Weber State Adds QB Devin Brown, Eight Transfers; Hires Isiah Jackson

Devin Brown headlines a wave of portal arrivals that Weber State announced after the Jan. 2-16 transfer window closed, as the Wildcats confirmed eight incoming players and the hiring of receivers coach Isiah Jackson. Brown, who spent time with Ohio State and Cal, reunites with head coach Eric Kjar and immediately becomes the most experienced signal-caller on a roster that already includes Cash McCollum, Kingston Tisdell and incoming freshmen. The move signals Weber State’s intent to shortcut a rebuild by blending FBS seasoning with FCS and JUCO depth.

The newcomers comprise five players with FBS backgrounds and a mix of FCS and junior-college talent. Alongside Brown, Weber State added Zion Andreasen (Utah State, LB), Tate Kjar (Utah State, WR), Tommy Romano (Arizona State, S) and Omar Shah (Utah, special teams/RB depth) as the FBS transfers. The class is rounded out by Kendal “Bones” Marks (Tarleton State, cornerback, with prior time at Saint Francis), Vea Moala (Tyler JC, offensive line) and Tre Turner (Lamar, defensive back). Each arrival addresses immediate depth needs while giving Kjar options to accelerate schematic installs and compete in spring ball.

Staffing changes came with the additions. Isiah Jackson, a former Weber State and BYU player, joins Kjar’s staff as receivers coach, bringing local ties and recent playing experience that should help with recruiting across Utah and neighboring states. The program remains in the market for a cornerbacks coach, a vacancy that will shape how quickly newcomers like Marks are developed and integrated into the secondary.

This flurry arrives against a backdrop of significant outbound movement — Weber State recorded 30-plus departures through the portal — and reflects national trends in roster churn at the FCS level. For Kjar, the strategy is clear: import experienced FBS transfers to elevate talent and urgency, while supplementing with JUCO and FCS pieces for depth and developmental upside. Brown’s presence, in particular, gives the Wildcats a veteran competitor who can mentor younger QBs and potentially deliver immediate wins in the Big Sky.

Beyond Xs and Os, the wave of transfers carries cultural and business implications. Bringing players from Power Five programs raises the program’s profile for recruiting and fundraising, while alumni hires like Jackson reinforce local identity and fan engagement in Ogden. At the same time, the scale of turnover illustrates broader social dynamics in college football — increased player mobility, shifting roster control to athletes, and the pressure on midmajor staffs to adapt quickly.

What comes next is completion of the staff, a spring practice window where a rapid evaluation will determine who climbs depth charts, and a QB competition that could define the 2026 season. For Weber State fans, the message is immediate: Kjar is accelerating the rebuild, and the roster overhaul will be judged on how fast the new pieces cohere on the field and in the community.