Southern Utah University signed 22 players to National Letters Of Intent for football Wednesday, including 18 Utah preps, one prep each from Nevada, Hawaii and Oregon and a junior college player from Utah.

"We're excited to have been able to get all these players, who represent just about everyone we were recruiting this year," SUU first-year Head Coach Wes Meier said. "I think this class is as high-quality a class as Southern Utah has ever brought in. We were in some real battles with some other schools for all of these guys and to have the kind of success we did swaying them to come here has the whole staff pretty happy today. It's a big step in the direction we want to be heading."

Included among the signees are 16 either first- or second-team all-staters and two more who received honorable mention recognition last year as well as one second-team all-Western States Football League selection. As far as numbers go tight ends and defensive linemen topped the list, with four each signing letters. SUU also signed three linebackers and three offensive linemen, two quarterbacks, two running backs, two wide receivers, and two defensive backs Wednesday.

The quarterbacks include Ben Macey (6-foot-1, 198 pounds), who led the state in passing last year while guiding Logan High to an appearance the state 4A championship game; and Abbel Aiono (6-4, 210, Granger HS) who the coaches say can play just about anywhere. Running backs signed include Daryl Brown (6-2, 210, Cyprus HS) and Jamar Lee (5-10, 190, Northridge HS) and the wide receivers include Layton's Brandon Godfrey (6-4, 185) and Hillcrest's Fesi Sitake (5-11, 175). The four tight ends signed include Mitch Beckstrom (6-4, 225, West Jordan HS), Kody Lewis (6-5, 225, Clearfield HS), Adrian Takai (6-4, 230, Murray HS) and Trevor Ward (6-4, 215, Bonneville HS) who should also push to be the Thunderbirds' starting punter next year.

Offensive linemen committing to play for the Thunderbirds include Ashton Steadman (6-4, 240, Skyline HS), Tim Husselbee (6-4, 315, Salem, Ore.; South Salem HS) and Hinano Lino (6-1, 275, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Kealakehe HS).

On the defensive side of the ball SUU signed the only junior college player in its spring 2004 class, defensive back Kevin Richardson (6-3, 190), who was a second-team all-WSFL player at Dixie State last year. SUU also signed safety D.J. Senter (6-1, 205, Las Vegas, Nev.; Bishop Gorman HS). Linebackers the Thunderbirds will welcome in the fall include Christian Cox (6-3, 215, Bountiful HS), Taylor Pendley (6-1, 225, Skyline HS) and Mike Wright (6-3, 210, Bountiful HS).

The Thunderbirds also signed defensive linemen Matt Black (6-5, 225, Pine View HS), Greg Bulloch (6-3, 225, North Sevier HS), Trevor Cook (6-4, 220, American Fork HS) and Soni Vainuku (6-1, 275, Granger HS).

Meier said the signings went particularly well, considering his staff's status was in question as recently as two weeks ago when former Head Coach Gary Andersen announced he was leaving the program and returning to the University of Utah as an assistant.

"We lost some of them for a minute when Gary announced he was leaving but when [SUU Director of Athletics Tom Douple] made the decision to keep the staff in place we got right back in touch and they all re-committed to us," Meier noted. "We got some quality kids after Gary made his announcement too, so it's worked out very well for everyone I think."

A complete list of Southern Utah's signees follows.

February 2004 Signees

Player            Pos   Ht      Wt      Hometown                Previous School(s)
Abbel Aiono       QB/DB 6-4     210     West Valley City, Utah  Granger HS
Mitch Beckstrom   TE    6-4     225     West Jordan, Utah       West Jordan HS
Matt Black        DE    6-5     225     St. George, Utah        Pine View HS
Daryl Brown       RB    6-2     210     Magna, Utah             Cyprus HS
Greg Bulloch      DL    6-3     225     Salina, Utah            North Sevier HS
Trevor Cook       DE    6-4     220     American Fork, Utah     American Fork HS
Christian Cox     LB    6-3     215     Bountiful, Utah         Bountiful HS
Brandon Godfrey   WR    6-4     185     Layton, Utah            Layton HS
Tim Husselbee     OL    6-4     315     Salem, Oregon           South Salem HS
Jamar Lee         RB    5-10    190     Layton, Utah            Northridge HS
Kody Lewis        TE    6-5     225     Clearfield, Utah        Clearfield HS
Hinano Lino       OL    6-1     275     Kailua-Kona, Hawaii     Kealakehe HS
Ben Macey         QB    6-1     198     Logan, Utah             Logan HS
Taylor Pendley    LB    6-1     225     Salt Lake City, Utah    Skyline HS
D.J. Senter       S     6-1     205     Las Vegas, Nevada       Bisop Gorman HS
Fesi Sitake       WR    5-11    175     Sandy, Utah             Hillcrest HS
Ashton Steadman   OL    6-4     240     Salt Lake City, Utah    Skyline HS
Adrian Takai      TE    6-4     230     Murray, Utah            Murray HS
Soni Vainuku      DT    6-1     275     West Valley City, Utah  Granger HS
Trevor Ward       TE/P  6-4     215     Ogden, Utah             Bonneville HS
Mike Wright       LB    6-3     210     Bountiful, Utah         Bountiful HS
Kevin Richardson  DB    6-3     190     Las Vegas, Nevada       Dixie State/Cheyenne HS

Early Signees

Player            Pos   Ht      Wt      Hometown                Previous Schools
Joel Butler       OL    6-6     270     Grantsville, Utah       Dixie State/Grantsville HS
Mike Knight       OL    6-5     290     Murray, Utah            Dixie State/Murray HS
Mike Palefau      CB    6-1     200     Kahuku, Hawaii          Snow College/Kahuku HS
Gordon Reid       RB    5-10    245     Leone, American Samoa   Snow College/Leone HS
Ameen Shaheen     WR    6-3     210     Salina, Utah	        Snow College/North Sevier HS
David Zelasko     CB    6-0     190     Buffalo, New York       Phoenix College/Turner Carroll HS