Feb. 1, 2006

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University signed 15 players to national letters of intent for football on Wednesday, the first national signing day for high school players. Included on the list are 12 high school and three junior college players, including 12 players who played at Utah schools, four from Nevada and one each from California and Arizona schools.

Joining the Thunderbirds from the junior college ranks will be Ryan Higgins (6-2, 190), a wide receiver from San Mateo (Calif.) College, Aaron Fernandez (6-2, 285), a defensive lineman from Mesa (Ariz.) College and Ricky Tu'umalo (6-3, 320) an offensive lineman from San Diego's Mesa College.

Ten of the 12 high school signees earned all-state honors in their respective states, with five first-team honorees. First-team all-staters include quarterback Stetson Peck (6-1, 190), who prepped at Utah's Bingham High; defensive end Cody Larsen (6-2, 240), from Jordan High; running back Henna Brown (6-0, 210), from Cyprus HS; and offensive lineman Russell Petersen (6-3, 280) from Manti High School. SUU also picked up a Nevada first-teamer, defensive lineman Xavaier Cleveland (6-0, 250), from Las Vegas High.

In addition to the first-teamers, SUU signed Utah all-staters Nick Garcia (OL, 6-2, 270) and Jess Kearsley (DE, 6-1, 230) from Clearfield HS; Skyline High's Sam Walton (OL, 6-1, 275) and Highland High's Brett Smith (DB, 6-0, 175).

SUU also got commitments from AJ Lewis (OL, 6-2, 270, Las Vegas Shadow Ridge HS), Akeem Anifowoshe (5-10, 175, Las Vegas High) and Matt Hurley (LB, 6-1, 215), from American Fork HS.

The Thunderbirds brought in three players on the early signing date, quarterback Royal Gill (New Mexico State), running back Johnny Sanchez (Glendale CC) and cornerback Derrick Brown (Snow College), bringing the number of recruits signed this year to 18.

"We've really signed a great group of players this year," SUU Coach Wes Meier said. "We picked up some junior college guys who will come in and help right away and some high school players who will also have a chance to contribute as freshmen. I feel really good about the kids we've signed. We're in a situation where we'll be recruiting heavily through the spring to try to get some late transfers we feel will be able to come in and have an immediate impact."

Meier also indicated he was expecting several late signees Wednesday.

Southern Utah's 2006 Football Recruiting Class
Player Pos Ht Wt Hometown/Previous School
Akeem Anifowoshe WR 5-10 175 Las Vegas, Nev./Las Vegas HS
Derrick Brown CB 6-1 185 Brigham City, Utah/Snow College
Henna Brown RB 6-0 210 West Valley City,Utah/Cyprus HS
Xavaier Cleveland   DL  6-0 250 Las Vegas, Nev./Las Vegas HS
Aaron Fernandez DL  6-2 285 Mesa, Ariz./Mesa CC (Ariz.)/Red Mountain HS
Nicholas Garcia OL  6-2 270 Clearfield, Utah/Clearfield HS
Royal Gill QB 6-5 220 Boise, Idaho/New Mexico State
Ryan Higgins    WR  6-2 190 Livermore, Calif./San Mateo CC
Matt Hurley LB 6-1 215 Alpine, Utah/Lone Peak HS
Jess Kearsley DE 6-1 230 Clearfield, Utah/Clearfield HS
Cody Larsen DE  6-2 240 Salt Lake City, Utah/Jordan HS
AJ Lewis        OL  6-2 270 Las Vegas, Nev./Shadow Ridge HS
Stetson Peck    QB  6-1 170 West Valley City, Utah/Bingham HS
Russell Petersen    OL  6-3 280 Manti, Utah/Manti HS
Johnny Sanchez RB 5-9 195 Los Lunas, N.M./Glendale CC
Brett Smith DB  6-0 175 Salt Lake City, Utah/Highland HS
Ricky Tu'umalo OL 6-3 320 Leone, Samoa/Mesa College (Calif.)
Sam Walton  OL  6-1 275 Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline HS