Opponent Q&A: Can Weber State Pull Off a Stunner in Seattle?

Washington Huskies vs. Weber State Wildcats: Richie Munoz, Damon Bankston, and other Wildcats to watch

It’s week one of the college football season, and the Washington Huskies open up their 2024 campaign on Saturday against Weber State out of the FCS’s Big Sky conference. To get the scoop on Weber State, I caught up with Brett Hein, the Sports Editor of the Standard-Examiner in Utah, who covers Weber State football.

KC: From 2016 through 2022, Weber State advanced to the FCS playoffs six times, including a semifinal appearance in 2019. But last year’s team, under new head coach Mickey Mental, the team went 6-5 and did not make it to the playoffs. In your view, what’s the state of the program? Is it trending down or trending up?

BH: People who tend to be detractors anyway will disagree, but I’m not sure it’s fair to say it’s trending either direction for a variety of factors. Mental’s first year in the program was as offensive coordinator and Weber State had its best offense in five years, went 10-3, and made the playoffs after missing the postseason in 2021. Many things have changed regionally that affect what the team looks like (which, in short, is young: WSU has just seven seniors this season). With three nearby FBS teams and with NIL exploding at BYU, a handful of top players transfer out of WSU every winter. There are new dynamics that everyone is kind of getting a feel for. On the field, I think this season will help instruct us a lot about which way the program is going.

KC: Last year, sophomore quarterback Richie Munoz took over starting quarterback duties in the team’s last five games and helped lead the team to three straight wins to close the season. What makes Munoz effective at the quarterback position? And what types of improvements is the Weber State coaching staff hoping he makes this season?

BH: Muñoz instantly showed a great feel for the offense and seeing the field. Once he got his first-game jitters out of the way, he had a pretty solid command of the offense and threw just one interception in 147 attempts. Coaches hope his play jumps another level as the game “slows down” for him, as they say. This is a kid who threw 40 TDs to 3 interceptions as a high school senior. He’s got the arm to make the throws, WSU just needs balance between the run and pass, and for new receivers to step up, to make the offense work.

KC: Besides Munoz, what other offensive players should Husky fans be aware of?

BH: Damon Bankston. He began what was going to be an elite rushing year last season but it was cut short by a leg injury. He might be the fastest running back in FCS and makes defenses pay for blown assignments in the run game. He had 263 yards and 5 TDs on 7.5 yards per carry through two games last year before things went south.

KC: Who are some of the team’s standout defensive players?

BH: The most experienced unit is the defensive line. In WSU’s 4-3 defense, both the ends and the tackles will go four deep. On the ends, Brayden Wilson led the Big Sky and was 11th nationally in tackles for loss last season; UCF transfer Keahnist Thompson and Fresno State transfer Kemari Munier-Bailey are likely going to have big years on the end as well. Linebackers have a lot to prove, losing Winston Reid (Cleveland Browns) and Jack Kelly (BYU), but senior Garrett Beck will be good, and historically WSU’s defensive secondary is always good.

KC: In recent years, Weber State has faced Utah in its non-conference schedule. From Weber State’s perspective, what are the benefits of facing FBS programs in its non-conference schedule?

BH: FBS games against non-power teams have been great. In their most recent three FBS games against non-power teams, Weber beat Utah State 35-7 and lost by six to both San Diego State and Nevada. Not to say that Weber could never beat a Power 4 FBS team, but these games are largely about the paycheck to fund the department (getting $700,000 from Washington this year). You just hope nobody gets sidelined with injury. 

KC: At least one website lists Washington as 27.5-point favorites in this game, but the Huskies were 23.5 point favorites against Montana in 2021, and were upset by the Grizzlies 13-7. Like this game with Jedd Fisch, Washington had Jimmy Lake, a new head coach in his debut game. What needs to happen for Weber State to upset the Huskies?

BH: To get the upset, Weber State needs a big performance from the offensive line and run game, and for its defense to be tough and disruptive with turnovers. In those three aforementioned games against MWC teams, WSU allowed a total of 32 points. That’s obviously going to be much tougher against a Big Ten (still weird to type?) program that just played for the CFP championship.

---

You can follow Brett Hein’s coverage of Weber State on X (@WeberHQ) and at the Standard Examiner.