Weber State University Athletics
Wildcat football adds four transfers for 2023 season
7/20/2023 2:39:00 PM | Football
Weber State has added Andrew Carter (OL - Carroll College), Zoom Esplin (OL - BYU), Vae Soifua (OL - BYU), and Keahnist Thompson (DE - Central Florida).
OGDEN - In advance of the 2023 season, Weber State football has added four transfers to its roster.Â
The Wildcats have announced the addition of Andrew Carter (OL - Carroll College), Zoom Esplin (OL - BYU), Vae Soifua (OL - BYU), and Keahnist Thompson (DE - Central Florida). All three players will be with the Wildcats this season.Â
Andrew Carter is a 6-3, 300-pound senior on the offensive line from Carroll College in Montana where he was a two-time NAIA All-American. He will have one season of eligibility with the Wildcats.Â
He earned All-America honors in 2021 and 2022 and was a first-team All-Frontier Conference selection in both seasons. The Gooding, Idaho native played also won the NAIA Rimington Award given to the top center in the nation.Â
Zoom Esplin is a 6-8, 250-pound offensive lineman out of Encinitas, California. He originally signed with BYU as a defensive end in 2022. He sat out the 2022 season as a red shirt. He played on the offensive and defensive lines at La Costa Canyon High School and was named to the California Times 100 Players to Watch list. He was also invited to play in the Alex Spanos All-Star classic.Â
Another transfer from BYU is Vae Soifua a 6-4, 300-pound offensive lineman out of Orem, Utah. He signed with the Cougars in December 2021 and sat out the 2022 season as a red shirt. He will have four years of eligibility with the Wildcats.Â
He was a three-star recruit out Orem High School where he helped lead the team to Utah 5A State Championships in 2019 and 2020. He was also recruited by Utah State, Boise State, Virginia, Arizona, UNLV, Hawaii, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, and Florida Atlantic.Â
Keahnist Thompson is a 6-3, 255-pound defensive end from Lakeland, Florida, and transferred to Weber State after one season at Central Florida. He sat out the 2022 season as a red shirt and will have four years of eligibility at Weber State.Â
He was a highly recruited out of Lakeland High School where he had 65 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries as a senior in 2021. He was ranked 43rd on MaxPreps 2021 preseason list of top Florida players for the class of 2022. He had offers from several Power 5 programs, including Texas, Miami, Florida, Auburn, Florida State, Ole Miss, Penn State, USC, and Alabama.Â
Â
The Wildcats have announced the addition of Andrew Carter (OL - Carroll College), Zoom Esplin (OL - BYU), Vae Soifua (OL - BYU), and Keahnist Thompson (DE - Central Florida). All three players will be with the Wildcats this season.Â
Andrew Carter is a 6-3, 300-pound senior on the offensive line from Carroll College in Montana where he was a two-time NAIA All-American. He will have one season of eligibility with the Wildcats.Â
He earned All-America honors in 2021 and 2022 and was a first-team All-Frontier Conference selection in both seasons. The Gooding, Idaho native played also won the NAIA Rimington Award given to the top center in the nation.Â
Zoom Esplin is a 6-8, 250-pound offensive lineman out of Encinitas, California. He originally signed with BYU as a defensive end in 2022. He sat out the 2022 season as a red shirt. He played on the offensive and defensive lines at La Costa Canyon High School and was named to the California Times 100 Players to Watch list. He was also invited to play in the Alex Spanos All-Star classic.Â
Another transfer from BYU is Vae Soifua a 6-4, 300-pound offensive lineman out of Orem, Utah. He signed with the Cougars in December 2021 and sat out the 2022 season as a red shirt. He will have four years of eligibility with the Wildcats.Â
He was a three-star recruit out Orem High School where he helped lead the team to Utah 5A State Championships in 2019 and 2020. He was also recruited by Utah State, Boise State, Virginia, Arizona, UNLV, Hawaii, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, and Florida Atlantic.Â
Keahnist Thompson is a 6-3, 255-pound defensive end from Lakeland, Florida, and transferred to Weber State after one season at Central Florida. He sat out the 2022 season as a red shirt and will have four years of eligibility at Weber State.Â
He was a highly recruited out of Lakeland High School where he had 65 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries as a senior in 2021. He was ranked 43rd on MaxPreps 2021 preseason list of top Florida players for the class of 2022. He had offers from several Power 5 programs, including Texas, Miami, Florida, Auburn, Florida State, Ole Miss, Penn State, USC, and Alabama.Â
Â
Players Mentioned
Friday, April 17
Friday, April 17
Sunday, April 12
Saturday, April 11