2007 NLI Signing Day

THUNDERBIRDS SIGN 22 ON NLI SIGNING DAY

Complete List of Signees (.pdf)

?CEDAR CITY, Utah, Feb. 7 – Southern Utah University has signed 22 players to national letters of intent on the annual winter signing date, SUU Coach Wes Meier announced today. With the five players the Thunderbirds signed on the early signing date that brings the total number of players signed by SUU to 27 this off-season.

“We’re really excited about this group of players we’ve signed this year,” SUU Coach Wes Meier said. “We’ve signed a great group, probably one of the most talented we’ve ever signed. We think we’ll be bringing in a good mix of players, some will help us right away and some will be the future of Thunderbird football as they grow and mature.”

Included in the group are 18 prep athletes, including 12 from Utah, four from Idaho and two from Nevada. There are also four junior college signees to go with the five signed during the early period.

The signings include five preps from southern Utah, including Canyon View running back Austin Minefee, wide receiver Kevin Clements from Pine View and two Dixie High products: fullback Garrett Blake and receiver Tyler Fink.

In addition to those five the Thunderbirds also signed Utah preps Trevor Everett (LB, Lone Peak), Blake Fenn (DB, Union), Josh Fitisemanu (RB, Murray) and Patrick Kruse (OL, Park City). Also signing from Utah are Mitch Meier (DB, Murray), Easton Pederson (WR, Lone Peak), Chase Pendley (DB, Skyline) and Sean Taylor (QB, Jordan).

Idaho signees include Ben Black (DL, Capital), Cody Bolken (OL, Eagle), Brad Meyer (DL, Capital) and Tim Whipps (OL, Eagle).

Those high school athletes inking letters of intent from Nevada include Cody Heinrich (DL, Del Sol) and Colin Pretlow (DB, Las Vegas).

Signing from the junior college ranks are two players from California and two from Arizona. Signing from California are DB George Ortiz, from Feather River CC; and Cody Stone, a quarterback from Bakersfield CC. Arizona JuCos include FB/TE Johan Rauge, from Phoenix CC; and LB Zack Samorano, from Arizona Western.

In addition to those players, the Thunderbirds signed the following five players during the early signing period: OL Joe Ellis from Cyprus HS; OL Richard Giannelli, from Bakersfield CC; TE Joel Johnson, from Phoenix CC; WR Nick Miller, from Scottsdale CC; and OL Jeremy Vilardo, from Victor Valley CC.