Weber football preview: Upperclassmen paving way in Cannon’s first season as head coach
Former Roy assistant 'juiced' for Warriors as summer practices wrap up
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- Weber head football coach Mo Cannon speaks with his team during a morning practice on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Weber High School.
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- Weber teammates celebrate with Dyson Parker (11) after a touchdown against Davis in a 6A second-round game Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, in Kaysville.
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- Weber High lines up during a morning practice on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Weber High School.
PLEASANT VIEW — You’d be hard-pressed to find another coach more jazzed about the upcoming prep football season than Mo Cannon.
Cannon, a former offensive lineman at Weber State, takes on his first head coaching gig at Weber High after three seasons as an assistant at Roy. Cannon and his former boss, Chris Solomona, will meet as opposing head coaches for the first time when Weber travels to Roy on Aug. 30.
Weber quickly moved to hire Cannon in February after Jayson Anderson, who’d led the Warriors (6-5, 4-1 Region 1) to two Region 1 titles during his five seasons as head coach, exited his position in the fallout of an internal investigation regarding recruiting violations stemming from assistant coach and offensive coordinator Zac Connors.
One of the area’s younger coaches, Cannon knows he’s out to prove his worth at Weber. Cannon said he’s leaning on the values he helped establish alongside Solomona to build up a foundation of his own for the Warriors.
“The biggest thing I learned from (Solomona) is just understanding everybody,” Cannon said. “It’s just a real big part of what we do, making sure that everybody understands that they have a role and ensuring that we have fun while we’re doing it.”
While building his staff, Cannon caught a big break retaining Weber alum Anthony Parker Jr. as an assistant and running backs coach. Parker’s son, Dyson, lines up as a running back and middle linebacker, and is set to return for his junior year.
The Weber offense has already taken shape with multiple skilled names filling up spots across the depth chart. Cannon labeled seniors Kannon Pluim and Sterling Mund as two names that’ll quickly become “a force for offenses to plan for.”
Senior BYU commit Tyler Payne, tallying 123 tackles (18th in the state) during his junior season, will be a key force for the Warriors lining up at middle linebacker and tight end. Payne’s presence on offense becomes even stronger with senior Ben McMurrin and junior Boltyn Sacre returning to lead the O-line.
Cannon praised all three — Payne, McMurrin and Sacre — for setting an example this offseason.
“Leadership’s a big thing in (Cannon’s) program,” Payne said. “I think he needs his dudes. The best teams are player-led and so that’s kind of the expectation this year.”
Under center, junior Josh Hamblin will fill a temporary void at quarterback left by senior Crew Cacciarne, who is expected to return from an ACL injury as early as Week 4. Cannon also welcomes Tyler’s younger brother, Carter Payne, into the quarterback room as a freshman with high promise.
The Warriors will field a bevy of receiver talent this fall: Seniors Ian Elmore, Jagger Hammer, Tyson Higgs and freshman Creed DeVries are each capable hands who will compete for snaps come Week 1. Hammer, Higgs and DeVries will also double as defensive backs.
Missing from the Weber attack this fall: four-star wideout Salesi Moa, who transferred to Fremont last winter following the hire of Nate Tuatagaloa as the Silverwolves’ head coach. Moa’s absence will surely be felt after the former Warrior posted 56 receptions for 820 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Asked about his returning leaders, Cannon said his senior groups — including his current and past groups at Roy — have paid dividends with setting the example and assuring younger players about their future in the game.
“Those are the guys that you think to yourself, ‘There’s a few screws loose in there,’ but they just go out there and compete and those are things right there man that, as a coach, you could only ask for,” Cannon said. “Guys that go out there, compete and teach them later on.”
While the Warriors have been busy installing a new system, some of Weber’s veteran players are noticing interesting changes in the background. The Cannon staff is raising the level of camaraderie on and off the field, according to Dyson Parker.
“I think it’s more of a brotherhood,” Dyson Parker said. “We know we all got each other’s back and I really think it shows with how much fun we’re having with our boys. … We just need everyone to be locked in and if we all have one line and we’re all on the same page, we’ll be good.”
WEBER NOTES
Last season: 6-5 (4-1 Region 1)
Head coach: Mo Cannon (First season at Weber)
Players to watch:
- Dyson Parker, RB/MLB, Junior; 86 carries, 509 yards, 5 TDs
- Tyler Payne, MLB/TE, Senior; 123 tackles, 61 solo tackles
- Crew Cacciarne, QB, Senior; 166 completions, 2,281 yards, 25 TDs
- Josh Hamblin, QB/WR/SS, Junior; 20 completions, 226 yards, 2 TDs
- Ian Elmore, WR/FS, Senior; 44 receptions, 764 yards, 8 TDs
- Tyson Higgs, WR/FS/CB, Senior; 31 receptions, 394 yards, 1 TD
- Jagger Hammer, CB/WR, Senior; 3 tackles, 1 solo tackle(s)
- Kannon Pluim, DE, Senior; 1 sack
- Sterling Mund, DE, Senior; 1.5 sacks
- Ben McMurrin, OLT, Senior
- Boltyn Sacre, Center, Junior
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 16 – @ Westlake
Aug. 23 – Pleasant Grove
Aug. 30 – @ Roy
Sept. 6 – Wasatch
Sept. 13 – @ Granger
Sept. 20 – Davis*
Sept. 27 – Syracuse*
Oct. 4 – Farmington*
Oct. 10 – @ Fremont*
Oct. 16 – @ Layton*
*Denotes Region 1 game.
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.