And, he found playing against him for a Layton team, a much smaller Hayden Meacham lined up on the other side.

“They were this all-Mini Bowl team, they went like four times or something, and we were the little Layton Colts who got destroyed by them every year,” Meacham laughed. “But I remember Haze, he was a baller. Still is.”

The two local players have since become each other’s support system. They’ve gone from kids getting their feet wet on the college football field to golfing buddies and fifth-year, married seniors — their wives are friends, too — going step for step in their careers with Weber State football, two of 11 seniors set to be honored in the Wildcats’ final 2023 home game at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Meacham joined the WSU program out of Layton High School and missionary service in Washington, and redshirted in 2018. Hadley, after Fremont High graduation, returned from missionary service to Texas in 2019.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

“We just kind of hit it off. I really appreciate Haze and his friendship,” Meacham said. “I think it’s a relationship we’ll cherish for a long time.”

Meacham is a 6-foot-5 defensive end who became a steady rock at tight end for whatever Weber State’s offense asked of him.

“I did play both sides in high school but I had like two receptions. I was a blocking guy,” Meacham said. “(Jay) Hill asked me to move to tight end, maybe just for a season, but it ended up staying that way.”

Meacham has developed each season into a more athletic, more consistent threat offensively. He totaled 19 catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns in 2021, then 17 catches for 191 yards and four scores in 2022’s 13 games. This season, he’s hauled in 16 catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns in nine games, averaging a career-high 18 yards per reception.

Last week at Idaho State, Meacham dove backward and pulled down a 26-yard touchdown that elicited a burst from the small Weber State fan contingent in Pocatello, a third passing TD from Richie Muñoz in the quarter to put the Wildcats up 21-0 and help WSU find the win column again.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

“I learned early in this program, just accept your role and you’ll be successful. Whether that’s getting the ball or blocking for someone, I’m there no matter what,” Meacham said. “But it’s been cool to be trusted to get the ball and have those moments in the end zone with my teammates.”

The big senior has been a key leader, Hadley says.

“He’s always looking to cheer me up and cheer the team up,” Hadley said. “A goofball, kind of, who makes you laugh or gets you feeling alright so we can get locked in again.”

Meacham has a degree in professional sales and will wrap up a master’s degree in communication this semester.

In stature, Hadley is the opposite of Meacham: a 5-foot-7 slot receiver and punt returner.

“I’ve never seen someone who owns being short as much as Haze,” Meacham said. “He plays much bigger than he is. You can see him when he turns up field and finishes plays, he finishes better than people who are 6-4 and 200 pounds, you know? So I’ve always admired him for his play style and his effort.”

Hadley is enjoying his most productive season, yards-wise, as a receiver. Through nine games, he has 22 catches for 209 yards. But that’s after a great 2022 season was cut short by a significant leg injury in a game at Portland State. He caught 21 balls for 160 yards and a touchdown in just six games before losing his season to the injury.

Significant enough that returning to play one more season wasn’t a given.

“To be at that super low point, to go through that injury, it was something that helped me grow and it’s been awesome to be out here and play again this year,” Hadley said.

Returning meant putting his body on the line one more time and, with a degree in business administration already in hand, it also meant finding a meaningful master’s program to begin (he landed on a master’s of education, with an emphasis in coaching and leadership).

“My family supported me and we just played it step by step, and I saw I did have a desire to be out there again and prove that I could still play,” he said. “I’m grateful for all the people who helped me get through it.”

His 2023 season is not as striking as a punt returner, and that’s a compliment. Opponents got wise that kicking away from him is less risky than kicking to him. Last week, Idaho State sent several punts into the stands rather than put the ball in Hadley’s hands.

He’s about 30 punt-return yards (551 total) from passing Tim Toone and Rashid Shaheed on WSU’s all-time punt-return yards list, which would put him into second place behind Bryant Eteuati (1,206). In a time when punters are more skilled than ever, his decision-making and fielding skills have been a huge positive to Weber State’s offense over the last three seasons.

Hadley has scored only two touchdowns in his career, and the first in 2021 was a key memory for both.

“His first touchdown against Northern Colorado, it was a crazy catch,” Meacham said. “I was right there to watch it … his stature might be a little small, but I’ve always looked up to him.”

LJ ANDERSON

Safety LJ Anderson of Oakland, California, is finishing his fourth season at Weber State. He’s totaled 61 tackles and one interception, picking off a pass in the same game as his brother, Maxwell, this season at Northern Iowa.

MAXWELL ANDERSON

Anderson has picked off eight passes and totaled 103 tackles in his four seasons at Weber State, earning All-American status as a cornerback after his five interceptions during the 2022 season. Eight interceptions would tie him for 10th all-time in program history. One more would move him into a tie for sixth place all-time.

ETHAN ATAGI

Like LJ did with Maxwell, Ethan Atagi of South Ogden/Bonneville High transferred to Weber State to play with his younger brother, Noah. After two seasons at BYU, Ethan has played in 34 games on the offensive line at center and tackle.

NOAH ATAGI

Noah Atagi has played 54 games at left tackle in six seasons at Weber State and was named a first-team All-American after the 2022 season. Few will ever put on the WSU football uniform for as many games as he has.

ANDREW CARTER

Carter, a center, is concluding his one season with WSU after transferring from Carroll College. The Idaho native has played in all nine games this season.

NASEME COLVIN

Colvin, from Richmond, California, has started at strong safety for two seasons and is in his sixth season with the program. He has 118 career tackles and intercepted the first pass of his career this season at Northern Iowa.

KRIS JACKSON

Jackson, of Mesa, Arizona, is finishing his sixth season in the program. Hampered by injury, he’s rushed for 15 of his 26 career touchdowns in 2019 (10) and 2023 (five). He’s totaled 1,165 career rushing yards and has one receiving touchdown.

JORDAN LUTUI

Lutui, of West Valley City, has played in 47 career games and became a mainstay after switching from defense to offensive tackle ahead of the fall 2021 season, where he’s started in every game he’s been healthy.

WINSTON REID

Reid, of Utah’s Copper Hills High School, was an All-American in 2022 and is likely again this season. He’s totaled 256 career tackles, 21 from landing on WSU’s top-10 career list despite starting his career as a walk-on and only really getting starter’s reps for two seasons. He tallied his eighth career forced fumble last week at Idaho State, tying him with Beau Hadley (2006-09, Haze Hadley’s uncle) for second all-time at the school. One more would tie him for the all-time lead with Brady Fosmark (2002-05). He has two career interceptions, returning one for a touchdown this season at Northern Colorado, and also recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown in 2021 at Idaho State.