CEDAR CITY, Utah, Feb. 9 ? Southern Utah University has signed 17 players to national letters of intent for football, Thunderbird first-year head coach Ed Lamb announced today.

The group includes 15 high school players and two junior college transfers, with 11 players hailing from Utah. Included in the signing group are one quarterback, two running backs (one of whom also could play safety), two wide receivers, five offensive linemen, two safeties, two linebackers, a tight end, a defensive lineman and a cornerback.

Nate Carter, a two-time first-team all-state running back from St. George's Dixie High School, is the only local signee, but he will be joined by 11 more native Utahns. High school signees joining Carter from Utah will be quarterback R.J. Tialavea from Kearns High and offensive linemen Zach Brackus from Murray High, Justin Jensen from American Fork High and James Nielsen from Cyprus High. Also signing from Utah are linebackers Paul Fuaalii (Cottonwood HS) and Derek Keller (Alta HS), tight ends Chris Haning (Woods Cross HS) and Jeff Tukuafu (Wasatch HS), defensive lineman Justina Manu (Highland HS) and wide receiver Richie Tukaufu (Cottonwood HS).

One junior college player who prepped in Utah also signed with the Thunderbirds, offensive lineman Aaron Po'hua, who helped Snow College to an 11-1 season this year after a high school career at Cyprus HS.

SUU's other junior college signee is Robert Ah-Sue, a wide receiver from Riverside Community College. Along with Ah-Sue, SUU signed five players from California, a group that includes Oakland Technical High standouts Myles Crawford-Harris, a free safety; and cornerback Dion Turner. Also signing from California are strong safety Rickey Clark (Hayward/Tennyson HS) and running back/strong safety Brian Wilson (San Diego/Mission Hills HS).

SUU also signed one player from Nevada, Alex Bair, an offensive lineman from Foothill High in Henderson, Nev., who has committed to the Thunderbirds.

“We're really excited to sign these 17 players,” Lamb said. “We knew we had some holes to fill because of graduation and other factors and we feel like we addressed those needs. We signed some guys who will be able to come in and help us right away as well as some other players who will come in and learn the system and help us down the road. All-in-all we're very happy with our first recruiting class.”

Southern Utah's 2008 Spring Football Signees

Brief bios on SUU's 2008 Spring Football Signees

Robert Ah-Sue
5-11, 195, Jr, WR
Riverside, Calif.
Riverside CC/Ramona HS

Lettered two seasons for Coach Bill Brown at Riverside Community College ... caught 20 passes for 286 yards and a pair of touchdowns last year when he averaged 14.3 yards per catch ... also track & field letter-winner at RCC ... was named Ramona High School's athlete of the year his senior season when he earned first-team all-league honors in football and lettered in track, qualifying for the state meet in the 100- and 200-meters and in the 4x400 ... plans to major in education.

Alex Bair
6-4, 275, Fr, OL
Henderson, Nev.
Foothill HS

A three-year letterman for Coach Martin Redmond's Foothill Falcons ... a two-time all-state and all-division selection on the offensive line ... finished with 22 tackles and a pair of sacks his senior year when he also recorded 44 pancake blocks ... also a wrestling and track & field letter-winner ... plans to major in athletic training.

Zach Brackus
6-5, 290, Fr, OL
Murray, Utah
Murray HS

Three-year letterman for coach Dan Aragon at Murray HS ... earned all-region and all-state honorable mention recognition as an O-lineman in Utah's 4A classification ... plans to major in business.

Nate Carter
5-9, 190, Fr, RB
St. George, Utah
Dixie HS

An all-region and all-state performer at Dixie High for coach Jake Nelson ... carried 65 times for 565 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior ... also a wrestling and baseball letterman for the Flyers ... is undecided upon a major course of study.

Rickey Clark
6-2, 200, Fr, SS
Hayward, Calif.
Tennyson HS

Three year letter-winner for Coach Terry Smith at Tennyson HS ... tallied 65 tackles with seven sacks and three interceptions, also broke up six passes his senior season ... also played running back, on the offensive side of the ball he rushed for over 600 yards and totaled over 200 receiving yards, scored eight touchdowns ... was named his team's MVP and earned a first-team all-league honors as well ... is undecided upon a major course of study.

Myles Crawford-Harris
6-2, 180, Fr, FS
Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Technical HS

Earned three letters playing for Coach Delton Edwards at Oakland Tech ... was named team's defensive MVP his senior season when he tallied 87 tackles with two sacks and nine interceptions, also broke up 14 passes ... earned first-team all-league and Bay Area “Cream-of-the-Crop” honors ... helped team to second round of the city sectional playoffs ... plans to major in sports medicine.

Paul Fuaalii
6-5, 210, Fr, LB
Salt Lake City, Utah
Cottonwood HS

A three-year letterman for Coach Cecil Thomas' Cottonwood Colts ... tallied 31 tackles,six sacks and an interception as a defensive lineman but will move to linebacker for the Thunderbirds ... plans to major in public administration with an emphasis in athletics.

Chris Haning
6-4, 200, Fr, TE
North Salt Lake, Utah
Woods Cross HS

A three-year letterman for Coach Fred Fernandes' Wildcats ... also a basketball and track and field letter-winner ... plans to major in business.

Justin Jensen
6-6, 300, Fr, OL
American Fork, Utah
American Fork HS

A three-year letterman for the Cavemen, earned first-team all-state and all-region recognition as an offensive and defensive lineman for Coach Davis Knight ... an honor roll student ... is undecided upon a major course of study.

Derek Keller
6-4, 218, Fr, LB
Draper, Utah
Alta HS

A three-year letterman and two-year starter for Coach Les Hamilton's Alta Hawks ... earned all-region and first-team all-state honors following his senior season when he tallied 57 tackles and 11 ? sacks, including five sacks against Timpanogos HS ... plans to major in pre-medicine.

Justin Manu
6-4, 290, Fr, DL
Salt Lake City, Utah
Highland HS

A three-year letter-winner at Highland High for former SUU standout Brody Benson, now the Rams' head coach ... is undecided upon a major course of study.

James Nielsen
6-4, 300, Fr, OL
West Valley City, Utah
Cyprus HS

A three-year letterman for former SUU standout Coach Sonny Sudbury at Cyprus High School ... plans to major in animal science.

Aaron Po'hua
6-4, 300, Jr, OL
West Valley City, Utah
Snow College/Cyprus HS

A two-year letterman for Coach Steve Coburn at Snow JC where he helped the Badgers to an 11-1 record, a conference championship and a No. 3 final national ranking last year ... named first-team all-Scenic West Athletic Conference ... lettered three years at Cyprus HS in Magna, Utah.

R.J. Tialavea
6-4, 220, Fr, QB
Kearns, Utah
Kearns HS

A three-year letterman for Coach Bill Cosper's Kearns Cougars ... earned all-region and all-state honorable mention honors this past season ... also a basketball and baseball letterman ... undecided upon a major course of study.

Richie Tukuafu
6-3, 190, Fr, WR
Salt Lake City, Utah
Cottonwood HS

A three-year letterman for Coach Cecil Thomas' Cottonwood Colts ... played tight end and wide receiver in high school ... also a track and field letterman... is undecided upon a major course of study.

Dion Turner
5-11, 175, Fr, CB
Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Technical HS

Lettered one season for Coach Delton Edwards at Oakland Tech ... was named team's Most Improved Player his senior season when he racked up 46 tackles with four interceptions and nine passes broken up ... helped his team to the second round of the Oakland city sectionals ... also a basketball letter-winner, where he earned all-conference recognition as a junior ... plans to major in business.

Brian Wilson
6-1, 205, Fr, RB/SS
San Diego, Calif.
Mission Hills HS

Helped Coach Chris Hauser's Grizzlies to a spot in the CIF Sectional Finals as a senior when he rushed for 667 yards on 100 carries ... tallied 242 yards in the Sectional Semi-Finals against Helix HS ... had four interceptions, three pass break-ups and 64 tackles on the defensive side of the ball ... is undecided upon a major course of study.