color:#2a2a2a;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.net\/sports\/weber-state\/2026\/apr\/11\/scouting-america-honors-weber-state-alum-paralympics-champion-david-blair-with-rare-award\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<a style=\"color:#2a2a2a;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.net\/sports\/weber-state\/2026\/apr\/08\/transfer-portal-update-weber-state-up-to-9-outgoing-players-as-portal-officially-opens\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Copyright \u00a9 2026 Ogden Newspapers of Utah, LLC  | www.standard.net | 332 Standard Way, Ogden, UT 84404 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"OGDEN \u2014 After a spring camp full of warm weather and sunshine, Weber State football wrapped things up&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":864500,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2026],"tags":[7,9,117464],"class_list":{"0":"post-864499","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-spring-game-concludes-weber-state-football"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116389791428204333","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=864499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864499\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/864500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=864499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=864499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=864499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}