http://www.suutbirds.com/ViewArticle.db ... =204880721CEDAR CITY, Utah, Feb. 3 – Southern Utah University received commitments from 19 football players on the first day of the spring 2010 National Letter of Intent signing period, Thunderbird Coach Ed Lamb announced today.
Once again im going to say that Ed Lamb is doing a remarkable job in terms of recruiting and turning our football program around. I especially like that fact that much like the military academies he is looking for individuals that want to pursue their goals in both the academic as well as athletic points in the field. Things are definetly looking up for SUU
Austin Anderson
QB/LB, 6-5, 205, Fr
Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View HS
Earned first-team all-Northwest Division honors as a line-
backer last season after tallying 31 tackles and two sacks.
Also played quarterback in a double-wing system, passinf
for 537 yards and four TDs.
Brandon Beddes
OL, 6-5, 300, Jr
American Fork, Utah/Snow College
A two-year starter at Snow where he helped the Baders to
a 10-2 record and a Top of the Mountains Bowl win last
season. Helped the Badgers to a perfect 11-0 regular sea-
son mark during his junior year. Snow College was ranked
among the nationʼs top-10 JC teams both his seasons on
the squad.
Tyrone Blake
S, 5-11, 195, Fr
Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde HS
Earned all-state, all-league and all-conference honors last
season as an athlete/safety after tallying 80 tackles and
five interceptions as well as carrying 124 times for 926
yards and 15 touchdowns.
K.J. Boyer
DL, 6-2, 235, Fr
St. George, Utah/Pine View HS
Earned 4A all-state honors and was a three-year all-region
honoree. Tallied 82 tackles, including 18 tackles-for-loss
and 10 sacks his senior season.
Justin Brown
WR, 6-3, 195, So
Ogden, Utah/Mesa CC
Last year as a true freshman he appeared in six games,
catching 21 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns. He
also excelled on special teams, returning one kickoff for a
touchdown. Prepped at Layton Hills Christian where he
was a first-team all-stater after scoring 27 touchdowns and
leading the nation with 13 interceptions.
Steve Clark
OL, 6-6, 285, Fr
Ogden, Utah/Northridge HS
A two-year starter and three-year letterman, earned all-re-
gion and honorable mention all-area honors his senior sea-
son. Also lettered in track and played one season of
basketball.
Andre Clay
RB, 5-9, 208, Fr
Las Vegas, Nev./Clark HS
Earned all-Southwest League and his teamʼs MVP honors
following his senior season when he carried 100 times for
867 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Chase Davis
OL, 6-4, 275, Fr
Morgan, Utah/Morgan HS
A two-time first-team all-region selection and team captain,
averaged two pancake blocks per game and the running
backs averaged 140 yards per game running behind him.
Mark Evans
TE/DE, 6-4, 230, Fr
Woods Cross, Utah/Woods Cross HS
An all-region performer who helped his team to the quarter-
finals of the state playoffs. Caught 21 passes for 315 yards,
a 15-yards per catch average, and three TDs, also had 16
tackles, including three sacks.
Chad Hansen
LB, 6-3, 220, So
Murrieta, Calif./Mt. San Jacinto JC
Earned all-conference honors as a sophomore at San Jac-
into after tallying 99 tackles – the fifth-best total in Southern
California – with three sacks and three forced fumbles last
year. Earned first-team all-CIF honors and was a two-time
all-league, all-valley and all-county performer as well as the
defensive MVP of each his senoir season when he was an
all-Inland Empire and a PrepStar all-region performer.
Kouri Jones
DE, 6-4, 220, Fr
Converse, Texas/Judson HS
Named his districtʼs defensive Most Valuable Player last
year after totalling 85 tackles with 10 sacks and an inter-
ception. Also forced four fumbles and recovered three. Was
also a track letterman.
Josh Kariya
DE, 6-3, 235, Fr
Kaysville, Utah/Davis HS
Three-year starter at RE and OG at Davis HS. Named Re-
gion 1 Defensive MVP, 5A Defensive MVP and first-team
all-state by the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune as a
senior. Graduated first in his class with a 4.0 GPA. Tallied
69 tackles with 6.5 sacks and two interceptions last sea-
son.
Charles King
Ath, 6-2, 185, Fr
Fairbanks, Alaska/Eielson HS
Earned all-state honors as a junior and as a senior at de-
fensive back and wide receiver, also earned his confer-
enceʼs offensive player of the year award after accounting
for one-third of his teamʼs total points. Also lettere in bas-
ketball and was a state champion in the high jump, the long
jump and the triple jump.
Trevor McFalls
DE/TE, 6-5, 225, Fr
Salt Lake City, Utah/Juan Diego HS
Earned all-state and all-region honors last year when he
helped his team to a 13-1 record and region and state
championships. Tallied 68 tackles with four sacks on the
defensive side of the ball, averaged 16 yards per catch and
had three scores on the offensive side.
Nick Nissen
DL, 6-2, 275, Fr
Delta, Utah/Delta HS
A consensus first-team all-state selection last year when he
finished with 70 tackles, including 12 sacks, and served as
a team captain. A three-year starter for the Rabbits.
Anthony Norris
TE/WR, 6-4, 215, Fr
Las Vegas, Nev./Liberty HS
Caught 18 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Is
the first player from LHS to receive a football scholarship.
Tyler Osborne
LB, 6-2, 245, Jr
Peasant View, Utah/Snow College.
Tallied 70 tackles – including 34 solo stops, five TFLs and
two sacks – his freshman season, then came back with 70
more tackles (53 solo), six TFLs and a sack as well as a
pair of forced fumbles his sophomore year when he earned
first-team all-WSFL and honorable mention all-America
honors. Prepped at Weber High School.
Tannon Pederson
QB, 6-3, 180, Fr
Highland, Utah/Lone Peak HS
A three-year letterman in both football and basketball,
earned second-team all-state honors and Region Fourʼs
Outstanding QB awards after passing for 30 touchdowns
and over 2,700 yards. Completed 67 percent of his passes.
Was also nominated for McDonaldʼs All-American honors in
basketball and was a U.S. Army All-America nominee.
Zach Russell
OL, 6-5, 275, Fr
Trabucco Hills, Calif./Trabucco Hills HS
Earned second-team all-state as well as first-team all-CIF,
all-county and all-league honors last year when he also re-
ceived his schoolʼs Academic Scholar Award.
Mike Sharp
QB, 6-2, 190, Fr
St. George, Utah/Dixie HS
Was a consensus first-team Utah 4A all-state honoree as
well as his regionʼs MVP last season when he finished with
over 3,000 yards of total offense. Carried 128 times for 962
yards and 14 touchdowns an passed for 1,997 yards and
18 more scores. Also lettered in baseball for the Flyers.
Connor Stephens
LB, 6-2, 180, Fr
Ogden, Utah/Bonneville HS
Two-year starter and letter winner in football and three-year
letter winner in basketball. Earned first-team all-state hon-
ors (Deseret News) and Region 5 Defensive MVP honors
as a senior. Finished the 2009 season with 89 tackles, in-
cluding a state-best 17 sacks, and had an interception. On
the offensive side of the ball he caught nine passes for 110
yards.
Brad Sorensen
QB, 6-5, 225, So
Grand Terrace, Calif./BYU
Spent one season at San Bernardino Valley College prior to
transferring to BYU, where he sat out as a redshirt. At
SBVC Sorensen earned first-team all-conference honors
after passing for over 2,300 yards and 20 touchdowns as a
true freshman. He was also a two-time first-team all-league
and all-county selection at Colton (Calif.) High School,
where he passed for 2,200 yards and 25 TDs as a senior
when he completed 75 percent of his passes.
Devin Tavana
OL, 6-3, 330, Jr
Kalaheo, Hawaiʼi/Snow College
Earned first-team NCJAA All-American honors as well as
first-team all-Western States Football League recognition
last season. Along the way Tavana helped the Badgers to a
10-2 record and a Top of the Mountains Bowl win last sea-
son. Tavana also earned first-team all-WSFL recognition
his junior season when he helped the Badgers to a perfect
11-0 regular season mark.
Alex Topete
OL, 6-5, 305, Fr
South Gate, Calif./South East HS
An all-league selection last season when he played on both
sides of the ball, tallying 25 solo tackles and four sacks as
well as forcing six fumbles. Was considered the best 10th
grade defensive lineman but will concentrate on offensive
line at SUU. Had perfect attendance three consecutive
years.