After a dominant performance against the Northwestern State University Demons, Weber State University football defensive end Kemari Munier-Bailey was selected as the Football Championship Subdivision Stats Perform National Player of the Week.
In the game against the Demons, Bailey recorded eight tackles, six tackles-for-loss, and three sacks in the Wildcats’ 39–0 win. However, the game was more of the same for Bailey, who, in four games, leads the team in tackles, tackles-for-loss, sacks and quarterback hurries.
“I always try and give my all. My teammates and I, we have an agenda and always try to do the little things,” Bailey said.
Born in Birmingham, England, to Jamaican immigrants, Bailey’s first love was basketball.
“I was playing basketball in the U.K., and I was on the national team, and I was trying to decide my next step, either going to Europe or playing High School in the U.S.”
Bailey attended Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper, where he was convinced to play football. He then received a football scholarship to the University of Idaho, where he learned under former NFL pro-bowler defensive end Luther Elliss.
“I was new to the game; I only played one season, so he really taught me the fundamentals of the game,” Bailey said.
After playing three seasons at Idaho, Bailey transferred to California State University, Fresno, for the 2023 season.
“I almost lost love for the game when I was at Fresno,” Bailey said. “It was hard — hard to be facing injury and being forced to play, so it was a little iffy for me.”
Bailey came to Weber after being recruited by Weber defensive end coach James Cowser, who he attributes to his success this season.
“He gets on me a lot, and I like that. He wants the best for me,” Bailey said.
Bailey has loved his time in Ogden, he especially loves his professors, saying, “I got a professor named Tim Border. He’s actually really cool, I don’t like school but he makes you want to come to his classes.”
The Wildcats are back at home when they play the McNeese State University Cowboys on Sept. 28. The Cowboys are led by dual-threat quarterback Clifton McDowell, who transferred to McNeese after leading the University of Montana Grizzlies to the national championship game last season. The Wildcats have historically struggled against running quarterbacks, but Bailey is not worried.
“It’s not really anything about them, it’s about how we can react, how we can deal with the situations we’re given, how we can hurry to the ball, how we can adjust to the team and play together,” Bailey said.
